Rear shocks and front springs questions

[Lakota]

On a VW powered trike, are you guys using the stock rear shocks? I would think after the weight of the body is removed, it would be a stiff ride.
Also, just how far does the front wheel travel up and down on a springer front end. I'm wondering if the distance would affect the trail. I'm running an extended front springer with a 55 degree rake.

[slick rick]

I run coil overs ...going to change to air bags.... on front the springer is just for looks gives very little , rides rough , hard in curves , but to me just cool as hell !!!

[vwmaniac]

If the springer rides hard, then you need to adjust the top springs for a softer ride, I use springers alot with no problems, but am now using LL[Leading Links] frontends and make quite a difference .

[Doug D.]

I'm running coil overs. With stock shocks, my fenders rubbed when I turned. The co's solved that problem nicely, plus, as I'm getting ready to add a back seat, I'll be able to tune the suspension to accomodate the extra weight. As far as the ride, it's never been better. Very smooth, and it handles better.

Can't help with the springer front end, never had one. I'd like to try one, they look cool. But not in the budget right now.

[matman1972]

I have the stock torsion bars (IRS) but they either were too hard or let it sag so the wheels were in the fenders. After reading up on here I went with coil overs with almost no tension on the torsion bars and it rides at a great height now, and handles bumps nicely. Up front I have a shortened wide glide HD setup with progressive springs. Everything handles very nicely.

[Tiger108]

I had stock shocks on mine, but the rear kept bottoming out and the tires were rubbing the tops and insides of the fenders. Took the OE shocks off and installed Monroe MA-803 air shocks on it. Haven't had it out yet cause I hurt my leg stumbling around in the garage. But with 80 lbs air, it's about 3-4 inches higher in rear when at rest. Since I weigh 345 and my wife is a little over 300 (my rider), I'm hoping that will work. Plus, I going to buy new tires this next week which will be about 1" narrower per tire. They are 10" wide right now. Will let you now how things work out.

[Loner]

Assuming you are using a stock torsion bar VW suspension (which will be 30+ years old at this point), ride will first depend on how much fatigue the suspension has in it (more than your choice of shocks). With the trike fully built, the spring plates can be adjusted to provide a reasonably level ride (when laden with your expected passengers). That adjustment done, stock shocks will likely still provide a nominal ride.

Every custom/home built VW trike is different!

Springer ride is indeed adjustable if you can find the proper rated springs (upper set primarily, but lower set as well if it bounces). 55 degrees, while radical, can provide good handling if you pay attention to keeping your trail to 2-3". That means you may need to modify or even make new rocker plates to get the axle at the right point.

One thing I've learned in building VW trikes for over 45 years is that the dynamic variables are numerous and there is no absolute singular 'perfect' for any of them. I've built (or designed and overseen the build in a manufacturing company I owned - NovaTrikes) over 450 and wanted to keep every one of them!

Have fun with it!!

[drumdoctor]

Had the stock VW shocks on the back and it was a little rough.
Put air shocks on and that made the ride a lot smoother---and adjustable.

[Lakota]

Loner, I think you're right. Only a good hard run will determine what I need for rear shocks. I did some more measurements on the springer front end yesterday. It looks like my rockers will end up being almost a foot long. Too much. I'll have to design a new triangular triple tree that will put the down forks a few inches ahead of the neck. That will reduce the length of the rockers. This whole springer front end is really giving me great concerns. The down forks are 44 inches long and only one inch in diameter of solid rod. Just how safe is that on an extended front springer?

I'm still looking for someone that makes an LL front end kit, like TrikerTroy did.

I've sent out a couple of eMails but no response yet.