Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
Does this count as a vehicle? Currently working on final assembly and paint. Completed pics coming soon.
Drift Trike
- Thread starter Arkansas Metal Art
- Start date
Dnmeistr-LECS
Well-Known Member
Umm I think I want one 
Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
Here's a cool vid of them in action.
Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
Harbor freight cheapy. But they run great. I've purchased several of them over the years. You can snag a 212cc with a coupon for around $100. And there are a ton of aftermarket parts for them. Ligtened flywheels, exhaust etc. It's a blast.
OcalaWill
Well-Known Member
Nice Build! I concur on the HF engines. They are well made and run great - Honda clones as I recall.
Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
Lol. You only live once. The wife rolled her eyes at me when I pulled out of the shop on it
Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
Hard to say. 2 or 3 weekends probably. Wouldn't change anything. It's not as easy to ride as they make it look is the only thing I'd say.
can i ask where you got most of the parts? axle bearings and brackets look like northern tool. i want to make as much of this as i can. I'd love to find the dimensions and tooth count and make my own sprocket too. Where do I start with this though? I'd like to piece it all together after the frame but how will i know if the frame is too short or too wide for the axle and wheels etc.
Also what angle do the front forks go on?
I just happen to have some 1.25" square stock laying around. 16 feet of it. I think that's enough for most of the frame.
where do you get the tires? fat tire? seat?
as you can tell this is me jumping wayyyy out of my comfort zone on this one.
Also what angle do the front forks go on?
I just happen to have some 1.25" square stock laying around. 16 feet of it. I think that's enough for most of the frame.
where do you get the tires? fat tire? seat?
as you can tell this is me jumping wayyyy out of my comfort zone on this one.
Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
can i ask where you got most of the parts? axle bearings and brackets look like northern tool. i want to make as much of this as i can. All gokart parts. I buy all my gokart stuff from www.bmikarts.com . Best prices I can find and has everything. Don't get to caught up in the stuff they list as "drift trike" parts. Its all gokart stuff, thats just marketing in action. Check out their clearance page, I've snagged some great deals there.
I'd love to find the dimensions and tooth count and make my own sprocket too. Where do I start with this though? I use a program called Sprocketeer. You can download it here http://www.idleamusements.com/?page_id=54 . It awesome for making your own sprockets. Problem is getting the axle hole completely centered, cutting a good keyway and cutting a good hole with plasma. I bought all my sprockets for these reasons. I would suggest doing the same.
I'd like to piece it all together after the frame but how will i know if the frame is too short or too wide for the axle and wheels etc. I bought my axle and wheels first and then built the frame for this reason.
Also what angle do the front forks go on? I eyeballed it and guessed
. They ended up at 52 degrees. This is directly related to how big your front tire is and how high you build the neck. So yours will probably be completely different. Not sure what is technically "correct". I was more worried about the way it looked than the way it worked (fortunately it worked too ) . Tire to foot peg clearance is the most important concern since you have to turn the bars completely sideways to slide through a corner. 2 wheel motorcycle steering angle or "rake and trail" is interesting stuff, if your interested.... If you want to learn more about it, here's a good explanation http://chopperhandbook.com/rake.htm. I just happen to have some 1.25" square stock laying around. 16 feet of it. I think that's enough for most of the frame. The two main frame tubes are long, I think you'll need more to finish it.
where do you get the tires? Gokart rear tires and wheels. What makes it a drift trike is shoving a giant piece of PVC tubing around the rear tires before you air them up. The ID of the PVC has to match or be a little bigger than the OD of the tire. Basically your just sliding around on PVC, the tire just holds it in place once its aired up.
fat tire? I bought a fat tire Mongoose mountain bike off Craigslist for $75 and then starting cutting! The more important things you'll need for the neck are the cups and bearings, so be careful taking the bike apart, the bearings are just sitting in the cups on cheap bikes. They are not sealed and will fall out everywhere. Most people use the bike neck but I had some 1.5" tube that fit the cups and bearings perfectly so I fab'd my own neck. I think it was .065 wall but that will depend on what bike you end up using.
seat? Tractor seat baby!!!
from tractor supply. Nothing more comfortable than your grandpa's tractor seat. Tractor supply sells this one with the cover. Works perfect and looks pretty darn good (doesn't look like a tractor seat!)as you can tell this is me jumping wayyyy out of my comfort zone on this one. Thats how you learn! "Measure twice, cut once" and always mock everything up with tack welds. I've knocked more tack weld apart to change stuff than I'd like to remember.
Tons of DIY drift trikes on the WWW. I looked at hundreds before tackling mine.
Have fun! Post pics!
Randy Dobbins
Member
How much do you have in the whole build (ball park)? I have seen what they sale for, I am just curious.
Arkansas Metal Art
Well-Known Member
I've also seen what people are "asking" for them ($2000-$2500). I'm skeptical as to what they are actually selling for. I bought some parts and spent some $$ that you wouldn't have to buy/spend unless you just wanted to. It could be built for less than I spent. Examples: I bought a billet hydraulic brake setup, aluminum anodized twist throttle, black DWT 6" rear kart wheels, Arlen Ness motorcycle foot pegs, Pro Taper grips, kart racing rear tires, new motor, new seat, new axle, two piece racing sprocket, racing kart chain, anodized billet rear wheel hubs, etc etc. It could be done for much less if you already have some donor parts, make your own or buy cheaper stuff that gets the same job done. With all that said, I probably have $800 - $900 in it.
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Fastyankee13
Well-Known Member
Son ain't you to big to play with a big wheel! The drift bikes are fun .
I'm working on a drag mini bike. If I ever get freed up to finish it. We have a lot of fun racing them. A bunch old fat guys on mini bikes is never dull.
Nice work
I'm working on a drag mini bike. If I ever get freed up to finish it. We have a lot of fun racing them. A bunch old fat guys on mini bikes is never dull.
Nice work
