Need some VW Trike Help

[TNTriker]

My girlfriend is wanting to buy a VW trike. She has some health issues and I wanted to know how they handle. The one she is looking at is 10' long, she has had rotator cup surgery and still has issues with her shoulders. Is this VW Trike doable for her? Thanks! Annette

[skuuter]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>TNTriker</strong>
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<div class="message">My girlfriend is wanting to buy a VW trike. She has some health issues and I wanted to know how they handle. The one she is looking at is 10' long, she has had rotator cup surgery and still has issues with her shoulders. Is this VW Trike doable for her? Thanks! Annette</div>

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</div><b>Got pics of the one She is considerin' Annette...??? I built two myself long ago....first one was &quot;fair&quot;....second one ran, rode, handled Great.....:wtg:</b>

[katfish16]

Redneck Ray, is also a good choice to ask questions of, since he is building them all the time...Like Skutter said some pictures and more info would be nice????

[redneckray]

Ask away and will do what i can to help you with a good choice in a vw trike, 10' long is good, too short is bad,
but we are all here to help,
ray

[Ozarkryder]

We had a VW based trike, a &quot;Runabout&quot; by the Trike Shop (they make Roadsmith conversions). Didn't take much effort at all to go around corners. For most turns in the road I just put pressure on the bars, didn't really have to turn them. Lot's of rake, very easy to turn with one hand. Kick the bars all the way over and the thing would just about turn in it's own length.

[skuuter]

Ask away and will do what i can to help you with a good choice in a vw trike, 10' long is good, too short is bad,
but we are all here to help,
ray

Ah, the "VW-MASTER" chimes in.....:wtg:

[redneckray]

There are some nice vw trikes on the market for sale , but you need to look hard at how they are built and ride, some are very simple and they can be the best ones to own and ride,
like i said before, we are all here to help you with your questions, a few of us on here have owned and ridden a vw based trike at a time or 2,

[3WHELAR]

Post a photo of the type between Redneckray and I we should be able to tell you straight away.

[Triker Walt]

Sure do like our VW based trike. Still working on Autostick versus the 4 speed tranny but will still be VW.

[redneckray]

Triker walt,
the auto stick is a piece of cake and you will love it too,

[Buggie Pilot]

Walt you are gonna love the autostick. Ursula's .. ( my better half ) is a dream to ride ...... put it in 3rd and drive all day .... no shiftin' after that

I'm buildin' the second autostick right now for me ..... push button clutch !


Good Luck
Pete G

[Frozenshrimp]

I love my autostick I have a button at my L foot and got one on a hurst ****er for hand shifting just incase my leg stops working (which happens from time to time) when i want or need to shift

[redneckray]

There are only 3 times you really need to shift, when you go to park , reverse and when you put it in high gear[3rd] and that is it,

[Loner]

I've built and ridden VW trikes (as well as bikes) for 40 years and can tell you from experience that when built right a VW trike can often be the answer to many folks wants and needs. Due not sitting over an engine, the seat(s) are usually lower and don't require you have a documented procedure to just get your leg over and yourself seated. Driving is smooth and predictable and cornering and handliing can surpass competitors easily. No heat from the engine to deal with (I also ride a late model HD so I am very sensitive that issue). Even with the conventional manual transmission shifting is easy if setup in a comfortable manner. Independent rear suspension is standard, as is reverse gear (we all know what those cost extra in today's conventional trikes).

Yes, the proper geometry steering is necessary (properly raked trees or proper springer) to get the smooth, minimum effort ride. And no, you don't with a basic engine get over 100 horsepower for cruising at 95mph all day long (70 is just fine with me with relatively stock engines). But the bottom line is still that all this can be packaged for almost half what conventional trikes are going for. I don't intend for this to be a sales pitch - I personally think Goldwing trikes are the Cadillacs, my dad raised me as a Harley guy, and I love the concept of the Stallion for a touring ride.

But you asked specifically about VW trikes, so here's my two cents worth, guranteed or your money back. Below is my main VW ride and is everthing I've mentioned here. It fits me and my tastes handily (I've got to get a better photo posted, and I am cleaning my driveway today actually since I can't get any of my lazy kids to come over and do it for me).

[Gorilla]

Hey loner I like it. Sure would like to see more pictures of her.

[pd5190]

Her shoulder problems should not be an issue if her Range of Motion is close to normal and the handle bars are below shoulder level. I have never had shoulder pad even after riding 300 plus miles a day

[trikes4ever]

I think it boils down to the familiar rake / trail issue. Two 10' trikes can handle very differently. Excessive trail will make the trike heavy to steer - that's why they push raked trees on trikes - to REDUCE the trail and make steering more neutral. A side photo would go a long way in getting a more accurate answer to your specific question. Better yet - get a rake and trail diagram and calculator and measure it.

[trikes4ever]

Here's the rake trail calculator that I use.

[redneckray]

Trikesforever,
wht would you think is the trail on the phenix trikes in arizona are,? I kow what the rake is, they told me 65 degrees. To keep the trail right, lol
ray

[trikes4ever]

I don't know - why didn't you ask them?