Zero to 20 mph on a Meridian trike

[TricycleMichael]

When out and about, I'm frequently asked "how fast does it go?" I usually respond with 20 mph, however, it does go 24.
Lately I've been saying 0 to 20 mph in 8 seconds. Did it six times, both ways and no wind.
Magnetic motor, 52 volt battery and 26 inch front wheel.
For 15 years I have been building and riding motorized trikes in a crowded university town with huge numbers of cars parading on special occasions - slowly looking for parking. With this unit I am able to zig zag around and get where I'm going quickly.

 

[ZeroEm]

When out and about, I'm frequently asked "how fast does it go?" I usually respond with 20 mph, however, it does go 24.
Lately I've been saying 0 to 20 mph in 8 seconds. Did it six times, both ways and no wind.
Magnetic motor, 52 volt battery and 26 inch front wheel.
For 15 years I have been building and riding motorized trikes in a crowded university town with huge numbers of cars parading on special occasions - slowly looking for parking. With this unit I am able to zig zag around and get where I'm going quickly.

View attachment 369165

I have a soft spot for them, built one for my mother. she lost her eye site and don't ride anymore. Then brother stole it.
Think about building another one but all the wheels need to be replaced. rims are one weak spot. Figure a Grin front motor would be the ticket.

 

[docw009]

Any tips on cornering the Meridians? Do you have to go down to walking speeds?

-From a guy who has never ridden one.

 

[TricycleMichael]

Cornering at about 8 mph requires a weight shift for the rider to balance. I have had one wheel lift which can be scary. Remember it's a tricycle, practice and pay attention. Bike riders who try a trike usually ride right into the curb or bushes. Swear the thing cannot be ridden. It's been said before trikes steer, bikes lean. I had trouble at first, however, practice and attitude. Left and right turns are hard on spokes because trikes don't lean, got to watch for wheel wiggle. Spokes can be adjusted without removing the wheels. Meridians have rear wheel weakness, I have two wheels on standby ready to go in case.

 

[ZeroEm]

Any tips on cornering the Meridians? Do you have to go down to walking speeds?

-From a guy who has never ridden one.

Lol, yep it is what you are thinking, slow down. My mother never tipped over but we did not race around. The Bike is easy to get on and off. does not fall over or need a kick stand, like a little truck. Would not go on rides with it just rain errands.
I moved the basket back a few inches and had put a 17ah down tube battery in the frame between seat and basket. I never replaced the rear wheels but did keep a check on them and tuned them when needed.

 

[E-HP]

I wonder if there are trikes that allow you to adjust the camber of the rear wheels, to help out a little during cornering. I like how your trike appears to be narrower than most I see around. It looks like it would help is tight or crowded spaces or narrow paths.

 

[E-HP]

Lol, yep it is what you are thinking, slow down.

Hey nice to see you back on the forum. I hope you're out there riding.

 

[Chalo]

I wonder if there are trikes that allow you to adjust the camber of the rear wheels, to help out a little during cornering.

For a rear drive trike, that would require a U-joint or CV joint on the drive axle, or at a minimum a twisted chain between crank and rear drive axle for 1WD. Given that the market for these things is too cheap even for differentials and 2WD, I think it's very far fetched to imagine cambered rear wheels on a commercial delta trike. It's easier and cheaper to make the rear axle wider with the seat lower down in between the rear wheels, but that's also an uncommon layout.

I'm a little mystified by why granny trikes don't come with wider track widths, since mostly folks seem to leave them out in the weather to rot rather than bringing them in through single doors anyway.

 

[E-HP]

For a rear drive trike, that would require a U-joint or CV joint on the drive axle, or at a minimum a twisted chain between crank and rear drive axle for 1WD.

I had a brain fart and forgot that even with a front motor, there's still pedaling involved lol.

 

[ZeroEm]

I had a brain fart and forgot that even with a front motor, there's still pedaling involved lol.

Not sure of this one, the one I built was a single speed. My mother was not into all the fancy stuff like shifting. Gave it pass and a thumb throttle. Had a geared front hub motor. Made a great parts runner.

Not riding yet, you can tell i'm thinking about it. I'm on here missing it. Been a rough two years, crashed my trike, mother went to hospital, I went to hospital, brother pass away, mother lost her eye sight, central air quit. Think that covers it. Trike has been in storage for a while. Wanting to drag it out and see whats what. I need the exercise.
What happened to private messaging?

 

[Papa]

The Schwinn Meridian's track (distance between the rear tires contact patches) is approximately 27" (686mm). That means the CoM height should be no higher than 13.5" (343mm) - when measured from the riding surface to 'approximately' the rider's belly button. 'Granny' trikes should never be motorized if the intent is to increase the speed higher than can be safely peddled.

I wonder if there are trikes that allow you to adjust the camber of the rear wheels, to help out a little during cornering.

Cambered rear wheels does not reduce tipping if the track width (distance between the contact patches) isn't increased.

 

[E-HP]

The Schwinn Meridian's track (distance between the rear tires contact patches) is approximately 27" (686mm). That means the CoM height should be no higher than 13.5" (343mm) - when measured from the riding surface to 'approximately' the rider's belly button. 'Granny' trikes should never be motorized if the intent is to increase the speed higher than when can be safely peddled.


Cambered rear wheels does not reduce tipping if the track width (distance between the contact patches) isn't increased.

I was thinking more about the flexing of the wheels, thinking the camber could help with that, rather that widening the track for stability.

 

[PaPaSteve]

Trike width ?
Minimum entry width for a cycle path design is 1 meter (39.37") {distance between bollards / poles etc.}
Typical front door width in the USA is 36" (.914 meter)

 

[E-HP]

Not riding yet, you can tell i'm thinking about it. I'm on here missing it. Been a rough two years, crashed my trike, mother went to hospital, I went to hospital, brother pass away, mother lost her eye sight, central air quit. Think that covers it. Trike has been in storage for a while. Wanting to drag it out and see whats what. I need the exercise.
What happened to private messaging?

Sorry to hear that. I had a few things like that happen, but luckily not all at once. Ebiking was good therapy. I’m recovered from my last accident now, and need to get my bike going to help me mentally more than physically.
PMs still exist. I turned mine off because I was getting too many help requests outside of the forum.

 

[ZeroEm]

Sorry to hear that. I had a few things like that happen, but luckily not all at once. Ebiking was good therapy. I’m recovered from my last accident now, and need to get my bike going to help me mentally more than physically.
PMs still exist. I turned mine off because I was getting too many help requests outside of the forum.

Oh, lol thought it me with the messaging. I can do less every year. but my trike kept me exercising. My heath is going down and need to get back in the saddle as long as I can. They have expanded the green way here added maybe 100 miles or more. The new talk is a bike trail from me in San Antonio, TX to Austin, Tx Chalo home. sorry for the clutter in the thread.

 

[Papa]

I was thinking more about the flexing of the wheels, thinking the camber could help with that, rather that widening the track for stability.

Unfortunately, I cannot intelligently respond to what someone is thinking... only to what they type. My apologies.

Yes, you are correct. Cambered rear wheels do reduce lateral wheel loading somewhat, but it's not a 'free lunch'. Tire wear and road friction increases slightly. The primary cause of Meridian's wheel failures points to junk components (spokes & rims), than lateral loading. I am aware of only three production deltas that employ camber; The Hase Kettwiesel, and two Sun trikes, one of which I own, the USX. The cambered Kettwiesel is the only one, (that I am aware of), that offers an optional 2WD differential.

 

[Chalo]

It's worth noting that cambered wheels have to be toed outwards so they don't scrub as they try to turn inwards across each others' paths. Even then, the contact patches have more internal scrub than vertical wheels, because the discrepancies in radius that exist in different parts of the contact patch are greater than that of a vertical tire.