VS1400 Trike build

[HCDawg]

I posted this in the Suzuki/Kawi Section but thought this one is more appropriate. I bought this bike for $800 from an 80yr old that dropped it at the stop light and shattered his leg, it sat for a number of years under a tarp in his front yard. When I brought it home I changed all the fluids, plugs, lube the cables…Blah blah blah and started it…Carbs were too far gone but it would idle and sounded nice. I had a rock’n VS750 and an old 86’ Yamaha FJ1200 on the road so I haven’t been in a rush to get it on the road.

Russell Mitchell built a trike on the biker build off and I fell in love with it way back in 2004 I think, I eventually forgot about it. I went to Vegas last year and Affliction Clothing had a Trike in the show room and the need for a trike came back like gangbusters. I want this trike to be ridable, overstated, minimal and unforgettable. The rear tires are Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R 29 x 18 x 20 and the required rims are 20 x 15.

I have the differential out of a 1994 fox body mustang. 8.8 with 2.66:1 ratio, also has posi trac which will have to go if I plan on turning. I’m going to try no fenders and see if I can get away with it.

The frame, tank and differential will be painted/powder coated in blue chrome, the tank will be custom and larger than stock and be part of the body work. The differential will be stripped and shortened, new 5 bolt axles with disk brakes. The front end will be raked by 6 degrees and lengthened by 6”.

I’m going to take the controls off the steering and set them up like a car, gas, brake and hand shifter on the right and the clutch on the left. No suspension on the rear, a spring mounted seat is all for better handling.
So that is as far as I have planned, I’m not sure about the final gear ratio with the 2.66:1 and the 29" tires or how I’m hooking the drive shaft up or the steering in relation to the tank etc.. I’m hoping there is a lot of smart people here to keep me on track.
I’ll post pictures as we go

[rrunner]

Haven't got any input but will be following this build for sure. Good luck.

[johnwd98]

I will be following this build thread also. I've looking for a project bike to buy, build, or finish into a trike.

[Lonerbtw]

Hi Dawg Sent you a PM the other day. I think! Did you get it? Not too smart with puters and slow typer. I have built 3 Valkyrie trikes and would like to talk to you about your build. You can see 2 of them on this site at top of page under pictures of homebuilds.

Loner

[HCDawg]

The tires

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The bike and the differential, I just noticed it's a 2:73 ratio, anyone know the final ratio? the original bike ratio is 2:33. The tire height is 29". I chose this rear end because it had the closest gear ratio to the original.

[Lonerbtw]

I like your design. But it's going to be a bitch to steer all 5 of those wheels.
Loner

[Drpepper]

The bad part about it is ,the pinon is on the wrong side of the ring gear. u can run the car rear upside down for the proper rotation .I think its been done like that, but u have to watch the oil level. U can get gear sets from summit raceing equip . 8.8 popular rear end.

[HCDawg]

Thanks Pepper, it would be a real interesting ride if it only went in reverse I was told by Loner to plug the existing breather, flip the axle, re-position the breather and keep a higher viscosity lube because less of the ring will be in the oil. Sound right?

[stacebg]

no doubt in my mind you will want to get rid of the posi part...
that stretch and rake sounds cool and looks cool but you will need a set of raked trees to shorten the trail or it will take six men an a boy to steer it... especially with those big sneakers you have guessing those will make it want to go straight which is great if you only want to go straight...
you mention you want it rideable and "No suspension on the rear, a spring mounted seat is all for better handling."

if you watch the vid of one of the test rides he took.. it kinda bounced around the corner rather that coming around the corner
guess really depends on how much riding you want to do... if you are just going out to the store an hang out... i wouldnt worry about any of that (not what most end up doing, even those that plan it that way)
but if you wanna go out for day seriously think about the steering an suspension perrsonally i prefer independent but any is better than non..

as for the ratio i usually end up with really close to the stock ratio.. usually by messing w the tire size..al but a honda v65 with a 6speed in high gear stock seems it was running about 70 at 5000 rpm think we geared it down a tad so it was more like 60 at 5k rpm... thing was pullin strong way past 7500 or so seems red line was over 9k... so there was plenty left and helped takeoff a tad...
as for oil we use plain ole 90wt in the rear ... run upside down for ever.... only caution is some rears...some subarus for example have 3 bearings on the pinion shaft..

and the way the oil is SUPPOSED to sling up forwad to lube that bearn doesnt work so good w the diff upside down... yea siezed at about 60 on the high way.. wasnt pretty
i dont know of any othere rears that have 3 an doesnt seem it would need three... wanna see me trying to find something seized...

thinking there are only 2 bearings

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The tires

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The bike and the differential, I just noticed it's a 2:73 ratio, anyone know the final ratio?

the original bike ratio is 2:33. The tire height is 29". I chose this rear end because it had the closest gear ratio to the original.

what is the height of the tire that was on the bike

[HCDawg]

Thanks Stace, the original tire is 26"
So "Stage One" was just completed....Clean the Garage

[stacebg]

Thanks Stace, the original tire is 26"
So "Stage One" was just completed....Clean the Garage

if the bike was 2.33:1 with 26" tall tire
new will be 2.73:1 with 29" tall tire
overall i come up with 1.05 meaning if you were traveling at 5000 rpm what ever speed that was now going the same speed now you will be at 5250 or old rpm x 1.05 = new rpm

[HCDawg]

WOW...Thanks Stace