Telescope Fork for custom trike selection

[zaraf]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to build an electric trike as a hobbyist. The trike is planned for 5 passengers and is going to get used in an urban environment. In terms of dimensions the trike would have a length of approx. 3m and be 1.5m wide. The maximum speed shall be restricted to 60KMH.

So I intend to use the trike to cruise around in city. For this I am looking for a complete front fork assembly (including brakes and wheels) which is a) universal in nature b) simple and finally c) fits my dynamic requirements. Can you guys give me some inspirations or ideas what could be used.

Peace

[Lee H. Mann]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to build an electric trike as a hobbyist. The trike is planned for 5 passengers and is going to get used in an urban environment. In terms of dimensions the trike would have a length of approx. 3m and be 1.5m wide. The maximum speed shall be restricted to 60KMH.

So I intend to use the trike to cruise around in city. For this I am looking for a complete front fork assembly (including brakes and wheels) which is a) universal in nature b) simple and finally c) fits my dynamic requirements. Can you guys give me some inspirations or ideas what could be used.

Peace

Fara, Welcome to Trike Talk from West Virginia, USA.

A 5 passenger payload will require more that a standard telescopic for assembly.

Try this link:https://www.lumleyengineering.co.uk/...ing-link-forks

[Jack Klarich]

Hi Fara, to Trike Talk

Please see post #2 by Jim, he has a lot of knowledge and experience

[Philip R]

Welcome to the forum.

Yep, Jim's da man for these questions.

[zaraf]

Hello gentlemen,

Thanks for widening my steering horizon. What Lee posted with "Leading Link/Earls" was totally new to me and seems promising for my application. Atleast I hope so. But I see some design challenges in terms of spring selection and finding the perfect geometry of the Leading Link Triangle. I hope I can write Jim the fork guy a message

[Lee H. Mann]

Hello gentlemen,

Thanks for widening my steering horizon. What Lee posted with "Leading Link/Earls" was totally new to me and seems promising for my application. Atleast I hope so. But I see some design challenges in terms of spring selection and finding the perfect geometry of the Leading Link Triangle. I hope I can write Jim the fork guy a message

Zaraf, According to their website, they can calculate all of that provided they receive the proper input from you.

[zaraf]

Zaraf, According to their website, they can calculate all of that provided they receive the proper input from you.

Hello Lee. Unfortunately its a budget project so I will have to research things on my own and build my own design by hit and trial. I am following some threads on home-built trikes and probably extend them with my queries.

[vwbug72501]

Earles forks. Here's some links:

https://bmwdean.com/earles-fork.htm

http://www.vk6fh.com/vk6fh/earlesfork.htm

https://www.chopperbuildershandbook.com/index.html

Going to have to be pretty stout considering potential passenger and battery weight unless you balance some weight behind the rear axle.

[zaraf]

Earles forks. Here's some links:

https://bmwdean.com/earles-fork.htm

http://www.vk6fh.com/vk6fh/earlesfork.htm

https://www.chopperbuildershandbook.com/index.html

Going to have to be pretty stout considering potential passenger and battery weight unless you balance some weight behind the rear axle.

Hello Vwbug your links are much appreciated. I am planning to do the load distribution so the CG is low by placing the batteries at the floor. Also the mass is centered around rear axles. Moreover I am planning to place one of the four passengers behind rear axle. I would appreciate your two cents on the configuration and some tips how could one optimize the dynamics more.