RAZOR DXT DRIFT TRIKE UPGRADES AND MODS (Make It Ride Quieter, Smoother and Drift Better)
The RAZOR DXT pedal drift trike is an inexpensive entry into the world of drifting awesomeness. There are a few simple upgrades that make it perform so much better, and solve all the common complaints I see in reviews.
STEP 1. Upgrade the Cheap Plastic Wheels to Pneumatic Rubber Tires with Aluminum Rims
The stock plastic wheels are the worst part of the trike. They are SO LOUD, super hard (don't absorb vibration and shock), they don't drift that well, and they wear out fast and need to be replaced (but with what?). It is possible to slip a 10" PVC pipe over the stock plastic wheels, but only once it has worn down enough for the pipe to fit. And even then, it's hard to get the PVC to stay, because the tire cannot be inflated to grip it. People have screwed the PVC into the tire, but that's not a great solution. The PVC drift sleeve still doesn't solve the noise and vibration issue.
Replacing the wheels with real pneumatic rubber tires and metal rim, like a go-kart tire is the best solution. In fact, that's what RAZOR already uses on their much more expensive DXT Electric Drift Trike, and they can be purchased from RAZOR for about $30 each. Unfortunately, the rubber tire wheel bearings have a larger ID, and the spacing is different than the stock plastic wheels. The stock axle is 12mm in diameter, while the rubber tire wheel bearings have a 15mm ID. An adapter must be used to make the 15mm ID rubber wheel bearings fit on the 12mm pedal drift trike axle.
In addition, a spacer bushing has to be used to adjust the position of the rubber tire wheel on the axle, since the width between bearings is smaller than the stock plastic wheels. The spacer bushing can also help support and strengthen the axle as long last the nut is tightened to the proper torque. The spacer bushing that fits well is a 12mm drill bushing and 36mm long.
The nuts that hold the wheels onto the shaft are locknuts, but after installing and removing them a few times, the locking plastic feature doesn't hold as well, so it's a good idea to use blue Loctite to prevent the nut from loosening. Tighten the nut to 22-25 ft lbs of torque to properly compress the spacers and keep the shaft in tension.
I did notice a small metallic vibration that turned out to be one of the bearings was a bit loose inside the aluminum wheel hub. I added a very thin paper/plastic shim around the OD of the bearing and pressed it into the hub so that it wouldn't be loose, and that fixed the vibration.
The new wheels solved all the problems with the stock wheels, quieter, absorbs vibration and shock, and replaceable drift sleeve, but they still need to have a drift sleeve installed in order to slide the back end around (see STEP 2).
â–¼ WHERE TO BUY DRIFT TRIKES & PARTS:
â–¶ RAZOR DXT Drift Trike (Pedal Powered) - https://amzn.to/3k0I7UT
â–¶ RAZOR DXT ELECTRIC Drift Trike - https://amzn.to/3S2w4mr
â–¶ RAZOR Pneumatic Rubber Wheels - https://razor.com/products/replacement-parts/shop-by-type/wheels-tires-tubes/dxt-electric-rear-wheel-complete/
â–¶ RAZOR Drift Sleeve - https://razor.com/products/replacement-parts/shop-by-product/electric-motorcycle-parts/electric-dxt-16-sleeve/
â–¶ 12MM Drill Bushing, 36mm long - https://www.mcmaster.com/96990A949/
â–¶ 12MM ID, 15MM OD Sleeve Bearing - https://www.mcmaster.com/7119N134/
â–¶ 10" Stainless Steel Pipe - https://www.mcmaster.com/4347K431/
â–¶ 10" PVC Pipe Cut To Width - https://www.ebay.com/itm/225162059209 or https://www.flatoutdrifttrikes.com/parts-accessories/10-pvc-white-replacement-sleeves-set-of-2-free-sticker/
â–¶ Grip Tape for Inside of PVC Pipe - https://www.etsy.com/listing/796018429/grip-tape-strips-for-pvc-sleeves
STEP 2. Add PVC Drift Sleeves To The Upgraded Rubber Inflatable Wheels
Now that the cheap plastic stock wheels have been replaced with nice inflatable rubber wheels, it's time to add the drift sleeves. There are 2 options for this, buy 10" Sch40 PVC pipe (solid, not foam core), or buy the drift sleeves pre-made from RAZOR. 10" Sch40 PVC pipe is very expensive, and usually only available in 10-20ft lengths. Some people sell pre-cut widths online, but it is less expensive to buy the RAZOR drift sleeves that are designed to fit these wheels. The RAZOR drift sleeve has a ridge on the center of the ID that is designed to match the groove in the center of the tire. The sleeve is slipped over the deflated tire until the groove/ridge is lined up, and then when it is inflated, the groove/ridge locks the sleeve onto the tire so that it doesn't slip off. This system is simple and it works great.
The RAZOR DXT drift sleeves cost about $15 each (cheaper than comparable precut 10" PVC pipe), and they are so slippery, even on the very rough pavement we ride on.
Watch the video above to see how much smoother, quiter and more awesome these drift sleeves are vs the stock plastic wheels.
STEP 3. Replace the Front Brakes
The stock brakes are cheap, so cheap that mine broke while adjusting them during assembly. The plastic piece that holds the tensioner spring at the post broke and rendered the brakes useless. Fortunately, I had a pair of very old (vintage) Shimano XTR V brakes that fit perfectly and were far easier to adjust. The stock brakes were a total pain to adjust even before they broke. The Koolstop brake pads that are on the XTR v brakes stop very well, but the rim appears to be uneven, so the brakes grab and release which is annoying. I will try to true the wheel, but I think that the rim may have wider and narrower areas, because the brake lever pulses. The only way to fix that is to put it on a truing stand and start bending the rim flanges to make adjustments.
