Well, after months of waiting on parts and making new parts and being sick and unable to work on the trike, the trike is finished. I've got a few additional items like the heated seat to hook up but the trike is finished. Well, except for the side covers that Bob has been promising since July but that is another story. Here are a couple of pictures. Gene
grhouse
Trinity Trike Finished!
Well, after months of waiting on parts and making new parts and being sick and unable to work on the trike, the trike is finished. I've got a few additional items like the heated seat to hook up but the trike is finished. Well, except for the side covers that Bob has been promising since July but that is another story. Here are a couple of pictures. Gene
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Yes it does look a little wide but appears to be very stable. At the same time, I don't think it is any wider than any other trike kit. I've only taken it on a short ride since it is only about 20 degrees here and I haven't hooked up the heated gear yet. Anyway, it was stable in a U-turn and in a slow circle. I have noticed that the axles do not have the bike centered. It is a couple of inches further from the right frame to the wheel than it is from the left frame to the wheel. They probably did that for spacing for the muffler but didn't really have to. It is something I'll have to get used to since I'm used to being centered. I'll have to remember that the right wheel sticks out further than the left one does. I'll do a complete report after I've ridden a few hundred miles.
I do have one observation now after looking at the Trinity website pictures and my pictures here. After they get the design nailed down, Trinity should have the part powder-coated a neutral color like flat black before shipping. I really like the way the trike parts shadow in beneath the candy apple of the Burgman a lot better than the bright silver of the aluminum. Gene
I do have one observation now after looking at the Trinity website pictures and my pictures here. After they get the design nailed down, Trinity should have the part powder-coated a neutral color like flat black before shipping. I really like the way the trike parts shadow in beneath the candy apple of the Burgman a lot better than the bright silver of the aluminum. Gene
I'm glad to see your bike finished. The only thing left on mine is the fenders. I'm having them painted and should be able to pick them up friday. It has been long in coming but the person who put it together for me said it will be worth the wait. He took it out for the brake system and he got alot of thumbs up and waives. He said he did know for sure if it was for the bike or the fact that he was out on the bike the day before a blizzard. I will be posting pictures as soon as it is complete.
I dont see how it is not centered, did you measure from center of bike to out side of each wheel to see how much it is off :?: Wayne
I just checked mine and the wheels are both 26 in from center of bike. The side plates are not centered because of the design of the bike, but both wheels are correct width, so one does not stick out more than the other, get your tape out and measure. Wayne
Looking Good Gene!! 
Personally, I particularly like the painting you did on the rear. I'd like you to send me some close ups of that for the website. We have offered annodize and powder coating from the beginning (on a price quote basis), but haven't had any takers. Good shots of your solution may change that.
The axle "offset" issue is simple. Richard (the engineering half of the partnership) reminds me that the overall physical center of a bike is seldom the physical center of gravity. Subsequently, few if any, of our Trinity conversions are perfectly symetrical and each model is engineered for itself (never a "one size fits all). In the TriBurg's case there is only a slight difference to the physical center relative to the wheel locations. And yes, there is a noticible difference between the lengths of the left and righ axle tubes exacerbated by the required positioning of the differential & pulley. Almost all trikes have some kind of offset, but few are of the Trinity "roadster" style with just fenders and saddle bags. With the roadster style, of coure, it is more noticable.
For anyone really bothered by this, Wayne Langille (seatec) is working on a perfectly symetrical solution with the mini-body and front panel sections. I understand the molds have just been cast (and came out great!). Watch for his announcement about if/when he may offer copies to others (let's all hope he does!!)
Finally, the "another story" about the ABS plastic side covers is that I'm the hold up. As chief designer and vacu-form mold plug maker, I'm responsible for building the 20 odd wooden plugs needed for production. We actually did a set of fiberglass side cases the first set of Gene got. But rightfully so, Gene wasn't happy with them (and neither was I) and he made some helpful suggestions, and I was off in another direction entirely. I was going to get with it in earnest right after the holidays, but got a major lung infection on New Year's day. After several round of steriods, antibiotics & prednizone, at one point they thought it might even be "walking pneumonia" (but no boggie-woogie flu!). Anyhow I working on them today and as long as the weather holds (i.e., I don't get frozen out!) they should be forthcoming shortly.
Personally, I particularly like the painting you did on the rear. I'd like you to send me some close ups of that for the website. We have offered annodize and powder coating from the beginning (on a price quote basis), but haven't had any takers. Good shots of your solution may change that.The axle "offset" issue is simple. Richard (the engineering half of the partnership) reminds me that the overall physical center of a bike is seldom the physical center of gravity. Subsequently, few if any, of our Trinity conversions are perfectly symetrical and each model is engineered for itself (never a "one size fits all). In the TriBurg's case there is only a slight difference to the physical center relative to the wheel locations. And yes, there is a noticible difference between the lengths of the left and righ axle tubes exacerbated by the required positioning of the differential & pulley. Almost all trikes have some kind of offset, but few are of the Trinity "roadster" style with just fenders and saddle bags. With the roadster style, of coure, it is more noticable.
For anyone really bothered by this, Wayne Langille (seatec) is working on a perfectly symetrical solution with the mini-body and front panel sections. I understand the molds have just been cast (and came out great!). Watch for his announcement about if/when he may offer copies to others (let's all hope he does!!)
Finally, the "another story" about the ABS plastic side covers is that I'm the hold up. As chief designer and vacu-form mold plug maker, I'm responsible for building the 20 odd wooden plugs needed for production. We actually did a set of fiberglass side cases the first set of Gene got. But rightfully so, Gene wasn't happy with them (and neither was I) and he made some helpful suggestions, and I was off in another direction entirely. I was going to get with it in earnest right after the holidays, but got a major lung infection on New Year's day. After several round of steriods, antibiotics & prednizone, at one point they thought it might even be "walking pneumonia" (but no boggie-woogie flu!). Anyhow I working on them today and as long as the weather holds (i.e., I don't get frozen out!) they should be forthcoming shortly.
Well, I'm not sure what Wayne is measuring with but this is what I just discovered. Now, it is to D@@@ cold out there for my old bones to be measuring that trike but I decided to check it out since a couple of people were curious and Wayne stated so strongly that it was not off. Well, it is of by 3/4 inch.
I determined center by measuring first the middle of the rear between the tail lights to find center and then getting the center of the tag (which I made sure was centered on the bike). From there I dropped a plump line down to the axle tube and marked a line on a piece of tape. At that point I measured from each wheel (not tire) edge to the center mark with a yardstick (so I had something solid and not flexible like a tape measure).
From the left wheel it is 19 3/4 inches to center and from the right wheel it is 20 inches to the center line. I don't think that 3/4 inch is enough to make any difference in riding or steering the bike but I tend to be a perfectionist. As I said earlier, I'll do a detailed report and analysis later after I've had time to really put it through it it paces. I realize that when you first get a new toy you tend not to see any flaws in it. I want to report as much of the good points as well as the not so good points as I can discover.
Yesterday I went and bought two different grades of higher density foam to try to reinvent the seat since I hope to make a couple of longer distance trips this year. I plan to make it more of a saddle shape to give me better support without the feeling of wanting to slide off the front of it and add comfort at the same time. I'll document this with pictures for the database as I go and post them after I've finished.
Ride well, Gene
I determined center by measuring first the middle of the rear between the tail lights to find center and then getting the center of the tag (which I made sure was centered on the bike). From there I dropped a plump line down to the axle tube and marked a line on a piece of tape. At that point I measured from each wheel (not tire) edge to the center mark with a yardstick (so I had something solid and not flexible like a tape measure).
From the left wheel it is 19 3/4 inches to center and from the right wheel it is 20 inches to the center line. I don't think that 3/4 inch is enough to make any difference in riding or steering the bike but I tend to be a perfectionist. As I said earlier, I'll do a detailed report and analysis later after I've had time to really put it through it it paces. I realize that when you first get a new toy you tend not to see any flaws in it. I want to report as much of the good points as well as the not so good points as I can discover.
Yesterday I went and bought two different grades of higher density foam to try to reinvent the seat since I hope to make a couple of longer distance trips this year. I plan to make it more of a saddle shape to give me better support without the feeling of wanting to slide off the front of it and add comfort at the same time. I'll document this with pictures for the database as I go and post them after I've finished.
Ride well, Gene
I rechecked mine a litter closer and there is a 7/16 in difference. Check the out side width of tires to see if its about 52in. Thats what my body is made to fit. Wayne
Richard (the engineering half of the partnership) reminds me that the overall physical center of a bike is seldom the physical center of gravity.
If it is not a ton of weight could the CG be fixed by adding a weight to keep it symetrical? :?
OR does it really matter?
If it is not a ton of weight could the CG be fixed by adding a weight to keep it symetrical? :?
OR does it really matter?
It appears to me that there is only a 1/4 inch difference if my math is correct. Less then many cars have from front to rear wheel tread width difference.grhouse said:
I don't think it will matter that much BUT that is what the evaluation is for: to determine if issues like that need to be addressed. So far, people seem to be having a lot of fun with the Trinity Trike conversion and that is good. I'm looking at it as a long distance touring bike. For my purposes it needs to be able to maintain its stability on the on and off ramps of the interstate system and on country roads. It is nice to be able to play in the snow or ride across the tundra but I want to test it on 400 miles a day of highway travel (and not in a trailer). Will it hold up to two-up riding down the interstate system mile after mile? No one has put it through this type of evaluation that I know of and maybe someone will before i do. I do know that we need more than one or two people to evaluate it under a variety of conditions. It is a good-looking bike but I didn't buy the Burgman for its looks; I bought it functionality and the trike has got to maintain that functionality plus add $6000 worth of functionality to it. If it doesn't add that much value to the Burgman, in MY opinion, then I wasted my money and a whole lot of my time and energy.
It is supposed to be about 40 tomorrow so I'll probably glue up the seat foam and trim it down. I hope I remember to carry my camera out to the barn and get the pictures since I've seen a lot of posts about the seat. I'm not sure how much space that BUSA will let me have for pictures but I've got plenty of space I can use on a couple of other sites plus I'll add it to the BUSA Database if I can remember everything.
Gene
It is supposed to be about 40 tomorrow so I'll probably glue up the seat foam and trim it down. I hope I remember to carry my camera out to the barn and get the pictures since I've seen a lot of posts about the seat. I'm not sure how much space that BUSA will let me have for pictures but I've got plenty of space I can use on a couple of other sites plus I'll add it to the BUSA Database if I can remember everything.
Gene
Oops, 1/4 inch it is. See what the cold does to your brain? Again, I doubt it is enough to matter that close to the ground. Thanks, Gene
I was wondering how it handles on the road, cornering effort particualily. I had a large touring bike (Yamaha Venture Royal) that I added a 3 point sidecar to. I did not change the rake on the front steering becuase I could disconnect and drive like a 2 wheel bike when I wanted to. The steering was terrible, it took all my strenth to make a high speed turn such as coming off the free way . Of course side cars come up when you pull a right turn and compress the outer wheel suspension when you make a left so this did not help. Is the trike hard to turn and is there any tendacny to lift a wheel in quick manuver?
Thanks,
Randy
Thanks,
Randy
Been waiting for the others to respond to you, but my short answer is that it is nowhere anything like you struggled with on your hack. The TriBurg will not steer as easy as a two wheeler at any speed inasmuch as you do most of your two wheeler steering with your weight, not your arms. Triking does take more effort to steer, but less effort as your speed increases. At any but the slowest speeds, you can easily "one hand" your curves & figure 8's as seen in our videos. Check out the references below for rider's impressions:
http://burgmanusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=42796)
http://www.burgmantrikes.com/Forum/tabi ... fault.aspx
http://www.thetrinitytrike.com/TrikesArticleReprint.pdf
Finally, although the laws of physics say that you can eventually lift one of our wheels by applying excessive speed in a full lock turn, as a practical matter it our experience that it is very difficult to do so. Again, check out the video on the website.
http://burgmanusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=42796)
http://www.burgmantrikes.com/Forum/tabi ... fault.aspx
http://www.thetrinitytrike.com/TrikesArticleReprint.pdf
Finally, although the laws of physics say that you can eventually lift one of our wheels by applying excessive speed in a full lock turn, as a practical matter it our experience that it is very difficult to do so. Again, check out the video on the website.
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