TheSamba.com :: View topic - What have you done to your VW Trike lately?

Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:25 pm

Let's see what you have done to your vw trikes!!

Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:47 pm

I did some engine work on my buddies trike. My transaxle upgrade will be bolted in this week. Upgraded to a 68 swingaxle with the 4.12 ring & pinion.

Thu May 19, 2011 9:36 am

Hey guys...thought I'd post something here.
I got the trike from a friend that past away....so i stripped it down and completely redid it in his honor.

it's a pretty fun ride.

Summer plans include lowering the rear end, swapping the fiberglass tank out with a metal one.....making sure she runs good, and new LED's throughout

Sun May 22, 2011 1:22 pm

nybugguy wrote: Let's see what you have done to your vw trikes!!

My trike project started last year, still working on it.

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z7/rockrdr/Trike/Trike%20Build%202011/

Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:32 am

Unbolted the body from the 1970 type 1 VW. Never worked on a VW before. Me and a Bro figured that it couldn't be too hard. Started at 9 AM and finished up at 4:30 PM. Body had never been off from the way it looked. Going to get the body raised and off the 'frame' in the next few days. Going to be neat seeing the two pieces separated!

Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:16 pm

cartmann32 wrote: Hey guys...thought I'd post something here.
I got the trike from a friend that past away....so i stripped it down and completely redid it in his honor.

it's a pretty fun ride.

Summer plans include lowering the rear end, swapping the fiberglass tank out with a metal one.....making sure she runs good, and new LED's throughout

This is one of the nicest designs I've ever seen on a trike, it is REALLY cool!

Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:22 am

...actually I am in the process of building one! Using a 1970 axle and engine out of a bug. Should be able to pick up the frame from the welder today, and hopefully get it mated to the axle today or tomorrow.

I hope I made the frame long enough. I can't seem to get much info out of anyone on these sites about what I want to know. Either they don't know, or they just don't want to volunteer any information! LOL!

Oh well, I have built a few Harley's in the past, so it can't be any harder than that! :P

Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:52 am

the quick answer is long enough to reach the front wheel :lol: .no, seriously, what do you want your trike to do?short wheelbases tend to jump up and say"hey yall look at me!".turn in a very small space and leave very little room for extras[showoff stuff,luggage rack,{milk,bread,etc}passenger seat.longer frame gives you all the above and tend to ride smoother.longer turning radius.mine is 12 feet.i'm very happy with it.turns inside most car radiuses,pretty smooth ride and i don't worry about doing a wheelie every light.figure out what you want on your ride,measure how long you need for that aspect and add it to overall dimensions. in other words,design it like you want it.follow basic geometry rules ,add in balance ratios,figure the rake issues[adds to ride aspects] and go for it.by the way,i've seen many a post on all these items,[may have to go to another forum site for specialized questions] have found all the info i've ever needed . good luck

Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:59 am

Thanks Frankentrike! I started building this in Dec of 2011 and it is pretty well finished. It was a hit and miss situation from the start, but things got finished. I wanted it to be, first and foremost, SAFE! In my 33 years of riding Harleys, I have only had to lay it down twice. Once was my stupidity, the other was the weather and the Illinois DOT's fault. Anyway, after about 70 hours of planning, cutting, welding and wrenching, it is 90% complete! Took it for a ride, a very short ride, last Wed and things seemed pretty good. Used a H-D wide glide front end, a fabricated front frame (local welding shop made it) and a 1970 type 1 transaxle and motor. It is simple and safe. Tires and transaxle are covered by aluminium diamond plate and am going to leave the front frame exposed and just paint it. Still have to enclose the wiring that runs from the handlebars to the fusebox in the rear section, but, that won't take long. It is short. Approx 9 ft long from the front of the front tire to the engine pulley. I hit gears pretty hard the day I had it out and the front end stayed down.

Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:48 pm

My Trike isn't quite to the caliber of some trikes. But it is My Home built. It was built in the 80s. My old man purchased it back in 1985. i have been riding it for 15 years. He finally sold it to me as a welcome back from Iraq gift. i have tons of photos of the rebuild.

Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:20 pm

I went and took out a loan so I can bring it home Friday and start working on it. :D

Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:04 pm

Today I got my trike up on jackstands, pulled the tires and started planning the rebuild. Now to pull the engine and tranny.

Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:41 am

This is what I have done over this winter.

Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:38 pm

I wish more of us used this forum

Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:52 pm

Today I pulled the shift rod out cut it off and rewelded it in the correct position and installed a quick shift kit. It shifts Great now!

Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:43 pm

customcityjim wrote: This is what I have done over this winter.

Nice ride.

Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:06 pm

I am still working on my trike I hope to take it for its first test ride real soon.

Sat Jun 28, 2014 10:25 am

Thank you for the compliment on my trike. Yours is looking good so far too. I have a nephew at Conroe, we'll have to get together when I ride down to see them next time. Keep up the good work. I finally finished my proto type. I'm building these to sell now. Talk Later, JIM

Sun Jun 29, 2014 2:05 pm

customcityjim wrote: This is what I have done over this winter.

Wow, One of the best looking trikes ever... Great job...

Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:57 pm

This is a body I picked up in CT this winter..

Haven't had one in years.. and now I have most of the parts to build one!

This Trike part of the forum is kinda buried? Whats the chance of moving it UP from being so hidden under "other VW Vehicles?"