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OZBUILT SOFTRIKE
DING BOB TRIKES AUSTRALIA
SOFTAIL TRIKE CONVERSION
With thanks to HEAVY DUTY magazine issue No 3 1992.
In keeping with the name Ozbuilt, we've got an all-Aussie (with a slight ethnic flavour) Softail trike conversion developed by Ding Bob in Perth, Western Australia. It's a simple, quality built unit that works damn well on the road according to our WA correspondent. The Phantom. It's also got the added advantage of being set up for use with the standard Softail belt drive, unlike most conversions which, because of the diffs used, normally require a conversion to chain drive.
| Ding Bob has a long history of modifying
motor vehicles and in his early bike riding days, when not cruising on
his Trumpy, he was playing around with mates' bikes.
Before long he was getting serious, building up full-on radical Easy rider-style chops with the full rigid frame/long front end treatment.
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Right. Harley Davidson Softail. |
"Stock bikes were too boring for me and I had to customize a bike to enjoy it the most", he said.
In 1983 Bob built his first trike - a Moto Guzzi - and since then he has built a total of *** including special models for disabled riders. Now, due to the current tough economic climate (**1992) and the loss of his regular job, Bob had turned to talents to developing his hobby into a full-time earner.
Since the Moto Guzzi trike he has tried and developed various combinations of rear end design, finally settling on the current set-up, which has a lot in common with state-of-the-art race car suspension technology.
| His latest piece of handy work (pictured) is entirely
of his own design, and was built with the idea of ease of installation
and removal. No special installation tools are needed, and the entire
trike conversion can be handled by two people in around a couple of
hours.
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Right. Belt drive. |
Bob's aim is to provide a true bolt-on unit comprising frame, shocks, differential, axles, disc or drum brakes and a selection of fenders and body styles. But the most significant aspect of his kit conversion is that, unlike practically every other Softail kit we've heard of, it doesn't require a chain drive conversion. By developing his own differential and adapting it to belt drive, Bob has been able to maintain the stock Softail belt, along with it's various advantages. It's a major improvement over other kits on the market, according to Bob.
All that's needed to complete the package is wheel and tyre selection, and from Bob's own experience he recommends 265 x 50 x 14 rubber on eight-inch rims (Falcon/Valiant five-stud wheel pattern). He reckons this combination maintains stock Harley drive ratios and offers the best road handling and stability.
**Ding Bob is currently working (1992) with the Perth Road Traffic Authority people to allow him to supply the kit with RTA approval, which would mean a customer would only have to advise the licencing department of his purchase, along with the official supplied approval number. That way, the finished trike wouldn't have to undergo the full treatment, including official inspection and engineering certificates etc, which would otherwise be the norm for a one-off three wheeler.
Bob is confident of getting the official thumbs-up, because he maintains the quality of work is top notch, with all TIG welding up to aircraft standard. Each finished frame is stress-tested and X rayed to make sure al welds are up to scratch.
Bob has designed the kit with panniers in-built, but will consider any combinations requested by each customer.
So far he's had several handicapped customers, and he's only too pleased to modify controls and make any other necessary mods to suit individual disabilities.
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The rear ends used in Bobs conversion are designed and
built in WA from custom machined parts and are totally sealed from the
dust and debris of everyday riding. According to Bob, they can be
easily serviced and will be available in
belt and chain drive versions.
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| Left. Diff for shaft drive. |
The independent rear suspension is a tidy wishbone design using Koni adjustable shockers, and is fully adjustable for toe in/toe out as well as being able to be tuned for individual riding preferences.
Installed price for the ****pictured unit is $ CLICK which includes the frame being powder-coated to the customers choice, all suspension components chromed, diff and drive shafts installed and set, fully adjusted brake system, full fibreglass body finished in paint scheme of the owner's choice and including all latches and locks for the various components. Finishing touches include tail, stop and number plate lights as well as all necessary installation hardware and instructions.
And if you ever come unstuck on your new three-wheeler Bob says replacement parts for the kit are easily obtainable.
We managed to get a brief ride impression of the ***pictured trike and stability in corners with the independent rear end was great, while the suspension handled road bumps without a problem. Donuts and figures of eight are a breeze and with the right tyre choice all round customers should end up with a toy that will give them trouble-free riding for years to come. HD.
This article was written in 1992 and there have been a few modifications since then. MORE
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