hi all,looking for opinions on the best trike to electrify.i have not ridden any as of yet so do not have a clue.will be using cellmans 1000 watt mac geared rear hub motor with his 52 volt batt and controller.all opinions greatly welcomed.will be all weather trike as i live in minnesota.thanks.
best tadpole trike to electrify?
- Thread starter slacker
- Start date
Xanda2260
100 W
Can you weld? If so, I vote the Warrior trike from Atomic Zombie! It's awesome, and as you build it yourself, you can incorporate any mods you want ( docbass ultimate torque arms for example). I'm currently building one myself, and its damn good fun!
If you dont fancy building it yourself, lots of folks are havung a great time with KMX trikes. Check out Docbass's and Recumpence's - both rather epic!
Hope this helps
Alex
If you dont fancy building it yourself, lots of folks are havung a great time with KMX trikes. Check out Docbass's and Recumpence's - both rather epic!
Hope this helps
Alex
docnjoj
1 GW
If you want to go Velo with the option of removing the body for summer check out Steintrikes Mad Max or the newer wider trike with suspension. Definitely not cheap but the complete package. I think the body is called Thunderstorm.
otherDoc
otherDoc
LI-ghtcycle
10 MW
corkscrew said:
+1 on the tire clearance, I am amazed that there isn't much room for large balloon tires on many popular trike/recumbent bikes!
If I had not been able to squeeze in a 24 in fork on my Vision R-40 to get the fatty 2.3 inch Big Apple in there, I would have been very unhappy.
I'm not really the best person to say, but I have looked at the trike they sell for the Cyclone kits, and it looks to be a pretty good price, not sure about the performance, but pretty nice ride height IMO.
http://www.cyclone-tw.com/order-M.htm
You can buy it with-out their motor and add your own too if you prefer. I'm not a fan of motors with a planetary reduction, too much noise especially on the ones that are really efficient (high speed).
thanks for the replys,i cannot weld so i would be buying new or used.looking to spend under 2000 for trike so that rules out full suspension.where is the best place to buy actionbent trike?i have read a little about them,reviews have run about 50%for and 50%against.again thanks for the input.currently running big apples on my surly big dummy,love em.
Xanda2260
100 W
Kmx cobra and viper are £1299 = $2080. There is also typhoon at around £700 =$1120.
none of the kmx trikes have suspension though. Google kmx karts for web site. Ffr trikes sells them too.
No experience of any others Im afraid.
I couldnt weld 6 months ago either, dead easy to learn if you fancy it.
Alex
none of the kmx trikes have suspension though. Google kmx karts for web site. Ffr trikes sells them too.
No experience of any others Im afraid.
I couldnt weld 6 months ago either, dead easy to learn if you fancy it.
Alex
docnjoj
1 GW
That Cyclone trike does have a full suspension although the front travel looks like about 2". If it was a good trike the price is certainly right at about 950USD without a motor. It looks like a rear hub motor could be used easily.
otherDoc
otherDoc
Rassy
1 MW
Even though you aren't in the U.S., Utahtrikes.com is a good website to see many different brands, their prices, etc.
I think for an entry level trike to electrify the TerraTrike Rover would be a good choice, but with it's internal hub wouldn't lend itself to a rear hub motor. It sits high, so if you are planning on a hot rod it wouldn't be the best either. I like the square tubing frame for possible mid-drive applications.
Good luck on finding the right trike for your project.
I think for an entry level trike to electrify the TerraTrike Rover would be a good choice, but with it's internal hub wouldn't lend itself to a rear hub motor. It sits high, so if you are planning on a hot rod it wouldn't be the best either. I like the square tubing frame for possible mid-drive applications.
Good luck on finding the right trike for your project.
LI-ghtcycle
10 MW
slacker said:
Wow, you're kidding! You mean the Swedes let us have it back?!?
(J/K I'm Swedish decent and have family roots there IIRC ) I'll never forget how my Grandfather used to like to talk about how they pronounced it "Min-AH-so-TA"
My father had a great joke sign like this in his office! (can't find a pic, it's a yellow caution sign with the outline of a man with a long beard crossing 
)My uncle can do a pretty mean Yogi Yorgesson.
Must be getting to be a good time to find a deal, what with winter around the corner, I heard some places are unseasonably warm this year?
How about in your neck of the woods?
Rassy
1 MW
Okay, I'll try to remember that Minnesota is in the U.S. When I wrote that, I had just read one of the entries above that mentioned Euro's and was thinking it had to do with your location.
trident trikes are made bt TW Bents Taiwan.... i have one sold by by performance recumbent out of Chicago[ renamed performance arrow].. been riding it for two years now .no problems... no suspension ..... ii would definetly look at Cyclone motor... get it with a 960 or 1200 watt motor and supply your own battery and controller...Lyen can make a controller fot that motor... maybe consider adding a Nuvinci hub??? dont use the one Cyclone supply,its the old 171
Doctorbass
100 GW
If you want real performances go with a trike with LOW center of gravity!! otherwise on each cornering you'll feel unsafe...
The KMX i choosed ( the 2011 Typhoon) keep your ass at max 6 inch from the ground but can still go offroad!
Install an X5 on the rear wheel and a decent controller power and you'll feel like in a tesla aceleration!.. the seat really push you to the front and it,s amazing feeling!
Doc
The KMX i choosed ( the 2011 Typhoon) keep your ass at max 6 inch from the ground but can still go offroad!
Install an X5 on the rear wheel and a decent controller power and you'll feel like in a tesla aceleration!.. the seat really push you to the front and it,s amazing feeling!
Doc
sometimes it feels like minnesota is a different country with politicians like michelle bachman representing us.getting cold here and local bike shops are offering some pretty good deals.example new trek with 350 bionx for 1600$.tempting though i still want too build a tadpole with cellmans mac motor and battery.did not mean to offend anyone,really enjoy reading what everyone has built.thanks for all the suggestions.still undecided on which trike.
Kurt
10 kW
I'm running a TerraTrike Cruiser. There isn't a lot of trike's for sale in my area. So when one pooped up second-hand yet like new and at a good price price I grabbed it. I was originally after a KMX.
What I like about the trike.
Strong yet reasonably light Chrome Mollie frame. Its got a good amount of flex in it being steel and this isn't a bad thing on a trike as it gives a comfortable ride.
Linkage steering is very stable at speed even one handed. I have become confident enough to descend hills at 40mph + and not feel twitchy.
Adjust ability, the seat can be moved back and forth and inclined in a number of positions.
Mesh seat is light and has a good air flow through it so it breaths. No sweaty back after a ride.
Individual front brake control. Gives you the ability to brake mid corner and modulate the left and right brakes.
My trike came with wheel guards and I think they are one of the most practical accessory's you can have and don't look 1/2 bad to.
20" wheels all round. A lot of trike's use 18 or 16" wheel's and I feel the 20" are a better choice. Easier to get nice strong 406 BMX rims for and gives a better ride.You can even purchase a 26' rear wheel conversion for the terratrike
You can fit fat comfy BIG Apple tyres all round but if you run mud guards you need to use a spacer's to get clearance.
Hand brake parking pins on both brake levers.
After market support, buying a TerraTrike especially if your in the US is like buying a Ford or Honda lots of support and after market gear + parts are easy to come by.
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
king pin front axle assembly. This works fine and looks neat but is more subject to wear and eventually play in the bushings. A thread less head tube is a much stronger low wearing and more serviceable design. Although some of the top of the line trikes like green speed still use the king pin style. I have a lathe and can service mine myself so its not to big a issue.
Round tubing, this is really only a issue when it comes to mounting thing to it when electrifying the trike. Square tubing like the KMX use it much easier to mount to.
Platform peddles come stock. Its essential to upgrade them to clip in peddles for safety.
Plastic chain idlers are rubbish and a little noisy. you need to upgrade them for a smooth - quiet chain line.
gearing is a little low for peddling along at anything higher than 40kmh. Stock gearing is super low in 1st you can spin the back wheel no problem and climb anything but top gear 24th is a little low.
Stock scram grip shifters are a little vague and sloppy.I upgraded them to a entry level shimano grip shifters and they are 100% better.
The front wheel base it to wide to fit through a standard door opening. This is a pain when you want to store your trike indoors. especially when its got a motor and battery on it and is heaver than stock. You have to pick the trike up and carry it side ways. if you can take your trike through a garage door then this isn't a problem. Mine doesn't fit past my two cars so a pain ether way.
This last negative is more trike's in general than brand or style. I find my trike a little more restrictive then a two wheel bike. if I ride into the CBD on a two wheel bike lets say a small folding bike with a hub motor. I can get off and walk along side the bike in and around pedestrians and make my way around the cbd or foot paths without issue. With a trike this isn't a option your ether riding it on the road or bike path and that's it and you cant walk along with it.
Electrifying.
I have run both a RC motor and reduction belt drive to the rear wheel and now just this week I have mounted a geared hub. Bafang BMC geared hub. Both worked great. The little geared hub has amazing torque in a 20" wheel at 60v 45A controller.The rc drive was very efficient with the same controller and voltage and good weight balance. With the potential for Huge power but noisy. Both motors are free wheeling and I think this is a big + on a trike as you can take advantage of it by rolling down hills with low wind drag. Both systems weight about the same.
Over all there is nothing like sitting that low to the ground with a motor on a trike its like a gocart, Makes you feel like a kid again.
RC DRIVE
BAFANG BCM GEARED HUB
Kurt
What I like about the trike.
Strong yet reasonably light Chrome Mollie frame. Its got a good amount of flex in it being steel and this isn't a bad thing on a trike as it gives a comfortable ride.
Linkage steering is very stable at speed even one handed. I have become confident enough to descend hills at 40mph + and not feel twitchy.
Adjust ability, the seat can be moved back and forth and inclined in a number of positions.
Mesh seat is light and has a good air flow through it so it breaths. No sweaty back after a ride.
Individual front brake control. Gives you the ability to brake mid corner and modulate the left and right brakes.
My trike came with wheel guards and I think they are one of the most practical accessory's you can have and don't look 1/2 bad to.
20" wheels all round. A lot of trike's use 18 or 16" wheel's and I feel the 20" are a better choice. Easier to get nice strong 406 BMX rims for and gives a better ride.You can even purchase a 26' rear wheel conversion for the terratrike
You can fit fat comfy BIG Apple tyres all round but if you run mud guards you need to use a spacer's to get clearance.
Hand brake parking pins on both brake levers.
After market support, buying a TerraTrike especially if your in the US is like buying a Ford or Honda lots of support and after market gear + parts are easy to come by.
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
king pin front axle assembly. This works fine and looks neat but is more subject to wear and eventually play in the bushings. A thread less head tube is a much stronger low wearing and more serviceable design. Although some of the top of the line trikes like green speed still use the king pin style. I have a lathe and can service mine myself so its not to big a issue.
Round tubing, this is really only a issue when it comes to mounting thing to it when electrifying the trike. Square tubing like the KMX use it much easier to mount to.
Platform peddles come stock. Its essential to upgrade them to clip in peddles for safety.
Plastic chain idlers are rubbish and a little noisy. you need to upgrade them for a smooth - quiet chain line.
gearing is a little low for peddling along at anything higher than 40kmh. Stock gearing is super low in 1st you can spin the back wheel no problem and climb anything but top gear 24th is a little low.
Stock scram grip shifters are a little vague and sloppy.I upgraded them to a entry level shimano grip shifters and they are 100% better.
The front wheel base it to wide to fit through a standard door opening. This is a pain when you want to store your trike indoors. especially when its got a motor and battery on it and is heaver than stock. You have to pick the trike up and carry it side ways. if you can take your trike through a garage door then this isn't a problem. Mine doesn't fit past my two cars so a pain ether way.
This last negative is more trike's in general than brand or style. I find my trike a little more restrictive then a two wheel bike. if I ride into the CBD on a two wheel bike lets say a small folding bike with a hub motor. I can get off and walk along side the bike in and around pedestrians and make my way around the cbd or foot paths without issue. With a trike this isn't a option your ether riding it on the road or bike path and that's it and you cant walk along with it.
Electrifying.
I have run both a RC motor and reduction belt drive to the rear wheel and now just this week I have mounted a geared hub. Bafang BMC geared hub. Both worked great. The little geared hub has amazing torque in a 20" wheel at 60v 45A controller.The rc drive was very efficient with the same controller and voltage and good weight balance. With the potential for Huge power but noisy. Both motors are free wheeling and I think this is a big + on a trike as you can take advantage of it by rolling down hills with low wind drag. Both systems weight about the same.
Over all there is nothing like sitting that low to the ground with a motor on a trike its like a gocart, Makes you feel like a kid again.
RC DRIVE
BAFANG BCM GEARED HUB
Kurt
thanks for the replies,good to hear about terratrike cruiser,looks like a good trike.how hard to swap out the front bushings when worn out?is the cruiser the same frame as the path but with cheaper components?also like the lifetime warranty and have local dealer so i could test drive as i do not want to spend that kind of money without test drive first.trying to keep entire build under 2500$
Kurt
10 kW
The bushings and pin are dead easy to replace. Just one bolt for each side. And press out the bushing. The bushings are only $4 each and really they don't wear out that fast they just don't last for ever like a head tube style would. To be honest mine has some play and I have a new set of bushings but havn't got around to installing them and it still functions fine.
You can actually get a upgraded assembly with a harder wearing pin from Utar trikes http://www.utahtrikes.com/CAT-Steering Components.html it gives you two complete axle and king pin assembly for about $150
Yes the path is all the same other than gearing. So most likely would be a better option and you could sell the rear wheel and hub gearing when you electrify it.
so the trike is $1000 and a free-wheeling geared hub is around $300 built into a strong 20" wheel. A infineon controller 12 fet is around $100, 10 for a throttle and you have $600 for 48v lipo 15ah or even 15ah life battery -& charger rear wrack and other items like a CA. You should be able to build a nice bike for around $2000.
This pic gives you some idea of how simple the the axle - steering assembly is.
Kurt
You can actually get a upgraded assembly with a harder wearing pin from Utar trikes http://www.utahtrikes.com/CAT-Steering Components.html it gives you two complete axle and king pin assembly for about $150
Yes the path is all the same other than gearing. So most likely would be a better option and you could sell the rear wheel and hub gearing when you electrify it.
so the trike is $1000 and a free-wheeling geared hub is around $300 built into a strong 20" wheel. A infineon controller 12 fet is around $100, 10 for a throttle and you have $600 for 48v lipo 15ah or even 15ah life battery -& charger rear wrack and other items like a CA. You should be able to build a nice bike for around $2000.
This pic gives you some idea of how simple the the axle - steering assembly is.
Kurt
Hillhater
100 TW
That king pin / stub axle set up is so very similar to most race go karts, ... but they always use dual ball bearings instead of bushings.
bearings are so cheap ( cheaper than bushings ?) , i dont understand why they would not fit them.?
bearings are so cheap ( cheaper than bushings ?) , i dont understand why they would not fit them.?
Kurt
10 kW
Its on the cards to modify mine to bearings one day. I have jut been to busy riding it
Kurt
Kurt
kmxtornado
10 kW
THE REASON WHY PEOPLE GO WITH KMX'S IS B/C: Feel free to add to the list.
- FFR uses it pretty much exclusively. They're kits are very well known for mounting on KMX's.
- KMX frames are also the only square frame which makes it convenient for mounting. No need to worry about components rotating along the tube.
- The frame's also really durable and can hold the the weight of a motor and battery without a problem
- It has a great warranty.
- KMX's are also fairly cheap, relative to other recumbent trikes. Most new bent trikes already don't make much financial sense and when you electrify it, the cost gets exponentially higher. You can't pick up a used bent trike for $45 like you can a bicycle.
- Maybe cheap isn't the right word. KMX's are of better value than other trikes (arguable). Others in the same price range as the Tornado model are only built as single or three gears, whereas the older Tornado F7 model had 7 gears and was $799 before shipping/tax. Compare that to $1,000-$1,300 base price for most other competitors. Pricier still are other models averaging in the $2,300 range (give or take a few hundred bucks).
- Perhaps the location of the idler has something to do with it.
- ????
- FFR uses it pretty much exclusively. They're kits are very well known for mounting on KMX's.
- KMX frames are also the only square frame which makes it convenient for mounting. No need to worry about components rotating along the tube.
- The frame's also really durable and can hold the the weight of a motor and battery without a problem
- It has a great warranty.
- KMX's are also fairly cheap, relative to other recumbent trikes. Most new bent trikes already don't make much financial sense and when you electrify it, the cost gets exponentially higher. You can't pick up a used bent trike for $45 like you can a bicycle.
- Maybe cheap isn't the right word. KMX's are of better value than other trikes (arguable). Others in the same price range as the Tornado model are only built as single or three gears, whereas the older Tornado F7 model had 7 gears and was $799 before shipping/tax. Compare that to $1,000-$1,300 base price for most other competitors. Pricier still are other models averaging in the $2,300 range (give or take a few hundred bucks).
- Perhaps the location of the idler has something to do with it.
- ????
Kurt
10 kW
I agree the KMX trike's make great platforms with some advantages. Never heard of any complaints.
Kurt.
Kurt.
Xanda2260
100 W
KMX are defo great value. Still to rich for me though, so DIY was the only way. Keep your eyes peeled for the White Warrior, coming to a forum near you soon...
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