66 The Humble Bumble project!

      I thought this would be a fitting time to show you the  project we went thru blizzards to arrive home to finish.  Also it will show you what we do when we aren't traveling and how a trike is created.

Not a professional model, this is Todd! 

 Todd contacted us in the fall before our scheduled winter trike trip asking us to convert his Gold Wing "The humble Bumble" ( you'll see why)  Todd had a special color scheme in mind.  To make sure we had it right we put tape on our trike with the desired color location and sent the order off to the trike company.  As you can see it all starts with a standard motorcycle, usually one of the larger touring variety.
     The crated conversion kit arrives by semi and a kind neighbor allows us to use his fork lift to offload it.  (yup, lots of snow aren't we glad we hurried home.).  After uncrating and checking for damage we disassemble the kit.

     When I have been asked how we build a trike, I like to tease and say we (Ruthie, I and Tom) remove everything that doesn't look like a trike.  Maybe it is a little more complicated than that.
     Some of the items are removed and will be reinstalled when the running gear is on.  We remove the saddlebags, frame structure that holds the saddlebags, mufflers, rear wheel and final drive. ( this would be similar to the differential on your car.)  On touring motorcycles there is a swing arm that supports the final drive, rear wheel and provides a cushion or spring effect to soften the bumps.  Normally this gets modified to add strength and a means of attaching the trike running gear. 
     The preparation leaves a bare bones bike ready to accept the trikes running gear and frame.  Not so pretty anymore. 
     The running gear has a substantial support frame with automobile tires and wheels, a differential and braking system.  The chore now is to attach it to what's left of the motorcycle.   Note the little heater, not a solution but it takes the chill off.  Tom say's "Vern doesn't work unless it's freezing or over eighty" perhaps a little exaggeration on his part, but sometimes it does seem like that. 
     One of the tricky parts is installing the drive shaft from the motorcycle transmission to the running gear differential.  It has to be done as the running gear frame is joined with the motorcycle frame.   There are several attaching points besides the swing arm plate that used to be attached to the final drive.  It gives it a lot of strength and stability.  It is at this time we join and bleed the braking system.  
     For the first time it is on three wheels.   One of the benefits of where we live and work is our neighbors.  At any time we might get a visit from our friends Wes and Brenda (usually with a little friendly ribbing) . Or Gary might stop by with his 4 wheeler.  (love to tease him about his backup camera, on a four wheeler, really? )  And they are always ready and willing to give a helping hand.  Great people!  So glad we moved here.

      And now the front end?  Yes! A motorcycle was designed to be on two wheels. When you change the length and width you have affected the geometry of the bike.  Some trikes bikes can develop a front wheel vibration under certain conditions.  To alleviate this and also to make it steer much easier we install custom triple tree ( picture; it is the pivoting point for the steering that holds the front forks.)  It requires a total disassembly of the front end.  Since we have them off we check the fork oil and change the springs. (Yes warm clothes and a heater, Tom was right.)

 After double checking all the bolts, (the bolts are installed using a torque wrench that allows us to adjust the tightness to the engineers specification.)  air pressure in the tires, align the wheels,  we are ready for a road test.  I usually put on some warm clothes throw a pillow over the battery and take it for a bare bones road test to check before we install the body.

    

     We now remove the wheels, prepare the body by installing taillights we removed from the saddlebags, install wiring to the lights, fit and adjust the body, install exhaust, trailer hitch and wheels. Another road test and we are ready to roll.   

Thanks Todd for allowing us to use your trike for the story.