Anyone ever thought of these conversion kits?

[3Wheelers4Life]

has anyone ever thought of making a conversion kit to convert a quad to a 3 wheeler like xtreme pit bikes? either using a dirt bike front end or custom making one. then sell it here on the boards and else where, but "laying low" about it so the CPSC wont find out.
or using a dirt bike and making a kit to convert it to a 3 wheeler? dont think either of these will be too hard to do, but you need the time, tools, and money.
it would be nice to be able to get new cheap parts if this would ever happen, a lot of the old 3 wheelers are getting tired. think a new ATC 400EX (TRX400EX), ATC 250R (CR250R), some new Big Reds, a new TRI Z 450 (YFZ 450), or a new TECATE 450R 3 wheeler (KFX 450R) all with readily available new parts. what do you guys think? just wondering.

[team-red-rider]

that would be awsome BUT who has the $$ to cut up a NEW atv to convert...i kno i dont ...and it would be pretty hard too because of the way the motor mounts and stuff

[ProCarbine2k1]

I have been thinking seriously about this for some time. Im not talking huge $$$ kits, but plans we could download from the site for several conversions.
The kit would have detailed instructions, tips/tricks and other things that could take away the major hassle from doing the conversion from scratch. There would need to be a couple expert fabricators that would need to devote the time to a couple donor bikes, and then go from there. Hope this makes sense, if not, well I just got off work .

For instance, plans for a 96-99 CR125 conversion.
- Disassembly, reassembly process.
- Parts needed (not custom parts, oem from current ATV's)
- Triple clamp dimensions.
- Plastic adaptor kits.
**To keep the price down we would mostly use parts from other atv's, the only custom parts would be fender brackets, triple clamps, and front hub/wheel setups (which would probably be off of another bike). These would not be hack-job plans either, something truly has to be done to stay on 3 wheels. More and more are getting parted out/ pitched.

Someone please add to this, its just an idea!!!

[SYKO]

like I said before make a general frame that can except almost any motor 2 and 4 stroke any size and use a general lay out same swingers/forks tripples plastic/tank, jsut add your motor and correct motor munts made for that engine, so technicaly if you did have this so called "made" frame you could have mounts for a cr250 and lt450 and swap between motors when your mood suited it. I would pull up the scratch to pay about hmmm.... $3500 for a roller chasis, jsut so I could put the motor of my choice in there wich of course would be additonal along side the mounts for said motor.

[BigRedRunner]

I once thought this would be the only hope for future trikes. I then realized that every idiot that hurts himself wants to sue and become a millionaire. Any kit manufacturer would spend forever in litigation. After all, three-wheeled vehicles were SO dangerous that they banned them.

[team-red-rider]

hey market it as a TRIKE conversion kit! like for harleys and crap

[ProCarbine2k1]

Thats the thing, there would be NO so called kit, and no risk of lawsuit. It could just be a set of "plans" that someone had previously made work. Syko, I like the idea of a custom frame, but most people wouldnt pay the cost it would take to fab something like that. I would use existing stuff that is atleast several years old so we all could afford to build it. Anyone feelin' me on this one?

[SYKO]

Thats the thing, there would be NO so called kit, and no risk of lawsuit. It could just be a set of "plans" that someone had previously made work. Syko, I like the idea of a custom frame, but most people wouldnt pay the cost it would take to fab something like that. I would use existing stuff that is atleast several years old so we all could afford to build it. Anyone feelin' me on this one?

oh no doubt! I would only pay that kind of money FOR A NEW ROLLER, and yea the set up would kill a fortune to... and the return would most likely suck as most die hard trikers who want one new....really dont have the mulla for it, I mean come on we b1tch and moan about paying 1000 for a runnig R!? even myself included... well its nice to dream....pass pass puff.....

[3Wheelers4Life]

i think that we should try to keep as many parts as we can "name brand, honda, yamaha etc." as possible. that way when you go and brake something, you can just go to your local dealer and pick it up, rather then waiting a couple weeks, or months for the fabricator to make another one, it will fit better too.
lawsuit would be a big problem too, we would have to find another way around it and most likely sell to only board members, that the producers can half trust not to sue, we would have to play stupid, "lay low" so the CPSC does not find out, and play by the rule its your own stupid fault if you get hurt.
i dont think we should try to make it a real company and get patents and stuff because then the CPSC will find out and you will be more likely to be sued. but if we dont get patents and stuff, someone else out for the money will take the idea paten it if possible, get sued, then the CPSC will find out, and it will be ruined. what do you guys think?

[SYKO]

exactly!! custom made frame/tripples cr 250 forks, atc clark tank maire shrouds, trx 450 seat and plastic/swinger/axle/brakes blah blah blah

[i58829]

My thought is, these are all good points, but why can't we simply make a few tubes that line up perfectly on a modern 4 wheeler frame, weld/reinforce this around the motor area (top and bottom) and use a 350x or 200x style stem and then the whole front fork assy. The bars and all of the wiring would mount right up. The only tricky part would be doing the trig right to make sure you had a safe and user friendly stem angle. There are tons of part for these, and people weld frames every day. I guess one hurdle would be that most, if not all modern atv frames are aluminum...

[ProCarbine2k1]

If I have a place to do the conversion, I think Ill make one happen this winter. Atleast this early in time I will have time to plan/research the donor bike and the amount of work/fabbing it will take to actually make it happen.
If there were teams using bike conversions back in the day with a limited parts supply, just imagine what we could do now. If things go as they should, I would like to use a CR125 RM or KX as a donor. We'll have to see!

[84honda200s]

it sounds like you know whats up man. i say go for it make a "concept" trike. as far as getting sued goes i would think if you are just giving "tips" on how to build it you wouldnt have to worry about it. also make it a 3ww deal. only highly active highly trusted 3ww member can get these "tips" via email when they make a "donation" via money order. the reason for that is no trail like using pay-pal. i think it can be done man. go for it.

[70ATC90]

I think the only people who would purchase them would be guys like us.

[oldsking86]

I think the only people who would purchase them would be guys like us.

Agreed on that statement