Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 15.5" Brooklands Steering Wheel?

i know the brooklands wheel that is offered up by MMC is a 14" wheel but i was wondering if anyone has tried putting the 15.5" wheel that John Kimble makes on the trike. I know it will fit but i was just wondering aesthetically how it looks.

The Mike Lempert wheel on my 2013 (that i sold) was a 15.5" and I really enjoyed the size and period feel and I'm wondering how a 15.5" brooklands would look on the 2014 creation that is currently getting built.

for some reason the 14" just looks a tad small too me and has me pondering a 15.5" but would really like to avoid getting on either shipped to me in the states or sent to the factory only to see it on the trike and not like it and have to go from there.

Thoughts?

Blake

Quite a few of the pre-war trikes had Brooklands wheels. They were of course the 17-inch wheels. Thicker drivers had trouble getting into the cockpit and several of these wheels had an arc cut from the bottom to allow the driver to slide in more easily.

If you can fit under a 15.5" wheel you should go for it. I use Brooklands wheels (17")for my Plus 4s, except for autocrossing, when I bolt on a 14" Astari wheel from a Plus 8.

For me the biggest problem with the Brooklands wheel is that the plastic rim is too skinny and hard. Fortunately there is a company in California (Wheelskins) that makes handsome leather wheel covers to fit this wheel. I also wear driving gloves (or bicycle gloves in hot weather) and the combination gives the Brooklands wheel the right look and feel.

that's great news. while i agree that a wood brooklands/something a bit thicker would be nice i do love the overall look of the brooklands wheel and i think at 15.5" it will really be a nice addition

B

Slightly off topic, but I bought a second-hand Brooklands wheel on eBay and then had a boss made from my own drawings.
Pictures attached (if I can figure it out)

Neat work Jethro!!

Blake - make sure that the 15.5" wheel clears the side of the cockpit - with your hand - it would be v close to catching and that would make for difficult driving.

That was my thought too - but Blake said that his Mike Lempert wheel was already 15.5 so I guess he knows he can manage.

I already have the issue with my "standard" 14" (I guess?) Brooklands.

Any more hints on this mysterious creation Blake?

Vspec, what issue do you have with your brooklands?

Whilst the larger wheel looks great, in a period sort of way, I find even the standard wheel makes driving harder. I use an 11" Motolita wheel, which I find perfect for feel and in use, it also makes getting in and out far easier, with no need to remove it, and give me better 'feel'. I am running the Empire kit, which makes the steering lighter and does away with all the bump steer and camber change, and maybe some, without the improvements, may need the leverage of the bigger wheel.

I just find it a bit tight with the side of the cockpit - not enough space for my hand. It wasn't an issue until I had the "comfort" pack fitted, but since then I seem to use slightly more lock on corners (which shouldn't be the case, but it is)