Bandit project trike

[joeld0803]

I am estimating the ride hight to come out to around 6"-7" due to the low profile tires. I was hoping to achieve 8-10" but that isn't going to happen without completely moving my swing arms. I see alot of cars out there that are barely 6-8 inches off the ground so it should be fine.

I am hoping the front end geometry is correct.

Plan on orderiung the steering column and steering wheel as well as the rack and pinion in the next few weeks. I am really shooting for a rolling and running chasis by an August time frame.

[glassman]

Apr 24, 2012 20:09:29 GMT -5 joeld0803 said:

I just got my Mustang II drop spindles, rotor and brake set in today so I am building a template for my custom a arms and I'll get started on them ASAP and have more photo's coming.



Coilover shocks and the pedal set are coming in the next 3-6 days.........Yippie

These are the same that I used. Easy to find parts for.

[joeld0803]

They are actually a little heavier than I would have thought and I had to do some grinding on the caliper mount bracket due to it rubbing the rotor. No big issue for what it cost me and at least it is all new stuff and not stuff from a junk yard that would need rebuilding.
I thought about buying a front end out of a vehicle for about 300.00 but figured it would need work before being able to use it due to rust and use so I chose to buy the new stuff and build my own front end.

How is your project coming along.

My tires and wheels will be in next week and I am going to be working on the shock mounting this week to my lower a arms.

I have a feeling my ride hieght will end up around 5-6" as well with the klow profile tires on it.

We just recieved a bonus check this week so it looks like I'll be ordering more stuff. Seats, rack and pinion, steering wheel, and I am considering a chromed GM steering column from speedway.

It won't be too long and I will be dismantling the bandit. I really would like to find a GSXR 1300 wrecked bike to trade outright for the bandit so I could get more power and a 6 speed. I am worried the bandit may not have the power I want for it.

[joeld0803]

Shocks going in and trying to get everything fabricated and connected.

[joeld0803]

Finished up with the Link arm and pivot joints for the shocks today and got the connected to the lower A arms.

It's been a ton of work fabricating all these pieces but it wioll be rewarding when it is complete.





Need to do some shock adjusting on it tomorrow and tighten up the springs a little. Hopefully I won't need heavier springs.

Should have my tires by the end of the week.

[joeld0803]

Ok so after some deep thought on the subject and deliberation about the stability of my project as well as the limitation and cost of a wide tire kit I decided to take the back end of my project in a slightly different direction.

I decided to go with a short solid axle out of a Can am and use offset rims to achieve the almost feel of a single wide tire. This way it will still have a semi trike look but with 2 wheels on the back which will not only stabilize it better but also look more appealing because you will see the rims better from each side for uniformity purpose.

This is my plan and drawing I sketched out the other night.

[joeld0803]

Also I have done a little more on it since I recieved more parts and this where I am currently.








Next week I will get the front tires and rims as well as the rear tires and rims. The rack and pinion should arrive on monday and the I believe the Can am rear suspension kit will be arriving to so I will be busy getting the chasis in a rolling state.

Here is also a photo of the Can Am Rear suspension but I plan of going with dual rear shocks instead of a single and may have the swing arm pivot modified and widened to 2 feet.
The back of the axle carrier is only about 8 inches wide so I'll end up with about 10" of space between the rear tires which may work out well for my engine exhaust outlets. I plan on dualing it.




These tires are stock at 9" with a 2/5 offset and I am going with a 14X8 custom which has a 5/3 offset so the majority of the tire will be to the inside closer to the swingarm.

[glassman]

I do not believe that stability is going to be an issue. I think it will be cooler with one wide rear wheel than two. Gsxr parts fit the bandit, and they make wide tire kits all day long for those. Understand that ATV parts will not hold up to higher maintaimed highway speeds and use. It may last a while, but my belief is that is will fail.

[glassman]

I love the build, i just dont want you to muck it up by building a car ;D

[glassman]

I love the build, i just dont want you to muck it up by building a car ;D

[joeld0803]

Well I don't know of any car that has an atv rear axle let alone an ofset rear drive system except for maybe the newer bat mobile...........LOL!

I really wanted to go with a single tire and swingarm but mine is pretty wide at the rear and I really feel it will be much more stable with 2 wheels tucked close in at the back. It will still somewhat maintain that trike look but lets face it anything with a cockpit and steering wheel and peddles is already fast approaching a car concept.

I hate to disappoint but I really just couldn't afford the wide swing arm and motorcycle rear tire factor without spending another 2500.00. I hope it comes out as well as I plan for it to.

The complete Can am axle kit was only $850.00 which included everything from improved larger rear brake caliper and rotor, an aluminum billet double wide dual bearing carrier for improved support of the axle, a new sprocket, shaft and wheel hubs.

The back rims I purchased are 14X8 inches wide with an offset of 5" to the inside to close up the gap between the tires.

I appreciate your input even though it was a jab..........LOL!

It's already done and paid for and everything is in the mail and on the way.

I got the rack and pinion today and the rear rims. I need 12" extensions for each side of the rack due the wide front spindle spacing. It is right at 6 feet and the rack is about 4 feet from end to end without the tierods. Just more delimas but I will work through it.

[glassman]

Joel, we are going to get along just fine . Maybe you will prove me wrong . Either way this thing is super cool.

[joeld0803]

I appreciate all the comments as well as suggestions.

I am aware that the inside tire will turn faster than the outside in turns and I am hoping that tire scrub will be minimal although I know there will be some to deal with. As far as the perspective of everyday driving and passing and changing lanes we don't turn tight corners typically at higher speeds.

I am concerned about alot of things with it to be honest.........
Are my welds strong enough?
Are my angles correct for the front end geometry?
Will it track straight and true down the road?
Will it have shimmying issues in the front end?
Will my front A arms hold up to the task of doing what they need to do?

Will my engine have enough power?
Will I be able to get it registered and inspected here in Texas?

All these question go through my mind everyday as I do more to it hoping I am not making a mistake.

I know the swing arm and the axle will be up for the task of supporting the weight given the components I am using. I feel like since it is a solid axle if I am in a tight turn it will have a tendancy to lean to the outside of that turn due to sway and may very well allow the inside wheel to slightly lift and support the majority of the weight on the outside tire therefore not scrubbing the outside tire at all and possibly allowing the inside one to kind of free wheel more or less.

Again this would be a primary concern I would think in sharper turns at slower speeds. I already know the tire wear will be affected.

The fact is that I bought 14 inch by 8 inch rims and in case anyone hasn't done so lately you will find the sizes of tire are extremely limited. I am going to use a Toyo Proxis 888 performance street drag tire basically. It is made of a softer rubber compound and most likely going to wear out like a motorcycle tire but we shall see how it goes I guess.

I can only hope it works out better than I hope and better than some believe..

The tires will be close together at the back to hopefully minimize the scrub but a differencial wasn't really an option as I did not want a dune buggy per say. I intend for it to be different than anything else seen on the road if I can indeed get it on the road at all............LOL!

I am currently tying to get my rack and pinion installed and I am having to build 12" extensions on each of it due to the width of my spindles. They are exactlly at 6' and the rack was right at 45" outside to outside.

All my tires should be by friday and the axle should arrive next week so the only thing keeping it from being together will be my working my butt off to get it done so it at least is a rolling frame and I really am hoping for the best on it.

Again thanks for the input. There are really cool builds on here and I took ideas from everyone in here I believe based off what I was seeing.

[joeld0803]

I got the mustang II manual rack and pinion.

One thing to consider Tripplethreat it that the front end on this thing is a car not a 4 wheeler and the turning radius should be decent enough and the width is a big difference over a conventional 3-4 wheeler too so you bring up some concerns I have had about the solid axle and if it doesn't work then I'll be back to the drawing board so to speak trying something else.

I do know three wheelers had plenty of issues with tipping at high speeds but given the length and size of them as well as the narrow track rear it was unstable from the get go.

This creature I am building is 1 foot long fromt the front wheels to the back wheels and 6 foot wide from the center pointy of the 2 front tires so stability won't be an issue.... Esspecially with 2 wheels in the back. Maybe if there was a way to build a limited slip HUB for them then I might have something..........MMMMMM!

LOL!

[joeld0803]

I will post more pics of my progress as I go and keep everyone in the loop.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement as well as concerns.

I do listen but sometimes money has the last say.

For what I would have paid for a wide swing arm kit and wide custom motorcycle rim and tire........... I actually bought 4 tires and rims, a rack and pinion, a steering wheel and steering comumn, a peddle kit, and a complete rear Can am axle, swing arm, and upgrade performance parts for it like a billet double row bearing carrier and a larger heavier duty rear brake caliper and it will come with a new rotor and sprocket.

I didn't have to think too hard about it to be honest but I do hope I haven't made a mistake. I am really counting on the offset rims on that axle to greatly improve the ride and I hope it works.

[joeld0803]

rack and pinion is in and connected to the steering column.
Tires came in as well for the front so I had to throw them on and check it out.

Although they have a pretty good offset to the inside of about 5 inches I still have almost 7 feet fromt the outside of the tire to the outside of the opposite one. I may need to remake my a arms shorter to suck the spread in on it. The dang thing is wider in the front than my full size GMC. Crap..............

[glassman]

Looking good Joel. The width of your front end is why I don't think you will have any stability issues. What is your plan for a body?

[joeld0803]

It's actually too wide in the front coming in at 7 feet 2 inches.

I will probably have to cut down on the length of the swingarm points and try to knock 2-3 inches off each side if possible.

As far as the body I was planning on the open roadster cockpit design but I am considering purchasing some (plastic) cordoplast corrogulated sign material and using it for the body panels but taping together at the seems and then fiberglassing it to solidify it.

Here are the recent photo's.
I just had to throw the tires on there to see it for myself but they will have to come back off as I still have rear fab work to do once the axle comes in. It didn't make it this week and it looks like delivery is scheduled for tuesday.

Ideas are still running through my head about the rear but I am kinda stoked of the look in the photo's.









My coworker Scott hanging in the background. A riding buddy who is kinda impressed with what I am creating.

I still have a long way to go unfortunately.

[joeld0803]

Ok so I got up early and took the bandit motorcycle for a ride down to the shop to lket her see what she was becoming.

I was able to get some of the engine mount framing completed and decided to spend a little more time getting the Swing arn and axle in place.

At least it is moving forward.







I would still like to get rear the axle narrowed down and get the tires closer in together but that may have to wait till after I get her rolling around.

[joeld0803]

OOOOOOOOp's........Correction swing arm mount frame not engine framing but it's a start for the engine mounting.