It
finally runs but I had to sit on the floorboard to ride it. I got a little
over anxious, but I just had to see what it was going to feel like. I was
able to check the rear brakes and they were adjusted pretty close. Both
grabbed at the same time. If they didn't it will pull the front-end
sideways because the front of the bike is very light.
Just another view of my trike. Once I got this far along I
could not quit taking pictures of it. It makes you really proud to
accomplish something like this. When you tell people you are building a trike they
look at you like you are crazy, really not believing you
I put some fenders on my trike using 3/4 inch square tubing
and having a steel fabricating yard bend four pieces into a radius about
the size of the tires. I then wrapped sheet metal around them and made the
fenders. I could of bought some pre made fenders but I could not find any
wide enough.
Soon as I got the fenders made and installed it on the
trike, I hauled it to town and got license on it so I could ride legally
on the highway. I wanted to see what it felt like and I found out I had
the front-end lying a little too flat. It was very hard to steer so I
changed the angle and it really helped. It only took about a half a day to
do this and it was worth the trouble.
The
more I looked at my trike, the more I thought it was to boxy. So I
decided to put a top on it which I think really dressed it up. First I
made a frame out of 1 inch square tubing. I used sheet metal on the sides
and used a saber saw to cut the metal. I cut holes in the sides for
windows which I thought made it look better.
A rear view of the frame work and the sides. Still have not
put a top on it yet because I cannot make up my mind what I want to use. I
got too much warping when I welded the sheet metal to the frame work. I
am not the best welder in the world so I have to do what I can do with
what I have.
I
now have the top on and I used aluminum plate which was about 3/32 thick.
I did not have any way to bend such a big piece of aluminum so I called
several steel fabricators and there was only one that could role it for
me. He said it would be about a week before he could get to it. Well I
could not wait that long so I proceeded to build me a wooden frame work to
lay the aluminum on so I could bend it myself. After I got the frame work
constructed I laid a 20 gallon propane tank on the aluminum and added some
weight to it with my front-end loader on my tractor. Well it bent almost
perfectly around that propane tank.
The finished product after I bent the aluminum. I cut a
window in it so I could see out the back and I think it will also cut down
on the
wind resistance. I do not plan on putting any glass in the back window. I
will paint the aluminum the same color as the rest of the trike.
Almost
all finished, but you know it will probably never be completely finished.
Every time I ride it I find something else to do. I went on a 250 mile trip
with it and my wife and daughter rode in the passenger seat. I noticed my legs and feet were getting very tired
sitting on
the little round foot pegs. Almost the next day I bent some more aluminum and
made floor boards. Much more comfortable now and do not have to worry
about my feet falling off the pegs. You can almost go to sleep now. The windshield
really helps cut down on the wind
resistance.
What
can I say about this photo but that I am very proud of my trike and hope
to be able put many miles on it riding with my family setting in the seat
behind me. Might add the blue suitcase that you see behind the passenger
seat is where I carry my coats, gloves and whatever else I might have to
take on my trip. With the top on the bike and no window in the back every
thing seems to just fly right out the back window. Eventually I will get a
box fixed that does not look like a suitcase.
The
dash showing the switches and gauge. You can also see the running boards I
added.
Have
been putting some flames on the sides. Decided to make my own decals
instead of buying them. My daughter drew the flames and I cut them out. My daughter
also had better luck on installing them. I could not get them straight.
View
from the back showing the wheelie bar and wheels. These are steel wheels
that will withstand several hundred pounds. Some times they hit the
pavement pretty hard especially when I am showing off just a little.
<VBG>
This
is picture of my Kawasaki Vulcan 500 cc that I use to own. It
was a
great bike and rode like a dream. It had the stability of a larger bike
but was only 500 cc.
My Trike is now for sale $5,500.00 or
make offer. Sorry it has sold but I could be
convinced to build another one.
