Trike bracket

[lbz5mc12]

Has anyone seen or used one of these trike brackets? Turns your bicycle into a tricycle. If so are they any good? I want to do an E-trike build but I would like to use mostly parts I have on hand.

 

[StudEbiker]

There is a guy on my Bike E page that put one behind a Bike E. He seems to like it.

 

[AussieJester]

Has anyone seen or used one of these trike brackets?

Yes, i have used one on a couple of my custom trike builds

They work really well, not bad value for money, ChoppersUS sell them for a good price
either complete or just the axle assemble (which is what i bought) they sell the trike hubs
in standard and heavy duty...Best of luck with your build

KiM

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

That is very interesting, I have seen these on Ebay, (I imagine you have to be careful who you buy one from?) and I wonder how many of them have an actual differential and how many just have a single drive wheel.

I'm sure a differential will eat some power, but I have never liked the idea of one drive wheel causing things to potentially pull to one side under power.

It would be really neat if I could have one of these set-ups on my current 'bent so I wouldn't have to buy a whole new bike to have 3 wheels!

 

[AussieJester]

I'm sure a differential will eat some power, but I have never liked the idea of one drive wheel causing things to potentially pull to one side under power.

They are all solid axle the right wheel drives only, there is absolutely no
pulling under power either, that i experienced running ~4000watt
through it...

KiM

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

For some strange reason I cannot find these same kits with a differential like I have in the past on Ebay.

Here is a 'bent trike with one, nice little delta, might be my choice if I had the scratch (I would take one over the uber expensive and more difficult to get parts for a Kettwiesel, thought it is thought to be the ultimate in performance delta trikes)

This one has a alfine IGH as X-mission.

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

I'm sure a differential will eat some power, but I have never liked the idea of one drive wheel causing things to potentially pull to one side under power.

They are all solid axle the right wheel drives only, there is absolutely no
pulling under power either, that i experienced running ~4000watt
through it...

KiM

Oh, well then I guess that is an unfounded concern, I can't seem to remember where I saw it mentioned that was a concern either on ES or Bent Rider.

 

[Rassy]

LI-ghtcycle said:

I'm sure a differential will eat some power, but I have never liked the idea of one drive wheel causing things to potentially pull to one side under power.

On my old Sun EZ3 delta trike in original configuration, meaning pedal only, I could not start from a dead stop on a grade over 15%. When enough power was applied to the pedals to move (the right rear wheel) the front of the trike would just slew to the left.

How that applies to a single motor powered rear wheel I have no idea. I only powered that trike with either a front hub motor or a pusher trailer.

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

LI-ghtcycle said:

I'm sure a differential will eat some power, but I have never liked the idea of one drive wheel causing things to potentially pull to one side under power.

On my old Sun EZ3 delta trike in original configuration, meaning pedal only, I could not start from a dead stop on a grade over 15%. When enough power was applied to the pedals to move (the right rear wheel) the front of the trike would just slew to the left.

How that applies to a single motor powered rear wheel I have no idea. I only powered that trike with either a front hub motor or a pusher trailer.

Thanks for that info Rassy!

I didn't just imagine that after all!

Seems the places with steep hills in a commute really put things to the test!

Now I KNOW I have seen a "trike bracket" like the one shown in this thread that has a differential, I'm very seriously thinking of trying one.

 

[amberwolf]

I've used a similar trike kit on CrazyBike2 (not running the motor thru it) around Nov 2010, and the only issue I really ahd with it was that I could not turn at even 15MPH without tipping. If the bike were shorter wheelbase, it would probably be ok, but even with as low a center of mass as CB2 has, and using 24" tires on that kit, I am guessing I would have to stay 10-12MPH for turns.


One nice thing about the kit only having one wheel driven is that you could use a front geared hubmotor wheel on the non-driven side, and have the driven side be pedal powered, or even pedal+motor powered via middrive, which is still my eventual plan for using that trike kit, on a shorter wheelbase bike once I have time to work it out and build it.


There are indeed "differential-driven" trike kits, too, but I havent' seen them for sale separately, only already installed on trikes. They use a couple of freewheels and a dual chain from a hub in frotn of that (often a 3-speed), one chain off each spoke flange, driving the freewheel on each inboard end of each axle, so the wheels are independent but both driven as long as you're in a straight line. The hub is then driven by a chain from the pedals (or whatever) from it's normal input sprocket.

 

[recumbent]

http://www.lightfootcycle.com has a great line of delta trikes which have two wheel drive if you order it extra.

I think perhaps it may be wiser to get the trike and streerer tube angle, etc. designed around the trike rearend as opposed to the add-on version. Granted it might cost an extra $2,000, but your not going to potentially throw it away either.

These (Lightfoot) trikes have 30" - 42" widths to choose from, plus the clever design has the most storage space for batteries and groceries than any design I've ever seen.

I have no affiliation with this company except that I'm going to buy one soon. Easy to electrify, strong frame, and lots of storage space.

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

http://www.lightfootcycle.com has a great line of delta trikes which have two wheel drive if you order it extra.

I think perhaps it may be wiser to get the trike and streerer tube angle, etc. designed around the trike rearend as opposed to the add-on version. Granted it might cost an extra $2,000, but your not going to potentially throw it away either.

These (Lightfoot) trikes have 30" - 42" widths to choose from, plus the clever design has the most storage space for batteries and groceries than any design I've ever seen.

I have no affiliation with this company except that I'm going to buy one soon. Easy to electrify, strong frame, and lots of storage space.

Yeah, you're right, better to do it right and buy something (or build something) designed for the 3 wheel design, Lightfoot makes some really nice stuff, I have seen some in person at Coventry Cycle Works, but it's not in the budget at present.

I really like their off-road bent too! 8)

 

[StudEbiker]

You left an "s" off the URL.

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

You know, Lightfoot has some really amazing products, and they totally embrace E-Bikes and even Subaru Robin motored bikes!

Makes sense that a smaller "cottage" business can be this flexible and provide a service the bigger manufacturers scoff.

I'm really thinking more and more about something similar to their off-road recumbent for my "rain" bike instead of a crank forward.

Man that thing looks FUN!

 

[recumbent]

Got ya hooked on their bikes, I own a LWB recumbent of course, and these are not bad on dirt trails. Most trails i use are fairly tame and not too slow, which can be a hindrance on a recumbent bike. These long wheelbase bikes are not great balancing at very low speeds, otherwise they rock, everywhere else..

I'm going to buy the "Greenway" model for all my city shopping and drinking errands with my buddies.

Thanks "Studebiker" for fixing my link.

You can purchase the frame seperatly if you like.





edit: for spelling