Please don't kill me; Trike a Monster

Shorts · November 20, 2009, 06:33:08 AM

What kind of braking proportions would I be facing with a 2-1?

Yes, totally should have been suggested earlier (though I did say 'duh' when I read it). Made a daunting challenge pretty frikken' reasonable

(I don't expect my ideas to be easy but the ones that seem out there can be brought a little closer)

Growing legs already

Edit: actually DCXCV did say it. I totally missed it. Someone squirt me with the spray bottle if I get out of hand again

Speeddog · November 20, 2009, 06:40:09 AM

The braking system could be pretty much unchanged.
Using one caliper and rotor on each front wheel is pretty much the same as the 2 calipers and rotors on the front of a Monster.

Depending on what front tires and wheels are used will have some effect on it, as the caliper/rotor have to fit inside the wheel, and the tire may be a different diameter.

Not a huge deal at all to get it done right.

Shorts · November 20, 2009, 06:50:14 AM

I was just about to ask about tire/wheel combos. Having faced similar concerns when swapping rims/tires and lift kits on my trucks, I understand that entails. Like you said not a big deal to get it done.

Would I be safe in considering a fully repaired & running salvage title bike? Or would this come into play when insuring the trike? I only ask because I've seen a few used one for sale. Obviously a thorough exam would be necessary before deciding to take a salvage title bike home.

Otherwise my course of action is to shop around like I normally would for a good bike, good price.

Michael Moore · November 20, 2009, 06:51:23 AM

Quote from: Shorts on November 20, 2009, 06:09:33 AM

MM, that thing is cool. Street legal?

Yeah, it was plated, but in Italy.

Over there quads are allowed on the street. But I suspect you could probably get it plated here, unlike a Yamaha dirt quad.

Shorts · November 20, 2009, 07:18:52 AM

You guys have been a ton of help - thank you for humoring me on this. Looks like I have a realistic project that would be incredible when complete.

I've had my mind cloudy since the get off and this has lifted my spirits quite a bit.

Speeddog · November 20, 2009, 07:19:24 AM

Not sure what the rules are regarding salvage-title bikes in your state.

Assuming it's got registration when you buy it, I don't think the salvage title makes any difference.
I think it's standard procedure for some kind of official inspection when re-registering after a bike gets a salvage title.

AFAIK, you can't plate a quad in the US.
It's got 4 wheels, so as far as the DMV is concerned, it's a car.
But it lacks a few things to be legal as a car.
No FHE, so YMMV.....

DCXCV · November 20, 2009, 07:32:21 AM

Quote from: Speeddog on November 20, 2009, 07:19:24 AM
AFAIK, you can't plate a quad in the US.
It's got 4 wheels, so as far as the DMV is concerned, it's a car.
But it lacks a few things to be legal as a car.
No FHE, so YMMV.....

There are a bunch of them in AZ, but we hardly have any rules at all... more of a state specific thing. And if it's made out of a street legal motor I would think that gets you over some of the biggest hurdles.

junior varsity · November 20, 2009, 09:12:05 AM

+1, and haha

LowThudd · November 20, 2009, 12:10:38 PM

In CA you could technically register any trike/quad as an experimental motorcycle. It would be up to the refferee to determine if it is road worthy. No FHE with that, but I have dealt with the refferee with a kit car.

Desmo Demon · November 23, 2009, 02:49:04 PM

Quote from: Shorts on November 20, 2009, 06:50:14 AM
Would I be safe in considering a fully repaired & running salvage title bike? Or would this come into play when insuring the trike?

As stated previously, it all depends on your state's laws. I have heard that some states are much more forgiving than others for vehicles with salvage or certificate for destruction titles. You'll definitely want to check with your local DMV to find out. If they allow salvage titled bikes but require an inspection, you would probably be best off to leave the bike in stock form....

Modifying the bike into a trike or a quad will probably also differ by state. I believe some states go according to number of wheels and others will go strictly by the title. A Ducati is a motorcycle via its title, whether it has two wheels or 18. Some states do not have a different way to title a vehicle if you change its number of wheels, so......you may be able to get a Monster, transfer the title as you would anything else, modify it, and then go about your merry way without any issues. You may have to look into your state's operator licensing, though....

In South Carolina, they just recently added a new endorsement for trike rides because of the popularity of them. To my understanding, there is no "grandfathering" of the licensing, either. South Carolina recognizes trike (and motorcycles with side cars) to be different from motorcycles, so they have developed a new test for trike riders. If a person has ridden with a sidecar for 30 years on a motorcycle license, they need to get the trike endorsement or run the risk of a ticket.

If you want to do a front end conversion of a Monster, watch craigslist for an older quad ATV. I've seen several that were complete, but with a blown engine for a lower cost than it would take for you to get the parts you need off of eBay. Using an existing ATV front end will probably make a conversion a whole lot easier. The largest issue will be grafting the front subframe to the Monster's frame. Modifying the rear as a trike may not be too overly difficult, and you may be able to use to use the stock swingarm without any modification if you make adapters and other components.

Wish you luck with the potential project.

junior varsity · November 24, 2009, 05:38:21 AM

The whole thing sounds like a fun project to me, either way you decide to go.

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Please don't kill me; Trike a Monster