How do trikes handle?

[StreetCowboy]

There was a chap selling a trike on another thread, and I thought - I wonder how a trike would handle going down Semantan at 60 kph in the traffic?  Presumably they've got gearing so that they can go up anything so long as you can keep traction on the rear wheels and can keep the front wheel down.

 

Is there a rear differential of some sort?

 

SC

[BB1958]

They handle well (In general), My (Thai) wife has our personal record of 72kph downhill - but, being so low to the ground, it can be fear inducing.

 

Together we cycled the world (about three years) - and our own setup was a "Schlumpf" front chainring and a "Rohloff" hub on the rear could climb anything, with ease and we pulled a 40kg trailer.

 

Don't know which trikes you have seen, but "Tadpole design is the most common, some "Delta" trikes have a "dif" of sorts.

 

[StreetCowboy]

The one I saw was an upright 2 at the back 1 at the front.  

[BB1958]

http://www.greenspeed.com.au/anura.html Should answer some of your questions

[rebo]

Riding a trike is quite similar to a motorcycle with sidecar, meaning going through a curve rider's position will remain upwards pushing the bike mainly with the arms in the opposite direction intended to go.
Needs some hours of practice before joining "real traffic" ...

[StreetCowboy]

2 minutes ago, rebo said:

Riding a trike is quite similar to a motorcycle with sidecar, meaning going through a curve rider's position will remain upwards pushing the bike mainly with the arms in the opposite direction intended to go.
Needs some hours of practice before joining "real traffic" ...

Sounds like "some hours of wearing leathers"  until you learn the hard way....

[ChristianBlessing]

On 10/7/2018 at 9:04 PM, rebo said:

Riding a trike is quite similar to a motorcycle with sidecar, meaning going through a curve rider's position will remain upwards pushing the bike mainly with the arms in the opposite direction intended to go.
Needs some hours of practice before joining "real traffic" ...

One does not counter-steer a trike like a motorcycle. That only applies to single-track vehicles which must lean into a turn, especially at speed, to avoid inertia forcing the bike into a straight line. A trike rider really cannot lean, hence he must apply direct steering.

 

I have two trikes and experienced no learning curve. The biggest concern in riding in traffic is that, depending on the model, you are likely very low to the road surface, which can be disconcerting. All in all, trikes are a hoot, leather is optional ????

Edited October 9, 2018 by ChristianBlessing