OK guys - had to do it. I have always LOVED the other 450 trikes - from Jason's first one to the evolution to his latest master piece. From Derrick's to Black Sheeps , 250R Fans- and Virgils and Crazy Flights. I am obsessed with the concept.
Here is my build. My cousin Snake is to be thanked for help in this project - he has done more in this build than I have - he has a pretty skilled hand in welding and fabricating - as well as having the right tools - like a porta-band - and a plasma cutter.
I'll keep the intro short. The motivation and reasoning behind this project can be seen at any given OTC race. It seems the 450 powered 4 stroke conversions eat up the 250cc 2-stroke trikes of the mid 1980s. Albeit - I love those machines - I feel that if I want to be competitive in the OTC race series - I must be on a 450. As it stands, Jason Hall, Derrick Adams, and Bill Casey are the only other guys in the circuit running them currently. I have gave up on the ATC500 project and will pass the power onto Max sometime in the future for hill climbing adventures beyond belief.
STAGE 1
The Cut. (November 29, 2008)
Here is the candidate. A 2004 Honda TRX450R. It is a bit ragged out but not a bad start considering what it is. In Stage 1, I cut the front of the quad off. This may look familiar to someone out there
And now - the cut - the Snake.....................................
The Graft (December 4, 2008)
Trying yet a 3rd approach to this conversion, we grafting on the bottom 1/2 of the engine cradle, steering neck and down tube from an ATC250R - to the existing quad frame. The other 2 successful conversions were A) use a bike frame, and B) custom build the 250R parts I will be using. Derrick Adams approach also worked by using a larger cradled Tri-Z frame. By using the ATC250R front section of frame - I will be able to use the ATC250R triples, forks, and whole front end as at this point I am only starting to utilize it's full potential on a race track. We built the top frame spurs from the steering neck to the existing quad dual split backbone. - I will need to lower the stock foot peg position to make this trike comfortable for me.
Today - 12/4/08 - My CRF tank arrived in the mail. Snake and I completed the graft this evening. First we bent the bottom ATC frame cradle about 1.5" out on each side to meet up with the TRX frame as the ATC frame rails were 5 inches center to center - and the TRX is 8 inches center to center. Then we took some final measurements. We then inserted 3/4" round stock steel slugs into the joints for strength and fit. Upon final welding the frame - it will get a 3/16" skid plate welded to the bottom of the frame - not for protection so much as for frame strength.
Next was the twin spur top sections. We used 1" X 2" 3/16 rectangle tubing for this piece. We also slugged these joints. Some leveling and measuring and we were right where we needed to be.
I worked all week on getting the rake where it should be as well as ride height (ground clearance) - seat height - and wheel base. As you will see in the pictures below - this TRX/ATC is dang near exactly the same everything dimensionally as a 1986 ATC250R. Same seat height - wheel base (close) same rake (a degree or two less than the 86R actually). They really are close. What really came out great was rider position. As I already mentioned - the pegs need lowered - but other than that - this thing fits me like a glove. From the seat - the bars are a perfect distance for me - about 2 or 3 inches longer reach than the R. On my R I feel so cramped - sitting on this - it feels like it actually fits me.
For pictures below - I have it on my old 84R front end - obviously this is for fitment only and will not be used on the finished product.