Building an Indian Roadmaster Trike

Hi. As you probably know, a trike has three wheels. It combines aspects of a motorcycle and a car. The builds I am discussing here are registered in Japan in the motorcycle with sidecar category, with the Japanese licensing and parking requirements that go with that registration. Overseas registration and licence requirements need to be checked separately.

We are building an Indian Roadmaster trike. I received training at California Sidecar in Virginia two years ago, but there are things I have forgotten. Compared with the Gold Wing, there is more work to do on the wiring. I am studying the diagrams and matching each wire's colour to its function.

There are quite a few wires. This is a job for the manual, not guesswork or memory. We are fitting the reverse option too. Cutting a wire connected to the engine control module makes you nervous the first time. Once you understand the procedure and have done it, you gain confidence.

Taking the original motorcycle apart helps you understand how it is built. It was the same with my first Gold Wing conversion. Experience makes a difference, and I enjoy learning how a new system works, including the wiring.

The battery has had rather too much use during this work, so I have ordered a new one. Last month's braking test was cancelled because of rain. We are trying again at the end of this month, and I hope the weather cooperates. I keep checking the forecast.

See you.