DIY Recumbent trike

[@andrebartels1690]

A little tip for those who plan to build one themselves: One-sided wheels with drum brakes are sometimes found on wheelchairs. A friendly visit to the janitor in a home for elderly can help to find one of these which isn't used by the former owner anymore. Sometimes the relatives of passed away inhabitants don't care about the wheelchair and leave it for good. I think it's a good thing to reuse them instead of throwing them into trash. At least this is how I got mine.

[@liegeradontour1901]

Absolutely great, that a self built recumbent trike works as good as this one! Congrats, to you and also the ones who made the plans!

[@AirandSea]

Nice Job! I built the same one several years ago and it's still going strong. Suspension would be nice but it helps a lot if I just reduce the tire pressure somewhat. I thought about replacing the tires and rims with Fat Tires but the rear frame isn't wide enough to accommodate a fat tire. Mine weighs 50 pounds which is about 10 pounds heavier than most factory built trikes but I don't even notice the weight unless you're climbing a steep hill. They sure are fun to ride!

[@nhannguyen-sr9vh]

very nice build! yellow paint job good for visibility too.

[@yetersizbakiye8164]

Hey heikki you my brother..very nice project, nice music, thanks

[@GreyWolfeOutdoors]

Nice job building the trike!!!

[@Hemppa]

Thanks!

[@velodanc]

Спасибо. 1:20 Теперь понял ухо надо варить под прямым углом к тяге.

[@cabaneencac5168]

I hope for your comfort that you have improved your seat since.

[@dandeangeli9860]

Looks great Heikki. I am curious which of the AZ plans you started with...Great job.

[@Hemppa]

I think it was the warrior

[@dogcreek-customs5168]

My question is how did you get the frame straight when welding on the steering shafts for the back wheels?

[@robertmiller2629]

This looks like it would be fun to use and ride I am wondering how much it weighs also i can just imagine mounting both a gas engine for a bike along with a high tork mid drive electric motor on it for pedal assist to pull a trailor for hunting along with fat tires go traveling also what is the weight it will hold/carry?

[@bub1683]

Hyvä päivää, tell us more about good BMX wheels 20mm , please

[@dimitristripakis7364]

This is really good job. Can I ask a question please = did you buy the front wheel hubs or make them yourself ? This is not a "normal" bicycle wheel, because it does not have a fork.

[@Hemppa]

Some bmx bikes have 20" wheels with 20mm axel hole. My wheels were custom made and they were quite expencive.

[@La.máquina.de.los.sueños]

A cheap solution is to get BMX wheels (I bought a second hand BMX for 20$ in a flee market), and change their hubs (local bike shops) to get disk brakes (cheaper online) and 12 to even 20 mm axels (depends where you'll ride it). Also, some wheels are sold online from most recumbent retailers/producers, or on E-bay/Alibaba... but expect to pay A LOT for these.

[@josemanuelorgueiramartinez2849]

Hello, could you give me some advice to cut the arms to leave them more or less like you, I am cutting little by little but I think I need to know how to cut them and how far from the center of the tube they can be left, I would appreciate it if you could answer me, thank you and a I greet you, you've been left with a vice

[@benkramer3194]

Is that a Vespa Rally 200 in the corner ?!

[@Hemppa]

Yes it is. Model 1976.

[@benkramer3194]

Nice, my favourite model. My daily ride is a p200e, but have a sprint and a super as well.

[@sebastianrangel9508]

Where did you get the front wheels from????

[@Hemppa]

I ordeder rims and hubs separetly from ebay

[@desireerudolph5992]

very nicely done. curious did you build it using steel or aluminum for the frame?

[@Hemppa]

Thanks, It has Steel frame.

[@bub1683]

@@Hemppa any special specification on the steel?

[@Hemppa]

No, I just bought normal steel tube from hardware store.

[@paulo-colecoesdiversoes5339]

Hello, I'm from Maranhão-Brazil. I liked the tricycle !! Did you do it yourself? Can you make the project available with the measures? I also intend to make one at home. Thanks !!!

[@Hemppa]

You can buy the building instructions from atomiczombie.com really cheap. I highly recommed those plans.

[@HeWrd-fg8gg]

Fascinating ! Is it much more heavy than a commercial trike?

[@Hemppa]

I dont have any experience of commersial trikes but I think it is heavier.

[@Mrflashlite]

Great build. I am going to order the atomiczombie plans for their tadpole trike. My question is what do they use for front wheels and how large are the spindles. Can you buy the front wheels already made or did you have to make them.

[@Hemppa]

I bought rims, spokes and axels separetly but afterwards I heard that some bmx bikes have wheels with 20mm axel. I recommed to find those ready made wheels bacause my wheels were the most expensive part of the bike.

[@Mrflashlite]

@@Hemppa Thanks

[@bub1683]

@@Hemppa so inspiring. will look for wheels. HYvä paivää Sweden

[@Hemppa]

Finland

[@bub1683]

@@Hemppa ;) A question, im not a velder, dont know how to. will i fix this project with a cheap welder and some practice ?

[@jamesmchugo9422]

Nice job. 👍 So, what was your final weight and cost?

[@Hemppa]

Its been few years since I built it, but rough estimate is about 500-700€ and 25-30kg

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Great build Cheers

[@josemanuelorgueiramartinez2849]

Hello, I saw your video of the recumbent bicycle and I bought the atomic zombie plans but I do not know the diameters of the tubes or the kind of tube in them, which is for example if it is made or aluminum and the diameter of the tubes either It is specified, it would be a lot to ask you to tell me the diameter of the fork tubes and those of the rest of the bike so that I can start assembling one, as I said, I only understand the length of the tubes and how they are placed but the diameter and the kind of iron that is not coming or I have not seen it, thanks in advance a greeting.

[@Hemppa]

If you mean the front steering tubes it depends of the bike you take the tube from. The main tube is 4cm x 4cm and 1,5mm thick. All are steel tubes. I am happy to help if you further questions.

[@josemanuelorgueiramartinez2849]

So the whole bike is built with a 4 cm x 4 cm tube and with a tube thickness of 1.5 mm, is it correct?

[@Hemppa]

If I remember correctly

[@josemanuelorgueiramartinez2849]

I don't know if it is well translated by Google because I speak almost nothing English and write it little, I thank you for answering me so quickly because I want to start my prollect and I did not know how to buy the irons, the truth is that when you see the video the tube seems larger in diameter haha, you have a luxury trike you have nothing to envy to a purchased one that is worth € 2000 or more

[@josemanuelorgueiramartinez2849]

With this information I have to start the project, I would like to know if I could ask you for some more advice as I move forward if it is not annoying of course

[@TheOnlyKingBee]

I want to make a little paintball tank based of a trike because I have a friend that can't run much due to his health so yeah that's how I want to include him

[@rendel5024]

What did you do for the front axles?

[@Hemppa]

There is 20mm bolts as axles if that is what you mean?

[@rendel5024]

@@Hemppa yeah almost. Is it a standard off the shelf bolt, or is it specific to bicycles? LH / RH threads?

[@Hemppa]

Yes it is standard Bolt Off the shelf. I dont rememember what kind the thred is.

[@redbuck6058]

How fast does it go?

[@Hemppa]

Depends how fast you pedal. I havent done any real mesurments but ruoghly I would say its litle slower than normal bike, but much more fun.

[@sjvche7675]

So no drawings, plans, parts lists? Too bad, a shame.

[@ikhtiyarsiregar9673]

How about the speed?

[@Hemppa]

It is not as fast as normal bike, but its more comfortable so long distances are easier to pedal.

[@ikhtiyarsiregar9673]

How much you've spent for this project?

[@Hemppa]

I bought old mtb and front tires, thye were 250€ and Steel was maybe 50€. Alrogether aroud 400€. Front tires were expensive.

[@charliethewanderer6872]

@@Hemppa It is not the building plans, but the complete parts list and where to buy the parts.

[@andrebartels1690]

Very nice machine 👌

[@PabloDeLafuria]

how much it weights?

[@Hemppa]

I have not measured the weight but my ques would be around 25kg

[@유승용svjaos]

도면이 필요 해요

[@recharge4708]

what was the cost and what metal was used for this?

[@Hemppa]

Front wheels were expensive they were custom made, not nesessary. Alltogether 350 euros, Front wheels were almost 200 euros. Steel was 1,5 mm thick.

[@pmikkonen]

Komee peli!

[@pedroclaro7822]

That Tilting when he braked hard showed how the trike is not safe at high speeds. Plus the pôle behind the head looks dodgy, it really needs a headrest

[@La.máquina.de.los.sueños]

most if not all trikes do that when hitting very hard the brakes (it's called a "back wheelie")... the only exception being the trikes who have their front wheels at the very front end, but these tend to be less stable in tight turns.

[@MongoGamer]

looks like you have to weld to make this sadly :(

[@eczarmy]

A seat belt needed...