Trikes being Unstable

GoldenMotor.com

reb1

New Member
Aug 15, 2010
116
0
0
CALIFORNIA
If you want an engine kit on a trike and want to pay for it LightFoot offers there recumbent delta trikes with either electric or gas engine assist. They will build the assist so it hooks into your gears. You can order the setup with external or internal gears. If I was rich I would get a Rohloff 14 on one.
 

motorbiker

New Member
Mar 22, 2008
569
0
0
Tampa Bay Florida
Corgi, Good points, all.
Let's build the ultimate trike. Low COG and the proper front to rear weight distribution, four stroke and gears... Let's shoot for 35mph, tops :)
Tom
I am thinking hybird.

Electric and a small light weight gas engine that would charge the batteries and power the trike if needed.

Electric drive is best in all ways but the battery weight and charging times.

The motors and battery weight on a trike could be used to make it more stable depending on the placement of the motors and batteries.

The electric motor that drives the trike would also be used to charge the batteries.

Easy to hook up lights too.

Florida has a seat height of 24 inches in the law ?

I am not seeing any rules on the axle width of a trike.

Most factory sizes may be to get it through the door.

usflg


http://books.google.com/books?id=0c...&resnum=1&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
 
Last edited:

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Your comments on a hybrid and how batteries could be an asset in a tricycle made me think back to a hybrid I had with a two wheeler some years ago. Now I'm thinking about it again, but this time as a three wheeler. In a post this morning on another thread I wrote...
"At one time I had both the Golden electric pancake hub motor up front plus a Bikebug gas friction drive motor powering the same wheel. Most of the time I was using gas, but electric alone starting out and both when it came to inclines. It was nice except for the weight of the batteries and the placement of them too high up on the rear rack of the bike. Along with two hundred pounds of circus bear on the seat it was one heavy rig going down the road and on a 1934 Elgin it was different all right... ha! I think the concept was fine. The hybrid setup gave a whole lot of range and had the potential for a regenerative system so the batteries could be recharging while under gas power. The little bikebug motor was just 26cc, adequate for flats, but wimpy on hills."
So anyway, you've got me thinking about a three wheeler hybrid using some of what I already have sitting here. Even my lead acid batteries would be OK, placed to each side on the rear axle. Might help stabilize the bike. I can get a 48 volt controller with regenerative wiring and still use the same hub motor, giving it more power and putting 2 12 volt lead acid batteries inboard of each rear wheel. For starting out, inclines and silent running the electric would be used. For cruising on the flats the bikebug can do that and be recharging the batteries as it runs. It's a thought.
SB
 

reb1

New Member
Aug 15, 2010
116
0
0
CALIFORNIA
I do not believe the authorities would hassle you about seat height. The same law is listed for non motorized bicycles and I rode a recumbent for several years in Florida. Many of the three wheelers are about 32" wide. Some are 42. I have rode with a friend who had a recumbent trike and he has been asked if he made it him self. This is a common question with police. They know if it was not made by a manufacture that they can question your right to use it on the road. A 27 pound Honda generator and a quick charger for the 10 a 15 amp hour set of batteries with a fast charger would extend your range before stopping to charge. I do not believe they have found a way to make a generator put out enough to be with or ahead of the usage. At least not one that would not be to heavy for your purpose. You might be able to get it setup so you only wait 1 or 2 hours while you are charging the batteries.
I have seen a recumbent tandem trike pulling a trailer that was solar. The extreme weight of the three huge solar panels and batteries took quit a structure to support them. One panel over the tandem trike and two over the trailer.
 

corgi1

New Member
Aug 13, 2009
2,272
3
0
KCMO
In # 23, the thing obout 24 inch seat height ,does that mean that 80%-100% of the cars are illegal in florida?and many motorcycles and recumbent bikes?,,,I love that mans three wheel show,,,on a 4 stroke there are many posibilities of fuels for the hybred combo
 

motorbiker

New Member
Mar 22, 2008
569
0
0
Tampa Bay Florida
In # 23, the thing obout 24 inch seat height ,does that mean that 80%-100% of the cars are illegal in florida?and many motorcycles and recumbent bikes?,,,I love that mans three wheel show,,,on a 4 stroke there are many posibilities of fuels for the hybred combo
25" ?

Every vehicle propelled solely by human power, and every motorized bicycle propelled by a combination of human power and an electric helper motor capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of not more than 20 miles per hour on level ground upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels. The term does not include such a vehicle with a seat height of no more than 25 inches from the ground when the seat is adjusted to its highest position or a scooter or a similar device. No person under the age of 16 may operate or ride upon a motorized bicycle.

Bike Laws (1)

I sure don't know why.

People around here sitting low use pvc pipes with a flag sometimes so they can be seen better.
usflg
 
Last edited:

Etriker

New Member
Jan 12, 2009
11
0
0
Lakewood Ohio
I have been ridding tikes for years, and love them. I have learned the ins and outs of these beasties, and find them stable if you learn how to ride them properly. Yes you must slow down to turn corners and leaning the opposite way to what you do on a two wheeler. Actually I would rather take my trike than walk on an icy sidewalk. I just put a Stanton kit on my trike and it works well. My next change is to put a chopper fork with disk brakes and bullet headlights on.

Etriker.trk
 

motorbiker

New Member
Mar 22, 2008
569
0
0
Tampa Bay Florida
The more baskets, the merrier
by Alice Martin (avid Panama City Beach trike rider)

My bike is a trike.
No, not a sporty
recumbent, but a heavy,
full size, six-speed adult
trike, complete with front
and rear baskets, two extra
bright ATV safety flags,
bright handle bar streamers
and coffee holder.
When it comes to trikes, the more baskets
the merrier.
The adult trike is the mini van of the bike
world and has just as many uses if not more.
No “bike” family should be without a trike.
My love affair with the trike started shortly
after the unbearably high gas prices.
Anything that didn’t require the purchase
of gasoline was getting a second adoring
look in my household, including the 1970’s
Schwinn Traveler ten-speed in the garage.
I took the Schwinn to a local bike shop to
knock off the cobwebs. My thinking was
“you never forget how to ride a bike.”
However, I don’t quite remember bike riding
being so darn wobbly.
A few trips to the local grocery store had
me rethinking the alternative transportation
situation. The old Schwinn was getting me
there but it wasn’t getting me back with the
ease I had hoped for.
Balancing the groceries with the amount I
could carry was becoming quite the task.
Each time, it started out the same. I was
going to the store to get just a few items
Each time, it ended pretty much the same
— too many items, not enough bike storage
space.
I just love a good sale. Carrying home a
good sale, however, was problematic.
The solution became obvious after a few
trips — a trike.
Since getting my trike, I now have to
remember to start my van from time to time.
My car mechanic misses me.
They say it’s not good for those gas-eating
machines to sit too long without use. But
since I am a fair-weather trike rider, the occasional
inclement weather is usually about the
time I need to start the van anyway.
I am surprised how far and how long I can
ride my trike.
I am surprised how long and I mean LONG
it is now between gas tank fill ups with the
van.
People watching me load shopping bags on
the trike are totally amazed how much I can
carry. Ten grocery bags really isn’t a challenge
at this point. I also carry an insulated
bag for freezer items.
The grocery store is far from being the
only place I ride. The trike provides a wide
footprint on the roadway making me feel
safer with the higher visibility, so I ride
everywhere. Granted, those of us living in
the Panama City Beach, Florida area are
lucky that most of our roads have bike lanes.
When riding my Schwinn, I felt that cars
were “squeezing” by me. On the trike, they
have to go around me.
Feeling safer on the road encourages me to
ride for most of my daily errands. Errands
are no longer dreaded — just the opposite.
No guilt in shopping to go get just a few
items. I no longer have to wait to combine
trips. I’ve even been accused of running
other people’s errands. Heck, I’ve been
known to ride many a mile to take advantage
of a sale.
When the journey is better, the destination
is better.
Carrying everything to the beach or to the
state park near my home is a breeze on the
trike. It is not unusual to see me pedaling to
the beach with a folding chair, beach towel,
beach bag, drinks and food. Lugging the
stuff from the parking lot to the water’s edge
is another story though.
Riding this much is what made me aware
that every one should be able to ride ANY
road, ANYWHERE.
Prior to errand running on my trike, I really
hadn’t given the whole bike access rights
thing much thought. It wasn’t like I was one
those bike jersey wearing fanatics, right?
There is nothing more frustrating than to
set out on my trike and have to debate if the
roads on my route are suitable for trike riding.
All roads should be suitable.
Distance isn’t the problem. Safety is. The
route to my doctor’s office recently became
unsafe for me to ride by new roadway construction.
Boy that was an inconvenient surprise.
What priorities would cause a decision to
take away safe bike access? The construction
widened the road, removed the bike lanes
and I guess that shared two-way thing is a
multi-use path or something. It zigzags back
and forth across the street. If I had nine lives,
I’d give it a try. I’m not real sure what it is -
bike lane, shared-use path, sidewalk, but in
my opinion, any two-way shared access is
not safe. I should know as my gated community
has it and that is where I have had my
closest calls.
When my car tags came up for renewal, I
purchased the SHARE THE ROAD tag. I put
the mini tag on the rear of my trike, complete
with my actual license plate number. At the
https://www8.hsmv.state.fl.us/eci/ website, I
linked my Florida tag number to my emergency
contact information. This information
could come in especially handy on shared
access paths.
Once I started receiving my Florida
Bicycle Association newsletters, I was anxious
to get together with my fellow trikers.
Uh oh... not one triker “meet and greet” listed.
No “triker” weekends. Hmmmm. I know
there are other FBA trike riders out there or
at least I hope so. There is no shame in riding
a trike. It’s SMART.
I have an RV that I enjoy. When camping, I
carry firewood on the trike. Most state parks
sell firewood at the entrance of the park, at
the ranger station, which is usually a few
miles from the campsites.
This is also where one usually has to go to
rent paddles and life jackets for canoeing if
the park has canoe rentals. Lots of stuff to
carry for lots of distance makes me proud to
be a trike rider.
Since the trike is my primary transportation,
it only makes sense that I bring it along.
I can start the van in the garage when I get
home.
When planning your next bicycle meeting,
don’t forget us trike riders. We are not just in
your local retirement communities. We are
just waiting to be invited.
I almost feel like a trike rider traitor as I
have recently been looking at a Trek
Navigator 3.0 for campground use for riding
around and light trails.
I made the purchase and yesterday, rode
my spiffy new Trek Navigator 3.0 20 miles.
Did basically the same route today on my
trike.
What a HUGE difference in how motorists
respond. If you want respect on the roadway,
ride a trike. The difference was so dramatic
and it has me totally rethinking of just when
and where I ride the new bike.

http://www.floridabicycle.org/fbalibrary/archive/pdfs/Summer2010.pdf
 

motorbiker

New Member
Mar 22, 2008
569
0
0
Tampa Bay Florida
Yeah. 6 speeds she says.

I have a Schwinn trike I converted to 5 speeds.

With the right gears a trike can become a little tug boat and carry quite a lot.

My trike is a small human powered truck.

People do give me way more room when they pass than they do when I am on a bicycle.

I have yet to be honked at and flipped off on the trike !

usflg
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Yeah. 6 speeds she says.

I have a Schwinn trike I converted to 5 speeds.

With the right gears a trike can become a little tug boat and carry quite a lot.

My trike is a small human powered truck.

People do give me way more room when they pass than they do when I am on a bicycle.

I have yet to be honked at and flipped off on the trike !

usflg
I have found that pulling a kiddie trailer behind has the same effect as I am given wider berth since the profile from in back and in front is enough to get attention. And drivers don't know if there is a child, a dog or a bag of groceries inside. It is what could be inside that counts. I further enhance visibility with an American flag replacing the plastic one which comes with trailers. It also draws attention. I never get cut off.
SB