Trikes? Anyone got one?

Zirax · 28-12-2008, 01:28

Rather random I know, but there is a reason to my madness. Now gradually my sense of balance is getting more buggered. I do enjoy biking about and to not be able to go for my three hour (yes really) jaunts into the countryside is a bit of a bummer.

From having a read around I understand that they are very different to ride, i.e. no more leaning into sweeping corners. To this end I am going to try and find someone who owns one and if they'll let me go for a ride

Could you also just keep an odd eye on your classifieds and shout if you spot something. It would mean a heck of a lot and there is cash waiting.

Most of the trikes are a little....... Grandad? However after seeing this:-

http://www.longstaffcycles.com/index...ducts_id=21061

Along with the corresponding racing bike section...... I currently have thoughts running through my mind of an angle grinder and a welder

Especially if you look at the frame, it does look uncannily like a standard frame with extensions. *Paging Jonny 69 for angle grinder goodness*

Jonny69 · 28-12-2008, 09:16

Bleh! I thought you wanted a motorbike trike at first, this sounds a bit easier

I really wanted to make a trike, mine would have been more of a road trike but that mountain bike one looks like it'll do the job. My guess is there's a special hub or set of hubs for trikes so the back wheels can both be driven. I suppose you're only limited on your width by the width of the axle so I'd make it reasonably wide and long so it's stable at speed. I'll go for a peer over at the bike shop this week to look at a frame but you'll want to triangulate it from the wheels up to the seat and probably forwards to just behind the cranks.

Remaking a mountain bike into a trike shouldn't be too hard. Start with a steel frame and cut the back off behind the seat, then remake the frame in steel tube re-using whatever bits you have to off the old bike. It might help to have a junk bike from the tip to steal bits off, like the ends of the frame where the back wheel bolts on for example. Watch out when you weld it back together because a lot of bikes are brazed, so make sure you grind back to clean steel when you weld it.

I guess your other option is a sidecar style third wheel, that could be cool, especially if you drop and stretch the bike a bit. Then you don't have to worry about driving the new wheel and you get the stability.

Tools you'll need are a work bench, angle grinder (with some 1mm cutting discs, grinding disc and a wire wheel to strip paint off), mig welder, tape measure and a flat surface. Some clamps come in handy as well.

Zirax · 28-12-2008, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

Remaking a mountain bike into a trike shouldn't be too hard. Start with a steel frame and cut the back off behind the seat, then remake the frame in steel tube re-using whatever bits you have to off the old bike. It might help to have a junk bike from the tip to steal bits off, like the ends of the frame where the back wheel bolts on for example. Watch out when you weld it back together because a lot of bikes are brazed, so make sure you grind back to clean steel when you weld it.

I guess your other option is a sidecar style third wheel, that could be cool, especially if you drop and stretch the bike a bit. Then you don't have to worry about driving the new wheel and you get the stability.

Tools you'll need are a work bench, angle grinder (with some 1mm cutting discs, grinding disc and a wire wheel to strip paint off), mig welder, tape measure and a flat surface. Some clamps come in handy as well.

Yep those were my thoughts with regards to making a standard mountain bike into a trike, cut the bike just behind the seat and then expand and use a junk bike to supply additional parts. Got all but the mig welder, however I have a grandad with one that builds stuff

The ultimate would be to have it as a racer. Now I would need to think about having a traditional setup, or as your pics suggest dropping down low for stability for speed. I will venture in some bike shops and have a think. One of the reasons for looking at a mountain bike first is they are more chunky and stronger (thicker) steel frames.

Following this train of thought, I had a rough play with basic trig to see if I was going mad.

Say seat to rear axle on a standard bike is 40cm. If you splay these out at say a 30º angle you would get a rear axel width between them thats 46cm wide. However in doing so you have shortened the bike by 6cm.

*really need a scanner as its easier to post scribbles*

So to correct you would need longer rear frames, about 46cm to keep the distance from frame to rear axle at 40cm. Now because I'm a short ass I use an 18" frame. The multi million dollar question is if say the distance was 40cm on an 18" frame, what would it be on a 21"? Or as you did with your chopper, splice the main frame and extend to compensate.

The sidecar was something I hadn't thought about, however I wouldn't be in the middle.....

As you can see, lots of thoughts popping at the moment.

Jonny69 · 28-12-2008, 09:25

Got me thinking now... have some random pics...

Flibster · 29-12-2008, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

Got me thinking now... have some random pics...

Thats fantastic!

Jonny69 · 28-12-2008, 09:29

She just woke up so I'll be removed from the internet any moment, but there are some Shimano part numbers mentioned here and some rear frame close-ups which might be useful.

Darrin · 29-12-2008, 05:49

Personally, I would go recumbent for a trike. No stability issues in corners as the center of gravity is so low. Either that or go twin fronts and single rear.

Jonny69 · 29-12-2008, 19:27

Something off Retro Rides:

semi-pro waster · 07-01-2009, 19:59

I'd probably suggest a recumbent too, never going to be great for going off road but some of them are stupidly efficient and look like rather a lot of fun. There is almost certainly a bigger market for them than for most trikes of the style in your first post so you should have more choice.

Zirax · 08-01-2009, 12:53

Thanks, the more I read, the more I am convinced to look at recumbent. At the moment I'm putting this on hold due to other stuff that needs doing. Will keep thinking about this though.

28-12-2008, 01:28	#1
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Trikes? Anyone got one? Rather random I know, but there is a reason to my madness. Now gradually my sense of balance is getting more buggered. I do enjoy biking about and to not be able to go for my three hour (yes really) jaunts into the countryside is a bit of a bummer. From having a read around I understand that they are very different to ride, i.e. no more leaning into sweeping corners. To this end I am going to try and find someone who owns one and if they'll let me go for a ride Could you also just keep an odd eye on your classifieds and shout if you spot something. It would mean a heck of a lot and there is cash waiting. Most of the trikes are a little....... Grandad? However after seeing this:- http://www.longstaffcycles.com/index...ducts_id=21061 Along with the corresponding racing bike section...... I currently have thoughts running through my mind of an angle grinder and a welder Especially if you look at the frame, it does look uncannily like a standard frame with extensions. Paging Jonny 69 for angle grinder goodness

28-12-2008, 09:16	#2
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Bleh! I thought you wanted a motorbike trike at first, this sounds a bit easier I really wanted to make a trike, mine would have been more of a road trike but that mountain bike one looks like it'll do the job. My guess is there's a special hub or set of hubs for trikes so the back wheels can both be driven. I suppose you're only limited on your width by the width of the axle so I'd make it reasonably wide and long so it's stable at speed. I'll go for a peer over at the bike shop this week to look at a frame but you'll want to triangulate it from the wheels up to the seat and probably forwards to just behind the cranks. Remaking a mountain bike into a trike shouldn't be too hard. Start with a steel frame and cut the back off behind the seat, then remake the frame in steel tube re-using whatever bits you have to off the old bike. It might help to have a junk bike from the tip to steal bits off, like the ends of the frame where the back wheel bolts on for example. Watch out when you weld it back together because a lot of bikes are brazed, so make sure you grind back to clean steel when you weld it. I guess your other option is a sidecar style third wheel, that could be cool, especially if you drop and stretch the bike a bit. Then you don't have to worry about driving the new wheel and you get the stability. Tools you'll need are a work bench, angle grinder (with some 1mm cutting discs, grinding disc and a wire wheel to strip paint off), mig welder, tape measure and a flat surface. Some clamps come in handy as well. __________________

28-12-2008, 09:25	#4
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Got me thinking now... have some random pics... __________________

28-12-2008, 09:29	#6
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	She just woke up so I'll be removed from the internet any moment, but there are some Shimano part numbers mentioned here and some rear frame close-ups which might be useful. __________________

29-12-2008, 05:49	#7
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Personally, I would go recumbent for a trike. No stability issues in corners as the center of gravity is so low. Either that or go twin fronts and single rear. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

29-12-2008, 19:27	#8
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Something off Retro Rides: __________________

07-01-2009, 19:59	#9
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	I'd probably suggest a recumbent too, never going to be great for going off road but some of them are stupidly efficient and look like rather a lot of fun. There is almost certainly a bigger market for them than for most trikes of the style in your first post so you should have more choice. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

08-01-2009, 12:53	#10
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Thanks, the more I read, the more I am convinced to look at recumbent. At the moment I'm putting this on hold due to other stuff that needs doing. Will keep thinking about this though.