Trikes are modified motorcycles that have a single wheel in the front similar to a two wheeled motorcycle and a wide rear axle that is similar to that of a car . And bikers are crazy about them. If you want to own one, you can buy one that’s ready made by Harley , buy one of the good used trikes for sale but you can also build your own trike just as long as you have the necessary tools and a moderate amount of mechanical skill .
Before you start tearing down your motorcycle to convert it , you should know that many before you have found building a trike can be more than they bargained for and ended up throwing up their hands or taking the less difficult route of converting an old Volkswagon car into a trike. This method has certain benefits as far as performance is concerned as well as it’s a way of recycling a VW that would have otherwise wound up in a salvage yard . You get a custom VW trike and do a little something to save the environment at the same time!
TRIKE BUILDING PARTS, TOOLS and EQUIPMENT
To get started on your conversion , you have to have a motorcycle, tools and equipment and at times, an extra set of hands. Equipment common to a welding and/or machine shop is crucial to the building process and once you have the motorcycle together , it’s going to need a paint job for it to look its best if you added fenders.
Here is the short list of tools, parts and equipment that you will need to build a trike in addition to the usual sets of wrenches and screwdrivers found in most toolboxes.
A welding machine , welding supplies and welding equipment
A pair of Floor Jacks
A metal lathe
Sheet metal and Sheet metal stock
A pair of trailer wheels and tires
If you add fenders you will need a paint booth, paint and painting supplies.
STEP 1.
Secure your two wheeled motorcycle on the floor jacks , loosen the nuts on the sides of the rear axle. Slide the rear tire forward while sliding the chain off the sprocket letting you to pull the wheel off the swing arm.
Now’s the time to make a decision on how wide you want the axle of the trike . You can make your axle as wide or as narrow as you want it but standard width is usually 38 ½ from drum to drum. Although I’ve heard of widths of as wide as 45 ½ and as narrow as 35 inches let’s assume that you want to build a trike that is half as wide as its total length.
STEP 2.
Determine how long the rear axle should be according to these measurements and then subtract the length of the axle that is in place from that number. Divide this number by two and you’ll have the measurement of the axle that you will be welding to each side of the original rear axle .
Use the metal lathe to turn some of your metal stock to make it the same thickness as the existing rear axle. Weld your turned pieces to each end of the existing axle being absolutely certain that you’re welding them squarely .
STEP 3.
You are now ready to start welding the wheel hubs onto the ends of your modified axle and to put the new axle in place on the swing arm. Snug up the nuts and replace the chain back on the sprocket. Mount the trailer wheels and tires onto the ends of the extended axle and secure them with lug nuts.
At this point in the project , you have the option of adding fenders (which will have to be painted to match the rest of the motorcycle ) or just taking your new baby out for a ride and proving to your biker friends that you know a thing or two about how to build a trike motorcycle.
WARNING
Amateurs might misread the title of this article as “How to Build a Trike in Three Easy Steps” because well…I condensed the instructions into three steps that may actually be easy to experienced motorcycle mechanics. But the truth is that actually building a trike takes more than a little welding and metal working skill. For instance, if the axle is not square your trike is going to shake like crazy on the road creating a very dangerous situation that could cause a horrible motorcycle crash with possible casualties and that’s just one of number of other things that can happen if you mess up .
If you have the least little doubt that you possess the necessary skills, do yourself (and everybody on the road ) a favor and shop the motorcycle classifieds for a good used trike for sale or ask an experienced friend to help you learn how to build a trike before you get in too deep .
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Thanks! Great interview.
“t seems senseless to spend thousands of dollars on a boat, only to see it scraped and scratched every time you tie up at the gas dock. A simple and inexpensive solution to this is a boat fender. There are literally hundreds of different boat fenders in many different colors to suite your needs and your style.
Not only are boat fenders useful when you are tied up at the dock, but they are also helpful when navigating your way to the open slip at the back of that finger pier down on the end. The fenders are very useful in protecting your boat, as well as others, as you slowly navigate your way in between other boats when approaching that open slip at the pier.
While most boats will have a rub rail incorporated into their design, it is still a very good idea to have a couple of boat fenders to protect your boat from the dock. The number of boat fenders required will depend on the length of your boat. Typically, a boat with a length of up to 26′ would require two boat fenders. Most likely, depending on the structure of the pier, the boat will be tied off to two pilings, thus, the need for two fenders. In some cases you may want a third fender which will give added protection to the lower part of the hull.”
LOL ns done 5 stars
very nice thanks for sharing, i have a month more before mine is delivered..
Many people were interested due to physical limitations. This innovation is needed, not by you, but there are many motorcycle enthusiasts that cannot ride manual bike anymore. Not to mention those who feel that it is a sign of the times. Even the first automobile was so manual you had to crank it up to start it up. The automobile was only manual. The automatic came and it dominated the market , it too had critics that insisted on the 8-track , I mean the stick shift. This is the I-pod
Run a magic marker over the scratch and as fast as you can wipe it off before the ink dries….. Works every time…. The ink will stick to the clean metal scratch easier than the black finish it already has….
hello im going to get a set of wheels and tires from am muscle and was wandering if there was a discount for stangnet members?
lol that be a good game
Someone did you a favor! Sorry but this is a low end Target, bike shaped object (not a real full suspension bike) and a new pair of wheels will likely cost you about 1/2 of what you originally paid for the bike if not more. QR wheels are more expensive than bolt on wheels and now you know better and will lock your bike up the right way wont you? Any 26" wheel that works with a skewer with a 130mm rear and a 90mm front is likely all you need and any tire up to but not over 26×2.125 is all you need and no smaller than a 26×1.75 would work fine, no need to go smaller since this bike pedals like a brick anyway.
) April 15, 2009 — RockSolid Floors Polyurea DIY Garage Floor Coating is the latest advancement in floor coating technology, providing the best of all worlds in the garage enhancement industry. Featuring greater durability and being four times stronger than epoxy floor paints, RockSolid Floors releases the first do-it-yourself, one-coat polyurea floor coating system on the market. It’s impact-resistant to floor jacks, jack stands, and vehicle traffic. It’s impervious to hot tire pick up. It’s highly chemical-resistant to oil and even dot 3 brake fluids. Best of all, you get that durability and flexibility, packaged with a beautiful shine.
more -> RockSolid Floors Offers Greener Garage Floor Coatings With New Polyurea One-Day DIY Kit – Blogger press release
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Hammond condemns Network Rail bonuses: Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, has condemned…
Airkewld.com 10% off Discount Coupon for Custom VW Auto Parts
#Imsoboredicould play dodgeball w/ wrenches right now
Any japanese bike built from 1982 on up will be very reliable. They basically have bullet proof engines and the electronics are very stable. BUT like any other vehicle breakdown can and do occur. It would be wise to invest in a good set (craftsman from sears)of basic tools-screwdrivers, sockets and wrenches that will fit what ever bike you get and a repair manual for what ever bike you get. You will not be sorry. The one advantage that used bikes have over new ones-when an inexperienced rider drops it and you will drop it, it already has nicks and dings and such in the tank and paint. Not a lot, but some. And you will not feel so bad for damaging a motorcycle.
Nice lathe, I just saved a turn of the century lathe from a barn, Hope to have my lineshaft setup soon. GOOD JOB. Phil
Also, I had some trouble using the knurling tool for the same reason (the bottom wheel touched before the top wheel, and that made for an uneven knurl). Again, this wasn’t an issue for me because I prefer a scissor type knurling tool to the bump type that the G5689 QCTP comes with. However, I thought it was worth mentioning this as well. Have you come across a different QCTP that fits better? If so, please share. And thanks for your comment!
Quick fix – foil tape.
Probably better – aluminum roof cement – comes in a can like a paint can at the hardware store – sticky and messy, you spread it on with a putty knife, but only when the roof is clean and dry – it will last for many years.
I THINK YOU SHOULD GO TO A PROFESSIONAL INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BE MR GADGET…AND A OLD CHEAP MO PED ENGINE IS JUST GONNA BE A WASTE OF MONEY FOR A TURBO CHARGER…BUT IF U LIKE TO GO 10 MILES PER HOUR GO FOR IT…
Former G-town nemesis Rudy Gay throwing wrenches into everybody's Plan Bs and Cs signing that extension with the Grizz
wow
Great read, thanks for sharing.
Since we are writing about How to Build a Trike Motorcycle | Discount Helmet Factory Blog, Try to prevent getting items that are branded. Select non-brands and try looking for items on the highest or lowest shelves for perfect prices. Grab the chance and shop throughout sales or use coupons.
Thank you for sharing the information with us. My friend is looking for the related information, and i will introduce the post to him to give the help.
Nice post, thank you. As the beginning, i had no idea how to build the trike motorcycle, after reading the post, i gain the general idea about it. I think i will try it in the future.
Fantastic post, thank you. Your experience will help us build the trike motorcycle in the future. I will introduce it to my friends in the future.