Wow this is different

[Walt M]

My hat is off to everybody that rides a trike.
I had a outrigger kit built for mine and got the bike back last night. I took it for my first ride ever on a trike, I thought it would be my last.

It was unloaded from the trailer and was in the road in front of my house, So the builder said take it around the block and let me know what you think. I've been reading forums about riding a trike so I figured I have 30 years exp on a bike I'm sure I can go around the block. Well a few minutes later after my wife stopped laughing and I got out of my neighbor's yard ( I started in the road and ended up 15 feet up in his yard.) I found out you have to physically turn the handle bars to make the bike turn there is no more leaning, You can lean all you want but nothing happens you still go straight and your eyes get wide as a mailbox comes into view. I'm happy about good brakes.

I also found out you have to slow down as you are learning to turn the corner, I thought I was about to get thrown off the bike on the first couple turns, and did you know that if you are riding on the left third of your lane the left side of your bike is in the way of oncoming traffic? A few horns, gestures and comments reminded me of this. I made it back alive and felt this was a great accomplishment and news worthy.

I told my wife to hop on and I'll take you for a ride around the block and tell me what you think, Once again the laughing started and told me I need a lot more practice before she gets back on the bike with me. So I make a few more laps and can't wait to get off work so I can start another adventure.

 

[oahe]

That leaning/steering thing gets a lot of us the first ride on a trike. The good thing is that we learn quickly and in a few days it will be second nature! Good luck!

 

[MDGeorge]

Way to go. the first ride is under your belt.
It gets to be a lot of fun quickly.

 

[rhino 2]

The first ride on a Street trike for me was about 6 years ago, So after years on two wheelers. The first stop light I came to I put my feet down, That was on a spyder and they only have a foot brake.... The most embarrassing part about it was that my son was following behind me. And I could hear him laughing and yelling.
"Hey old man your not on two wheels you don't have to put your feet down....."

 

[Walt M]

''Hey old man your not on two wheels you don't have to put your feet down.....:AGGHH:

I can relate to that Every time I slowed down I had to think keep your feet up keep your feet up. :laugh:

 

[werewolf]

Dont stress about it.
Relax and enjoy
As you see, you have lots of company.
Its all good in the scheme of things.

 

[Ohio Eddie]

When I first got my TriGlide I thought I'd made the most costly mistake of my life, it takes time to used to a trike, I found out the best way to get the feel of steering was to get the trike to a empty parking lot and start doing large figure 8's.

 

[Rick Kay]

There is a bit of a learning curve to these things! :laugh:

Soon you'll be enjoying yourself. Wishing you many carefree miles!

 

[jmk865]

Walt; I took my maiden voyage into my neighbor's yard last July....lol I think that trip is required in the triking process..... After 56 years on two wheels; I figured it wouldn't take long to get the hang of three....it didn't take long; but did take quite a few miles. Now I wouldn't take anything for my out-rigger trike. Ride every day that it isn't snowing.
Never had so much fun as I'm having these days at 71 years of age....turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks. Enjoy, my friend.

 

[rmrc51]

My initial problem wasn't the steering. That came kinda natural to me. It was trying to remember NOT, to put my feet down. My first trike was a 97 Valkyrie with a MotorTrike conversion. Being that it had a short wheelbase and didn't have floor boards, it was very easy to get my heel caught by the rear tires. That happened twice! The first time the rear wheel barely caught me. The second time I really got clipped and it hurt like hell. I guess that second instance made the final impression and I never put my feet down again, lol.

The more you ride your new trike, the more you'll get use to it and love it! ThumbUp

 

[tfdeputydawg]

"Outriggers" ride different than a true 3 wheel trike.
It seems on some the inside wheel wants to lift in a corner!
Also, to counteract the feeling on being thrown off, push down on the outside foot in a corner. You will soon learn how much to push depending on speed and sharpness of the corner.
Have fun!

 

[pcombe]

My hat is off to everybody that rides a trike.
I had a outrigger kit built for mine and got the bike back last night.
I took it for my first ride ever on a trike, I thought it would be my last :laugh:.

It was unloaded from the trailer and was in the road in front of my house, So the builder said take it around the block and let me know what you think.
I've been reading forums about riding a trike so I figured I have 30 years exp on a bike I'm sure I can go around the block. Well a few minutes later after my wife stopped laughing and I got out of my neighbor's yard ( I started in the road and ended up 15 feet up in his yard.) I found out you have to physically turn the handle bars to make the bike turn there is no more leaning, You can lean all you want but nothing happens you still go straight and your eyes get wide as a mailbox comes into view. I'm happy about good brakes.
I also found out you have to slow down as you are learning to turn the corner, I thought I was about to get thrown off the bike on the first couple turns, and did you know that if you are riding on the left third of your lane the left side of your bike is in the way of oncoming traffic? A few horns, gestures and comments reminded me of this.
I made it back alive and felt this was a great acomplishment and news worthy. I told my wife to hop on and I'll take you for a ride around the block and tell me what you think, Once again the laughing started and told me I need alot more practice before she gets back on the bike with me. So I make a few more laps and can't wait to get off work so I can start another adventure.

" Well a few minutes later after my wife stopped laughing and I got out of my neighbor's yard ( I started in the road and ended up 15 feet up in his yard.) I found out you have to physically turn the handle bars to make the bike turn there is no more leaning, You can lean all you want but nothing happens you still go straight and your eyes get wide as a mailbox comes into view. I'm happy about good brakes."

Look at the positive side, you learned about brakes. Also when you wound up in the neighbors yard you didn't have to go through the embarrassment of dumping your bike :blush:

 

[RcSuD]

Reminds me of the day I took delivery of my new shiny red tri-glide. They pushed it out the back door, gave me quick run down of things, then off I went. Time to learn how to ride this beast. Immediately it went to the right heading for a big brick wall. Lean as much as I tried, it kept going towards that brick wall. Finally it dawned on me, steer dummy,steer. Turned to the left, no more brick wall. For the next few miles home the only thing going through my head was, steer dummy, steer. Didn't take much after that to not even think about it anymore.

 

[Shimpy]

Walt, I had a similiar experience. Rode out of the installers driveway and ended up going the wrong way on a 4 lane highway. I tried to correct and ended up in the median. It didn't take long after that to figure it out although sometimes after riding straight on a highway I'd instinctly try to countersteer on a curve.

 

[pcombe]

Reminds me of the day I took delivery of my new shiny red tri-glide. They pushed it out the back door, gave me quick run down of things, then off I went. Time to learn how to ride this beast. Immediately it went to the right heading for a big brick wall. Lean as much as I tried, it kept going towards that brick wall. Finally it dawned on me, steer dummy,steer. Turned to the left, no more brick wall. For the next few miles home the only thing going through my head was, steer dummy, steer. Didn't take much after that to not even think about it anymore.

ha ha your right my friend, Keep it simple stupid!:laugh:

 

[Calgary]

I enjoyed reading these accounts - brought back many memories of my past year. Got my trike about the end of June 2013 and I as well immediately felt I had made a very expensive mistake.
Now with 17,000 miles on the clock and under my belt, I just love that machine.

I spent plenty of time reading about trike riding and practising what I've read - it hardly seems possible that I've made the happy transition without so much as a scratch on the paint.

:GL1800::GL1800::GL1800::GL1800:

 

[skuuter]

The Transformation has began...."PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE", and "READ, READ, READ" at TRIKE TALK.com.....ThumbUp ThumbUp ThumbUp

 

[RdKnB]

IT will get better, I promise. I held on with a death grip on my first ride last year, now I do not even think about it.

 

[Walt M]

Thanks for all the replies, I see I'm not the only one to have a adventure trying to get started..
Well took it out for about 2 hr's today, side streets, parking lots (figure 8's) and then I-4.
I GOT THIS...
Lot of fun today and the words of wisdom helped.
here are a couple pics of my new trike.

 

[Smilam]

Wow that looks nice. You will have a lot of fun with that one.

 

[bayoudave]

Our first ride was at the Motor Trike plant in Troupe, TX. We had never been on a trike and didn't know anyone that had one. We rode one around their parking lot for a little bit and then headed out on the road. We both felt like the bike was going to flip or the back end wash out on us. We left there thinking that a trike was way to scary for us. A year later and several drops of the wing and we explored the trike situation again. Found a trike for sale and the owner let us ride it a few Saturdays and in no time we were in love with trikes. Now I wish I had bought a trike years ago. We have so much fun and I don't worry about dropping it. A little time on the trike and you too will love it.

 

[Grandpa1]

I certainly remember my first trike ride. I was riding it home from the dealer. I got to a cloverleaf exit off the interstate and found out right then you don't lean to turn.
That was scary!
I rode it almost 500 miles home that day and when I finally got there I was loving my new trike!
The secret is RIDE IT A LOT!

 

[John Luciano]

The outrigger style conversion is a lot harder to Handle. Takes a lot more effort. The lean is scary. My first adventure
I got a deal on a brand new Voyager kit. A man bought it for his wife with MS. Thought she could ride it. It was set up for my exact model Goldwing. $2,000. I took 4 hours and with the help of a friend got it on to my full dressed 1980 wing. He was all excited. " let's take it and show my wife,".

Well the 1st two corners were fairly easy. They were sweepers. Got to the main road and it was a T. Left or right. I took a left jumped the curb went behind a phone pole came out back on the road. Thought what the H.E.double L did I buy. Took 500 miles to get comfortable with it . 2,000 miles later sold it ,bought a Trike and now 67,000 miles later I don't even think about driving it. I even switch from 2 back to 3 very naturally. ( I have 2 motorcycle also. No I don't remove one wheel ) I can even drive with one hand.
never heard anyone regret it but a lot say they should have done it sooner.

 

[Walt M]

They were sweepers. Got to the main road and it was a T. Left or right. I took a left jumped the curb went behind a phone pole came out back on the road.

:laugh: :laugh:
Rode into work today and loved every min of it. things are looking up

 

[Ohio Eddie]

:laugh: :laugh:
Rode into work today and loved every min of it. things are looking up

It all takes time, you'll enjoy the memories of you first time on the trike.

 

[Craigatcsi]

Alright, you folks are scaring me! We have an 07 Yamaha Venture and have on order / waiting for our Hannigan kit to be installed. The dealer told us probably early to mid June and we should be riding it.

Two or three years ago, we stopped at a local Trike shop and Test-Road a Harley Trike conversion. We rode 2-up probably for about 10 to 15 minutes. I threw my poor wife all over in her seat. Like many others have said, I kept trying to lean to stay in my lane. So, I turned around and headed back to the shop. They told me that I should've taken it for a half hour or so to get the hang of it. But, we were having nothing more to do with it!!

But, my legs keep getting worse and it was either trike, sidecar or sell our Big Bike. We chose the Trike option because of not finding ONE person that regretted Triking.

Many years ago, I had an old Suzuki ATV 3-wheeler and I am hoping that those lessons will resurface soon after hopping on my new one. When I pick it up, I will have approx. 90 miles to ride to get it home. I'm hoping that I will get the hang of it by then.


My wife is OBSESSED with M/C riding, (Passenger only), but she sure has her doubts about Triking. Admittedly, we will both miss the leaning, but do have a lighter bike to ride on days when my Legs feel okay.

craigr

 

[Walt M]

Craig as you have read I am new to a trike, I only have about 200 miles under my belt on it however I am enjoying it more each time I get on it. Yea I do miss laying it over in the turns and I wont be scraping the floor boards any more in the Smoky's but I am looking forward to running the trike thru the mountians next year though.
So far no regrets just a few embarrasing moments :laugh:

 

[Walt M]

:laugh:
I have a blast eveytime I get on my bike.
If you get down for biketoberfest or bike week let me know, Maybe we can a few members together for a meet and greet and take a ride. I'll even fire up the BBQ Grill.

 

[Big Juice]

I had many of the same experiences some of you had (mine was a chain link fence, a curb and a center street median). But it has been a little over 3 months since I got my first trike and I have put almost 4,000 miles on it and don't regret one minute of my decision to trike out my bike! Hope you ride safe and ride often!

 

[DTR 11TG]

Alright, you folks are scaring me! ...

Craig

Craig, don't be scared, if you handled that ATV 3-wheeler than you should have little problem handling your new trike. Just remember to forget about how to ride a 2 wheel cycle and remember how it was to ride your 3-wheeler ATV!

A suggestion, if you have or know where you can borrow a 4 wheel ATV, take that for a bunch of rides and take it slow, drive it like the bars are a steering wheel, forget about leaning. I remember my first trike ride and for me it was easy, it was like driving my 4 wheeler, I was in love before that first ride was over. I know its not easy for everyone, I think it was easier for me because I have been lucky to have driven so many type of vehicles over the years, but I bet you can get a handle on it quickly if you take it slowly and keep 2 wheels out of your mind. One last suggestion, make your first few trike rides 1 up, after you feel good than your wife's first ride will be a fun & smooth ride.

Good luck with your new trike and HAVE FUN!! epper: