brakes

[escort 1]

My question is I see a lot of trike pictures where they have no brakes on front wheel. is that to keep front wheel from locking up? my planed build is ford escort (fwd) power train in rear then single wheel up front so the front should be about 30%of weight. if I keep power brakebooster on trike the rear brakes should be enough.. plan on trike weighing about 1400lb. or will I even need power brakes on this. thanks for the help. still learning how to find things on this web site.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

My question is I see a lot of trike pictures where they have no brakes on front wheel. is that to keep front wheel from locking up? my planed build is ford escort (fwd) power train in rear then single wheel up front so the front should be about 30%of weight. if I keep power brakebooster on trike the rear brakes should be enough.. plan on trike weighing about 1400lb. or will I even need power brakes on this. thanks for the help. still learning how to find things on this web site.

Probably the lack of front brakes in the photos you speak are for aesthetic purposes and certainly not safety.

30% front weight is pretty light when under acceleration and braking you would have less control on wet roads. Ideally you would want closer to 50% for handling. You should consider using a heavier front suspension with suitable brakes, like a GL1500 or Valkyrie. Valkyrie would be my first thought because of the large front wheel and tire.

Using a vacuum booster for the rear brake is great until the engine shuts off, or in a panic stop, with a trike that weighs half of what the brakes were designed for.

JMHO:Shrug:

 

[escort 1]

thank you for the reply to my question Lee h mann I hope you can get this. the front end is off a 80s gs 850 100/90/19 tire has duel disks on rim. I am debating putting a car tire on the front. 14 inch.. my thinking is it will last more miles, could be wider up to 8-9 inches should keep better traction on the road. handle better? and if I used a rear drum brake setup I could keep the e-brake for when parked. it a clutch . thanks again p.s. my sister married a guy named jim murphy. that aint you is it. LOL they are both alive and living in Nebraska.

 

[escort 1]

thank you for the

Probably the lack of front brakes in the photos you speak are for aesthetic purposes and certainly not safety.

30% front weight is pretty light when under acceleration and braking you would have less control on wet roads. Ideally you would want closer to 50% for handling. You should consider using a heavier front suspension with suitable brakes, like a GL1500 or Valkyrie. Valkyrie would be my first thought because of the large front wheel and tire.

Using a vacuum booster for the rear brake is great until the engine shuts off, or in a panic stop, with a trike that weighs half of what the brakes were designed for.

JMHO:Shrug:

thank you for the info. I tried to send note earlier not sure you got it. hope you get this. sounds like you think power brakes may be too much braking. I think I will build it with booster if its to much disconnect it. it will take up 6-9 inches. . again thank you for your input.

 

[LarryA]

escort 1...if your leg is straight out when braking(with no seat belt to hold you from sliding forward during a panic stop) I would think no power brakes....however if you are sitting higher up and you have to press the pedal downward, then I would say power brakes... just my .02

on my trike, I have rear discs, no booster, leg straight out ahead when on the pedal.....sometimes wish for power brakes...with drums I think less pedal effort is needed since drums have a self energizing design.

 

[escort 1]

thank you larry

escort 1...if your leg is straight out when braking(with no seat belt to hold you from sliding forward during a panic stop) I would think no power brakes....however if you are sitting higher up and you have to press the pedal downward, then I would say power brakes... just my .02

on my trike, I have rear discs, no booster, leg straight out ahead when on the pedal.....sometimes wish for power brakes...with drums I think less pedal effort is needed since drums have a self energizing design.

hope this gets to larry. thanks for input. I will be running disk brakes on front. debate is to use motorcycle or car tire up front?

 

[LarryA]

I would go for a leading link fork setup, or at least the heaviest duty hydraulic fork you can find, the car tire vs motorcycle tire factor is minor compared with saftey and steering effort given by a fork with proper trail, either by design on the leading link, or by raked trees on the hydraulic fork.

look at some of the builds on here, and follow threads on leading links.

look down at the bottom of the page to see similar links on any given subject.

lots of good stuff here!