In this article, we have already discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the Ural motorcycle in terms of off-road travel. But the stock Ural without a stroller is not very easy to use; there is nowhere to even put tools and spare parts, not to mention a shovel, fishing rods and a metal detector. I consider the stroller to be useless ballast. Yes, it allows you to carry more cargo and one more passenger, makes the motorcycle safer and more stable, and even then not in all situations. This is where the advantages of using a side trailer end, and it has more than enough disadvantages:
- serious deterioration in dynamics;
- deterioration of passability;
- increased fuel consumption (1.5-2 times);
- shorter lifespan and high risk of overheating, especially in mud.
There are probably other disadvantages, but now we’re not talking about them, but about preparing the Urals without a stroller for off-road driving and active recreation.
How the suspension works
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If you are not making a trike out of a scooter with your own hands and are counting on a powerful and impressive model rather than a children's tricycle with a motor, then you need to seriously think about the action of your front wheel suspension. What are helicopter or airplane reasons for? The fact is that the movement of the wheel along the vertical axis will occur with much greater force than on a motorcycle, so you need to install stiff and durable springs - at least in the lower part of the suspension, which compensates for movement along the vertical axis. To compensate for movement along the horizontal axis, you can use softer springs - for example, from the Izh motorcycle. As you can see, assembling a tricycle with your own hands is quite difficult, but if you follow all the instructions, have a clear drawing and all the necessary materials, you should be able to cope.
Concept
In principle, a tricycle can be equated to an ATV; In terms of driving performance, these two vehicles differ slightly. The Ural region, which has already been discussed in this article, acted as a donor. Yes, the motorcycle was quite good, but I needed a more cross-country and stable vehicle.
Tricycle from the Urals stuck in a rut
The fact is that the terrain through which you need to move is gradually becoming swampy. Forest roads, which used to be so pleasant to ride a motorcycle on, disappear, overgrown with tall grass, or even completely going under water. Even if you manage to find them, driving along them on a motorcycle is noticeably more difficult than on a tricycle or quad. In addition, a significant part of the journey has to be covered in conditions of complete absence of roads, where the motorcycle does not fit well. Taking all this into account, it was decided to make a tricycle from the Urals with our own hands.
The driver is confused
Major changes
The main task when creating a trike from the Urals was to install two wheels back. It was possible to install an independent suspension, but I decided not to complicate the design and take a simpler route - install a regular axle. It was possible to weld the bridge to the rear swingarm or even to the frame, but such a suspension would have been too rigid, although reliable. It was decided to make a full-fledged suspension by analogy with a car. The shock absorbers are original Uralov ones.
Trike suspension
The bridge is from a VAZ-2101, inverted, with a welded differential (locked). Blocking the bridge had a great effect on cross-country ability, but had a detrimental effect on handling; The steering wheel is very heavy, sharp turns are impossible, the turning radius is more than 8 meters.
Zhigulevsky Bridge
Due to the fact that the bridge was turned upside down, the fastenings had to be re-cooked and adjusted to the structural features. Shortened Zhiguli cardan shaft. On the engine side, it is welded to the main gear fork, and, passing through a rubber suspension coupling, is connected to the axle. This design of the main gear is not the most successful; it was necessary to leave the original Ural rubber coupling to make the transmission less rigid. This drawback is planned to be eliminated in the future.
The cardan is rigidly connected to the gearbox
In order to avoid severe bending of the driveshaft, I moved the engine about 8 cm to the left. This, although labor-intensive, is not difficult. It was possible to solve this problem in other ways: move the bridge to the right, increase the base, etc.
The tricycle's engine is slightly shifted to the left
Engine
In general, the engine design has not undergone any major changes with the exception of a couple of features - one carburetor instead of two and forced cooling. The carburetor was taken new from China, it looks similar to the Izhevsk carburetor without any modifications. Air filter Izhevsky. The power is quite enough even for confident acceleration in 4th gear, the cylinders work synchronously, the engine starts perfectly.
Inexpensive Chinese carburetor
It’s too early to judge fuel consumption, because... with one carburetor it should be lower, but with a blocked car axle it should increase noticeably. There were no significant differences in fuel consumption between a tricycle with one carburetor and a motorcycle with two.
All-terrain vehicle from the Urals
The cooling system uses 2 electric motors from the car interior heater with a power of approximately 30 W each. With the fans turned on, the engine does not overheat even when driving for many hours in first gear and often getting stuck in the mud. Turned on by a toggle switch.
Forced cooling to the Urals
Other improvements
The main changes affected only the chassis and engine of the motorcycle. The remaining changes were made previously and are discussed in this, this, and this article.
The fans are turned on by a toggle switch
Suspension
It doesn’t matter whether you make a tricycle with your own hands from an Izh or any other motorcycle. You will have to remodel the front wheel suspension anyway. After all, the distribution of forces in a tricycle is very different from that observed in a regular motorcycle. To do this, you will need two pairs of consoles, as well as two powerful springs - if possible, try to get helicopter or airplane springs, but springs from passenger cars can also be used if necessary. The consoles need to be connected to each other by levers, through which the axle of your front wheel will pass. Naturally, this is not the only way - there are a large number of ways to make a tricycle with your own hands. Drawings are available on the Internet (one of them is in our article), but this method is one of the most effective.
What are the results?
The resulting homemade motocross motorcycle will not be able to compete with factory models, no matter how much you might want it to. However, there is a way to make it truly perfect - for this you need to select components that perfectly match each other, as well as fine-tune them, which can take months or even years. Additionally, a motocross bike with custom components will require more frequent maintenance—you'd be surprised how many problems can arise when riding a homemade machine. Therefore, it is worth considering the option of saving up for an inexpensive used foreign-made motorcycle. Moreover, purchasing high-quality components separately will also cost a considerable amount.
How to properly design a mini-tractor?
The conversion of a walk-behind tractor into a mini-tractor is carried out in several stages. First you need to take care of the frame. It is made of durable metal, which is cut into pieces of the required length and then welded together. When the frame is ready, you can start assembling the chassis.
If the motor is placed in the front part, then the width for the wheels can be left the same as in the walk-behind tractor. In order to attach the wheels to the rear, you will need an additional axle. It is made to the required length; an ordinary piece of pipe is suitable for this, the main thing is that the width is suitable. Bushings and bearings must be installed at the ends of the pipe. You can then install wheels on them.
Homemade swamp tricycle on IZh Planet
The design of this homemade swamp vehicle is so simple that almost any car enthusiast can repeat it in his own garage. The basis of the swamp vehicle is the IZH Planet 3 motorcycle. IZH Planet motorcycles often become donors in all-terrain homemade vehicles, this is primarily due to the endurance and unpretentiousness of their engines.
The bridge was taken from a Muscovite and modernized. We cut out the bearing mounts from the doll with a grinder, then welded the yoke to the bridge stocking (if it is not welded, the stocking will warp when you cut it in half), then cut the stocking itself in order to secure the sprocket. The chain tensioner was also borrowed from the combine.
Stages of turning a Dnepr motorcycle into a custom one
Perhaps this is said loudly about turning the Dnepr motorcycle into a custom one. Because more often such alterations fall under the definition of tuning. What is the difference between custom and tuning?
Tuning is the alteration of individual spare parts or components of a motorcycle. A custom motorcycle is a bike that has been completely modified to suit the owner's wishes. Moreover, it becomes unique and inimitable.
Stages of turning a Dnepr motorcycle into a custom one:
- engine replacement or upgrade
- front fork upgrade
- chassis modification
- exhaust replacement
- adding decorative elements
The engine is additionally cleaned and polished. This is done on purpose so that it does not differ from new parts. Various rings or a direct flow system are installed on the exhaust. You can also add a decorative nozzle.
Peculiarities
A tricycle from the Ural can be designed in your own garage. This work will not take much time and will not require large financial costs. To get the desired vehicle, it is enough to take a Ural motorcycle and components from a Moskvich or Zhiguli.
Today there are a lot of other options offered, but a homemade tricycle based on Russian production is considered the most successful, which is not accidental. After all, domestic manufacturers produce equipment that allows you to travel long distances comfortably.
The result is a tricycle that is easy to control.
The future owner of a tricycle will quickly cope with the task if he prepares in advance for the upcoming work. For example, he will have to find a ZAZ-968 and a Ural motorcycle at a disassembly site. From the first you need to take the engine, from the second - the components.
Tuning
Once you're done with the must-have part, you can also upgrade the motocross bike to suit your needs. First of all, this concerns the installation of modern carburetors with high performance - they will inevitably increase fuel consumption, but will allow for stable engine operation at high speeds. You can achieve good results by adjusting the standard carburetors of the resulting motocross motorcycle. However, if you encounter troubles such as loud pops in the exhaust pipe or black exhaust, it is better to return to the standard settings or even contact a specialist. If you are going to make a dirt bike from Voskhod, you will also need to replace the standard paper filter with a foam filter, increasing its throughput without sacrificing performance.
Most experts advise taking care of high-quality tail when creating a motocross motorcycle. In this case, it is designed not only to improve the appearance of your bike, but also to protect its components from impacts on the off-road. Therefore, it is better to purchase a special tuning kit made of high-strength plastic. In addition, to save money, the necessary tail parts can be found at disassembly.
Do-it-yourself tricycle assembly from the Urals
Before starting work, it is necessary to think through the design of the future tricycle and the location of all elements. Ideally, make a drawing of the future vehicle.
Important design points:
- All joints must be reinforced.
- Car cups are welded to the top beam. It also serves as a support for shock absorbers.
- Frames are welded to the central beam, which serve as footrests for passengers and also support the suspension bump stops.
- The base for the pedal weights is the lower transverse tube, which is attached to the frame.
- A support for the gearbox is also made on the transverse frame.
The main difference between a tricycle and a motorcycle is that the engine is located at the rear and therefore the center of gravity of the vehicle is shifted back. When accelerating, such a tricycle rears up a little. Below you can see a diagram of how to convert a Ural motorcycle into a tricycle.
Location of tricycle parts
As we have already said, the engine of a Ural tricycle is not located on the main axis, like in motorcycles. It is placed between the rear wheels, because of this, when accelerating quickly, the tricycle easily rears up. But this is a much safer event than on a motorcycle and adds adrenaline and entertainment to the trip.
As a motor, you can use a native motor from the Urals or take a car engine. The main parameter of choice is its capacity between the rear wheels. Be sure to securely fasten it in at least three places. Most often, if the power unit is in good condition, then you don’t even need to do anything to it. And if the engine is old, then you can replace the radiator or some other elements.
Depending on the engine you choose, you will also have to change the exhaust system by installing one muffler for each cylinder.
When converting a motorcycle from the Urals into a tricycle with your own hands, the gearbox is usually installed on the left side, because you usually need to hold the steering wheel firmly with your right hand. You'll have to think a little about how to connect it to the engine, because now the gearbox will be located at a much greater distance from it.
The standard motorcycle suspension will have to be redone due to the fact that the load on the wheels in the Ural moto tricycle is distributed differently.
This is done using two consoles and two large springs (aircraft springs are ideal, but car springs will also work). The consoles are connected by levers through which the front axle passes.
Powerful springs are needed because when moving, a huge load is placed on the front wheel and suspension. The remaining springs can be left as standard motorcycle springs.
Battery
A separate frame is usually welded under the battery, which is attached between the engine and the driver’s seat. All the main details are thus arranged in one place. And if you attach panniers to the tricycle, they will completely hide all the important elements.
History of the Ural motorcycle
97% of all domestic Ural motorcycles are exported to many countries around the world. And only three percent are sold in Russia.
Time moves inexorably forward.
And with its course, everything in our lives changes. But for more than seventy years the Ural motorcycle has remained unchanged. You will not be able to feel all the pride in the domestic Irbitsky motorcycle plant if you have not sat behind the wheel of this motorcycle. Since 1957, the plant has been producing motorcycles and delighting its customers with their excellent quality. The range of Ural motorcycles is constantly expanding. And there is no better motorcycle among domestic motorcycles today. These motorcycles are popular not only in the territory of the former Soviet Union. Our motorcycle is known in the countries of America and Europe, Australia and Africa. Residents of Iraq and Iran love the Urals.
Since 1960, the plant has been tuning its motorcycles. Most of the parts have been modernized. The tuning model of Ural motorcycles has raised the bar for the quality of these products. Together with foreign partners, the range of motorcycles is constantly being improved.
Tuning the Ural motorcycle has made this equipment very expensive, and only true fans can afford to buy it. Eighty percent of motorcycles are produced with a cradle. The plant produces not only road models. There are models designed for cross-country and road racing competitions. Back in Soviet times, models that were intended for patrol were modernized. Instead of cradles, they are equipped with a machine gun and a launcher carrier.
The history of the Ural motorcycle is very rich. This motorcycle has become a classic. Great respect for the people who assemble this equipment, and pride in our industry.
Gear box
When you make a tricycle from the Ural with your own hands, you definitely need to take into account where exactly the gearbox will be located. You already understand that the engine itself will be off the axle, behind the seat, between the two rear wheels. At the same time, make sure that it is attached as securely as possible in at least three places - especially if you plan to perform various tricks, as described above. As for the gearbox, it is better to install it on the left side of the steering wheel, since your right hand will be occupied most of the time. It is unlikely that if you take the engine and gearbox from a car, you will be able to make a design that is convenient enough to change gears without stopping driving. Also don't forget that you need to take care of connecting the box to the motor, which is a bit more difficult considering that it is now located a little further from the box than it should have been in the original. But if you're trying to figure out how to make a tricycle with your own hands, you always need to be prepared for these kinds of surprises and difficulties.
Parts selection
First of all, you need to pay attention to the wheels of the future motocross motorcycle, since they will bear the main load. It is better to immediately abandon the use of alloy wheels, since they will not be able to properly absorb strong impacts, which will lead to their rapid deformation. The best option is to buy ready-made wheels based on spokes. A budget-friendly way to get wheels for a motocross motorcycle is to buy rims and install spokes of the required length yourself. There is no need to think long about the size of the wheels and reinvent the motorcycle, since the sport has adopted the standard - 120/70-17 in the front and 160/60-17 in the rear.
If you want to make a cross bike from Minsk, you will have to tinker with converting the rear suspension to a monoshock absorber. It is much easier to disassemble and select a fork of the appropriate size from a 125 cc Japanese motorcycle. All that remains is to choose the shock absorber itself - in this case, it is better to select the desired model based on the weight of the vehicle itself and its rider, and then make adjustments after assembly. Remember that the rear wheel travel of a motocross motorcycle should be 200–280 mm - based on this value, rear suspension components are selected.
Next, you should take care of the front suspension, which is subject to the highest demands. Unfortunately, in this case it will not be possible to make do with economical compromise options, so it is better to buy a fork from a motocross motorcycle assembled. You don’t have to look at the performance of the shock absorbers and the presence of high-quality oil in them - some components of the fork can be changed during operation. For a motocross motorcycle, the ability to fine-tune the front suspension is very important, so you should pay attention to the integrity of the adjustment mechanisms. The fork travel should be approximately similar to that of the rear monoshock.
For safety reasons, you should also take care of installing other brake mechanisms that will effectively slow down the motocross motorcycle if necessary. The best option is to purchase a special sports kit consisting of other discs, calipers, hoses and fasteners. However, buying one can be quite expensive, so you can also buy used brakes from a larger motorcycle, which will provide fast deceleration without any problems. If your future motocross bike has drum brakes, you will either have to completely redo the wheels, or accept the mediocre performance of them, improving the deceleration slightly by fine-tuning the pads.
The last thing you need to take care of is the frame. Once you have purchased all of the above components to build your motocross bike, you will see that the standard mounting points need some work. Try to make maximum use of standard places for fixing certain parts, if possible without resorting to welding. However, you may need to completely reshape some parts of the motocross motorcycle frame, for which it is best to use high-strength steel pipes and a fairly powerful welding machine.
Frame
It will be easier to make an Izh tricycle with your own hands if you have experience in welding and understand the design of motorcycles or cars. The frame will have to be completely manufactured from scratch, have a pre-designed shape and structure. Usually the calculation is made in such a way as to exclude breakdowns and places with vulnerable structures, so that the trike can travel hundreds of kilometers without maintenance.
Strengthening is achieved by welding corners and additional pipes
so that the fork does not vibrate. The basis of the transmission can be taken from a walk-behind tractor or combine harvesters. If you want to get a traction type Izh Planet tricycle, it is better to use sprockets in a ratio of 2:1, i.e. 50 and 25 teeth respectively.
Drifting on a bike. All about custom trikes for serpentine roads
What does a normal person think of when they hear the word “drift”?
Perhaps cars with the appropriate surroundings around them. What does a cyclist mean by drifting...
A good downward slope, an asphalt winding path, three wheels, two pedals, low seating, speed, a good and “fragile” angle and of course - a generous pinch of real custom! – all this is bicycle drift.
Many people have heard about tricycles for drifting, and perhaps many have seen these toys in cool foreign videos, but, of course, this trend cannot be called popular in our country. Trike is an exclusively fun phenomenon, supported until recently by the desire to do something with your own hands.
Now tricycles for drifting are beginning to actively appear on sale. The starting price is $200, the cost of advanced models exceeds the level of $1000 or more. But it is custom trikes that are the coolest component of this unusual cycling phenomenon!
How to make a drift bike
To create a drift trike, an old and broken BMX, or a children's bike on 20-inch wheels, is most suitable.
The bike will need the front part - a wheel, fork, handlebars, stem and a piece of frame with the lower tube of the front triangle, and the rear part - a cart with a beam and two wheels wrapped in plywood cylinders, will be assembled separately and welded to the front part of the future trike.
Pedals on a drift bike are optional - you can do without them by installing pegs on the front of the bike to hold your feet.
If you decide to install pedals, then you will have to solve the issue with idle speed, which will require a “Kulibin” approach to adapting the rear bushing and connecting rods to the frame fork, or searching for specialized parts rarely found in nature.
Some people install a controlled electric drive on a drift trike. We have already written about electric motors on sports equipment, telling you about longboards with a power plant
.
But the pinnacle of custom is installing an internal combustion engine on a trike!
Drift trike with engine. Video assembly instructions from a Russian master
The three-wheeled monster with an internal combustion engine also lives in Russia. It was assembled by the famous Ufa customizer Maxim Klyuch, who recorded the entire assembly process in the form of a series of interesting videos.
Rides
Even in those places on the planet where the number of tricycles for drifting is more than one for the whole city, nothing larger than local mini-competitions or fun rides usually happens.
But its rarity, of course, doesn’t make this entertainment any worse!
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's start with the advantages that a homemade trike from a Ural motorcycle has: - excellent cross-country ability, especially in mud; - comfort and less fatigue; — simplicity, low cost and reliability of the design; — minimal risk of engine overheating.
The trunk allows you to secure everything you need
And now about the disadvantages: - difficult control (due to a blocked bridge); — lack of reverse gear, which would be very useful (to be solved); — the intake manifold is strongly cooled until condensation appears (possibly having a negative effect on the combustible mixture); — a large load on the front axle (the front wheel sinks in mud, which significantly worsens cross-country ability); — high speed in 1st gear.
If there was a reverse gear, there would be no need for a shovel
In general, these shortcomings can be considered insignificant, especially considering the significant improvement in cross-country ability. In addition, many of them can be eliminated.
Trike from the Urals
