xs1100 turning into a trike

[slow mo]

hi DC i looked hard in to trikeing my xs11 but with my physical limitations i thought it would be too difficult for me ,,,but you sound like your going in the right direction ,,good luck and ride safe ,,slow mo! post some pic,s please!

[fredintoon]

- - - i looked hard in to trikeing my xs11 but with my physical limitations i thought it would be too difficult for me - - -

Hi slow mo,
like I said before, it's way easier to hang a chair on it than to convert it into a trike. There's at least two sidecar specialists in the Toronto area that can help you.

[Miti-Babe]

XS1100 Trike

[QUOTE=DCracer25;342759]...Not sure on how much I will shorten the axles and housing yet because the housing from and the backing plate to plate was only 50 inches wide. I know for sure will have to shorten one side to line it up to the bikes driveshaft....[QUOTE]

The Hillman axle was a popular choice for XS1100 based trikes in UK, but not as available as some other brands now... The XS middle gearbox output flange does not need to be dead in-line with the axle (differential) input shaft, in fact, if it is, you risk brinnelling of the UJ bearings. You only need to reduce the length of the axle tubes and drive-shafts if you want the trike narrower. If the 50" width suits, then you'd be well advise to leave as is and you'd also be saving yourself a heap of hassle in cutting/welding the shortened drive-shafts (they are DAMN hard..!!)

I have a good friend with an '81 XS11 which has been triked using the same axle. He has a rigid frame with sprung dual seat and the trike seems to go very well... Top speed is well over 100 mph (as I can verify from accomanying him on my own XS11) and the acceleration is real good too.

Regarding overall gear ratio: Don't forget that the XS runs either a 16" OR 17" rear wheel (depending on model) yet the gearbox, middle gearbox or final drive ratios remained constant throughout production... The overall ratio was altered though choice of rear tyre and similar variations in overall drive ratios can be made through choice the of wheel/tyres fitted to your trike. In fact, the final adjustment is usually made through choice of tyre...

The axle you have will probably have a 4 x 4" pcd (pitch circle diameter) on the wheel studs. This equates to 4 x 101.6mm and it's quite difficult to source wheels to fit the axle that will look cool on a trike (The old Austin Mini used 4 x 4", but with a 10" or 12" outer diameter - not cool on a trike).

I'm in the process of collecting parts for an XS11 trike conversion. I have the XS11, plus other donor bike paIrts and have just sourced the rear axle, driveshaft and brake components for the rear end. I've found a pair of 13" alloy wheels with 4 x 4" pcd and am considering buying them (my pal has 14" wheels on his trike and they look good) 13" wheels will mean using tyres with a sidewall approx 1/2" taller than my pal's trike, but I guess those tyres will be less costly as they won't be lo-profile items... We'll see...

And lastly... I'm told that the "golden length" for a trike's wheelbase is 70"... That puts about 9" extra length from a stock XS11... That's too long for me... I'll be going with 66" max and my build will be a "soft-tail" using the original rear arm pivot with a custom rear arm, dshined to hold the axle in split clamps... I'll be using slightly longer than original rear shocks and laying them down a little to keep the seat height as close to stock as possible.

Hope that helps

Miti

[DCracer25]

trike build

WOW thats a lot of information to decifer but I am taking it all in since this is my first build. Ok now if I line the rear up so that it is in the middle of the bike, isn't that going to put a lot of angle in the drive shaft and u joints? And if I remember correctly the 71 plymouth cricket was modeled after the hillman using alot of thier parts. At least thats what I found on it in the internet. I was wondering on how much I could go on the wheel base and have a decent handling bike. As far as the wheels go haven't checked into that yet but will now, I am thinking of going to a 16 inch wheel and tire because the bike had a 4.50xh17b tire and rim on it. I am going to use the original swingarm with a few modifications to it and a pair of racing 50/50 9inch coil over shocks to help lower the rearend just a bit to help with the rake and make it easier for my wife to get on and off, because she is only 5' 7" and about 140lbs

[Miti-Babe]

XS1100 Trike

Hi again... I did a little research on the Plymouth Cricket... In UK it was badged as the Hillman Avenger (My dad had one for a few years in the late '70s...). Are you sure that back-plate to backplate is only 50" on the axle..? Info I found on the track is that it's nearer 62", but that could be outer to outer on the road-wheels..??

The pcd of the Avenger/Cricket is 4+1/4" or 108mm and there are a good selection of (mostly european) cars with similar dimensions, so, providing you can source a pair of wheels with the correct bore for the axle hubs, you're winning...

When designing your swing-arm, remember to take account of the production techniques used on the axle. It's a common mistake to assume that the axle can be treated as a "stressed member" and used as a single supporting cross-member. This is often incorrect and cannot be assumed. My axle (1992 Reliant Robin 3-wheeler) is of composite construction having a 2-piece cast-alloy differential housing and steel drive-shaft tubes. This axle will defnitely need additional bracing across the swing-arm to prevent the whole arm flexing and possibly dislodging the drive-shaft tubes from the diff housing. This is the sort of swing-arm I'm planning:

It's the same axle as I'm using and you can see ow the stock shaft-drive swing arm has been incorporated, retaining the stock pivots too.

HTH

Miti

[DCracer25]

trike

The rearend measures backing plate to backing plate is 50 inches but from axle to axle is about 54 inches without any wheels on it. the rear end is all steel it resembles a late 80's mustang rear end. as soon as I have the swingarm redone and tacked together I will post pics of it on here.

[DCracer25]

build

ok got the swingarm at least part of it tacked together, now its on the bike so I can get the measurements I need to finish it. I am lenghtening the wheelbase by 7" and will be running the drive shaft through the left side of the swingarm. I need a driveshaft and front ujoint for my 81 xs1100 as mine was trashed and t he dust boot as well, anyone have an extra they would like to sell?

[TheFrugalTech]

Here's a design I ran across a while back that I liked, aside from the fact it seemed a little wide open in the rear. Maybe adding a trunk of sorts would improve the looks a bit.
XS Trike

[cywelchjr]

Here's a design I ran across a while back that I liked, aside from the fact it seemed a little wide open in the rear. Maybe adding a trunk of sorts would improve the looks a bit.
XS Trike

Those are at least two different trikes, one a hardtail which looks like it would be a bit rough of a ride and the other a swingarm trike which while it's got a suspension, the hardtail actually I think is better looking.

The hardtail is built around a special and the swingarm one is built around a standard. Like I said, the hardtail IMHO is nicer looking, but looks like it would be painful to drive.

[DCracer25]

build

Yes that was interesting, but I don't care for the open back end. would like to know what style of rearend that is.

[DCracer25]

build plus pics

I got more done today on the swingarm. tack welded it together so I can move something if I have to. also got the rear marked out as how much to cut out of it, which for me would be 5 inches total. I will be able to use the drive shaft from the bike and from a donor bike as well that I am buying the parts from a member here. will bolt up to the rearend all I got to do is weld them together then

have it balanced. I will also be welding a plate to both end pieces and to the rear end, then drill holes in both plates on the arm and the rear slot them on one side so the rear is adjustable for pinion angle. here are some pics, some not so good camaera doesn't like me.

[DCracer25]

build

I got the plates all cut out and drilled today will try to get them welded on in next day or so, also rewired the new fusebox as well today, whew what a mess. will try to get pics tomorrow.

[DCracer25]

trike build

I got the plates weled on today, here are some pics.

[DCracer25]

bike pics

I hate that dam camera, no matter what I do it seems to come out blurry.

[DCracer25]

bike

Hey does anyone out there have a right front brake line mine started leaking today.