Nitrotate's Trike Project

[nitrotate]

What’s up guys?

I’m building a reverse trike. I managed to get my hands on a Yamaha FJR 1300 for the powerplant!!! This thing’s going to move pretty good!

Here’s the pictures, I’ll keep adding to them as I progress, I’m moving pretty fast really. I built the frame and connected the motorcycle in about 5 days.

I’ll be working on the front suspension in the next couple weeks.

Here’s the bike I got, it was only wrecked in the front end, everything else is fine and it starts and runs perfect!

Here's the bike:



Here’s the frame:




Here is the bike connected to the frame, I'm still working on the support braces back to the bike:

[srx660]

Looks like a good start on your project. Have you decided on what front end to use? I found a good miata front end at my local japanese auto u-pull place in St Pete Fla for $180. I think it would work great for you. Be sure to get the master cyl and pedal assy out of the car with the front end if you do. It makes things a bit easier.

SRX660

[nitrotate]

Thanks!, well I'm actually using the front end out of an old toyota pickup that I got from my father-in-law for free. I have the steering, control arms, brake master cylinder etc. etc. All free!!

I'm actually thinking of buying a hydraulic pedal assembly from one of those sand rail/buggy companies. They have the entire pedal assembly, clutch and brake master cylinders, and gas pedal for around $150. I think that would be well worth the money because it solves a lot of problems and work. Plus the bike I'm using has a hydraulic clutch.

[nitrotate]

Ok latest update, I got all the support bars built, mounted and fully welded on. I made sure that the bike would detach before I welded them in place permanently. Got the bike all perfectly square and true. In these pictures the bike’s rear suspension is holding it in place and I can get inside and jump up and down to move the suspension. The only issue I have is the ground clearance is a bit less than expected so I’m going to have to raise the rear suspension up an inch or two.

Woohoo! Making progress! Now on to the front suspension…

[jim99]

Hi,

Nice build, same basic direction I'm planning for my second build. The first trike I built I planned for 5" of ground clearance, but after it was done I ended up with about 3 1/2" of clearance.

My plan was to fix that at a later date. I now have about 3,000 miles on trike and ground clearance has not been a problem and I have not bothered to change it. Hope this helps you a little.

Yours, Jim

[nitrotate]

Yeah that is nice to know. I have approximately 5.5" of clearance right now but I'm making it so that I could adjust if necessary which will be nice.

Thanks

[nitrotate]

Here's the latest update on the trike; I got all the supports totally done and adjusted the rear suspension to the right height by cutting and shortening the dogbones and welding them back together.

I got my wheels in and tires on!!! So now I've been able to start creating the suspension mounts.

Here is where I'm at right now, I just tack welded the upper control arm in it's final position so that I could fab up the mounting point. I have about 5 degrees of positive caster with the wheel straight and 6 degrees of anti-dive.




And here is the whole thing so far:

[nitrotate]

Where's all the trike builders?? Not much activity on this forum... Hopefully more people start posting this year! Happy new year!

Anyway here is my latest progress. She's standing up all by herself now!

[nitrotate]

Ok, got the steering all done except for the steering wheel and shaft, I’m waiting on a couple parts. I’m thinking I’m going to put in a U-joint as more of a safety feature than anything in case of an accident I don’t want the steering shaft to become a spear, hopefully the U-joint will allow it to fold instead.

I also got the seats mounted this weekend so now all I need to do is get the steering wheel positioned and then I can begin with the floorboard. Once the floorboard is done I can mount the pedal assembly that is on it’s way right now and start my favorite part, routing cables, lines, and electrical!

[Giovanni LiCalsi]

Here is a colapsable steering column and an adjustable upper steering column mount.It has a quick-disconnect steering wheel hub and is colapsable for collisions.Here is a really good rack-n-pinion if you decide to upgrade later.
*Woodward Steering Racks
*Speedway Motors Steering Columns

[nitrotate]

Nice! I'll keep that info, thanks a lot!

[nitrotate]

Did a little more mockup and measuring last night to find the right location for the steering wheel, now I just need to wait for the new steering wheel and pedal assembly to get here so I finalize and mount them.

My goofball dogs wouldn't stay out of the trike, I guess they think they get to go for rides already!

[nitrotate]

Ok so I took the tank, subframe and the pipes and just kind of sat them in place about how I envision them so you guys could kind of get an idea.
Oh and the pedals and throttle cable showed up yesterday so now I’ve got some time consuming and detailed work to do soon and my “visible” progress will slow down now but I’m still working just as fast. I have to get the pedal assembly positioned and then plumb the hydraulic clutch and brakes and then run the throttle cable.

[Giovanni LiCalsi]

Nice job but you may need more height on you rollbar.

[nitrotate]

Yeah it came out a little shorter than I had hoped for but I am still thinking of sort of a cage idea anyway so that will bring it up a little higher.

[nitrotate]

Ok so I got the steering shaft shortened, mocked up, the pedal placement figured out, and the flooring installed this weekend!
Now I just need to mount the pedals and start plumbing the brakes and run the throttle cable.

I decided I’m going to go to the salvage yard and see if I can find a VW bug with the collapsible steering shaft and just cut the collapsible section out of it and try to fit it in for safety.

[nitrotate]

Ok so I have brakes and a clutch!! Woohoo, now I just have to get the throttle cable ran, mount the steering shaft and steering wheel and then I can start working on the shifter. I think I’m going to use a push-pull cable and shift lever for now but my long term plan as an addition is an air shifter. I might start on the electronics here shortly while I wait for shifter parts to show up. My biggest hold up right now is the busted water pump cover I need to replace and the radiator with holes in it that I need to see if a shop can repair for me and then I can get it started again and check the clutch and shifting etc.

[Giovanni LiCalsi]

It is easy to build your own design of a steering wheel paddle-shifter.Just reverse-engineer this.The paddles are nothing more than a large toggle switch with 2 on-on positions.This can operate a wired 2-servo motor trans shifter.You can use door lock servos from a salvage yard or use a new servo.


www.tciauto.com/Products/Shifters/paddle/

firgelli.com/products.php

[nitrotate]

Ok so got the steering wheel mounted last night, now on to the throttle cable...

[nitrotate]

Feb 2, 2010 13:05:17 GMT -5 Giovanni LiCalsi said:

It is easy to build your own design of a steering wheel paddle-shifter.Just reverse-engineer this.The paddles are nothing more than a large toggle switch with 2 on-on positions.This can operate a wired 2-servo motor trans shifter.You can use door lock servos from a salvage yard or use a new servo.


www.tciauto.com/Products/Shifters/paddle/

firgelli.com/products.php

Nice thanks for the links man! I was considering an electric air shifter, I found them for around $300. and they come with everything I would need and also have the ignition interrupt module too so I don't even need to use the clutch.