Taking off in 2nd on vw trike?

[Adam9015]

Ill just get to the point. Never driven manual. And im mechanically stupid. So... i bought a vw trike. Ughhh type 3?..i think. 78? 1600cc idfk. Point is..Im getting the hang of it but... The Guy said not to take off in first because ill do a wheelie. Recommended i take off in second. Sometimes i dont giver enough and kill it. Sometimes i jolt forward a little faster than id like. Is this because its second gear? Just seems like gas pedal (throttle, break, clutch all foot opporated) gives a bit too much oomph without pressing hard at all. Ive popped several small wheelies in 2nd taking off.. so is taking off in 3rd better? Im sure alot of it is sloppy clutch work. But does anyone else with a VW trike have to start off in second? Was i misinformed? Would taking off in 3rd be smoother and less agressive? Like take off in 3rd- move down to 2nd once im going and then up to 3rd again after ive buikt some speed Or is 1st fine? Again im about 3 days deep into learning manual and i cannot stress how mechanically oblivious i am.kinda why i got this also. A. Looks badass B. Fun way to learn manual. C. Simple enough very exposed design. Ive learned alot just by looking at the thing. Its like a stick with handle bars and an engine haha. But yeah...help

[TonkaDriver]

It sounds like the best thing to do is practice. If the throttle doesn't feel smooth you may need a new cable. Second gear is fine to start out. IMO third would be too high. If you can find an empty parking lot, practice there until you develop the coordination and feel for a nice smooth takeoff. It shouldn't take much throttle to get moving in second.

Good Luck,

Kurt

[Jack Klarich]

If you practice I bet you can start in first. Go easy and feather the clutch. Starting in 3rd you will be riding the clutch, not a good thing expect faster clutch wear

[grandpanystrom61]

Greetings and welcome to another day.

You can take off in 2nd gear, or even 3rd if you good enough, but I would not recommend it to any one unless their 1st gear is real low and only used for towing or off road type conditions.

Ho'

w lite the front end is also can add to how easy the front end lifts up along with a short frame trike, as they seem easy to lift up also.

I have a Ed Roth style trike that moves with at least a 1600cc and its design is low to the ground, yet it still comes up off the ground.

I did find the center frame tube filled with buck shot (lead weight) the entire length of the trike.

I do not start off in 2nd gear, no reason for it, as it is only practice with a soft foot and a easy twist on the throttle. It takes much time to get it down.

A smooth throttle is ideal, not a tight one were a flinch makes the RPM's race, but a little free play is nice, not much, just that flinch amount is how I like it, but each rider is different and you can adjust it to how you like it.

To much free play in the throttle cable will take away from the top end of the cable travel, (means you do not get to open the carb's on the way.)

Always want a throttle cable to be adjusted so the carbs open fully when the throttle is fully twisted, or close to that, again something each rider does adjust for their own comfort and what not.

Practice a little clutch first so you feel the engagement starting to happen and a little throttle at this point (a little free play is nice here) because you ease off that clutch and as it engages more you give a little more fuel to carbs ( clutch engagement happens in the lower end of pedal travel, not when it is all the way out, so you just have to come off with the clutch a little slow and softer, remember to feel your clutch engagement prior to any throttle is applied, and do not let off the clutch fast or Wheelie time...……..and just shut down the throttle to end wheelie.

Do you have a wheelie bar on the trike ? Anything keeping the engine or tail pipes from slamming into the ground ?

Be safe, open area is good practice area, like the parking lot idea. Or you can practice in your drive way like I did.

[sonny8l3]

Welcome Adam, I agree with Kurt, practice. I am mechanically declined, but fortunately I have a very good and understanding mechanic. I have a 1600 '71, I always start in 1st. and have never tried 2nd. My knees are not real reliable and a smooth clutch has been a bit of a problem. I found that adjusting the clutch to the catch in my knee helped a lot. Also there is a tube that the clutch cable runs through on the tranny end near the cable adjuster, I forget what it is called. Having the bend in it right makes a lot of difference in the pressure needed for the clutch. I have also found that setting the clutch at a stop in advance helps me look like I'm a better rider, it doesn't jump as much. One foot on the brake and let the clutch out until I feel it start to engage and hold. I have also found that not being too hard on old folks (me) helps. Good luck and have fun.

Thanks for your time.

[vwbug72501]

Pictures? We love pictures! Also helps with feedback.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Practice.

As light in the front that a vw trike can be....wheelies are a common thing.

Practice, learn how to control it. Learn how to use first gear. Sooner or later you will have to use it to start on a hill, ect.

Once you learn how to control it.....then the fun starts.

[Adam9015]

Pictures? We love pictures! Also helps with feedback.

Ive been trying to figure out how lol. Im on my phone and the tutorial only seemed to be for computer.

[Adam9015]

But thanks everyone for the helpful advice. Ill do some more practicing. And ill post pics as soon as i figure out how lol

[stacebg]

But thanks everyone for the helpful advice. Ill do some more practicing. And ill post pics as soon as i figure out how lol

personally i would get enough weight on the front an not worry about the wheelies.... imo if it is light enough to wheelie "at will or without will" it is not going to take a hard corner very well.

[grandpanystrom61]

This very true, mine will come up just about that easy, but knowing it will has helped me learn to shift without lifting the front end up.

But than my mind starts to think, if you are going down the road at 60mph, wouldn't the front tire kinda be floating on the road surface ?

If you have enough torque to lift the front end with the twist of the throttle as you go down the road in 2nd or 3rd, well I do wonder what is happening at high speeds and the front wheel.

What about stabilizer fins (wings), they could be fashioned so the axle would slide thru the whole and once the angle is figured out they could be pinned in position for added strength.

You have the fin on the rear of cars to keep downward pressure on the rear end, so why not some smaller designed ones on the front tire to help keep the light front ends on the road surface ??? Am I off on this, or is there something to this, or they would be to small to matter, I say they would be small, but your hand goes up and down out the window in the wind when you move the plane of it, so basically the same size or smaller on the front axle would help keep it down........ just me thought and would like feed back, good or bad.....my friends have a great day.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Air foils.....well sorta.....maybe.

I would be more afraid of the dynamics of it. Variable forces due to speed, wind direction, ect. I don't feel it would be predictable.

Technical info.....

Fins and spoilers on street cars do not do much other than look good. Some carefully designed ones are more for reducing turbulence and therefore making the car a bit more slippery......increase gas mileage. I doubt any under 100mph fins are intended to create downforce.

The only truly functional down force fin/spoiler I can remember seeing on an amercan street car is the super bird.



The euro super sports cars do have functional down force but are designed to run 200mph. They typically are powered and lift up when at speed.

[Doug D.]

When I had mine, I took off in 2nd all the time. 1st was way short and I was reaching for 2nd pretty quick anyway. Also, when it was originally built, like so many, the Boden (sp?) tube was omitted and it chattered like hell in first. The chattering was cured with a hydraulic clutch, but the habit of starting in 2nd just sorta stuck.

As for wheelies, when it had a 412 gear box it would get air in 1, 2 and 3 if you laid into the throttle hard enough. That went away when I switched to a 388 box and slightly taller rear tires.

PEACE and ride safe!