Manky Monkey Motors

Hi all I'm a new member here just about to start my first trike build. I have an engine gearbox prop and axle from a Rialto with only 29000 miles on it an have the offer of a 1200 bandit front end and frame would the front end be suitable and is it possible to cut the headstock out of the frame and use it.

Hello and welcome,good luck with you build. i used a bike headstock and front end for my ongoing build and it seems to be ok though i'm not on the road yet

Welcome to Manky Madness.
1200 bandit front end should be fine. While it is possible to cut out the headstock tube from the frame ( it's what many of us have done) it would be better to get a new one made, but stronger to avoid possible welding distortion. Factory headstock tubes are usually surprisingly thin walled and it is very easy to distort them when welding into a trike frame.

Was thinking that it would look better with one machined up but not competent enough with the lathe for that yet.can you get them off the shelf.

Unlikely to find one for the Bandit. Most towns have a small engineering shop who will make one if you provide the dimensions or give them the original one to get the dimensions from. Harley ones are available and you may be able to find bearings to suit the Bandit stem if the length is OK.
Using the original tube is possible just be careful when welding.
Hope the build goes well and that we see lots of progress pics. :)
Have you decided on a frame design yet?

Welcome to the forum. Pics, we need pics

Thanks for the info.i am thinking of the same design as the mmmotors one with rear axle shortened by 100mm and rear brake disk conversion. Will post pics up when I get a start

Welcome to the site Rod.
As ON says, better to have a new headstock with better material. The whole trike hangs off of it so make it strong :)

let people know where your at  people nearby may be able to help

I'm in Ellon Aberdeenshire. Travelled to Swindon last week to pick up the engine gearbox pro and axle. Was worth it though as the engine sounds sweet and all looks mint   

Hi and welcome from just down the road in Fife :)
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Cheers fifer. I'm from fife myself came up here for work just over a year ago.

Picking up a cagiva complete bike at the weekend so will just need to get the headstock machined and I think that's me ready to start building

I just found a piece of very heavy wall tube if you need it same as I used for my trike headstock

Thanks for the offer but my mate has his own fabrication business and has got stuff for me. He is also giving me a hand with the frame with one of those fancy pipe benders that you program the measurements into.

ooooohhh i would like one of those fancy pipe benders but will just have to make do with this handraulic one

Never used one before we used the hydraulic one for years building stock cars so it hopefully be quicker with the new one