not yet happy with trike

[downstream]

I just went from 2 wheels to three this spring. My biggest complaint is that it wears me out to ride this thing. i feel like I have been to the gym for a three hour upper body workout after I have ridden several miles of twisties. Two wheels was much easier. Any adjustments to help this problem?

 

[Rosy]

What's your ride?

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

 

[rhino 2]

I just went from 2 wheels to three this spring. My biggest complaint is that it wears me out to ride this thing. i feel like I have been to the gym for a three hour upper body workout after I have ridden several miles of twisties. Two wheels was much easier. Any adjustments to help this problem?

Don't know if you have Dennis lift kit or not , But i put it on my 11 T/G and it definitely eased the steering effort..ThumbUp

 

[Peter A.]

Time in the saddle is the best cure - taking short trips/rides will get you both more familiar/at ease with your new machine. I too felt that way initially but
now the MORE I ride the MORE I love it! Rode 2 wheels for about 40 years.
:wave4:

 

[msocko3]

Try not to use all arm muscles when your turning, when running along straight stretches of road don't grip the bars real tight, it doesn't take much to keep them going straight. If your getting a lot of pain in the upper back or shoulders you might check your posture and see if your leaning forward to grip the bars, if so you may have to go with a set of bars that comes back towards you more.

 

[Nana]

While many TriGlide owners are totally happy with the rake it comes with, it is a little less than the rake added to most conversions. Some have worked with Bazooka to get a little more rake on the front end, and have found that made the steering easier. You might send him a private message and enquire about recommendations.

 

[eagle1]

10" paul yaffe's "BAGGER BARS' NOT MONKEY BARS fit on the triGlide with out any wireing changes. you do need a 4" over clutch cable and a 12" TBY extension, along with the handle bars. the pipes don't have to come off. just cut off appropiate small end of the allen wrench 1/4" with a cut-off saw
and you can get the screws out. you may not get the screws 100% removed,but there's
room to loosen them completely. then pull them up as you take off the clutch release cover. when installing the new clutch cable in the cover, butter lube the "O" ring with permatex non-hardening sealant. radio is a pain to get out as the factory holes don't align-up wirh the screws. as i did mine ('09) i cut off the appropriate allen wrench about
1" off of the long end & glued that into the appropriate 1'4" drive socket. didn't take long
8 hrs if you've done it before.a bit more if not.
i'm just under 6' tall with a 32 1/2" between the inside of arm pit to the hinge of the wrist
anyway i can easily reach the grips leaning on the back rest
. makes for a comfortable ride.i highly recomend you have this done .

others with a 5" rake say it helps steering too, but i havent done that yet.
maybe others will holler about this upgrade.

 

[John Luciano]

Some place on this forum there is a thread that was put together to help new riders . I can't find it now. Maybe someone knows were it is. One thing you must do is PULL & PUSH. When you come to a corner slow down slightly ( left turn ) PULL with your left hand at the same time PUSH with your right Arm and lock your Elbow. Some find it easy to lean and hug the tank with their knees. And turn up the throttle about 1/2 way through your turn or as soon as you can see through the corner . Another trick is, if you have rider pegs or boards , is put your feet up on them and push with your feet. Do no be afraid to lean , this rig is not going to tip over. If you have not ridden it 500 to 1,000 miles I can understand your feeling.

 

[JJHog]

Check the air pressure in your tires (should be 26#) and also check the air pressure in you shocks. If you are riding solo you can probably run your air shock pressure around 20#. If you are riding 2up then move your shock pressure up to 30-40# depending on how loaded up you are. Some rides have suggested reducing their tire pressure to the low 20's to soften up the ride, which it does, but you also get more tire sidewall roll which is going to make it more difficult to steer the TG.

Coming off of 2 wheels you were use to not having to do much to steer your bike. On the TG it does require upper body work and you are going to use muscles that you normally don't. There is also a "Lift Kit" out there that will also aid in the bikes handling. One is a lift kit only and the other is a combination lift kit along with moving the shock mounting point back a bit with softens up the ride without you trying to do it by reducing tire pressure. Stick with it. The more you ride the more fun the TG is.

 

[scooty]

I have Dennis's lift kit and Harley 2" pull back bars and I have no complaints on steering however neither mod was done to improve steering but I'm sure it helped.

 

[dafoot2]

eagle 1 you happen to have a picture of the bars installed. I'm having a problem with the stockers not being long enough. I'm 6 4 and finding I'm leaning down and forward too much. and it's making for uncomfortable ride. I need something just not sure how much taller. doubt wanna go too high and then deal with that. I had yaffe 12 on my street glide but those would be too high.

 

[donjack]

I hated my 2011 Ultra Trike for the first three months, and almost traded it in. After I got used to it, I now love it to death. Added a set of Tri Glide Stuff from Dennis and found it much easer to steer. Don't know why, but don't care either, just know it helps. Give yourself a break in time and you will change you mind, especially on wet roads , an gravel .

 

[cruderanger]

I have a 2013 tri-glide, and in the beginning it seemed to be a little hard to steer, but now my arms seem to be getting stronger and the bike is turning a lot easier. Plus an added bonus, my wife thinks I'm spending more time in the gym with the results she seeing.

 

[lboos]

I just went from 2 wheels to three this spring. My biggest complaint is that it wears me out to ride this thing. i feel like I have been to the gym for a three hour upper body workout after I have ridden several miles of twisties. Two wheels was much easier. Any adjustments to help this problem?

WOW! sorry to hear you feel like you had a three hour upper body work out after several miles of twisties,... I'm 75 and have never had a problem with my T/G, I also rode two wheelers for many years, I'm guessing your in your early 80's right?.... if not, check your front tire to make sure it is not flat:gah:

 

[John Luciano]

Downstream and others:
Read this section. Read as much as you can.
Everyone had something good to add
This will help you understand the trike
http://www.triketalk.com/forum/general-discussion-5/experienced-trike-riders-please-post-here-242/

 

[slick rick]

At the risk of sounding sarcastic stay away from the twisties as much as possible . I found it is harder in the twisties and I liked 'em as much as anybody . A local trike builder warned me about this when I was thinking about a trike . :gah:
I know it's impossible to stay away from all curves but I don't go looking like I did on two wheels but just the safe feeling I have on this trike makes me forget about riding the dragons tail and other places with kiss your tail turns . I hope it all works out for you but I don't think you can ever make it handle like two wheels no matter what you do ......SO GOOD LUCK RICK...ThumbUp ThumbUp

 

[FRR]

Add set backs to the handlebars and rake the front.

 

[Strohkr]

What are "set backs"?:xzqxz:

 

[downstream]

Thanks everyone for the input. Rosy, me ride is a 2012 Tri-Glide that i bought last Christmas. I will try the lift kit and a few more rides before i make a decision to sell. I had two Harleys, traded the Ultra Classic in on the trike. I have a very bad knee and it was getting a little hard holding it up while riding it two up in some situations.

 

[Papa Zook]

Thanks everyone for the input. Rosy, my ride is a 2012 Tri-Glide that i bought last Christmas. I will try the lift kit and a few more rides before i make a decision to sell. I had two Harleys, traded the Ultra Classic in on the trike. I have a very bad knee and it was getting a little hard holding it up while riding it two up in some situations.

Before you sell it you can always add a rake kit and I guarantee you it will make it steer 100% easier! PM me..

 

[screwball]

Best of luck with whatever decision you make. You can add lift kits, rake kits, and independent rear ends, your trike will never steer like a 2 wheeler. It has been a hard 2 years transitioning from my Ultra to the trike. Trikes don't lean, you have to muscle them. I'm no spring chicken, 68 years old with my share of infirmities. Can't hold an Ultra up anymore, and just not ready for a rocking chair. The trike was about my only alternative. We have put over 30,000 miles on the 09. It is still a kick in the pants to ride, get caught in a rain storm, find new places, get cold, get hot, that is why we all chose motorcycles a long time ago. Time catches up with us, Trikes give us a little more time.

 

[haddont]

I just went from 2 wheels to three this spring. My biggest complaint is that it wears me out to ride this thing. i feel like I have been to the gym for a three hour upper body workout after I have ridden several miles of twisties. Two wheels was much easier. Any adjustments to help this problem?

I went with a 6 degree rake and kuryakn handlebar risers. That took me from being exhausted in 1 or 2 hours to riding all day with no problem. I think the rake kit helped the most. Now I can also corner without the slowing down before a corner un-necessarily.

 

[DTR 11TG]

I just went from 2 wheels to three this spring. My biggest complaint is that it wears me out to ride this thing. i feel like I have been to the gym for a three hour upper body workout after I have ridden several miles of twisties. Two wheels was much easier. Any adjustments to help this problem?

Hi Downstream, after reading your comment a few times I was wondering if you think its possible that you are a little extra tense when your on the TG and that is causing you to feel worn out. If riding the TG is totally new to you it would not be unusual for you or anyone else to be a little worried & tense about being on something different. I'm not saying that being tense is the complete problem, but it may be part of it and than using different muscles may also part of it.
I loved my TG from the start, but I will bet that you will love yours after a few more miles.

 

[downstream]

Thanks again for the input. I am going with the lift kit first. It is beginning to get a little better.

 

[Lil T]

i know i'm a little late on this conversation... just bought a 13' Tri-glide and felt the same way. after taking short 20 to 50 mile rides it got much easier as i use my legs to hug the tank and let off a bit going into the turns and as hit the apex i start to power out of the turns. i'm going about 15mph above the posted speeds and haven't had any issues. it takes time and it definitely will get better. don't give up and there are clutch kits out there as other people have mentioned that make the clutch easier to handle.

 

[Strohkr]

It's a different kind of fun!!
Finally got mine out this past weekend - put 400 miles on it - 75% on some very twisty roads - what an absolute great time!! Most fun I've had in a long time and that includes many rides on my '07 RK.
It's just a "different kind of fun".
The twisties were absolutely no problem once I got it through my thick skull that I wasn't going to tip over or get thrown off. I kinda tucked down, hugged the tank with my legs, and just powered through the curves - what a BLAST!! My buddies couldn't believe how great I was taking them and how the trike just absolutely stuck to the road - like glue!
Could it use more power? Maybe. Maybe not. Guess I'll find out on our trip out to the Beartooth Pass next month. I did add Jackpot headers and pipes (no cam), SE Air Cleaner, and a Dynojet Power Vision. Right now it runs great. I'm past the drag racing stage of my life. We'll see how it takes the mountain roads and passing - that's when the extra power is nice. Maybe all it'll need (if anything) will be a cam. Like I said - we'll find out soon enuff!
I have 2 torn rotator cuffs and it wasn't all that diffucult to turn as soon as I figured out the push/pull thing. Since we ride mountains most of the time in our yearly trips - I'm definately going to consider Bazooka's rake kit over the winter. I think that just might be the cat's meow!
So far I'm not just liking it - I'm LOVING it!!
I'll let you know if that feeling is still there at the end of the riding season!

 

[Bill Reber]

A rake kit is a must on all but the Spyder

 

[stacebg]

At the risk of sounding sarcastic stay away from the twisties as much as possible . I found it is harder in the twisties and I liked 'em as much as anybody . A local trike builder warned me about this when I was thinking about a trike . :gah:
I know it's impossible to stay away from all curves but I don't go looking like I did on two wheels but just the safe feeling I have on this trike makes me forget about riding the dragons tail and other places with kiss your tail turns . I hope it all works out for you but I don't think you can ever make it handle like two wheels no matter what you do ......SO GOOD LUCK RICK...ThumbUp ThumbUp

also At the risk of sounding sarcastic if you have to stay away from any road beacause it is too hard to steer you need to get the trike set up correctly because it is not!!!! i dont care what trike it is solid or irs conversion or not.... with the right trail you should be able to keep with most 2 wheelers (crusers any how.... crotch rockets not so mutch) in the twisties if not wait for them to get out of your way.... and some will complain that with steering that easy it will be to light on the highway....but that is easier to get used to than being tired from having to work at .... if its a workout you want go to the gym.... but riding should be enjoyable...
after a 4 or 500 mile day you will feel the difference trust me!!

 

[Salty]

I think time will help you and you should also PM BAZOOKA here as he sauid..I have heard nothing but good things about his product!
I have a Victory Cross country with CSC conversion and they use an 8* rake...I have had no issues that you mention in the twisties as you say. I was fortunate and had all winter to get reading here and get things in my head correctly on the push n pull and pushing down with legs etc etc. I have gotten use to it and did my first 6 hour run last weekend with zero issues or discomfort other then my arse gets sore on the stock seat LOL
I also ride my 2 wheeler mostly with the trike being for 2 up and trips...so I am back and forth....try a rake on the TGlide and I bet your smiling even bigger!

 

[JJHog]

Before you sell it you can always add a rake kit and I guarantee you it will make it steer 100% easier! PM me..

Do you have a link to this rake kit for the TG?

Thanks.