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Post by lurker on Apr 2, 2023 21:14:07 GMT -7
Lady Of The House has been having balance problems and is unable to ride her peacedove, so we're looking at electrifying a trike. first, the local carbon fiber racing bike shop tried to sell us a used schwinn trike for $550 with conversion kit for another $1200. not bad for the conversion, but the trike is WAY overpriced. so been looking at wally's offerings and others, and see the occasional 350-700 model, likely junk, and then $1200 and up. still shopping around, don't want to be cheated or to cheap out either.
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Admin Czar
Administrator 
Mentally Exhausted & Socially Indifferent
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Post by Admin Czar on Apr 6, 2023 11:28:34 GMT -7
Sorry about the wife. Mine has been relegated to a trike since 2014 due to ankle fusing.
The easy answer is find any 26" trike. Any mildly used is fine. Shop retirement communities. Then find a front wheel conversion kit on egay. I'll look at a few for you this PM. I'll match a battery/charger system too. The low volt 36VDC stuff is fine for this application. Bet I can name that tune for around $600.
Adapting to a trike takes a while. Ya can't lean so turning is weird. Ad to that theres only one drive wheel so from a stop or slow speed you have turn into the drive-side wheel. And they turn like a battleship when in motion. She'll probably be fine with a little practice.
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Admin Czar
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Post by Admin Czar on Apr 7, 2023 8:44:04 GMT -7
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Post by desertbikes on Apr 7, 2023 9:00:29 GMT -7
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Post by lurker on Apr 8, 2023 16:25:15 GMT -7
thanks for all this, i'll look at it again in a bit.
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Post by lurker on Jun 10, 2024 3:34:25 GMT -7
what's your opinion on one of these?
eta: i see for another c-note they offer a 26" model...
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Post by lurker on Aug 27, 2024 16:31:53 GMT -7
finally, just got done ambivalating and ordered the 20" recumbent trike by kent (see above post) for $748, $800 and change after tax, shipping included. delivery expected on thursday the 5th, will report.
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Admin Czar
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Post by Admin Czar on Aug 28, 2024 4:50:05 GMT -7
Looking forward to your opinion of this one. I can see the pros and cons of recumbent but was never will to shell out the bucks to vet one. Plus the small wheels dont cut it in the desert. Maybe a fat tire recumbent  . |
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Post by lurker on Aug 29, 2024 13:04:15 GMT -7
i confess i've never actually seen, much less ridden a recumbent reverse trike. they just seem to make more sense with their two wheels up front and lower CG. i rode my mom's regular 1-up-front trike long ago, and was unimpressed by the awkward feel. so this will be a learning experience all around. got an e-mail today advancing expected delivery 1 day, to next wed. woohooo!
i'm also detailing this on a Royal Enfield forum, and have invited members there to come visit here.
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Post by lurker on Aug 31, 2024 16:46:55 GMT -7
trike delivery now predicted for tuesday. tuesday and wednesday are both problematic because i've had dental (tues) and dr (wed) appointments scheduled for six months. also want to order another serfas rx seat like i had on violet the peugeot and GAVE AWAY to replace the vortex seat (yes, i'm a dumba55), which naturally they're offering to deliver on tuesday or wednesday. so i'm going to hold off on ordering the seat till monday. next week should be interesting
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Post by lurker on Sept 4, 2024 19:08:25 GMT -7
kent cavalier 20" recumbent tadpole trike arrived today, some assembly required. rides poorly in the grass but well enough on the street. some minor QC problems from the factory in china. planning to electrify it in time, but ride it some more first.    |
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Post by lurker on Sept 8, 2024 16:52:40 GMT -7
drive chain broke riding in the yard, side plates twisted. second breakage in what, 4 days? not impressed by the quality here. might replace chain, might just try a master link.   |
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Post by lurker on Sept 9, 2024 16:46:14 GMT -7
went to wallyworld where i purchased 2 10 speed replacement chains @ $10 each. got home, put them together.... oops, need another 20". tomorrow.  |
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Post by lurker on Sept 12, 2024 19:55:59 GMT -7
got the chain fixed, now need to straighten (or replace) the shimano 6/7 speed tourney derailleur. i'm seeing lots of cheapness here, brake levers, pedals, seat adjustment...
if i still want to do another after i get this one up and running, i may look to start with a better trike.
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Post by lurker on Sept 14, 2024 18:06:12 GMT -7
i've put a new $25 shimano derailleur on and it works, though still fine-tuning. i don't use the gears much anyway on my vortex e-bike, so no big deal. and the seat-mesh is still coming apart, bad stitching. i'll ride it a couple of times before i look seriously at adding an e-bike kit.
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Admin Czar
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Post by Admin Czar on Sept 14, 2024 19:02:39 GMT -7
Very interesting. Lots of potential for high tinkering quotient. Maybe like this Spotted at Clines Corner along I-40 west of Tucumcari NM   |
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Post by lurker on Sept 14, 2024 19:06:43 GMT -7
yes, clearly a work in progress. i believe the frame is good and usable, everything else not so much but can be replaced.
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Admin Czar
Administrator
Mentally Exhausted & Socially Indifferent
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Post by Admin Czar on Sept 14, 2024 19:22:06 GMT -7
The one in the pics above has a trike conversion kit on the back to make it a 4 wheeler.
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Post by lurker on Sept 14, 2024 23:54:10 GMT -7
and solar panels on the roof!
i notice mine seems hard to pedal uphill, in part because you can't stand on the pedals to apply your weight. i think i'll put a more powerful motor on it to compensate.
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. 
A bit warm. yes. Had to do another 2100 mile round trip on short notice. My back was/is in a real bad way & came home to a dead AC unit. Other than that its been just peachy! 
It's interfering with my bike & shooting time
Great for some things. Vans are such a bitch to work on. But what car isn't anymore...