There are many different styles of trike on the market today that I hope to clarify some of the differences here and focus on the motorcycle based version that can be converted into a chopper style. That is the three wheeled vehicle in case you were wondering. Some conversions have three wheels at the back and one wheel at the front which adds to the confusion. How can this really be classified as a trike if there are four wheels in total use? Not to say that there is anything wrong with this type of transport if that style is to your liking.
A true motorcycle based version (and there are some that are based on cars, but that is a different subject entirely) utilize the frame, engine and other components of the motorcycle that the design is based upon. The front is essentially a motorcycle in style with the rear converted to accept two wheels and has independent suspension per wheel. These are some of the most stable conversions on the road and a lot of technical advancements have been implemented into the current designs. Improved stability and handling means greater safety on public roads and some of the newer designs have incorporated a reverse gear for better maneuverability and improved control generally.
Once the basic design has been finalized and the rear conversion from the single wheel into a two wheeled back end has been achieved, it is time to consider the front end. If you are just using standard motorcycle forks at the front you are missing out big time on style. The front end can be raked out professionally without the need to cut, weld or alter the neck of the frame. A bolt on front end chopper kit is now available that will provide a nine degree, fourteen degree or even eighteen degree rake and safe handling all the way up to top speed. There are some differences though between a motorcycle and a trike chopper kit. The fourteen degree kits reduce the trail by two inches and the triple trees on all the trike kits are deeper than those used for the motorcycle. The prices are the same for the motorcycle or trike and you do need to specify the model that the kit is going to be manufactured for. Apart from that, it is fairly straightforward to make the conversion into a laid back chopper that is so much cooler with the added style of the raked out front end. The chopper look can only compliment the overall style of the conversion.
There are also a large number of professional builders producing some truly fantastic designs and providing service facilities for their production models that the modern day enthusiast is not alone. And if that is not enough, there are also a good number of clubs for the rider to join, with meetings and events being held on a regular basis.
