Motorcycle Trike Conversion Information
Question:
Larry, how's it going? Can you get me more information about doing a motorcycle trike conversion? I am building a Trike out of my Yamaha XV1100 Virago. {Bryan, NJ Yamaha Virago 1100}
Answer:
There are an awful lot of sites dedicated to three wheeled motorcycles or trikes. Most want to sell you the entire pre-fab conversion kit or just cool LED lights, custom looking fenders, etc.There is not much out there in the way of help for the do-it-yourselfer. When you do find a site, most describe adding the front of a motorcycle to a rear engine car. Like this
VW Trikes page.
From what you said when I saw you in DA's I think you want to remove the rear tire and axle from your Virago and add a car axle & tires. Your problem lies in the drive shaft rotation. The shaft drive on your bike turns in the opposite direction of the drive shaft in a car. This means you will have to flip the drive shaft housing (aka pumpkin). How is this accomplished? Trial and error.
Here are the few resources I have found for you.
Pretty meager pickings, I know. I assume that most people who have done a motorcycle trike conversion have have done so just for themselves and don't want to be sued if you duplicate their work and have an accident. Or they do custom modifications as a business and are not into giving away their info.
Since you know you want to use a car for the back of your trike, here are a few photos of converted motorcycle trikes I found.
Fiero Trike
It's interesting, but probably not what you are going for.
Camaro - Virago Trike
This bike sold on ebay in April, 2009. It was described as a 1989 Virago XV1100 with a Chevy Camaro rear end and a fiberglass fender.
VW Trike
These seem to be becoming more popular. The first photo is from Texas.
Here is a 1300cc trike from New Zealand.
Here are some other sites that you may find useful
Motorcycle Trikes For Sale- tons of photos and information.
href="http://viragotechforum.com/phpBB/portal.php" target="_blank">
Virago Tech Forum - ask other Virago owners about their own custom motorcycle trike conversion. Check out the posts, maybe you can learn from others experiences.
Hannigan Motorsports - The Three Wheel Motorcycle Specialists!
If you decide to go with a pre-fab kit keep reading.
There are quite a few companies that make conversion kits to turn your motorcycle into a trike. The prices and components vary. You can get everything including fenders, suspension, seat with backrest and lights or just a bare bones kit that in composed of a bracket, axle, sprocket (or final drive) and brake system.
Here are a few links to companies that provide kits to do the conversion at home without the hassle of fabricating parts yourself.
Mystery Designs
The Trike Shop
Tetra Trikes
|  |
And last, for the mechanically challenged, MTCVoyager.com - this is a bolt on accessory that gives you the look of a trike without modification of your bike.
Have you created your own Custom Motorcycle Trike Conversion?
We would love it if you could share it with the visitors of Weeks Motorcycle.
Ready to Show Off Your Bike?
Do you have a great photo of your custom utility ATV? Did your Sportbike just get a new paint job? Did you snap some impressive shots at this years Bike Week? Share it!
See What Others Have Contributed!
Click below to see story and photo contributions from other visitors to this page.
Need more free ATV, dirt bike or motorcycle repair information?
Q&A: Leaking Fuel Valve?
Q&A: Leaking Gas Valve flooding engine?
Q&A: Battery Maintenance
Q&A: Battery Types
Q&A: Carb Jetting page 1
Q&A: Carb Jetting page 2
Q&A: Aftermarket Exhaust System
Q&A: Carb Float Needle
Q&A: Carburetor Identification
Q&A: Honda Points
Q&A: Rim Bolt Pattern
Q&A: CB750F Identification
Q&A: Broken Speedometer Cable End
Q&A: Suzuki LT-Z400 QuadSport Tank Removal
Q&A: Motorcycle Trike Conversion
Q&A: Honda Rancher Reverse Problem
Q&A: Kawasaki Z650SR Fuel Mix problem
Q&A: RM80 Piston Position
Q&A: LT80 Engine Oil Issues
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cable_break_in.html">Q&A: Clutch Cable Break In period?
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cooling_fan_problem.html">Q&A: Cooling Fan Problem?
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/oil_change_XV920.html">Q&A: 1983 XV920 Virago Oil Change
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/atc90-spark-plug.html">Q&A: ATC90 Spark Plug question
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/nighthawk-750.html">Q&A: Nighthawk 750 Spark Plug Gap
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/bike_registration.html">Q&A: Bike Registration Problem
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/hypercharger-instructions.html">Q&A: Lost Hypercharger Instructions
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/bourget-charging-system.html">Q&A: Bourget Charging System
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cleaning-spark-plugs.html">Q&A: Can Spark Plugs be cleaned?
href=" http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/wheel-bearing.html">Q&A: Wheel Bearing Removal for 1976 CB750K
href=" http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/yz490-kick-start.html">Q&A: 1982 YZ490 Kick Start
href=" http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/goldwing.html">Q&A: 1979 GL1000 Goldwing Points Gap
href=" http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cable-routing.html">Q&A: 1982 GS650GLZ Cable Routing Problem
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/ether.html">Q&A: Ether vs. Carb Clean
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/atv-ignition.html">Q&A: ATV Ignition Trouble
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/backfire.html">Q&A: John Deere backfiring
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/phantom-200.html">Q&A: Honda Phantom 200 Tire Pressure
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/clutch-slip.html">Q&A: TRX350 Clutch Slip possible causes
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/timing-marks.html">Q&A: LTF250 Cam Chain Installation & Timing Marks
Q&A: Demon X pit bike clutch trouble href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/gpz550.html">Q&A: 1981 GPZ550 flywheel cover
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/yamaha-badger.html">Q&A: 2000 Yamaha Badger : Hard to start
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cb360t.html">Q&A: 1975 CB360T Replacement Tire
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cb750.html">Q&A: Vintage CB750 Chain Size
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/lta500f-vinson.html">Q&A: LTA500F Vinson Leaky Fuel Petcock
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/rancher.html">Q&A: TRX350 Rancher Hard Shifting
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/rectifier.html">Q&A: Replacement Rectifier
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/gs500f.html">Q&A: GS500F Turn Signals
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/idle.html">Q&A: Suzuki Quad Poor Idle
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/carb.html">Q&A: Yamaha Wolverine cracked Carb top
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/cold-start.html">Q&A: Vulcan Classic VN1600 Cold Start issues
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/no-power.html">Q&A: 1980 GS1000 with No Power
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/octane.html">Q&A: High Octane Fuel
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/water.html">Q&A: Suzuki Bandit 1200 Water in the Oil
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/vibration.html">Q&A: Suzuki LT250 Vibration and Clutch Slip
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/breather-hose.html">Q&A: Rancher with Oil in the Air Box
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/brake-master.html">Q&A: Honda NTV 650 Deauville with Brake Master Cylinder problem
href="http://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/oil-filter.html">Q&A: Virago Oil Filter Location
| 
 |
Leave Motorcycle Trike Conversion and go check out Fun Stuff
Main Repair Advice: Question and Answer page
Weeks Motorcycle Home
