What the RAKE is going on?

[Half-breeder]

I am starting a project of 2 trikes out of 1 kart, an engine powered one and a 'Pat n Charlie' (pedal) powered one. Im pretty confident bout everything cept I have NO idea what the angle of the neck(s) should be. Ive seen alotta mini trikes w/ a 45degree angle, but not sure if that is the angle. I will be getting BMX bikes to use as the frontends.

I started on the pedal powered one first. The motorized one will be simular to... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSBBiH6_RiE

 

[2SlickNick]

Looks like this guy did 60 degrees
http://youtu.be/Ma-ZcK7jzuc

 

[Half-breeder]

I wonder how well it turns... turning is kind of an important feature to a drifter? You of all ppl should know the endeavors of turning on a trike... hehe.

 

[JoeKR]

Trail is a lot more important than head tube angle. That being said I like the steep rake (just measured mine, it's 60deg!). Angling the head tube keeps the bars closer to you when you're really deep in the slide. Use as little trail as possible, as the live axle seems to mess with the low speed steering. Right now mines at about 2 inches.

 

[2SlickNick]

I never knew what trail is until I read this....http://www.seegercycle.com/Rake-and-Trail.aspx
Just thought it might help.

 

[Half-breeder]

I never knew what trail is until I read this....http://www.seegercycle.com/Rake-and-Trail.aspx
Just thought it might help.

Thx, I woulda had to Google/wiki half his explanation!

 

[chancer]

Hey why don't you enter this into the build off? It looks cool

 

[Half-breeder]

Hey why don't you enter this into the build off? It looks cool

I plead the 5th... literally!

 

[Half-breeder]

Ok... I did some studying up on rake n trail. Now, the issue Im having, mentally, is how to decrease the trail for a bicycle, when I increase the rake at the neck? From what Ive gathered... on a bike the triple-trees can be altered to +/- the trail, via the offset, however on a bicycle's neck there are no triple-trees in design for the offset... so my mental dilemma is 'should' I even bother adding it into the equation? Im gonna only be pushin 30-35mph... most of the speed will be in the rear wheels where as the front will be having considerably less rotational momentum due to going 'sideways'... 'but' (IMO) the more rake (w/in reason) the better the appearance... and Im all about appearance... but functionality is 'key'.

Ive mentally fiddled w/ the idea of angling the forks to achieve the offset needed to correct the trail... but was unsure, so Im asking if 'that' is the way to achieve the goal for a bicycle?

Hope I worded it right (not like I can edit it... )

... and this is the frame that I got to cutup... and what it's going on(seat is 'optional' was thinking of fusing a spade shovel end to the upright post to the neck as a 'poop-shoot plot spot'... lower CoG/smaller/less ATV lookin).

... and yes the rickshaw plan is DX'd, but due to popularity, will be done on a different build. THX to all the voted/replied to the other post.

 

[JoeKR]

To decrease trail ya bend some more curve in the forks. Bad news is the BMX forks most guys use wouldn't bend. Weld a bigger plate to the dropouts and move the dropout slot away from the fork tubes. You may even want to just bolt a plate to the forks original dropouts and experiment with the slots location.

 

[Half-breeder]

... and today's produce is a 55 degree rake/caster...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMdEvSv_Qus&feature=youtu.be

 

[itsid]

You cut a Mongoose Tihm??
noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hear that? that was the cracking sound of a breaking heart
Almost as if someone cut an original Ray Rodriguez Peralta deck in half.

yes, yes, nice drift trike and all that blahblah...
but - oh - the agony

'sid

 

[landuse]

It is looking good

 

[Rickracer]

To increase trail on that, make the triangular plates the front tire bolts to bigger (reaching farther forward).

 

[Badot]

So long as the rake and trail combine in a way that the front end doesn't lower when turned it should self-correct acceptably. Even then, for something of this nature with no countersteering it's not very critical.

If those are plastic rims, pay close attention to your brake pads. They'll likely burn off very quickly with any real use.

 

[Half-breeder]

You cut a Mongoose Tihm??
noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hear that? that was the cracking sound of a breaking heart
Almost as if someone cut an original Ray Rodriguez Peralta deck in half.

yes, yes, nice drift trike and all that blahblah...
but - oh - the agony

'sid

You know what... I think I do hear it! Sounds someone eating German Kim-chi...

Honestly, Mongoose bikes round here are a dime a dozen... it's the diamond-backs that are rare. Coincidentally, the guy I got it from actually got it in Germany when he was stationed there. All that fuss over a bike... and not a 'peep' outta anyone that I cut up a perfectly good racing frame...

Ty for yalls input on the matter of 'rake'... I will be extending the tabs out further to compensate the trail, if I 'notice' a steering/control issue... and the front brakes will be more for drift control and tricks like power braking

... here's today's progress. Sofar as pictured... it weighs ~35lbs. Still gotta weld up foot placements and an engine mount. Ordering a axle setup nextweek.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL_d6FPe7Z0&feature=youtu.be

 

[Half-breeder]

Ok... next question. Im hoping someone that has done a similar technique, or knows the strength of a weld, can add their .02 cents in...

Is this..."OK" (engine plate mounting/reinforcing)? I ask cause Im only 75% sure itll work out w/ no issues. My 'main' questioning is will the torque of the engine (HF212) have enough 'oomf' to bend/break this welding setup? The welds are all solid and strong (both inner and outer surfaces were welded). I've seen 'iffier' weld jobs/setups that worked just fine for 2 strokes... but running a 4 stroke... Id like the remaining 25% that I lack in confidence, to be ensured by someone w/ some welding experience under their belt.

Ill admit, I didnt take the 'proper' detailed pics that I 'should' have for this question... but im hoping the photoshop job I did will explain it enough.

... and whats completed sofar...

 

[Half-breeder]

Well... guess noone knows the answer... so in the meantime... enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qekgf2IsA8&feature=youtu.be

 

[chancer]

I like it

 

[landuse]

I think the welds might hold. Only one way to find out...