Queries before purchase. Help please.

[elder]

I have been studying the options list and reading threads and have a number of questions:

1. What size are the disks in the brake pack and which model of Hi-Spec 4 pot caliper is included?
2. Is it sensible to specify the powder coating or should I do a trial build and then strip to get powder coated later? Will it cost a lot more?
3. Is the gloss black powder coat the easiest colour to touch up when necessary?
4. Is there an image or detailed description anywhere of the lighting/wiring kit contents? Is there a gallery of a car that has used it?
5. Do the sports seats include the padded panels shown in many images?
6. As this is a small quick car & I want to be seen. Which colours stand out in a group?
7. Which of these colours are prone to fading. I am guessing that red does but the others?

Looking at the build threads:

1. Do I always need a speedo corrector module regardless of what wheels I choose?
2. Has anybody resolved whether a mechanical (not hydraulic) handbrake is required?
3. Are there any other “nasty surprise” extras? I realise that cables, mirrors, wheels etc will be needed

General:

Are special deals on tR1ke kits or options generally offered at shows? I am thinking of Stoneleigh in a few weeks time.

[Deleted]

Wow so many questions.

Brakes are not included with the sale or they weren't when I bought it.

No detailed wiring (this us a kit build) so your entire wardrobe of contents are for you to purchase.

There also wasn't any form of manual when I built mine so if you are needing to consult a build guide then just ask on the forum if struggling.

As for colours, it's gel coat so I don't think there is much difference for colour fade (how much sun do we actually get)

Any colour will stand out, it's a reverse trike, most people don't even know what they are observing that just passed them roaring away.

Nasty surprises can come from anywhere. It's not the easiest of builds, you need some sort of idea of what you are doing however.

Can't remember any of the other questions you asked :-)

Oh as for deals at shows, not that I am aware of, they were offering free MSVA if completed within a year I believe.

It's the most fun you can have on 3 wheels for sure.

When considering options on the market, there is maybe one other that handles as well as this. But it's not a side by side seating.

[Deleted]

No seats are included, or wheels or brakes, or nuts and bolts, silicone hoses, brake hoses etc etc

Handbrake has to be an isolated point to point system

I'm currently on with a solution to eliminate the crap cable solution. Hope to have it ready for Stoneleigh.

[elder]

I do realise that seats, electrics, brakes etc are not included in the kit but they are offered as extras:

www.roadtrackrace.co.uk/rtr_tR1ke_options.html

Unfortunately exactly what is in the packages is not explained.

[Deleted]

For me the kit was this.


Frame
Bodywork to include nose, wings
Steering rack
Steering column
Steering arms and track rod ends
Uprights
Lower ball joints
Wishbones and shockers x2
Floor
Firewall
Tanks x2
25mm alloy tube x2
16mm alloy tube x1
Welded in pedal brackets
Brake master cylinders x2

I think that was it.

From the donor you need engine and s wiring
Rear wheel, swingarm, rear calliper and chain
Hugger
Depending on if you opt for bike controls then those from the handlebars, clock basically on my opinion keep everything you have until you have the engine fitted and running.

[Deleted]

Really a phonecall to RTR will confirm whatever the spec and price us now and they should be able to tell you what is now included

[slugshot]

brakes are ultralite
Disc 280mm-10mm

Powder coating before or after is your choice, will you want to weld extra brackets on to the chassis

Seats pads are extra, but they're for looks only and are not needed for comfort.

Speedo is driven from the rear wheel (gearbox) if you re use the yam clocks and will over read, not a fail at the msva but its worth getting a healer to correct it.

Hand brake will have to be cable, its not worth a fail trying to do it like mine until after the test.

Colour choice is a what you like, but as with any mev you will not loose it in a car park.

[r1ckbuilder]

I bought the kit on display at Stoneleigh last year. For my level of knowledge I thought it the best way to go as the front end was already together.

If I did it again and had a bit more confidence I probably would have bought one with a frame not coated as I'm quite envious of some of the other builds where brackets have been welded directly to the frame.  Mine are all fixed with Rivnuts.  Which is OK but I don't like making too many holes! 

[elder]

Thanks for that.

r1ckbuilder
I thought that what you say about brackets might be the case. It is just that it would have been easier to get it powder coated before I buy it than have to sort it out afterwards.

Slugshot
That is very useful information. I wasn't sure if a mechanical (as opposed to hydraulic) handbrake was a requirement. The MSVA manual is unclear. I enjoyed your build log. I thought that you tR1ke looked unspecial in the white but when you added the Red & black it just transformed it into something very special. Will it be at Stoneleigh?

Colour choice is interesting. Firstly some colours do fade more than others and never come back and secondly there is the question of being noticed. We have a road here that is dead level and straight for around 5 miles so I get to see (or not see) plenty of vehicles at long distance in differing weather. It is truly amazing how close a dark grey car without lights can get to you on a murky day before you see it if there is a large lorry a mile behind it with its light on. I have seen people pull out to overtake right in the path of such cars. Some colours are literally visible as they come over the horizon but others are almost invisible in bad weather. I have also been a biker for many years and I also know that even drivers who stare at you haven't necessarily seen you (sorry mate I didn't see you).

Vivid colours used in high contrast, which the eye is well equipped to see, and which aren't normal in their environment (yellow & bright green or bright blue are good examples and red or black would be a bad one) are in my opinion a good choice. I await Stoneleigh to see what the yellow, blue & green look like!

A tR1ke is very small & low so anything that I can do to make sure that I am seen - and noticed - is definitely a good idea in my mind.

[slugshot]

I might go to stoneleigh, if its not raining on the sat morning then ill go.

The colour isn't what stands out from the front now drl's are used, though you're right thinking being very small and low would be a problem, so did I. If anything sometimes I would rather be a little more conspicuous.

In all the miles that Iv'e covered I have been pleasantly surprised how well the drl's work on mine. When its dusk all that's seen from the front is the drl's.

[Deleted]

I never had any issues been seen. Or heard.

[martinw]

Mar 20, 2014 21:00:35 GMT venom said:

I never had any issues been seen. Or heard.

......and has that changed at all since you've had your tR1ke Nick?

[Deleted]

Hahahaha. Nope. I'm a bit louder now both in speaking and in triking :-)

[elder]

Mar 20, 2014 21:00:35 GMT venom said:

I never had any issues been seen. Or heard.

You have been lucky & long may it remain so. I think that your bright green counts as conspicuous!

[Deleted]

At least it offers slightly more impact protection than a bike. But you can never account for the frail older drivers seeing anyone. And it's not just them. Anyway see what you make of the colour at Stoneleigh. It's not Kawasaki green. It's called Bright Green. My personal preference over next winter might be Porsche GT green.