Motorcycle Converted To 3-Wheeler For $200

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #4, Page #30

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Three-wheeled motorcycles are becoming popular with aging baby boomers. However, new "trikes" sell for up to $20,000. Factory conversion kits are available but they sell for about $7,000.
  Loren Smith of Kellogg, Minn., didn't want to spend that kind of money. So he converted his 1985 Honda Goldwing motorcycle to a 3-wheeler, adding an axle and a pair of 14-in. wheels off an old mini van on back. The trike features new trailer wheel fenders, painted gold with red pin striping to match the motorcycle.
  "It really looks nice and was a relatively simple, low-cost job. I spent only about $200," says Smith. "The wheels are fitted with chrome plastic hub caps that match the motorcycle's spoked front wheel. I built it using scrap material and low-cost parts that I bought at big box stores. I didn't make any alterations to the motorcycle at all."
  Smith went to a junkyard and bought the wheels, rear axle and spindles off the mini van. Both ends of the axle are bolted to a steel frame, which extends forward along the sides of the motorcycle and bolts onto the motorcycle's center kickstand.
  He cut off both ends of the axle near the spindles and then bolted on a flat steel plate that bolts onto the frame. Square tubing and 3/4-in. bar was used to build the frame.
  "It's a lot of fun to ride. I built it because I'm getting older and my knees can't handle a heavy motorcycle as well as before," says Smith. "Driving a trike is like driving a car because when you turn, you don't have to lean or worry about tipping over.
  "The motorcycle already had a rear-mounted passenger seat, cargo box, and side compartments. I had previously added a trailer hitch on back of the motorcycle, and I can still use it to pull a small trailer that I built. I used the same wheels and hubcaps as on the motorcycle.
  "I bought the trailer fenders at Menards for $22 and paid $40 for the axle, wheels and spindles and also $40 for paint. I bought the chrome plastic hub caps at Walmart for $22, and I paid $60 for the sq. tubing and flat steel that was used for the frame."
  Smith also converted a new Harley Davidson motorcycle for a friend. "I've had requests from other people to build for them, but I don't have the time," he notes.
  "It makes it fun to do errands around town, and with the price of gas it saves a lot of money," says Smith. "I mounted a golden eagle on top of the box, similar to the one on the Honda, to make it look really nice."
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Loren Smith, 58861 County Rd. 84, Kellogg, Minn. 55945 (ph 507 421-9996).

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Motorcycle Converted To 3-Wheeler For $200 ATVÆS ATV S Three-wheeled motorcycles are becoming popular with aging baby boomers However new trikes sell for up to $20 000 Factory conversion kits are available but they sell for about $7 000 Loren Smith of Kellogg Minn didn t want to spend that kind of money So he converted his 1985 Honda Goldwing motorcycle to a 3-wheeler adding an axle and a pair of 14-in wheels off an old mini van on back The trike features new trailer wheel fenders painted gold with red pin striping to match the motorcycle It really looks nice and was a relatively simple low-cost job I spent only about $200 says Smith The wheels are fitted with chrome plastic hub caps that match the motorcycle s spoked front wheel I built it using scrap material and low-cost parts that I bought at big box stores I didn t make any alterations to the motorcycle at all Smith went to a junkyard and bought the wheels rear axle and spindles off the mini van Both ends of the axle are bolted to a steel frame which extends forward along the sides of the motorcycle and bolts onto the motorcycle s center kickstand He cut off both ends of the axle near the spindles and then bolted on a flat steel plate that bolts onto the frame Square tubing and 3/4-in bar was used to build the frame It s a lot of fun to ride I built it because I m getting older and my knees can t handle a heavy motorcycle as well as before says Smith Driving a trike is like driving a car because when you turn you don t have to lean or worry about tipping over The motorcycle already had a rear-mounted passenger seat cargo box and side compartments I had previously added a trailer hitch on back of the motorcycle and I can still use it to pull a small trailer that I built I used the same wheels and hubcaps as on the motorcycle I bought the trailer fenders at Menards for $22 and paid $40 for the axle wheels and spindles and also $40 for paint I bought the chrome plastic hub caps at Walmart for $22 and I paid $60 for the sq tubing and flat steel that was used for the frame Smith also converted a new Harley Davidson motorcycle for a friend I ve had requests from other people to build for them but I don t have the time he notes It makes it fun to do errands around town and with the price of gas it saves a lot of money says Smith I mounted a golden eagle on top of the box similar to the one on the Honda to make it look really nice Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Loren Smith 58861 County Rd 84 Kellogg Minn 55945 ph 507 421-9996

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