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[HolyCount]

Not a car topic, but with the skills / knowledge base here I am hoping someone might be in the know:

For my trike front end I have opted for Unit Leading link forks and am after a combination, for the front wheel, of drum braked with a 16 or 17" rim and with a spindle diameter of at least 5/8".

Needless to say this particular combo is rarer than rocking horse pooh    So ... foolishly ( or bravely, depending on whether or not the wheel disintegrates) I have decided to have a go at building the wheel myself. Have got my eyes on a suitable hub/ drum set up, so now need to find a decent rim and, of course, custom spokes.

Does anybody know of good suppliers of rims and spokes etc ?  I have tried "googling", but only come up with a couple (both very pricey!).

[Sixstring]

Bro.....
Why Drum rather than disc brakes?

Good local trike people, in Bristol, pm me and give me your moby no, and I,ll give you all the info.

Mike.

[Mr Skrunts]

Just had a quick looksie.

This was a sub link but may/may not lead to some forum of help for you.

http://www.bikerlifestyle.co.uk/Links/bike-builders.html


http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=trike%20wheel%20builders&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw

http://www.google.co.uk/images?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=trike%20wheel%20builders&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

[SJKOO01]

If you don't mind me asking you, is it  bike or car engine power ?.

If you're going the leading link path, you may want to consider what is called square section tyre for the front wheel, as more tyre area contact on the road, which will help with handling.

Those riding trikes will use the rear brakes more so than the front, as its better to brake on the driven wheels.  It's totally different to riding a bike !.

[HolyCount]

Thanks for the replies, lads.

Sixstring and Smegmatt:  Trike is car engined ( Metro A+ series auto). So the braking effort will be on the rear wheels. Drum on the front because I only want a small braking effort there (don't want to lock up the front) and thinking of using that as the parking brake as it saves having to split breaking effort between wheels for the MSVA.

Am actually using a Phoenix body and frame (designed for VW flat four hanging out the back), with a custom subframe. With the A series lump a little forward of the axle (as opposed to the VW hanging behind) weight distribution will be far, far better

Tyre wise, was thinking of WM 3 or 4 with a square section tyre (a la sidecar), so am with you there Matt.

Thing to remember with a trike is not to try to lean into turns, or put a foot down at lights 

[Sixstring]

Bro....biult a couple of these trike thingy's, from experience DON'T use the front wheel as a drum, OR handbrake it, use discs all round, and brake the rear via a clutch slave cylinder "wired" in tandem with the rear brakes. use XS1100 front forks if not leading link, or square section tyre with AP racing front wheel (twin front disc and harley wide glide rim........)

beware of sprung weight of front as using auto box, assume its a 1.3???  and careful of exhaust, will need supertrapp or similar for noise regs now as trikes are subject to them...

Advice here if required.

Mike.

[SJKOO01]

Bro....biult a couple of these trike thingy's, from experience DON'T use the front wheel as a drum, OR handbrake it, use discs all round, and brake the rear via a clutch slave cylinder "wired" in tandem with the rear brakes. use XS1100 front forks if not leading link, or square section tyre with AP racing front wheel (twin front disc and harley wide glide rim........)

beware of sprung weight of front as using auto box, assume its a 1.3???  and careful of exhaust, will need supertrapp or similar for noise regs now as trikes are subject to them...

Advice here if required.

Mike.

Sixstring,

Not sure if you agree, but I wouldn't advise using twin disc's on a metro engine trike, I had a metro engine trike few years ago, and I could lock up the front with a single disc set up, and you could make some lovely number 1's on the tarmac  .
Personally I would go single small disc, and think about putting a bias valve in the braking system on the front, that way, if you're out and about, and it rains, you can back off the front brake so it doesn't lock up, and when the roads dry off, resume the level you had it set up when you started out.

I would aim for roughly 70% to the rear, and 30% to the front on a metro trike, as like you said it's finding the right balance.

If you want, you can pm me, and along with others I'll try to help out where I can, if I can ?.

This was how my trike looked when I got it


And this was how I changed it


Also owned a very rare Moto Guzzi V1000 Convert custom trike, and that pulled like a train, wish I never got rid of it now !   

[HolyCount]

Thanks for the advice Mike & Matt..... I will no doubt be back for more as things progress   

[Sixstring]

Yep, mate totally agree about the 70/30 bias split, would still use twin smaller discs though, but with an adjustable bias valve. Lush trike, Bro....mine was Yam XJ750 (maxim) powered, and then 1600 ford kent engine with BW35 auto box. sounds sluggish, but smooth and powerful up to its 85mph top speed (you wouldn't really want to be on a trike at much over that..........)

LOVE trikes........hate these "bolt-on" kits for any bike....
If you want one, BUILD one and be individual.

[SJKOO01]

Also rebuilt a Moto Guzzi trike.  This one had a very rare V1000 convert engine in it (semi-auto transmission), pulled like a train !.







You'll have to excuse the photos, but their old printed one's from a film camera years ago ! 

The classic brigade hated me for using this engine in it !  .

Didn't care, it was mine, and I did what I wanted.  Though wish I never got rid of it now  .

Got a H.D. powered trike at the moment, but not so keen on the engine, so thinking about ripping it out and putting in a Jap four cylinder 1100cc, or higher in place of it !