VW Trike Handling

[americanbadass]

Recently I saw a VW trike that was the "hotness", for sale on eBay. My question is-would it be rideable in the city and through the twisties? It had the consistant length of most vw trikes-but had 18 inch wide rear tires, rear disc brakes, no front brake, apehangers that pulled back, and a springer front end. The 4 speed shifter was on the center backbone, and would be right between the riders legs. It looked very cool, but intimidating to ride. Any feed back on handling dynamics of the vw trikes would be appreciated.

[ea81slush]

There are opinions out there on the handling of VW trikes that isnt encouraging. Rear engine, light front end, etc etc. They do have a point but I'm not sure if it is realistic.

I say that because if a rider is going to ride a VW trike at extreme speeds or fast acceleration then it should be set up for that purpose and that I would assume would take some expertise along with heaps of the green back to get it to perform that way. Porsche engineers got it right a long time ago and look at the cost of their vehicles?

This is purely my views. If a rider plans to ride a VW trike at moderate to fast speeds and corner at those same limits and is set up reasonably for that task then it is a safe unit for those thrills. If the rider thinks they can ride at very fast speeds and corner at the limits of adhesion then they are taking risks if it isnt set up correctly.

With your post badass I'd be concerned with no front brake. The rest is ok. But then again in Oz you have to have a front brake.

What I did do when I had my roof built was to take great concern over not changing the C 0f G. The balance point of a vW trike is just ahead of the axle and the rear of the gearbox. This should not change. Take care when turning at low speeds with the throttle as it can take off straight instead of turning but you soon get used to this.

I'm no expert. Consult an expert if you are concerned. but just because it has an engine in the back and has a light front end doesnt make it dangerous....the rider can make it dangerous!

[fatirossi]

I have a friend with a Rewaco trike, which handles superbly in the corners with hardly any understeer whatsoever. This, he says, is all due to the extra weight on the front of the trike. You can only just say lift the front end by hand, so there is a lot of weight over that front wheel. This trike also utilises a wide front wheel with a 160 tyre, so there is a large contact patch up there on the road.

I am incorporating the same theory on my trike build with just about everything in front of the axle, including the fuel tank. Only the engine will be rear of the axle. I have made the front end as heavy as possible and utilised a leading link suspension. I may even add some lead shot to the fork legs to increase the frontal weight, but that will be done gradually until the feel is how I like it.

We also require a front brake here in the UK, but it is also usefull when in slow traffic and when making tight manouvres.

[ea81slush]

Fatirossi,

I understand what you want to achieve but I was warned a long time ago by an older guy- "dont try to reinvent the wheel."

I caution you a little. VW trike manufacturers around the world have not gone the way towards "all the weight apart from the engine" ahead of the axle. They have kept the centre of gravity about above the gearbox.

As you can see on my trike I have ladder bars and in Oz some owners place some lead inside them. But not a hell of a lot. In theory it can help but it is the amount of front end weight that can cause issues.

Wider front tyre can cause unknown issues also. Aquaplaning can be a real hazard. So a bit more weight can help there too.

My trike has 55kgms downforce without riders. Some trikes in our Aussie clubs have as little as 5 kgms!!!. I'd suggest you dont go over say 60-70kgms. I reckon your mates trike has around this amount. Anymore and it might be prone to tip sideways.

For what its worth.

[92 eyes]

I have ridden VW trikes for several years so I can be a little help. Most VW trikes you see with the engine in the rear will be lightly loaded in the front. However that isnt so bad. You ride or drive any vehicle as pilots fly planes. You get checked out and learn how they handle before you commit yourself. Example, some airplanes will not recover from a spin so you just dont spin them. Well, VW trikes will lift the front wheel if you add too much power so you learn when you can open the throttle and when you cant.You learn to drive with the throttle as well as with the handlebars and brakes.92 eyes

[trikertroy]

This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart...Iv been OBSESSED with better trike design since meeting Big Daddy Roth who was building the first "All American Beetle Trike" in 1968...

My first had big wide tires,,, only 35lbs on the front wheel and had a single tube design and weighed only 710lbs.. It was my daily driver in Miami for 5yrs.. I thoght it was great!!

Today,, Iv built hundereds of trikes and ridden hundreds more. I build what I think is the best chassis kit anywhere..as well as an excellent leading link kit that makes any trike handle BETTER.

Here is my point..If I were to see my first trike, I would laugh at the crudeness and poor design.. Old School VW trikes were fine.. but time and better design marches on.. A modern decently designed trike with a rigid

S frame,, dynamic suspension,, proper tires, good power are a thousands of times better then the older and often poorly built trikes..

Used VW trikes can be even dangerous... I cut back some bondo the other day on a friends very good looking trike only to find the neck wasnt welded to the frame... Missed by about 1/4"...One small weld top and bottom and the rest was a beutiful welds to 18ga sheet metal..

Without X-vision you will never know what you are getting....


So the answer is yes,, a VW trike can be driven daily..and that trike can look like ANYTHING you like.. And can drive easy and smooth.

I suggest you sit in the seat...relax and see how it feels.. Ask yourself if you will be comfortable.. even with a few SMALL changes.. If it drives clumbsy.. walk away..Get something that works for YOU.

[pd5190]

I have learned over the course of five years with my trike that you can not corner with two wheelers on calif mountain roads, and it is still a VW when pulling long grades. Despite those faults it fun to ride and gets me where I need to go. I tell people it steers more like a car than a two wheel bike, so i straighten the curves and I get there when I do.