First Homemade Mini Chopper Trike Build – Full Custom Fabrication

[Echodeified]

Hey everyone,

This is my first build: a homemade mini chopper trike built completely from scratch using repurposed parts and raw creativity. Frame is all custom steel tubing, bent and welded by hand. Engine is a 212 Predator, mounted to a reinforced base plate with custom chain drive to a dual rear axle setup. Tires in back are ATV-grade for extra grip, front is a classic BMX rim with a wide fork for clearance.

Forks were handmade using stainless tubing and bolted through double-bearing headset mounts. The stem tube is reinforced with double gussets and a tensioned top clamp using a beefy bolt stack. Steering is smooth and stable with minimal wobble.

The green seat? Believe it or not, it was originally the top bracket from a wooden swing set. I cut, reshaped, and welded a pivot bracket underneath, and added coil springs for suspension. Springs rest on a metal plate that was once part of a 6" check valve flap—welded to a vertical gusset cut from a trailer hitch frame. Rides like a dream.

Still tweaking the ergonomics and throttle cable routing, but she’s running strong and ready to rip.

Any tips on improving front-end stability or seat angle welcome. Appreciate the feedback from you OG builders.

Pics attached. Let me know what you think!

 

[Master Hack]

tubing, bent and welded by hand

That IS impressive! I need a tube bender!

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I need a tube bender!

Ive been dying to get one. I imagine a mile high pile of randomly bent tubing sitting outside my garage when I finally do. Cant wait to play with it!


Trikes awesome man!

 

[Master Hack]

I hate ro crush your dreams, but when the dies cost more than a drunken night at the whor..... eerrr ahhh l mean a trip to the dentist.
ya probably be happy with a coupla sizes.
tubing is stupid expensive. So unless ya score some at scrap prices....
Fortunatley i bought mine a long time ago, in what im sure was another galaxie.
sorry about the reality check

. I imagine a mile high pile of randomly bent tubing sitting outside my garage when I finally do

Reality is you'll use it once every 14.6 months on average. If yer doing custom/production work! your results may vary.
ain't l a downer?

 

[panchothedog]

Nice job, Looks pretty cool. Seat might be a little hard. Are you going to upolster it? Surprised that you are not running a torque converter. How is that centrifugal clutch holding up?

 

[Edwin Spangler]

ain't l a downer?

A pessimist may put it that way. I see it as you just looking out.

However, Im quite confident in my decision. I dont think 2 weeks go by without me thinking, "this would be easier with a !!!!!! bender". Sure would beat making a hundred-two hundred cuts into a pipe just to bend it and re-weld it.

The initial "I need one" was said and done years ago lol. Im sure you know the whole song and dance.

Sry for OT

 

[Echodeified]

Ive been dying to get one. I imagine a mile high pile of randomly bent tubing sitting outside my garage when I finally do. Cant wait to play with it!


Trikes awesome man!

Thanks al

Ive been dying to get one. I imagine a mile high pile of randomly bent tubing sitting outside my garage when I finally do. Cant wait to play wit

Ive been dying to get one. I imagine a mile high pile of randomly bent tubing sitting outside my garage when I finally do. Cant wait to play with it!


Trikes awesome man!

I hate ro crush your dreams, but when the dies cost more than a drunken night at the whor..... eerrr ahhh l mean a trip to the dentist.
ya probably be happy with a coupla sizes.
tubing is stupid expensive. So unless ya score some at scrap prices....
Fortunatley i bought mine a long time ago, in what im sure was another galaxie.
sorry about the reality check

Reality is you'll use it once every 14.6 months on average. If yer doing custom/production work! your results may vary.

I hate ro crush your dreams, but when the dies cost more than a drunken night at the whor..... eerrr ahhh l mean a trip to the dentist.
ya probably be happy with a coupla sizes.
tubing is stupid expensive. So unless ya score some at scrap prices....
Fortunatley i bought mine a long time ago, in what im sure was another galaxie.
sorry about the reality check

Reality is you'll use it once every 14.6 months on average. If yer doing custom/production work! your results may vary.
ain't l a downer?

I used it a few times trying to calibrate myself until I realized I can't be signed off as calibrated... So I just went with it. And for some reason if I have scrap.. anything, I'm thinking of something. The bender though not good quality is door opening and allows more possibilities knowing you have one.

 

[Echodeified]

Nice job, Looks pretty cool. Seat might be a little hard. Are you going to upolster it? Surprised that you are not running a torque converter. How is that centrifugal clutch holding up?

Yes the seat is rough. The springs under it help, but yes I'd like the pad it and cover it with old Dickies material (khaki or Lincoln Green). The clutch is noisy, but it is on there just so I can ride it to give me something to be proud of after the time haha but a torque converter is next definitely.

 

[Echodeified]

I need a different front tire for obvious reasons and some brakes. Me boots are getting shaved pretty quickly.
But a question I have is the triple tree and stem. I used oversized pipe for it and picked up some cup bearings, and that's how it is currently but has slight play.

 

[Master Hack]

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from buying one. Sure sounds like it, tho.
its a great tool to have, the shyt ya make will be much cooler as well.
the learning curve is purdy steep, so you"ll have plenty of scrap.
Invest in some bending software and have fun.

 

[Master Hack]

cup bearings, and that's how it is currently but has slight play

What is a cup bearing? I'm guessing a tapered roller? Preload it some to eliminate the"play"

 

[Hellion]

What is a cup bearing? I'm guessing a tapered roller? Preload it some to eliminate the"play"

Think it is the old style fork bearings on old motorcycles. A real primitive setup where it uses exposed bearing races and the balls are placed in manually, with sticky grease.

 

[Wreckuiem]

Updated photo.
Thinking of a 17'' dirtbike front.

 

[Hellion]

Thinking of a 17'' dirtbike front.

Agreed. You need something more substantial, I think, for robustness and to “anchor” the front visually. Maybe a dirtbike wheel with a brake. Are you going to paint it like this?

 

[Edwin Spangler]

That spike for the backrest... Consider some less-than-aware fellow road-goer accidentally bumps you from the back. Just my protective parental eyes seeing potential injuries.

Back to the trike man.. Thing is awesome! I love the use-what-you-got look paired with robustness and functionality. Same exact way I build EVERYTHING. I know thats not the intent but rather a product of the nature of the way you built it.

If it fits, it sits!
Sits meaning welded...

 

[Wreckuiem]

This is where it's at now. I'm currently making a removable side car for the youngins.

 

[Hellion]

Love the tire/wheel changes, dude. And that last photo with the smoke….
Your trike has gone through several design changes or ideas just in this one thread. An interesting evolution to say the least.

 

[Grizzlymi]

Not sure how I missed this thread, but awesome build man! I'm a sucker for these rat rod trikes/bikes. Great work so far.