T-Bolt questions

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago I got an EZ-3 trike for my wife to ride and she loves it. Problem ? is that now
*I've* gotten bitten by the big bad bent bug and I'm seriously considering a Ligntning Thunderbolt
A-10 for my first bent.

As a Lightning P-38 owner I think I can address your questions since I have a bike with the same
frame geometry.

Quoted message said:

I have a few questions for anyone who has experience with:

1) The Zzipper fairing- Is it worth getting? Does it get in the way of your knees?

If you are considering the fairing that covers the hands only, it will only be marginal in reducing
drag. A full front fairing while better, does not show any significant speed improvement. Others
have said that a tailbox on a SWB gives more aerodynamic benefit that a full front fairing Most of
the drag encountered on a bent is in the air turbulence behind the bike and that generated by the
feet spinning the cranks.

My recommendation is to skip the fairing and spend the money on better brakes.

Quoted message said:

2) The quick size kit- Is it worth getting? Any problems with the quick-release feature on the
boom? Any trouble with the slack take-up idler mechanism?

Unless you have very many riders of different leg lengths, a 'quick-size kit' is not necessary. I
question the efficiency of the chain when another bend is added to the chain line. I have owned my
Lightning for three years. In that time I have been the only rider.

The Q/R on the boom needs to be very secure. This is not a problem. I find that marking the boom so
that when it is removed is necessary to replicate/position the exact boom length each time the boom
is removed.
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

"Cletus Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden] al.NET...

Quoted message said:

In article

<[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago I got an EZ-3 trike for

my wife to ride and she loves it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Problem ? is that now *I've* gotten

bitten by the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

big bad bent bug and I'm seriously

considering a Ligntning

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thunderbolt A-10 for my first bent.

As a Lightning P-38 owner I think I can

address your questions since I have a bike with the

Quoted message said:

same frame geometry.

Quoted message said:

I have a few questions for anyone who has

experience with:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1) The Zzipper fairing- Is it worth

getting? Does it get in the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

way of your knees?

If you are considering the fairing that

covers the hands only, it will only be marginal in

Quoted message said:

reducing drag. A full front fairing while

better, does not show any significant speed

Quoted message said:

improvement. Others have said that a

tailbox on a SWB gives more aerodynamic benefit that a

Quoted message said:

full front fairing Most of the drag

encountered on a bent is in the air turbulence behind the

Quoted message said:

bike and that generated by the feet

spinning the cranks.

Quoted message said:

My recommendation is to skip the fairing

and spend the money on better brakes.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2) The quick size kit- Is it worth

getting? Any problems with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the quick-release feature on the

boom? Any trouble with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the slack take-up idler mechanism?

Unless you have very many riders of

different leg lengths, a 'quick-size kit' is not necessary.

Quoted message said:

I question the efficiency of the chain when

another bend is added to the chain line. I have

Quoted message said:

owned my Lightning for three years. In that

time I have been the only rider.

Quoted message said:

The Q/R on the boom needs to be very

secure. This is not a problem. I find that marking the

Quoted message said:

boom so that when it is removed is

necessary to replicate/position the exact boom length each

Quoted message said:

time the boom is removed.
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

Thanks--You just saved me some $$

Jerry

Jerry, I've owned a T-Bolt A-10 since last Nov. I concur with Cletus on the two points you asked.
While your dialing in the boom extension, you may have to add or remove a few chain links to get
right chain tension. With the extra chain tensioner you could avoid this, but the tensioner just
adds more drap to the chain drive. Good luck, Ron

Thanks for the input.

I just ordered a T-bolt A-10 sans fairing or quick adjust kit. It should arrive in a week or two. My
LBS said they would do final adjustments or even the entire assembly if I have any problem doing it
myself. Nobody within 80 miles of here has a Lightning dealership ( NW Ohio, land of wind & rain).

I'll let the group know how things turn out.

Jerry