Lurker checking in for the first time

[rodekyll]

Hi, all!
I go by Rodekyll, which is also the name of the 1976 Moto Guzzi Convert that I've had since 1978. I've lurked this site on and off over the past few years as I've been building my concept of a trike, but have waited until now to join the group.

I'm in Sitka, Alaska, right now, a tiny town on a huge island off the Canada coast. We have 17 miles of road, two grocery stores and (recently) two stop lights. I'm in the process of packing my stuff into a big truck and moving it way south, into the woods on Whidbey Island. Then I rejoin my trike in St. Paul, MN, to continue my homeless wander about the country.

Up until my business folded this year, I was the town's computer tech/hippie/biker. I did tech support by day and tinkered with my Moto Guzzis at night (when I wasn't doing the normal Alaska stuff). I also shoot northern lights as a night job. I've been living a subsistence lifestyle for the past 25 years.

Every year I have tried to launch off the rock and take a trip. To make it count, since it takes five days to get to America from here, I need to run at least one set of tires off the rims per ride. Much of my riding is done on the Alcan, Klondike, Yellowhead, and other northern roads, but I'm liable to pop up in any time zone or state/provence if the rally looks interesting. Over the miles I've had a lot of time to think about what sort of vehicle I'd most like to take on these treks, and my trike has been built with long distance, poor roads, and scarce gas in mind.

A few years back my mobility began to deteriorate and I was having trouble keeping my bikes up when stopped. It seemed a third wheel was in order. But I couldn't see myself on most of the trike designs I saw, so I tinkered with a few concepts on paper. Then someone bet me a dollar I couldn't make my concept happen -- "just coloring too far outside the lines", he said. Well, them's fightin' words for me, so when a body shop/A&P owner offered me a bay and power, I started laying in materials.

It took three years, several sawzall blades, and money I didn't keep track of, but I built what I call a "motorcycle trike" using the balled-up rear of a totaled Motor trike GL1800 ADV, the EFI engine from a Moto Guzzi California EV, and an occasional hit on a pipe. I'll be participating here to share my experience, offer suggestions that could keep folks from spending silly money like I did on things, ask for the expertise of others, and of course, show off the 3V'L TWIN.

I don't know the protocols here yet, so I'm going to start in the general section. If my stuff belongs elsewhere, please let me know.

Nice to be here

-- Rk

[Zammy]

Hi David and welcome to the forums from Florida, once you find your way around please post some pics, we love em.

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard love to pics of your creation.

[consitter]

I've been in Sitka twice, both times on cruises. I loved it there. Drank a couple of beers at the Red Dog Saloon. Would have gotten a couple of t-shirts if they'd have had them in my size. Alas, they didn't carry triple x fatass size at the time.

I think it's amazing the difference in the (height?) between high tide and low tide. We got off the ship from the top deck when disembarking, when we came back just 4 hours later, the gang plank was two decks lower because the ship was that much higher from where the tide had come in!

Anyway, I agree with others on the thread--we want pics of your trike...

And of course...WELCOME TO TRIKE TALK!!!

[desertclassic]

Welcome from New Mexico. I was in AK from 73-78 while in the Army. I spent time in a lot of places thru out the state. I am at the age now that to many things hurt from the cold. Jim

[rodekyll]

Thanks for the welcome!

Here are a few from the final stages of 'completion' before I left Sitka in June:









The basic visual concept is "Mad Max Meets Model A". I was after a vintage look and an industrial/punk feel. It features 10gal fuel in those Gerry cans, 115amp alternator belt-driven off the drive shaft, engine powered reverse, and no transmission. The open rear has 155 liters of space and there is another 80 liters in covered, latchable storage -- plenty to pack the Pulaski and shovel. The tailgate is functional.

Frame is over-built square steel tubing (the only stuff they had on the island). Body is 0.060 aluminum, completely hand-formed and aircraft riveted. Body bolts to frame, but may the goddess have pity on me if I have to do that! Suspension and rear section was loosely based on the Motor Trike -- but closely enough that they have stopped talking to me about it. I kept the air bags and IRS, but tinkered it quite a bit with things like preset air pressure switchable at the dash, full base plate, CV joint drive shaft and 400 series progressive shocks. Still to come are inboard disk brakes and possibly steering brakes (once they get discussed here).

All lighting is LED except 3700k 35w HID hi/lo main beam and 55w hi/lo aux HID projectors. All dim with a floorboard-mounted stomp switch. Front brake is in the traditional position, but the rear control is where the traditional clutch would be. The floorboards have nothing except the dimmer switch.

Rear parts in part courtesy a balled-up Motor Trike GW1800 ADV. This was so completely mangled I couldn't even dimension it. Basic suspension members and pumpkin/brakes were all I could use. Engine is an 1100cc Moto Guzzi EFI "Hydro" from my '04 EV. Gear reduction is a torque converter coupled through a 1:1 transfer case (reversing gearbox) directly to 5:11 rear gears in the Ford 7.5" punkin. There is no forward mechanical gear reduction. All else I either scrounged or fabricated.

Track is 44", WB is 76" and from fender tip to muffler tip it is 106". With gas it weighs in right at 1120# Box height is 34". Seat is power adjustable, so its height depends. Wheels are Lesters, 18" front from a Moto Guzzi and 19" rears from BMW. Tire choices suck. I didn't think that part through very well. I was thinking industrial/punk.

I turned 6000 miles on the rolling project in Redwing, WI, three weeks after starting the shakedown trip. I was and still am plagued by steering and suspension problems, but the biggest issue has been when I sheared the flywheel in the mountains south of Portland, OR. Turned out the grade 10.9 bolts were counterfeit and not hardened. That incident was complicated by almost back-to-back loads of bad gas that had me running poorly. The bad gas also ruined my tank switching valve, and I'm still dealing with that.

Overall the trike runs well without a transmission. It's slow off the line -- like starting in 2nd gear -- but it's the curves, not the grades that slow me down on the highway. The steering and suspension have a ways to go. I've had it past 80 (passing a KIA) with volume control remaining, and when the gas is good I seem to be getting low-mid 30s for economy. Cruising 75 on the slab is not a challenge.

So that's a glimpse of the 3V'L TWIN.

Here's a quick pic of the EV'L TWIN, the engine donor, which was my last project, bought as a $450 wreck.







Questions?

[consitter]

Sorry about all the problems, but WOW, the thing looks awesome!! It comes right out of WWII form the looks of it. A cross between a motorcycle and the old jeeps. I love the rear wheels, and the tires almost look like knobbies.

[rodekyll]

I've been in Sitka twice, both times on cruises. I loved it there. Drank a couple of beers at the Red Dog Saloon. Would have gotten a couple of t-shirts if they'd have had them in my size. Alas, they didn't carry triple x fatass size at the time.

I think it's amazing the difference in the (height?) between high tide and low tide. We got off the ship from the top deck when disembarking, when we came back just 4 hours later, the gang plank was two decks lower because the ship was that much higher from where the tide had come in!

Anyway, I agree with others on the thread--we want pics of your trike...

And of course...WELCOME TO TRIKE TALK!!!

Thanks!

Yeah, 20+ foot tides do their thing very quickly on account of there's a lot to fill and empty, and a set amount of time in which to get it done. When an Alaska tide gets busy it can and will outrun you.

I was at the Red Dog gift shop one day when a really big guy came in complaining that he was hanging out of their largest t-shirt. Without hardly looking up the girl behind the counter tossed him a bra.

Did you see this when you were in Sitka? It was all over the place . . .

[consitter]

Thanks!

Yeah, 20+ foot tides do their thing very quickly on account of there's a lot to fill and empty, and a set amount of time in which to get it done. When an Alaska tide gets busy it can and will outrun you.

I was at the Red Dog gift shop one day when a really big guy came in complaining that he was hanging out of their largest t-shirt. Without hardly looking up the girl behind the counter tossed him a bra.

Did you see this when you were in Sitka? It was all over the place . . .

No unfortunately not. We were there both times in September, and apparently that's not a good time for the auroras. I would LOVE to see them though.

And I was wrong about the Red Dog...that was in Juneau. We went to the Baranof Island Brewing Company and had a couple of beers while there though. Good stuff!

[rodekyll]

The tires are Duro 308s, which are available in a 6-ply sidewall. They're ideal for the more technical terrains I run in up north, but they're a poor choice for regular hard surfaces -- they run rough, are noisy, and about the time you get confident that it's the tires and not a rod making that vibration, the road surface changes and you start all over. The front skids too easily on wet concrete and for whatever reason they hate rain grooves more than I'm beginning to. I'm going to try that Avon trike tire on the front next and Duro 261A's on the rear.

- - - Updated - - -

No unfortunately not. We were there both times in September, and apparently that's not a good time for the auroras. I would LOVE to see them though.

And I was wrong about the Red Dog...that was in Juneau. We went to the Baranof Island Brewing Company and had a couple of beers while there though. Good stuff!

I wasn't going to say anything about the Red Dog being in Juneau. Folks get these small bush towns all mixed up. You took the time to explore the inside passage, and that's what counts. The Baranof Brewery is a block from where I built the trike. The beer there might be expensive, but boy is it green! Occasionally the Black Watch from Seattle invades the brew pub and plays bagpipes until we all leave.

[consitter]

The tires are Duro 308s, which are available in a 6-ply sidewall. They're ideal for the more technical terrains I run in up north, but they're a poor choice for regular hard surfaces -- they run rough, are noisy, and about the time you get confident that it's the tires and not a rod making that vibration, the road surface changes and you start all over. The front skids too easily on wet concrete and for whatever reason they hate rain grooves more than I'm beginning to. I'm going to try that Avon trike tire on the front next and Duro 261A's on the rear.

- - - Updated - - -



I wasn't going to say anything about the Red Dog being in Juneau. Folks get these small bush towns all mixed up. You took the time to explore the inside passage, and that's what counts. The Baranof Brewery is a block from where I built the trike. The beer there might be expensive, but boy is it green! Occasionally the Black Watch from Seattle invades the brew pub and plays bagpipes until we all leave.

Yup. Both cruises were in the inside passage. The first one started and ended in Seattle. The second one started in Vancouver and ended in San Fransisco. We landed in Skagway, and rode the White Pass railroad into the Yukon. That was kind of the high point of the first cruise for me. The second cruise, I liked San Fransisco at the end. The wife has no desire to go back.

And I'm so sorry that I've hi-jacked your thread. Your trike really is very interesting. If you ever get to Kentucky in your wanderings, I'd love to see it in person. I'm sure my daughters would too. They love riding their daddy's trike.

[kybigmac]

Welcome aboard! Very cool cool trike,keep the pictures coming.

[Ed Hobgood]

Welcome to Trike Talk from Missouri. Glad to have you and sounds like you have a lot of information to share. Ride safe and have fun!

[rodekyll]

Me and my crew. Don't mess wid us -- we bad!

[Catfish]

Hello from NW Illinois. Trike Talk is a perfect fit to match your creativity. Glad you stopped lurking. To wander is much better than wondering.

[ricksurratt2]

Welcome to TT from Wytheville, Va. Glad to have you onboard!

Thanks for the bio and pictures of your trike. I found it very interesting. Love to see people go outside the box and do a project trike or bike! You sure built a beaut!

So sorry for all your bad luck! Hope things will turn out a little bit easier for you on your voyage! You'll sure have some interesting tales to share with people.

Be sure to keep us updated on your travels! I envy you. Wish I could take off on such a trip but I'm afraid that ship has already sailed for me. Be SAFE and watch out for the crazies!! Enjoy your ride!!

[Gorilla]

Looks like a fine job of converting. Enjoy

[Gone2Three]

Me and my crew. Don't mess wid us -- we bad!

A Big Texas welcome to y'a! Enjoyed your story of the build and the great pictures of your trike. Your the real deal! A dreamer, builder with the love of the ride...only wish I could be as "bad" as you and your crew!!

[rodekyll]

Thanks for the welcomes, all!

I didn't list the shakedown problems to whine about them. I just wanted folks to know it wasn't perfect out of the box, and it's still got a ways to go. Part of the fun of building something is dealing with the consequences of the limits of my skills by the side of the road. And part of why I've joined here is to ask questions about some of the issues I'm having. I probably won't be asking opinions about 24v butt warmers or who makes the best lite beer on account of I just don't care, but I've got ignorance about steering and suspension and stuff like that that I care deeply about. Tires -- don't get me started on tires. I wouldn't know how to. See? It's like that.


Extra points if you can ID this location!

[ol' school]

rodekyll, welcome to Trike Talk! Nice looking trike! It definitely has that vintage look you were shooting for! Enjoyed your story! Glad you joined!!!

I had to smile at your comment about packing the Pulaski and shovel... not everyone would know what a Pulaski is. I was a wildland firefighter in my younger days.