Utah Trikes Article - Utah Trikes

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Sitemap Utah Trikes - Two Custom Quads
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Here you'll find some pictures (in random order) of a couple of Quads we recently built. One of the Quads features a new rear end we've been working on with dual rear brakes, while the other features a gas engine as a true pedal hybrid vehicle.

To configure your custom Quad check out our Quad Customizer.

Rear Brakes
Our newest custom option includes rear brakes. Instead of having the brake rotor mount on the wheel hub itself it is a part of the drive axle. This makes swapping or removing the rear wheel a cinch.

Dual Drive Posi Traction Axle
Our HP positraction axle system can be driven from either side depending on which transmission you are using.

Keeping the drive chain tight
There's not a lot of room to fit the transmission back there since we are adapting our system to work with the TerraTrike's original design. Some hubs (like the Nuvinci shown) require the driving sprocket be on the left side. In this case we use a tensioning bolt to keep the drive chain tight and prevent the transmission from sliding.

Tight clearance
The Nuvinci has unique positioning needs because it is so large and also due to its shifting mechanism. This causes the chain clearance to be tight with our rear axle housing support bar. We are able to adjust the axle tilt to prevent any rubbing.

Kill the motor
For the engine kits we needed a good place to mount the kill switch. We thought the steering pivot support would work perfect. We were right.

Keep the engine chain tight
Keeping the chain tight between the engine and the drive sprocket is very critical, so we needed a way to dial it in. We created a custom engine mount that allows the motor to pivot and tighten the chain. Our threaded rod lets us dial it in.

Motor Driven
There's a lot going on here on the drive side of the motor. A freewheel on the motor's gear reduction box lets the rider pedal without the engine running, while the freewheel on the hub lets the engine run without the pedals spinning.

Custom Motor Mount
We created a custom mount the fully supports and precisely positions the Staton gear reduction box and drive sprocket.

Nuvinci mounts
Because of the size of the Nuvinci and the way its shifter mechanism works we've created a custom mount that raises the transmission up and gives us the clearance needed for the drive sprockets.

Nuvinci drive sprocket
Whenever possible we like to keep things as simple as they can be. On transmission with a standard disk brake rotor mount we adapt a sprocket to fit. Makes it easy to play with gear ratios and doesn't require any welding to the transmission.

Nuvinci Shifter Mech
The Nuvinci system uses a push-pull double pulley shifter mechanism.

Nuvinci Transmission
The Nuvinci transmission seems to have grabbed peoples attention. It is alone in the small power CVT category. Great gear range too. The only downside is that it's big and kind of heavy.

Naked Rear
I know that most people want the Quad because you can carry a bunch of stuff in it's basket, but there is something really cool looking about the bare rear.

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Share your comments below:
Great Work Guys, now for some videos to show it in action...
Posted by Andy
12/26/2008 11:57:33 AM

We're working on it!
Posted by Ashley

Have you thought of making a kit to convert an Easy Sport AX into a delta trike with the rear brake option?
Posted by Maynard
03/02/2009 05:42:47 AM

We offer our Quad Conversion kits which could be bolted on many bikes for a trike conversion. See our catalog page for details.
Posted by Ashley

Do you have any sprocket for the disc brake mount.
Posted by Anonymous
04/09/2009 06:10:41 PM

We have sprockets that will bolt on to a 6-hole disc brake mount.
Posted by Ashley

How fast does this quad go?
Posted by Anonymous
05/30/2009 01:21:47 PM

It really depends on the gearing.
If you are looking for speed though, a trike will be faster. The Quad is designed to be more of a utility vehicle.
Posted by Ashley

This almost gets to the point of "just because you can doesn't mean you should". Seems to me that a gas powered golf cart thingy would be cheaper and less of an engineering marvel. I think we're losing sight of the concept of a Human Powered Vehicle here. Just my opinion of course....
Posted by momule
09/27/2009 02:06:39 PM

Th primary purpose here though is pedal power, with the engine acting as an assist.
Posted by Ashley

How much faster is a trike, or more importantly, how much slower is a quad? Would a tandem trike benefit from the extra stability of having two wheels in back and not lose too much speed?
Posted by Leisesturm
10/06/2009 07:01:23 AM

The main reason to put two wheels on the back is to increase the weight capacity.
There is some affect on stability that keeps the wheels on the gorund during a turn, but I would not say that safety is affected at all.
Generally, I would estimate about a 10% reduction in speed on a single person quad or about 5% on a tandem.
This is due to the extra tire on the road and weight.
Posted by Ashley

An 'engineering marvel' is an exciting way to help bring the recumbent trike into the lives of people who so need these trikes to live a quality life...exciting stuff, guys!
Posted by Sharon
05/03/2010 10:40:18 PM

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