Daily Parts Questions

A Trike is a name commonly referred to for a three-wheeled bicycle or tricycle. Apart from having three wheels as compared to the two in traditional bikes, riders on trikes sit lower to the ground than the typical bicycle. This makes for a more comfortable riding position.

Because of their stable wheelbase, a trike has generally been the first bike for children. However, it is not uncommon to see adult cyclists use a trike for commuting or recreational cycling because of the increased comfort factor over the bicycle.

This post will focus on the motorized trike, a three-wheeled vehicle that is powered by an engine running on electricity or gas like the powerful Predator racing mini trike.

The evolution of the trike can be dated back to the 19^th century which saw a boom in the use of the motorized tricycle or trike. Engines then were not as sophisticated as today or lightweight and components such as clutches and electric ignition were still in the early stages of development. Even then, trikes offered a better platform to install engines than bicycles.

Configuration of Motorized Trikes

The wheels of a motorized tricycle can be arranged in one of two configurations – the delta and the reverse (tadpole).

A delta trike has one wheel in front and two in the back while the tadpole or reverse type has one wheel at the back and two in front. In some instances, rear-wheel steering is used but this affects the ease of handling and increases the turning cycle.

Among the two configurations, the reverse one is more stable when braking hard and is likely to slide instead of rolling over. On the other hand, in similar circumstances, a Delta trike has to steer in a straight line to avoid tipping over. Also, tadpoles generally oversteer, and deltas understeer due to the balance of friction patches and rolling resistance.

Categorization of Motorized Trikes

Motorized trikes are ideal for people with balance or mobility issues. Some states have local regulations about riding a three-wheeled vehicle. Many states allow carrying multiple passengers with a motorcycle driving license while others permit riding a motorcycle-type vehicle with a car license.

The categorization of a trike depends on the design of the vehicle. It might be a motorcycle, a motor scooter, or simply a three-wheeled version of an electric or motorized bicycle.

The main difference between the motorcycle and scooter trikes is the mode of sitting. In the first instance, riders sit on a saddle-like seat with their legs apart like on a horse while in a scooter trike, the legs are kept together as on a chair. Most motorcycle trikes have manual transmission while for scooter trikes, the transmission is automatic.

Kit, Frame, and Parts of Motorized Trikes

Before you go looking for a kit, frame, and other parts of motorized trikes, make sure that you research the source from where you will be ordering them. Fake and substandard parts can cause accidents apart from being low on performance. We at OMB Warehouse stock a wide range of mini trike kits, mini trike frame kits, and more, all sourced from leading manufacturers around the world. If you are not sure about the specifications, give us a call and we will help you order the precise part.

Now, let us check out a few kits of a motorized trikes to get an idea of what a kit contains.

# Drift trike axle package

The package consists of a 1 1/4" hollow chromoly steel 38" snap ring axle, Weld on bearing hangers, High-Speed Wheel bearings, 3 bolt bearing flanges, Billet aluminum keyed 3 bolt American wheel hubs, Polished aluminum 1 pc DWT wheels, 11x600-5 racing slicks, Split sprocket adapter, #35 split sprocket 57T, Brake Rotor Hub, 6" keyed brake rotor, and 1/4" key stock (12 inches).

When you buy the complete kit, you can be sure that all the components are perfectly aligned and will provide optimized performance.

# Mini trike frame kit

If you have always wanted to build a trike, your first step should be to get a mini trike frame kit that is of the highest quality, preferably of OEM make. This is because the frame alone carries the weight of all the components and the engine put together as well as the rider. However, trying to put together the frame individually can cost you dearly as the tools for it can set you back substantially.

The cheaper alternative is to buy a pre-manufactured mini trike frame made of mild steel tubing. All these tubes are pre-notched and pre-bent, apart from the head tube and main rail frame, which permits you to set the rake angle to one that you will be most comfortable with. The rake angle that is recommended is 60 degrees. The tubes have to be welded together to make the mini trike frame.

The complete mini trike frame kit consists of two main frame rails, two side wings, two foot-peg arms, two foot pegs, four cross supports, one headset tube, and one handbrake mount.

# Mini trike build kit

When you want to build a trike from scratch, it is natural to look for a complete mini trike build kit. But the issue here is that you will get kits of different composite parts like the axle, the frame, and others, two of which have been detailed earlier in this post. Let us now examine the shaft mini trike kit. This drift trike kit is available in two types, the 36-inch shaft kit and the 40-inch shaft kit. The only difference between the two is the specifications of the parts and size.

We will examine the 36-inch shaft drift trike kit in detail now.

The specifications of the kit are as follows: Shaft Size: 36", Chain Type: #420, Wheel Size: 11 x 6.00 x 5, Maximum Weight Limit: 330 lbs.

This mini trike kit includes:

36" Tubular Aluminum Shaft Axle, (2) Racing Slick Tires with Aluminum Wheels (11x6.00-5), (1) Sprocket (54T), (1) Sprocket Hub Adapter Plate, (1) Chain (#420), (2) Bearing Hangers, (4) Bearing Flangettes, (2) Aluminum Race Hubs with 1 1/4" Bore, (1) Clutch with 3/4" Bore (10T, #420), (2) Axle Bearings, (4) Lock Collars, (3) Key Stocks, (6) Axle Nuts, (6) Bolts, (6) Nuts, and (2) Snap Rings.

# Predator racing mini trike

As with any other vehicle, the engine is the heart of a motorized mini trike and there is no better than the Predator racing mini trike 212 cc gasoline engine. We at OMB Warehouse offer you the best in this class.

The Predator engine for trikes has gas-saving overhead valves for cooler, cleaner performance, and longer life. The horizontal shaft is ball-bearing mounted and features a durable cast iron cylinder that withstands wear and abuse. The engine has user-friendly controls for easy starting and operation, fuel shut-off for safe transport, and a ball-bearing support shaft for long life.

Other technical specifications are engine displacement (cc), 212ccHorsepower (hp) 6.5, Maximum speed (rpm) 3600 RPM, Maximum Torque (ft. - lbs.) 8.1 ft. lbs. @ 2500 RPM, Mounting pattern 162mm L x 75.5mm W - 80.5mm W (6.40" L x 2.95" W - 3.17" W.

Last word on Drift Trikes

We have seen the details of drift trike axle and their kits and specifications throughout this post and hence it is natural to put in a word about the sport with drift trikes that is taking the world by storm.

Drift trikes have low-traction rear wheels, the surfaces of which are often lined with PVC. The bikes are designed to drift intentionally through loss of traction on the rear wheels and counter-steering on the front to negotiate the corners.

Drift trikes are typically ridden on roads that have corners, downhill grades, and switchbacks. Smooth roads are preferred over coarse ones as not only does the sliding or drifting become easier but it also reduces the wear and tear of the tires. The speed of the drift trikes generally ranges between 25-50 mph.

Drift triking is presently seeing a resurgence across the globe originating from New Zealand. It has quickly spread to other countries notably the United States, Australia, Canada, and some European countries. The popularity grew exponentially and a non-profit organization called the American Drift Trike Association was founded in 2011. It has since been disbanded.

Drift triking is now a recognized sport with teams being sponsored by some leading names in racing like Red Bull.

Summing Up

If you want to get into motorized motorcycle trike racing, buy a mini trike kit from reputed stores. We at OMB Warehouse guarantee the quality and performance of the parts that you order from us.