Post by qdawgvfr on Aug 19, 2013 12:20:47 GMT -5
Love everything about the VFR, and plan to keep riding one.
This idea is for my wife, so she can eventually ride her own bike. Some of this post is repeat from my intro thread, but I wanted to start this thread to develop this idea further and ask all my questions. Not entirely sure I picked the right location on the forum, but feel free to move it if it is in the wrong spot.
Eventually, I would love it if my wife rode her own bike, but she absolutely does not feel comfortable with the idea of 2 wheels, having something that can slide out from under her, or she could tip over. So she says it has to be some sort of 3 wheeled vehicle if she will consider riding solo.
She says she is OK with Can Am or Goldwing type trike, but I know their limitations and question whether or not she would enjoy trying to ride with sport touring crowd with one of those machines. We all practice riding our at our own "pace", but with those choices, she would be fighting the machine in the corners.
I would like something that gives her more of the motorcycle feel, but with the security benefits and safety that three wheels can provide.
Ideally, I would like to buy or build a leaning front end kit (similar to the Brudelli Leanster) to convert a Honda VFR into a trike for my wife to ride. Something that can / will lock at low speeds to hold her upright. I'm not sure how comfortable she will be with this. She says she is willing to try, but if it feels exactly like a motorcycle to ride, then I wonder if she will be nervous about the lean angle and how freely the bike tilts? Or is the tilting tied to the steering? Is that possible or advisable?
I don't know enough about the mechanics of the leaning front end trikes out there: how exactly they are free to lean and how the lock up features work.
Timeline is a few years from now that she would be willing to ride her own: it makes no sense right now with our kids being as young as they are, because we only get out once or twice a year on a bike trip. So I have a few years to research and buy / build it.
If my wife is NOT agreeable to the leaning option after I investigate specifics further, I think I would still want to build a non-leaning version reverse trike VFR. I figure it can be done cheaper than buying a CanAm Spyder, and be more unique. If I went this route, I think I would lower the whole thing as much as possible to keep center of gravity low. Should I build front subframe that attaches in place of front end and can be returned to stock if desired? Alternatively, one could build a completely custom frame which is purpose built, but accepts the bodywork and mechanicals of the VFR. This latter option sounds like a lot more work and I am not sure about the legalities of it.
If someone can link me to some relevant information, I would sure appreciate it.
What are some other considerations? I have some minimal welding skills, am very good mechanically, and have a brother in law who is a welding instructor to make sure things get done right if I (he) make my own.
I would like to keep the cost down as reasonable as possible. I have a bunch of extra VFR bodywork and spare parts kicking around to experiment with if need be.
This idea is for my wife, so she can eventually ride her own bike. Some of this post is repeat from my intro thread, but I wanted to start this thread to develop this idea further and ask all my questions. Not entirely sure I picked the right location on the forum, but feel free to move it if it is in the wrong spot.
Eventually, I would love it if my wife rode her own bike, but she absolutely does not feel comfortable with the idea of 2 wheels, having something that can slide out from under her, or she could tip over. So she says it has to be some sort of 3 wheeled vehicle if she will consider riding solo.
She says she is OK with Can Am or Goldwing type trike, but I know their limitations and question whether or not she would enjoy trying to ride with sport touring crowd with one of those machines. We all practice riding our at our own "pace", but with those choices, she would be fighting the machine in the corners.
I would like something that gives her more of the motorcycle feel, but with the security benefits and safety that three wheels can provide.
Ideally, I would like to buy or build a leaning front end kit (similar to the Brudelli Leanster) to convert a Honda VFR into a trike for my wife to ride. Something that can / will lock at low speeds to hold her upright. I'm not sure how comfortable she will be with this. She says she is willing to try, but if it feels exactly like a motorcycle to ride, then I wonder if she will be nervous about the lean angle and how freely the bike tilts? Or is the tilting tied to the steering? Is that possible or advisable?
I don't know enough about the mechanics of the leaning front end trikes out there: how exactly they are free to lean and how the lock up features work.
Timeline is a few years from now that she would be willing to ride her own: it makes no sense right now with our kids being as young as they are, because we only get out once or twice a year on a bike trip. So I have a few years to research and buy / build it.
If my wife is NOT agreeable to the leaning option after I investigate specifics further, I think I would still want to build a non-leaning version reverse trike VFR. I figure it can be done cheaper than buying a CanAm Spyder, and be more unique. If I went this route, I think I would lower the whole thing as much as possible to keep center of gravity low. Should I build front subframe that attaches in place of front end and can be returned to stock if desired? Alternatively, one could build a completely custom frame which is purpose built, but accepts the bodywork and mechanicals of the VFR. This latter option sounds like a lot more work and I am not sure about the legalities of it.
If someone can link me to some relevant information, I would sure appreciate it.
What are some other considerations? I have some minimal welding skills, am very good mechanically, and have a brother in law who is a welding instructor to make sure things get done right if I (he) make my own.
I would like to keep the cost down as reasonable as possible. I have a bunch of extra VFR bodywork and spare parts kicking around to experiment with if need be.