Front wheel drive tricycle ?

[Retrorockit]

3 wheelers really aren't safe goig very fast. There's a lot to besaid for this idea.

[TwentyIsJustTooDamnSlow_!]

im not reallysure where to `post but here goes again. i have a trike with 350 watt motor on one back wheel and peddle power on the other back wheel. i was thinking of a powerful front hub motor but not sure if there will be a traction problem or if it makes more sense to repower back wheel to get the 30 to 40 mph im looking for. any advise or hints most welcome.

Mine I am mounting the motor like above picture motor to back axel sproket

Just got to pick out a motor

[TwentyIsJustTooDamnSlow_!]

im not really sure where to `post but here goes again. i have a trike with 350 watt motor on one back wheel and peddle power on the other back wheel. i was thinking of a powerful front hub motor but not sure if there will be a traction problem or if it makes more sense to repower back wheel to get the 30 to 40 mph im looking for. any advise or hints most welcome.

Forget E-bike stuff, start searching electric go carts, as thats what your really building.

[Retrorockit]

The tadpole 3 wheeler cargo bikes are a little more stable for those maneuvers. Especially if braking is involved. Driving the rear on those you can get the weight down low between the wheels in the front.You might see if you can rent one like that and see what it has to offer.

[Rodney Bush]

Been riding a bit more and found that 20mph on a flat, smooth shoulder can be done without feeling too out of control. However, trying to transition from a flat sidewalk to an inclined driveway into a parking lot, or a grassy slope is very awkward. It likes to stay on flat, paved surfaces.
I also find I should only use it when not in a hurry as it is cumbersome and slow. I do like that I can carry 3 or 4 bags of groceries.

[Rodney Bush]

I have recently received a nice trike for FREE! It's an "eye catcher" for sure going down the road. Use it to go bout 12 miles to grocery store (one way) and can carry a fair amount.
I have found it is not like riding a bicycle AT ALL!
Very unstable on uneven surfaces. I only ride it on flat paved road surfaces and hopefully there is a shoulder. Not stealthy at all and intown, needs to ride with traffic. Fisherman Bill just got run over and killed on main Street Westminster, Md by a chemical truck. He was in a pedestrian cross walk when it happened. People drive like idiots around here. Everyone is too busy to pay attention to what's in front of them.
I don't feel safe on it over it 12 mph.
remember all the rollovers that occurred in older times on the motorized 3 wheelers? Then they went to 4 wheelers and the trikes disappeared.
Good luck with your adventure and be safe!
Sorry, i can't find my pix but it looks almost identical to the one posted above.

[Michael Linke]

It's do-able and should work fine. I've ridden a variation on the Treecycle trikes in this video and they handle well. https://vimeo.com/107986590, though are purposely built not to go faster than 20 mph to qualify as safe urban transport on mixed-use streets.

[Retrorockit]

It would depend on what he's starting with. It does deserve some consideration.

[Perry]

Front wheel drive work well on this model @ 25 mph on straight away, 30-40 mph ???

[tklop]

What you're saying is absolutely correct! Wheel-loading issues are indeed very different with trikes.

And yes--attempting g-force-generating high-speed turns on any kind of trike--well, that's never a good idea.

But well-built wheels are actually quite a lot stronger than you might think. My three-wheel bakfiets is extremely heavy (roughly 200 kilograms), and yes--the wheel-loading stresses from even reasonable cornering-maneuvers do put a tremendous amount of extra stress on my spokes, rims and wheel-hubs.

However, well-assembled wheels, built from sturdy components--can handle these lateral stresses too. I can even (briefly) tilt the machine, and ride the bakfiets up on two wheels if I want to. It's pretty scary-looking--but even that much lateral stress won't cause my wheels to fail.

So, I understand your reasoning--but I can assure you that wheel-failure isn't likely--if the original poster's trike's wheels are well made.

It's about selecting good solid hubs, heavy-duty rims, and nice thick spokes--and of course using a smart wheel-lacing pattern (triple-cross or even four-cross patterns).

Where I find it most impressive is in spoke-wheels for cars. Imagine the lateral stresses they must be able to withstand!

Anyways, I just thought I'd share some reassurance when it comes to wheel-strength!

All the best,

Tklop

[Retrorockit]

Aside from the front fork issue. I would like to add something about wheel loading on a trike. On a bicycle cornering loads are vertical to the wheel because the bike leans over. On a trike that doesn't happen.
Add high speeds, the extra weight involved and I would be worried about a wheel failure.

[tklop]

im not really sure where to `post but here goes again. i have a trike with 350 watt motor on one back wheel and peddle power on the other back wheel. i was thinking of a powerful front hub motor but not sure if there will be a traction problem or if it makes more sense to repower back wheel to get the 30 to 40 mph im looking for. any advise or hints most welcome.

I've read here that front-hub motors can be very dangerous with suspension forks--and for a one-wheel-in-front, two-in-the-back classic tricycle design--that's awfully fast--to go without any front-wheel suspension. I'd be terrified of rolling over a wet cigarette-end and wrapping myself around a power-pole.

If I were to build a high-speed classic-configuration tricycle like that, I'd want the front-end like a chopper--with nice shocks--and I'd probably opt for a powerful single mid-motor--running it through a differential gear--to drive both rear-wheels. I'd make sure to include substantial brakes--and lastly, I'd be sure to plant a nice big fat mushy springy seat on the beast--to save my back from the inevitable bumps and potholes.

Anyways...

Better advice will follow, I'm sure!

Best of luck to you, with your trike project!

All the best,

Tklop

[Tommycat]

Depending on your battery pack weight distribution, I would think spinning the front tire would be minimal and where I would recommend putting it. As from what I've read a larger motor on one side in the back tends to "push" the bike to one side. A Magic Pie 5 (1000 watts continuous) also has programmable settings which would allow you to set the amount of starting power to be gentle and not spin. But I would defiantly make sure the fork is stout and reinforced enough to handle it. ( STEEL.)

[john stelly]

im not really sure where to `post but here goes again. i have a trike with 350 watt motor on one back wheel and peddle power on the other back wheel. i was thinking of a powerful front hub motor but not sure if there will be a traction problem or if it makes more sense to repower back wheel to get the 30 to 40 mph im looking for. any advise or hints most welcome.