Ready to Rock & Roll

[vw driver]

I have made an amazing discovery. I found that I would have to install a steering wheel on our trike due to our state's endorsement laws. I wasn't happy about it because I didn't think

that riding a trike without handlebars would give the same feeling as being on a motorcycle. I had the trike basically finished and I knew it was going to be a major modification to change to a steering wheel. So I spent a month installing a VW steering box and changing the brakes and some wiring to make it work. Now for the interesting part. I rode it and found that it steers like a car with power steering, sitting still it takes little effort to turn the front wheel from lock to lock, much easier than when it had handlebars. So anyone who might have issues turning handlebars due to a disability, I can say from experience that a steering wheel might be helpful, especially around town at lower speeds. It is so easy to steer that I would not change back. I put one of those knobs on it (which I have been told are illegal)and I can steer with one hand, it's just like power steering.

[rhino 2]

. I put one of those knobs on it (which I have been told are illegal)and I can steer with one hand, it's just like power steering.

Their called Suicide Knob's, Bye the way did you get the one with the picture of a half naked Woman on it......??

[Bikerbozo]

That is one cool looking trike. Two thumbs up for it.

[jtilmon]

Like the trike, very cool!! Enjoy the summer of riding

[vw driver]

Their called Suicide Knob's, Bye the way did you get the one with the picture of a half naked Woman on it......??

Half naked woman.....Woo Hoo....I'm getting out my J.C Whitney catalog as we speak.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks you guys. We're happy with the way it turned out. It handles really good and is very comfortable. Lisa feels secure in her seat and she loves to ride.

[rmrc51]

Great lookin Trike!!!!!

[Gold Rush]

Where there's a will - there's a way. So Glad you got your trike on the road! Looks good and very functional to boot. Now you just can't beat those results!!!

[skuuter]

GREAT Looking Trike...Thanks for the Info Thread.....

[vw driver]

It took some persuading and bribery with a trip to K Mart to get my daughter Mariah on the trike for the first time today. I think she enjoyed it. We went to K Mart and she got a Cinderella doll and then we rode out to Puyallup to visit Lisa's mom. We get a lot of attention when we are out on the trike, people wanting to know what it is, wanting to take pictures. The weather is getting better up here so now that school is out we will be able to do more riding. Lisa wants to make a 100 mile each way trip to visit her aunt Myrna in Aberdeen so we may do that soon.

[champsman97045]

..... WTG

[amhc59]

Nice job. I'm curious - what new requirement for a steering wheel? I thought all trikes could have handlebars. I'm looking at getting a Voyager kit and in confusion now.

[vw driver]

Washington state has a 3 wheel endorsement requirement. Basically a person has to go to classes for two days to get a trike endorsement and at the end take the test on one of their machines. Also a person can not take the test on a home built trike. There is no way I could ever find time to take the classes. But there is an exemption in the law that says if a trike has a steering wheel and seat belts no special endorsement is required, only a drivers license. They put this exemption in so that the drivers of three wheel Cushman ice cream carts did not need a trike endorsement. The ice cream cart industry must have a powerful lobby.
So our trike ended up with with a steering wheel and seat belts. We rode all over during the summer and were never stopped by the police. Our riding season is over for the year, it has started raining up here and getting colder so we won't be riding again until next spring.