New member thinking of trke kit on a 93 Harley FLHS

[Recycledteen]

Good Morning Dale! Glad to see you on here and looking to build! A lot of knowledge here to be had. I was going to trike my '01 but ran across a deal on my trike so now I have both in my garage!!!! The only thing I would say and it is JMO is, if you have ever had back trouble, be careful trying to push it backwards with your foot or feet. If so, then you might look at a mechanical reverse which again IMO has less trouble than an electric one. Survey the land and let it roll back like everyone has said and save some $$$ in the beginning. Let the adventure begin and make sure to document the build so we can watch too!

Rick

 

[Trail Blazer]

hello

welcome to trike talk from East Texas. I have a champion kit with straight axie, been riding it sense 2012, I looked a a few and know a man that had a champion. he had got rear ended at a light , it knocked out into the intersection, all it done to the champion kit was cracked it and was a easy fix. I would have thought it would have had more damage.

I all so like the trunk space then the others I looked at. and to I like the way it looks.

but that is why they make more then one kit. not everyone has the same tast .

when you get it triked out make a gathering and put some faces to names

ride safe ( you will have fun ) Trail blazer

 

[Texan]

Welcome aboard.

Just thinking about pushing a 3 wheeler around with an Evo you're going to need more power. I'd be talking to Andrews and/or S&S about a cam. Some head work wouldn't hurt at all....larger valves for better flow. Remember the bottom end on an Evo is the weakest link so I wouldn't mess with anything down there.

Gearing is another issue. Check with some of the Evo guys on here about the output sprocket (30 tooth) and wheel sprocket. AND think very seriously about getting a beefier SE compensator.

I pushed a sidecar around for nearly 3 years with my Evo and ate up a lot of parts before I figured out the gearing and cam issues.

8~\o

 

[dsctr]

The Evo is a great engine

There are a bazillion parts out there for hot rodding yet

Keep it til it blows

I am going to keep it, that's why I'm thinking a trike build

Thanks

 

[dsctr]

Hi Dale :wave4: Welcome Yes, you should definitely start a build thread :clapping: We would all like to see how your build progresses. Good Luck.

Will start a build thread, once the build begins

 

[dsctr]

Good Morning Dale! Glad to see you on here and looking to build! A lot of knowledge here to be had. I was going to trike my '01 but ran across a deal on my trike so now I have both in my garage!!!! The only thing I would say and it is JMO is, if you have ever had back trouble, be careful trying to push it backwards with your foot or feet. If so, then you might look at a mechanical reverse which again IMO has less trouble than an electric one. Survey the land and let it roll back like everyone has said and save some $$$ in the beginning. Let the adventure begin and make sure to document the build so we can watch too!

Rick

Had back surgery 2003. Will probably end up with a reverse at some point, but need to save a few $$$ in the beginning, every bike I've done in the past has cost more than I thought when I started

 

[dsctr]

Welcome aboard.

Just thinking about pushing a 3 wheeler around with an Evo you're going to need more power. I'd be talking to Andrews and/or S&S about a cam. Some head work wouldn't hurt at all....larger valves for better flow. Remember the bottom end on an Evo is the weakest link so I wouldn't mess with anything down there.

Gearing is another issue. Check with some of the Evo guys on here about the output sprocket (30 tooth) and wheel sprocket. AND think very seriously about getting a beefier SE compensator.

I pushed a sidecar around for nearly 3 years with my Evo and ate up a lot of parts before I figured out the gearing and cam issues.

8~\o

The motor has a Andrews EV27 cam and I have a 32T sprocket.

Last year I did the top end bored 10 over and a complete head valve job, didn't touch the bottom end. Also had to put in a new stater and rectifier.

Also had the counter shaft bearing go out in the transmission (original had plastic cage bearing from Harley). I rebuilt the transmission with a Jims kit and metal caged bearings. Also put on a new rear pulley and drive belt, old belt looked good but was 24 years old, figured while I had it apart may as well replace it.

Do you like the trike better than the side car? That was my first road block yesterday, called the insurance to find out how a trike kit would affect my insurance. Was told if I installed a trike kit they would not insure it, would only insure a Harley factory trike, but if I installed a side car they would insure it and just raise the accessory insurance 10k to cover the side car as an accessory, the bike would be covered as usual.

This creates a conundrum, since I have 2 scooters and 3 bikes on the policy and low insurance for multiple bikes. Will have to see what another insurance company will charge or consider a side car.

 

[dsctr]

welcome to trike talk from East Texas. I have a champion kit with straight axie, been riding it sense 2012, I looked a a few and know a man that had a champion. he had got rear ended at a light , it knocked out into the intersection, all it done to the champion kit was cracked it and was a easy fix. I would have thought it would have had more damage.

I all so like the trunk space then the others I looked at. and to I like the way it looks.

but that is why they make more then one kit. not everyone has the same tast .

when you get it triked out make a gathering and put some faces to names

ride safe ( you will have fun ) Trail blazer

I'm thinking of a Champion straight axle from all the reviews I've seen, Plus it seems like a good solid, basically simple or straight forward kit that I could do myself. And with the straight axle there would be less maintenance or upkeep.

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

If you are going to be involved in the build, ie, doing the work or checking on the work, I would advise starting a build thread and document the build with lots of pics .. good for you as a history and getting help if needed, and good for us as info sharing.

Besides, we all love build threads.

 

[dsctr]

If you are going to be involved in the build, ie, doing the work or checking on the work, I would advise starting a build thread and document the build with lots of pics .. good for you as a history and getting help if needed, and good for us as info sharing.

Besides, we all love build threads.

I will be doing all the work on the build myself, in my garage.

I will start a build thread when I start the build, will include a lot o photo's/pic's if I can figure out how to post them.

I plan on starting the build in April, if everything works out as planned.

thanks

 

[Lucky]

Welcome glad you joined us. Ride safe

 

[Texan]

......and drive belt, old belt looked good but was 24 years old, figured while I had it apart may as well replace it.......

Harley makes (or did) a heavy duty drive belt w/Kevlar for use on sidecar rigs. Kinda spendy but worth the $$$ for side car use but should fit a trike. Have an extra on hanging in the shop. Thinking about checking into fitment on the TriGlide.

8~\o

 

[dsctr]

Champion or Frankenstein

I thank all of you for your welcomes and input/support on my soon to start trike build.

After all the replies I've received, some stating about possible performance issues with the EVO 80" motor not being powerful enough.

I was thinking a Frankenstein trike kit may be better. It is suppose to be about half the weight (150lbs compared to 300lbs) of the Champion kit, less strain on the motor.

May have less air resistance since it doesn't have a complete fiberglass body and therefore better fuel mileage.

Down side is that I would loose the saddle bags only a tour pak, so less storage, where the Champion has a trunk and a tour pak.

The cost is about $2500 less for the Frankenstein Kit with rear end, wheels, fenders, complete exhaust and triple tree $7370 single disc brake or $7820 for dual disc brake. Total cost no sales tax. Fenders would have to be painted.

Champion kit is $7995, with rear end, wheels, body and exhaust. The triple tree is extra $1095, primed body $375, painted $1145, then they charge $210 to crate it so it can be shipped free. So primed $9775 and a painted kit $10445. Not sure if there is sales tax. If taxed that would be about $11280.

I would appreciate any input from members that have either Frankenstein or Champion kit. So far most responses have been for the Champion.

I am planning on starting the build in April.

Thanks

 

[MDO]

Welcome from the state of Missouri!​

 

[hardwickbv]

Welcome from Indiana !!! :Coffee:

Bob

 

[ol' school]

Welcome to Trike Talk Dale! Do start a build thread when you get started on the conversion. We all like build threads!

 

[desertclassic]

Welcome from New Mexico. Jim