SimpleSimon
Active Member
I've been thinking about bikes a lot for the last 18 months, and the APAX delta trike with independent rear suspension is just such an elegant design, it's a pity they are not going into production.
One of the biggest issues with delta trikes is their cornering ability. Secondarily, on bike paths and streets their width is a very real issue. So, in an attempt to kill both fowl (pun intended) with a single stone, here is a pic of a model I've been working on for an independent rear suspension trike, with co-axial jackshafts through the axis of pivot of the rear single arm suspension triangles to each wheel, to provide power to both rear wheels. Differential effect results from using a freewheel hub on each wheel - in effect the outer wheel in a turn is able to freewheel faster than the drive is pushing the inner wheel. It becomes, in effect, a leaner delta trike although the lean capability is a bit linited.
I like a low seating position, in the interests of keeping the CoG as low as reasonably possible, so I've gone with a crank forward design. I zoomed in for this pic to show the rear frame design - I'm still debating w/myself about what type suspension forks to use. As drawn, it is sized for 26" wheels, and there is plenty of room inside the main frame polygon for mounting an engine. The rear dropout subframe is sized for an NV CVT hub as a mid-drive, but that can be changed if one wishes.
I'll post more frame captures in this thread as I continue to work on the design, but I would really appreciate people's thoughts. As envisioned, the power jackshafts run centered in a carrier tube which is welded to the single arm rear triangles. Those carriers go through larger mount tubes which are an integral part of the frame.
So, please, opinions? Thoughts? Am I crazy?
Hmmm...for some reason this thing is refusing to open the "Manage Attachments" button bar.
Fixed that.
One of the biggest issues with delta trikes is their cornering ability. Secondarily, on bike paths and streets their width is a very real issue. So, in an attempt to kill both fowl (pun intended) with a single stone, here is a pic of a model I've been working on for an independent rear suspension trike, with co-axial jackshafts through the axis of pivot of the rear single arm suspension triangles to each wheel, to provide power to both rear wheels. Differential effect results from using a freewheel hub on each wheel - in effect the outer wheel in a turn is able to freewheel faster than the drive is pushing the inner wheel. It becomes, in effect, a leaner delta trike although the lean capability is a bit linited.
I like a low seating position, in the interests of keeping the CoG as low as reasonably possible, so I've gone with a crank forward design. I zoomed in for this pic to show the rear frame design - I'm still debating w/myself about what type suspension forks to use. As drawn, it is sized for 26" wheels, and there is plenty of room inside the main frame polygon for mounting an engine. The rear dropout subframe is sized for an NV CVT hub as a mid-drive, but that can be changed if one wishes.
I'll post more frame captures in this thread as I continue to work on the design, but I would really appreciate people's thoughts. As envisioned, the power jackshafts run centered in a carrier tube which is welded to the single arm rear triangles. Those carriers go through larger mount tubes which are an integral part of the frame.
So, please, opinions? Thoughts? Am I crazy?
Hmmm...for some reason this thing is refusing to open the "Manage Attachments" button bar.
Fixed that.
Attachments
Last edited:
