mpescatori wrote on 02/16/10 at 02:30:58:<snip> ...
I like Bob Witte's trike, but have a few concerns.
Where is the rear brake disc bolted? Is it bolted to the rear drive belt pulley? Is there a differential? Is it bolted to a halfshaft?
....
Also, I find the rear wheels ... "fat". This is, of course, a "European" thing, but as the Savage only has a mere 32bhp (at full throttle) how many bhp will I have at cruising speed, say 60mph =3800rpm? 20-23 bhp?
Would that kind of horsepower be enough to push such fat tires at 60mph without being detrimental to engine efficiency and fuel mileage? Would 165x15 "Old Beetle" tires do the job adequately ?
Now, for the nice bits
Any chance of having "twin trunks" in place of the saddle bags? Any chance of a nice, 10 gal. fuel tank on one side, so that the "old tank" can be converted into a handy place to store things, like a glove compartment?
Last ... I can imagine... a trike conversion, 10 gal. fuel tank, twin trunks, and "ride around the world" at the base of the windscreen!
if only...
PS don't forget that LSD !!! (differential)
All Trinity Trikes have a full automotive style differential of our own design and manufacture (i.e. NOT a used or rebuilt unit from a car). This means both wheels can turn at different rates in the corners -- a must for good handling! We use a Formula 1 centerline design model with differential itself in the middle, the drive pulley on the left side and the brake disk on the right.
That drive train assembly is sandwiched between two 40mm steel tube axles (again, designed and made by Trinity, not rebuilt from salvage parts) that ride on six double row sealed bearings each of which are rated for over 40,000 lbs of static load! Since each of conversions share commonality of design, poke around our website (link is beneath my signature below) and there are any number of close ups of the rear drive assembly.
Our assembly is so light that even on the many "weak sister" 250cc conversions we have done, they have no great struggle to run at highway speeds. I know from actually doing it that the Savage trike runs smooth and steady at "careless driving" over the legal limits! We've already addressed the MPG's in this thread, so no need to repeat here.
Next, at The Trinity Trike, tires & wheels are always user optional. The 195's shown on the yellow S40 aren't all that "fat", but we usually recommend 175 or 185's on that type of ride. I think the white one also pictured on our site had the 175's. To me, thinner is better, but to a lot of my fellow Americans, "size matters" when it comes to equipment!
As far as trunks & tanks, the simplicy of the Trinity conversion allows you to run wild with whatever customizations you want to do. Go for it!! We're ready when you are (and don't forget this week's special!)
Bob Witte
www.TheTrinityTrike.com