Manky Monkey Motors

I`ve been thinking about this for a while now, yeah sad i know  ::), do you think those ready made trike frames on ebay are made to accept a `standard` front end?
The ride height and levelness? of the frame is gonna be affected by the headstock angle and chosen front end, so how do they allow for that?
HMMMM

I think they build them using a specific front end at the required length,Then when you the customer build your trike are expected to use a front end of the same,or similar dimensions.

would that also then be true of seat mountings and forwards?
Seems to me that there aint no such thing as a ready made frame, too many variations on basic stuff to standardise everything.

Depends how basic the frame is I guess. As you say. it'd have to be made for a particular front end, or at least a standard headstock bearing size. If they just supplied the basic engine cradle with one length hardtail, clamping on a regular Reliant axle & left you to add tank, seat & footpeg mounts etc, it might work. 

Some people have had a lot of problems with 'ready made' frames off Ebay - I don't know of course whether they were the ones you are looking at but I know the same frames have been sold under different seller names.

Not looking at any in particuar Bobbi, just muttering out loud to myself really.  ;).

when we used to make vw trike frame and body kits we always used a 6.75" long steering head, machined to accept a 52mm od top bearing and a 55mm od bottom bearing.

those sizes both give a large option of id sizes.
6.75" long headstock was chosen as been an average length.

ok the bandit uses one hell of a long headstock.

we would recommend minium 41mm diameter forks as in our opinion they gave good rigidity and again the choice was quite varied.

here is the last part built frame and body kit we did. never again will we do trikes.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m185/dracken1/trike/ABCD0020.jpg?t=1270718375)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m185/dracken1/trike/ABD0005.jpg?t=1270718713)

Too much hassle Wynne?

Hmm, that still leaves a lot of welding work to be done. Presumably these frames get bought because people dont have the ability to weld in the first place? Certainly for the sort of money the sellers ask, i`d want a finished frame, with everything there, ready to bolt to. A basic frame can be made for around £200 add on some profit and your looking at £300 for a basic frame which would only include engine and gearbox mounting points.
Add the same again for engine, box, axle and a front end, £50 to light it up, £??? for a tank n seat, then all the odds n sods aswell.
Your lookin at £800 - £1000.
Cor, this trike building lark gets expensive when you think about it!