Little Red Express Trike

[CCR]

i was wondering where this bike(trike) went to, but due to my frequently overwhelming pile of incomplete projects .... i think i understand , glad to see this thread moving again

[pvwacko]

Picked up a few more items for the trike... Got some tail lights from a friend who said I could put them to better use. Headlight is nice and compact but I will have to wire it. I think I'll put a battery pack under the "bed" to run all three lights. I also pulled out an antenna that I was going to put on my truck before it broke down... maybe I'll put it on here for now. also another chrome piece that may turn into the bumper instead of the big weight lifting piece. But I'm getting ahead of myself!

[dpbrown3000]

Dude - that thing is sick. Let me know when you get it done. I like all the salvaged detailing. Nice work!

[pvwacko]

Got a few little things done today between chapters in my homework. I cut the steer tube down to size and also got my headlight mounted on the forks. I wanted to keep it low and away from the spring so I oversized the hole that normally slides under the top nut on the steer tube so that it would slide down to the race seat. I pulled the race off the fork and pressed it back on with the light bracket under it. I like the look and it should be just higher than the tire when the wheels finally get here later this week or early next. I also picked up a heat shield from an old harley that I'll use to make a chain guard. I was trying to think of a way to pull in the look of the stacks that were on the Little Red Express Trucks.

[KJV]

headlite looks great.
me like the chaingaurd idea.
looking forward to more progress photos.

[pvwacko]

I got my 24" trike wheelset in today from J&B importers! The bearings are too small for my axle but I can just buy the correct bearings and press them in. Still cheeper than building a set of wheels I really wanted to see how the front end looked so I threw on a 24" x 3" fattie O I had. The matching tires are still on their way. I really like the way this sits. now I have to figure out a seat and where I want to mount the seat post. Hopefully more progress this weekend!

[Markm]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32211

[pvwacko]

are you suggesting I run those tires?

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32211

I think nice and wide is the ticket for this build. maybe for another trike with a different look. my trike is more hot rod than muscle.

[OCD]

I agree, 24" x 3" is the way to go, especially on a trike! You've got a great idea for a build going on here. If you want to add a disc brake to that springer, check out my air ride build.

[pvwacko]

I agree, 24" x 3" is the way to go, especially on a trike! You've got a great idea for a build going on here. If you want to add a disc brake to that springer, check out my air ride build.

I'm going to run a disc on the rear axle, I just have to buy the converter and that's kind of low on the list right now with so many other projects going. Disc would be kind of cool up front but I don't want to build another wheel to use a disc hub. I think the rear disc will work out alright. It will want to pull slightly to the side because it only drives on one side while the other is free. I suppose if I got really fancy I could do a dual disc in the rear. make some adapters for the trike hubs to hold a disc and use a bmx gyro to pull both at once from one lever... I'm going to have to think on this one now! Thanks for the idea OCD

[pvwacko]

sad news... I don't think dual discs is going to work this time around I went out and looked it over and at first glance it looked like I would be able to oversize the holes on the disc and just run the drive flange through it on one side and bolt it on for the non drive side. It was looking good until I checked out the clearances for the caliper. in order to clear the caliper I would need to space the disc out quite a ways. I'm going to look into some really big discs and see if they might make it workable. also see what other options there are for mechanical calipers and how narrow I can get them. Good thing I work at a bike shop! plenty of info available. the only limitation will be $$$

[OCD]

A low buck way to add a front disc is to use a rear wheel with freewheel hub, add a spin on adapter and a ChoppersUS billet adapter. Also, speaking from personal experience, you can't go wrong with an Avid BB7 mechanical brake setup, they're available in 160mm, 185mm, 205mm disc and there's always deals on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Avid-BB7-Mountain-Mechanical-Brake-rear-/270647999998?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f03e0bdfe

[pvwacko]

I think I'm going to try and make some addapters to run a set of larger discs. one on each side. maybe not the 205s but something bigger than what I had. I was thinking about it all night and i think I have it figured out. I think I can cut down the axle housing to make room for the disc mounts. definitly have to sell a bike or two to pay for this one... maybe I'll start donating plasma at $15 a visit.

[OCD]

I hear ya, it all adds up fast. My air ride bike is running 185mm front and rear, they stop you fast with only 2 fingers pulling. The Avids are super easy to set up and their power rivals hydraulics with much less work.

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Did you have to widen the fork to get the 24 X 3 in there?