Thanks you Mike... that article included the following information:

Brake types

One-channel, one-sensor ABS
This system is commonly found on pickup trucks with rear-wheel ABS. It has one valve, which controls both rear wheels, and one speed sensor, located in the rear axle. This system operates the same as the rear end of a three-channel system. The rear wheels are monitored together and they both have to start to lock up before the ABS kicks in. In this system it is also possible that one of the rear wheels will lock, reducing brake effectiveness. This system is easy to identify. Usually there will be one brake line going through a T-fitting to both rear wheels.

Jon, seems the trike has the one-channel system. Although the sensor is not on the axle, it is on the hub which is connected to the axle with the chain. Not sure if the ratio is 1:1, but it seems so. Both wheels are going to be controlled with the single rotor. I am satisfied now that everything is as it is suppose to be. Thanks for leading me into learning this much about ABS. Now if I can just remember it long enough to get it typed in here.

Thanks Gary. I had always been under the impression that the only advantage of ABS was to not brake the sliding, rather than turning, wheel. If the automobile world thinks that a single sensor for both wheels on an axle is enough, who am I to argue.

I know exactly how you feel about "driving" rather than "riding" the trike. I have learned, in the almost a year of driving one, that I don't miss a single thing from the two wheel, single track, experience. Of course, I have never been a knee dragger.

I think that my experience has shown about a 10% to 15% penalty at the gas pump. It is to be expected with a 60% or so increase in frontal area with no corresponding aerodynamic changes.

You owe it to yourself to become a regular contributor on the trike forum http://www.triketalk.com/forum/
Trinity has their own sub-forum.

All the best,

Jon

That's interesting - so did I.
However, thinking about it, if the system worked by detecting the 'locked' wheel rather than the 'faster' wheel', it would release the brake once and then have to wait until the wheel locked again.
As it is it keeps applying and releasing the brake on the wheel while it's still rotating more slowly than the other.......I think!

All right.... MORE pictures of Bettie in the early Rison sunrise hours. I am starting to feel a little guilty. I didn't take this many pictures of my first born.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103059996902834582977/UltraWing#

Made the first out of town drive this morning. Drove about 65 or 70 miles. Have a great time showing off the only UltraWing in Rison, OOPPS I mean in almost the whole world. I know there were two others before mine, but they don't count. They were non ABS... Cool morning air kept me from busting with excitement. Drove at 55 mph for most of trip. Did get up to 65 for a very short burst while on a strip of I530. Not that I couldn't go faster, just no need. If I had been in a hurry, I would have taken the car. Getting to know my trike is a time for casual conversation and inter-reacting with controls. No surprises. Handling becoming more familiar with each mile and curve I drive. I got 41.6 miles on the first marker. That is about what I expected. I can live with that. The wind was pretty brisk. Not sure how much wind was tail and head winds. Will have to get off this thing for a day or two to do a little work. Not happy about that, but it is necessary.

Did compare GPS to indicated... GPS was about 1 or 2 mph faster than indicated in the 40 to 60 mph range. I am not sure, but I believe that is the opposite of what it was with the two wheels. The indicated was higher than the GPS. Anyone else have experience with this.

Gary, she looks great! Of course, once you mentioned Dennis was coming to assist with the conversion, I never had another doubt. I admire your patience and perseverence, and I'm thrilled you are so happy with the results. If I were you, I would consider a couple of future mods. First, I would try to find a "darkside" front tire to abate the potential for understeer if you came up on a corner a little too fast. And second, from the pictures it looks like the large, drilled brackets are pretty low to the ground -- have you considered screwing on some sacrificial strips to the underside? Perhaps Dennis or someone else on the forum could help you source some hard polyurethane for some added protection. Sure would be a shame to bottom out and scar things up... or maybe the clearance is better than it looks?

And to joncallihan -- I'm glad you decided to stick around. The forum is better with you participating. Gary has more patience than either you or I, that's certain...

Jon,

What Bill just said... we are glad you decided to come back. The site isn't the same without you.

Thanks to all of you. Bill said it right -- maybe I just lost my patience (which all, who know me well, says is my best feature) ! JeffR, (and everyone else, for that matter) my daughter gave me a t-shirt many years ago that all who saw it said it described me very well:

"I'm not opinionated, I'm just always right"

Bill, I think that ground clearance will not be a problem as long as Gary doesn't go trail riding on it. The stock spring/shock units just don't have that much travel.

If I could find one, I would have already fitted a dark side tire to the front. Maybe one of us can.

There is a lot of chatter on the Trike Talk forum about using motorcycle REAR tires, running backwards. The only problem seems to be the tires are just not up to the side loads placed on them.

Hey Jon, Someone gave me a T-shirt that said "Everyone is entitled to my own opinion". I'd given my dad a cup with the same motto. Maybe my grandson will break the chain, but that's just my opinion. .

Gary,
There is one more farkle that could help the Ultra look like a REAL BAD A$$ trike --

http://www.burgmantrikes.com/Gallery/tabid/55/Default.aspx

then click on Wayne Langlille Seatec button (lower right)

of course, that's only my humble opinion.

Jon

ps. If I remember right, Bob already said good things about this product.

Yeah that is more than a farkle. That is a FARKLE !!!! I will have to save my nickels for that one. Does look sharp. I am having to train myself to be careful not to bang up the finders I have now. I would need a lot of duct tape if I bought the Seatec.

Ya know, there's enough room in that for a volkswagen/porche engine in the back instead of that center wheel setup...pull out the original engine, move the engine weight to directly over the back wheels, use a front wheel drive car axle.... turn the old engine area into a giant gas tank...

Just thinking out loud....

Dan,
You been readin' my mind out loud.

Jon

Gary,
Just make sure that you act like a cat. Imagine a couple of really long whiskers on the front -- if they won't go unbent where you want to go, then don't go there. It works for me, anyway.

Dave... yes it is a true conversion kit that removes your present rear wheel and replaces it with two axles and a differential giving you two drive wheels on the rear and the original front. There are many trike companies that will trike out just about anything from a VW to a Ferrari. There are other companies that manufacture kits that add two extra wheels to the rear that are non powered wheels and give you an actual four wheeler. Many riders prefer that arrangement. Trinity is the only company that manufactures a kit specifically for the Silverwing. The kit allows you to do the conversion yourself or get help. It has been a long time getting here and still has a few tweaks to get to the perfection point. BUT it is a reality and I have been getting used to mine for the past few weeks. I love it more each time I turn the key and give it the gas. I just finished wiring the admore lights for the top box, adjusting the parking brake and bleeding the linked brakes. My wife and I went on a short half day trip today to practice for our scheduled trip next month. Todays trip was only 200 miles, next month will be over 2K. Good practice. Trike performed perfectly.

I added a few more pictures of todays trip. I have a hard time remembering to take the pictures when I am enjoying the riding so much.

Hey Gary, The Scooter looks GREAT!! Looks like you both had a fun time that day. Just wish that Bucks would have been open for ya. YUM-YUM GOOD FOOD!

Hey Gary,

Great pictures. Debbie has the same color helmet as I do. Cab Yellow. I also have a hi-viz yellow jacket. We must think alike. We want to be seen.

Nice pics. It looks like you are having no problems enjoying yourself.