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Post by 4sfed on Jul 27, 2014 18:24:25 GMT
Hi All, I've been a quiet Voyeur for almost 2 years now, secretly reading your posts and laughing at your inside jokes, but no more. On Saturday July 26 2014 I took the plunge and purchased an Orange with black framed TR1KE from Dove Racing in Texas. Pete of Dove Racing tells me the trike should be ready to ship in about 2 weeks. I'm in no rush to get out to my garage though, temperatures outside average 110F here in Arizona in the summer and the garage can go 120+. I've been purchasing bits for the project for about 18 months, a slow and methodic process. So far I've chosen a 2007 Yamaha FZ1 as my donor of choice. I'm not sure if you guys call this a Fazer in Europe? In the US it's kind of like an R1 but for older guys (of which I am one) same motor better riding position and about 1/10th the insurance and registration cost. I hope to keep the insurance smoke and mirror game going after the build. The bike now has smog block off plates, gutted cat, Coffmans exhaust(loud), aluminum velocity stacks, Dynotune III with custom tune. You guys in Europe would love it here, there are almost no rules. I registered and rode a Honda XR650R here for years no directionals, a brake light that only worked off the rear pedal and a marine horn hose clamped to the handle bars and it was all highway legal. Motorcycles don't even have emissions check here hence the gutted cat. My last toy was a Boss Hoss that had a 502ci Chevy big block with Nitrous 620hp and no mufflers, same thing all legal. I will try to be diligent with my postings of my build. Please if any of you see me heading down the wrong path let me know before I make a complete blunder of it.
Thanks, Derrick
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Post by r1ckbuilder on Jul 27, 2014 18:40:19 GMT
Hi Derrick,
Best of luck with your build and I look forward to following your progress.
The road laws (or lack of) are very interesting over there. By the sound of it, I could have had my unfinished TR1ke on the road about two months ago if I was I the states! .
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Post by 4sfed on Jul 28, 2014 12:49:14 GMT
R1ck, Yes, finished or not I'm sure you would have been driving here. The descriptions of the inspections in Europe sound really tough. Here after build the owner just has to prove nothing was stolen. If you get pulled over the legality of your machine falls on the driver ie. if you installed a light that light must work even if it's just decoration. I've gone back and started rereading your build thread, love the color scheme. When I was young I had a JPS, F1 toy car. Your is as close to the street version as you could ever get. Talk to you soon, Derrick
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Post by erik on Jul 28, 2014 15:11:08 GMT
Hi Derrick,
Congrats for being a new tR1ke owner! You'll enjoy it a lot soon!
The regulations in Europe are not too tough and quite often they have valid reasons to have rules for approval. These rules are to ensure safety and to meet noise regulations etc. "loud pipes saves lifes" is a dated concept but we have play room with aftermarket street legal silencers which are remarkable loud (as in: i cannot believe it's street legal!)
I myself find american projects as like OCC bikes and car build offs quite often unsafe to operate. Seems like putty is their main ingredient LOL!!
this thread needs more pics!!
br! Erik
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Post by 4sfed on Jul 29, 2014 0:28:15 GMT
Erik, We are in agreement on the OCC and other build offs, too much bling. I like a clean minimalistic approach, like all of you guys have done. If my tr1ke looks half as good as what i've seen you guys build, I'll be collecting trophies left and right. Paul has added a few things, but all tasteful the luggage is a practical choice. The teardrop trailer I'm not sold on, but I don't have to like it or stay in it. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the design, idea and follow through to make it. It's embarrassing but I don't think I could get my fat a** into it even if my life depended on it, I'm an American after all. So figure human male then add 50lbs. Again I'll say, I am inspired by your builds and hope to impress you guys in Europe. Maybe have the bunch of you over, group shipping container. I'll show you the western US or even better I'm originally from Massachusetts and they have got some great twisties. I'll see what I can do about getting over there for a MOGGERS some day.
Looking forward to sending updates,
Derrick
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Post by erik on Jul 29, 2014 16:43:39 GMT
Luggage? No room for luggage in here.No can of soda if I wanted to. I placed my helmet on the passenger side floor and found leg room too restricted to place a bike top case in it for a weekend trip storage room. There hasn't payed any attention to storage in this design Just peek around in our threads for ideas. That's what a forum is all about br! Erik
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Post by 4sfed on Jul 29, 2014 19:31:54 GMT
Helmets? No helmet law here. See I'm saving space already. Just kidding I have them, but there is no law about wearing them. Derrick
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Post by slugshot on Jul 29, 2014 22:03:23 GMT
Hi Derrick,
I like the look of your donor bike, if you're using the rear swingarm it looks like its different to the R1 and will give the rear a totally new look which will be nice change.
Regarding luggage space, I have room behind the seats for most of my camping gear but I have moved the seats 6in forward and there's quite a lot of space under the front bodywork to put a couple of sleeping bags.
Kevin
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Post by 4sfed on Jul 30, 2014 0:04:55 GMT
Hi Kevin, I'm not all that concerned with the ability to carry stuff my wife"s idea of camping has 5 stars in front of its name. The TR1KE is more of a go fast, look at me kind of toy.
I saw your E brake lever very nice.
The swing arm might be a problem, but R1"s crash here a lot so a swing arm is about $50.00. I'm also looking into a wide tire kit. The swing arm would then accept up to a 360mm tire, better looks and gobs of traction. You may appreciate this I also have a supercharger that I'm trying to work into the build it's from a snowmobile with the same motor. The compressor is from the UK ,Rotrex is the brand name. The unit I have is their stage 2 about 18psi they say 240hp. I'm searching for a methanol injection set up because I'll need about 116 octane fuel to keep the heads in place. I also have a nitrous oxide system that will convert to a cryo2 for extra cooling on the intercooler if for some reason I need to prove just how fast it is. My dealer here Pete said my add ons are way over the top, but adding stuff to vehicles is a character flaw I've had since I could turn a wrench. I'll stop when the engine goes boom, then get another and start again. I was trying to send a picture of the S/C scheave it comes through the cam gear cover. Cant wait to start, Derrick
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Post by slugshot on Jul 30, 2014 21:41:15 GMT
Hi Derrick, I like the idea of more rear traction especially for straight line acceleration and would be very interested to see how you fit a wider rear wheel. Are you thinking of a purpose built swing arm and some way of lengthening the output shaft to move the chain drive further to the left for tyre clearance.
Regarding the Rotrex kit...Yeah I know they can really bump up the power + torque, but the gain would be only any use at very high speeds as there's only so much power the rear tyre can cope with unless you do the wider wheel mod that is.
I hope you do the mods you mentioned above as it would be very entertaining if you where to fit a go pro pointing backwards just to see how long a distance you can leave a smoking black line of rubber lol.
Kevin
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Post by 4sfed on Jul 31, 2014 0:00:06 GMT
Kevin, Yes the wide tire swing arm has a jack shaft with a separate sprocket that kicks it out about 100mm to go around the fat tire. Are wide tire kits legal in the UK? Here they are on every show bike and chopper. The biggest problem is the expense take a look on eBay, price is almost donor bike territory. GoPro for sure! I've watched every TR1KE video on youtube and then some. Hope to show some of the roads around here Sedona is beautiful, The Grand Canyon, the Devils Highway route 666 it has 400+ turns. There are places here that make you step back and ask, this is the desert? I'm just hoping the motor can take the mods I've chosen, I spoke to a motor builder here and he said pick a different donor, R1 is a nightmare. I figured God hates a coward, I'm all in, bring it! You guys built your rides in your garages, would you have purchased a lift or is the machine easy enough to move around? I was going to get wheel dollies so it can just roll sideways if its in the way. I was telling the wife that I needed a 2 post lift, not sure that I need it as much as just want it. I was trying to sell it as a storage thing, I could park my work truck under it. Derrick
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Post by slugshot on Jul 31, 2014 21:59:23 GMT
Hi Derrick, A wide rear wheel would be legal in the UK but the cost to convert would stop me, plus it would add quite a lot of weight which to me is the one big advantage the tR1ke has over any other kit.
I built my kit with all three wheels sat on motocross stands, this was quite a comfortable work height plus it enabled me to work from underneath before I fitted the floor. I also used a custom bike hydraulic lift under the rear which helped when fitting the motor. My latest garage toy is a car engine hoist which is so quick and easy to use, I did post a couple of pic's with the tR1ke hanging from it using one strap.
Kevin
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Post by 4sfed on Jul 31, 2014 23:30:22 GMT
Kevin, You have a great point about the weight savings as a major factor. I just love the look, I wanted a Lotus Super Seven since the first time I'd seen one, and our machines have 7"s in their lines. I also wanted for my next toy a mid engined sports car, but wanted it to be good on fuel like a sport bike and not crush me for insurance. I originally was leaning towards the new Morgan 3, but my wife hated it, so the search began and led me to the TR1KE (she hates this one too, but less).
I've seen other guys build their machines on saw horses or whatever is in the garage. I have seen your engine hoist rig, that would make it easier to place the motor into the frame. My frame is coming out powder coated glossy black, so I'm gonna be freaking if I scratch anything during assembly.
Do you know off hand the tubing size used in the roll bar? I'm hoping to attach my intercooler right there behind my head to maximize air flow. I've been looking for a radiator overflow like yours and they seem to be big$$$$ if they come with a cap. Do you need a cap at that height or would a catch can work there as well if it's just to relieve air?
With the mods I'm planning the weight of a wider tire should be negligible, if said mods actually work in the manner I have them planned. If she can push the 240hp for real this machine should be untouchable here. I'll have to do a drag strip run and maybe put it up against some other known street monsters to get a feel for it. I'm more interested in the look and driving it really, more than trying to lose my license.
I'm going to have do go back over all the builds for ideas and what goes where.
Derrick
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Post by slugshot on Aug 1, 2014 19:48:08 GMT
Hi Derrick,
The roll bar is 2in + powder coating
I believe the header tank at the highest point is a good idea even if for the ease of checking the coolant level. A T piece with a pressure cap would work if they're available and cheaper, I would change the cap on the rad or modify the std cap so it doesn't lift at high temp.
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Post by 4sfed on Aug 2, 2014 14:38:36 GMT
Kevin, Thanks for the measurement, I'll start looking for some sturdy 2" clamps. You talked me into it, I'll get the tank with cap. Did you disable the stock cap on your ride or is it better to just use an aftermarket radiator? The Honda car builders here are always trading or selling their stuff so maybe I'll look into aftermarket. I wish I had the kit here so I could measure the grill opening for what size radiator to use. I'm off to eBay in search of more stuff. Thanks again Derrick
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