Tricycle Conversion Kit...
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,565
Likes: 2,739
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Tricycle Conversion Kit...
Boy, the Tricycle Conversion Kit project learning curve is in place now! With that in mind, I thought that it might help others with similar projects. There is very little information on the Net at the moment. At least, I did not find all that much information out there.
When I first tried riding the Sekine trike (the Ken Rogers kit was fitted to a very large and damaged Sekine), it handled so poorly that I almost chucked the whole idea. But I didn't.

I tested the Falcon, the intended recipient for the Ken Rogers tricycle conversion kit, to ensure that it was riding straight and true. No issues were found.

Next, I installed the kit as best I could, based on little or no information. The ride quality changed not at all. Poo-Poo on a stick. Notice how short the wheel base is on the converted Falcon. So...

I joined the on3wheels.myfastforum.org group. Finally, a bit of advice that seemed useful. However...
It turns out that the problem is me. I, literally, have to learn to ride a tricycle. Riding a trike is not at all like riding a bike!
So, I finally got the thing to go straight, but then another issue surfaced - heel clip. With the axle mounted inside the stays, as it (apparently) should be, there is insufficient room for my heel to pass by the axle.


Once again, it is back to the drawing board. I am considering mounting the kit behind the stays, increasing, rather than decreasing the Falcon's wheel base.
Any ideas, suggestions or cash donations will be gratefully accepted:-)
When I first tried riding the Sekine trike (the Ken Rogers kit was fitted to a very large and damaged Sekine), it handled so poorly that I almost chucked the whole idea. But I didn't.
I tested the Falcon, the intended recipient for the Ken Rogers tricycle conversion kit, to ensure that it was riding straight and true. No issues were found.
Next, I installed the kit as best I could, based on little or no information. The ride quality changed not at all. Poo-Poo on a stick. Notice how short the wheel base is on the converted Falcon. So...
I joined the on3wheels.myfastforum.org group. Finally, a bit of advice that seemed useful. However...
It turns out that the problem is me. I, literally, have to learn to ride a tricycle. Riding a trike is not at all like riding a bike!
So, I finally got the thing to go straight, but then another issue surfaced - heel clip. With the axle mounted inside the stays, as it (apparently) should be, there is insufficient room for my heel to pass by the axle.


Once again, it is back to the drawing board. I am considering mounting the kit behind the stays, increasing, rather than decreasing the Falcon's wheel base.
Any ideas, suggestions or cash donations will be gratefully accepted:-)
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#2
Oops - I was looking at a completely different trike-conversion setup. This setup you have is correct - but how far back in the dropouts do you have the adapter axle? It's hard to tell in the pics, too, how close your heel comes to clearing the freewheel guard.
I found an interesting trike link here:
https://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/200...onversion.html
DD
I found an interesting trike link here:
https://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/200...onversion.html
DD
Last edited by Drillium Dude; 08-06-13 at 09:00 AM.
#3
Get off my lawn!


Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,035
Likes: 118
From: The Garden State
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
+1 on DD observation that the axle is mounted incorrectly on the Falcon. Can't wait for the ride reports!
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,565
Likes: 2,739
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Oops - I was looking at a completely different trike-conversion setup. This setup you have is correct - but how far back in the dropouts do you have the adapter axle? It's hard to tell in the pics, too, how close your heel comes to clearing the freewheel guard.
I found an interesting trike link here:
https://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/200...onversion.html
DD
I found an interesting trike link here:
https://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/200...onversion.html
DD
At the moment and in the pictures, the axle is mounted hard against the derailleur hanger, with the non-dive side wheel set to match. There is not nearly enough room to move the axle back much more than 1/4" and only if I file the hanger a bit.
Ride report? Went a few hundred feet, as pictured, and started to understand the dynamics involved in riding a tricycle. Though not at all convinced at the moment, there is a possibility that riding this thing will be fun, once I learn how, assuming, of course, that I can get it set-up correctly.
By the way, thanks DD for the link. That is already proving helpful.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#6
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,565
Likes: 2,739
From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Well, I moved the conversion axle outside of the stays, increasing wheel base by 8cm and moving the axle well away from my foot. The bike, thanks to the longer wheel base and some tinkering, on my part, does ride better. Getting closer to keeping it but not sure that would be a good idea. It won't fit through the door to The Old Shed...
Thanks to those of you who offered fitting advice. Please notice that this kit is, somewhat, different from others on the Net. There is no way I can mount the axle inside the stays and then be able to ride the bike (trike).

Thanks to those of you who offered fitting advice. Please notice that this kit is, somewhat, different from others on the Net. There is no way I can mount the axle inside the stays and then be able to ride the bike (trike).
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wroomwroomoops
Bicycle Mechanics
38
06-10-15 09:39 PM
BianchiDave
Alt Bike Culture
4
07-11-11 04:36 AM








