Disk brake conversion on a Trimuter Trike

[Jonathan Kaplan]

Trimuter owners out there, be careful! You don't realize that your trimuter is not as Greenspeed
like as you think until you try to use some Greenspeed parts on the Trimuter.

Here are your options if you want to convert to disk brakes:

(1) Forget Wicks, they are vehemently anti-disk.

(2) Call Bill Doyle at Doyle Custom recumbents. He has some prototype kingpins which take universal
mechanical disks. He said that he can outfit an entire conversion package.

http://www.doylecustombikes.com/aboutus.html

(3) Try to install the hope brake Greenspeed Conversion kit. Here is what will be needed:

A. The kit which includes the GS kingpins and the hope brakes, along with the new wheels/hubs
and rotors.

B. New mirror mounts (the trimuter mounts have different threading than the GS kingpins. I had to
purchase the GS mirror mounts)

C. GS tierods. The threading on the bolts for the trimuter are different than the GS kingpins.

D. The kingpin tubes have to be shortened from 3 1/4" to 3"

E. About six hours labor. (that's what they charged me at my local bike shop)

F. Some of the powder coating needed to be thinned on the kingpins in order to allow the caliper
enough clearance.

It is apparent that the GS uses fine threading and different diameter bolts. I was told by Ian Simms
that the GS sport used the 1/4" tie rod bolts vs. the 5/16" on the GTO and GTR. The trimuter 1/4"
did not fit my Kingpins with the 5/16". Even if I had the proper 1/4" kingpin, there is no guarantee
that the threading would be compatible.

My thanks to both Bill Doyle and Ian Simms. Both gentleman were very helpful in trying to figure out
the best solution to my problems. In the end, I opted for the GS parts because I was already "knee
deep" in GS with the kingpins, wheels, and rotors and decided that I would go fully GS for the front
end on my trimuter.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably opt for the Trimuter parts. In the long run it would cost me
less. On the otherhand, my Trimuter is now fully GS on the front end, and has really nice disk
brakes and kingpins. The choice is up to you.

 

[bentcruiser]

Originally posted by Jonathan Kaplan
Trimuter owners out there, be careful! You don't realize that your trimuter is not as Greenspeed like as you think until you try to use some Greenspeed parts on the Trimuter.

Here are your options if you want to convert to disk brakes:

(1) Forget Wicks, they are vehemently anti-disk.

Forgive my stupidity here, but are disc a lot better than drums? I have never used either.

 

[Jonathan Kaplan]

Most trikes now come equipped with either mechanical or hydraulic disks. The hydraulic disks work on
the same principle as motorcycle or car brakes. A fluid (either mineral oil or DOT brake fluid is
compressed my a master cylinder on the grip, which in turn works a cylinder by the wheels).

I had drum brakes (which look like miniature car drum brakes) on the trike originally. These were
very spongy, and did not stop very well on hills.

Most people swear by disks for their wet weather and down hill performance. Mechanical disks have
lowered the price considerably. The mechanical disks use conventional cables and levers to work a
caliper that also rubs a rotor.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably pass on the disks and live with the drums.

Most people only order the trikes with the disks. They are standard equipment on the Wizwheelz Terra
Trike and the Catrike Speed. They are a $450 option on Greenspeed.

 

[bentcruiser]

Originally posted by Jonathan Kaplan
(1) Forget Wicks, they are vehemently anti-disk.

This is not actually true. Jerome at Wicks told me yesterday that they have an Avid Mechanical Disk option.