Picked Up My Roadsmith Trike Today..... Embarrassed

[poppajim]

Worried

I also picked up my Roadsmith last Tuesday. It was 125 miles home and snow in the forecast so a friend of ours help me trailer it home. I finally got a chance to ride it to work last Friday ( only 17 miles) and the ride was very different and difficult. Thought the ride home would be better but it wasn't can't really explain it but the trike felt really unstable. I did test ride a couple before deciding to have my wing triked and I did test ride mine only in a parking lot before bringing it home.

The weather has sucked all week cold and rainy so I have not had the chance to get back out their. I did check my air pressure and the back wheel were 5 pounds different so I fixed that. I really want this to work and hope the more miles I put on it it will get better. I know the you push and pull but it seems like I can not take my hands off the handle bars even just to wave to a fellow biker. Wish me luck. I am glad you found your safety net by the time you reached home.
I also thought to myself what the hell did I do this for.
Ride Safe all

 

[poppajim]

I hope so

 

[mgwtrike]

I did check my air pressure and the back wheel were 5 pounds different so I fixed that.

This doesn't fit well with your converter people.
Things like your tire pressure should be spot on before delivery,
I think they dropped the ball on their pre-delivery set-up.

 

[poppajim]

This doesn't fit well with your converter people.
Things like your tire pressure should be spot on before delivery,
I think they dropped the ball on their pre-delivery set-up.

I agree and hope that's all they dropped the ball on,they had the bike for a long time.

 

[mgwtrike]

I agree and hope that's all they dropped the ball on,they had the bike for a long time.

poppajim, Did you/they take any pictures during the conversion?

Either way I have a good feeling your going to love your ride.

 

[poppajim]

poppajim, Did you/they take any pictures during the conversion?

Either way I have a good feeling your going to love your ride.

No I did not as they were 3 hours away and closed Mondays which would have been the only day I could have went down their. I have full confidence in the company I chose and hope the tire pressure was just a over site. It will take a little time to get used to it and the trike turned out more beautiful than I imagined. Thanks

 

[Gold Rush]

It will take a little time to get used to it and the trike turned out more beautiful than I imagined. Thanks

That is a very CLASSY looking ride Jim.... I'm with you... Bet you'll LOVE it.... :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[Solidbob]

Good looking ride indeed.... if you received Roadsmith paperwork from your installer / dealer it should explain how adjustments happen based on the options you had done with your kit.

You might list your options and some can suggest starting settings for adjustments..

Also visit the Roadsmith website for your model which looks like the HT1800 kit : http://www.trikeshop.com/trikes/HT1800

You'll notice other downloadable options on the page that you can print out and read.... if the trike seems unstable and kind of wobbly it will need the rear suspension adjusted which should have been done prior to delivery. So check out the website and print out the things you need if you weren't given any paperwork. Your order sheet should list any options you had added....

That would be a starting point for some comments / options that are installed... just list them and we'll get back to you.

 

[poppajim]

Good looking ride indeed.... if you received Roadsmith paperwork from your installer / dealer it should explain how adjustments happen based on the options you had done with your kit.

You might list your options and some can suggest starting settings for adjustments..

Also visit the Roadsmith website for your model which looks like the HT1800 kit : http://www.trikeshop.com/trikes/HT1800

You'll notice other downloadable options on the page that you can print out and read.... if the trike seems unstable and kind of wobbly it will need the rear suspension adjusted which should have been done prior to delivery. So check out the website and print out the things you need if you weren't given any paperwork. Your order sheet should list any options you had added....

That would be a starting point for some comments / options that are installed... just list them and we'll get back to you.

I was told the rear adjustment was adjusted to the max , and that was my thought also. I am looking around for that procedure if any one can help me out with that. There is nothing in the owners member paper work describing that. I am also going to contact my installer.

 

[Solidbob]

I was told the rear adjustment was adjusted to the max , and that was my thought also. I am looking around for that procedure if any one can help me out with that. There is nothing in the owners member paper work describing that. I am also going to contact my installer.

What options did you get..... without that no one knows what to tell you.... there's 20 things it could be.... and no installer sets to shocks and suspension to the max... ? What degree of rake?

 

[Gold Rush]

I was told the rear adjustment was adjusted to the max , and that was my thought also. I am looking around for that procedure if any one can help me out with that. There is nothing in the owners member paper work describing that. I am also going to contact my installer.

Jim, if you go to the Roadsmith web site and then to the HT1800 page you will see the "downloads" tab. There you will see the install manual for your kit. Hopefully that will give you some help.

When I did the conversion on my 2015 the shocks were set one notch above minimum which I found a little low so I stepped them up one step. Adjusting is fairly easy..:xszpv::xszpv:

 

[Solidbob]

Jim, if you go to the Roadsmith web site and then to the HT1800 page you will see the "downloads" tab. There you will see the install manual for your kit. Hopefully that will give you some help.

When I did the conversion on my 2015 the shocks were set one notch above minimum which I found a little low so I stepped them up one step. Adjusting is fairly easy..:xszpv::xszpv:

Sent that Link to him prior.... just don't know his suspension setup with him not listing options?

 

[poppajim]

What options did you get..... without that no one knows what to tell you.... there's 20 things it could be.... and no installer sets to shocks and suspension to the max... ? What degree of rake?

The only options I got was 5 and a half degree rake , performance sway bar. I took a look under the bike and it looks like the adjustable are on the next to the last notch. The OE system was disabled.

 

[Solidbob]

The only options I got was 5 and a half degree rake , performance sway bar. I took a look under the bike and it looks like the adjustable are on the next to the last notch.

If you did not get the Accu-ride System or the Adjustable Pre-Load System you have no way to adjust the suspension. Your only suspension adjustment is your shocks which will need to be moved up at least two notches / easier to do with tires in the air. Go ride and see how the body roll is.... may need to even go higher... the only other adjustment is your rear tire pressure. 24 - 30 # with no other adjustments. Was hoping you got at least the Adjustable Pre-load.... go back to the website and watch the video, it works off the original rear shock Hydralics to put tension on the sway bar to stop body roll... may need to see your installer again for adjustments...if the shocks are 1 notch off the bottom that is how they come from the factory and that's to loose...

Hope this helps.... learning on a new trike is one thing but also having one that rolls to the outside in turns will make you a nervous wreck til you get it sorted.... Good Luck....

 

[poppajim]

If you did not get the Accu-ride System or the Adjustable Pre-Load System you have no way to adjust the suspension. Your only suspension adjustment is your shocks which will need to be moved up at least two notches / easier to do with tires in the air. Go ride and see how the body roll is.... may need to even go higher... the only other adjustment is your rear tire pressure. 24 - 30 # with no other adjustments. Was hoping you got at least the Adjustable Pre-load.... go back to the website and watch the video, it works off the original rear shock Hydralics to put tension on the sway bar to stop body roll... may need to see your installer again for adjustments...if the shocks are 1 notch off the bottom that is how they come from the factory and that's to loose...

Hope this helps.... learning on a new trike is one thing but also having one that rolls to the outside in turns will make you a nervous wreck til you get it sorted.... Good Luck....

Thank you for your input and help. It looks like I should have gotten either the Accu-ride System or the Adjustable Pre-Load System. I wish my installer was more persistent with more details about these. I will be in contact with them.
Ride Safe

 

[Papa Zook]

Jim, you'll be fine with the setup you currently have, don't sweat it. I can assure you that your setup is the way probably 90% of all Roadsmith trike kits are ordered and it is engineered to perform exceedingly well just as it was shipped to the dealer.

There is no reason it should not ride like a million bucks with a few adjustments, provided the install was done properly and the correct adjustments, air pressures, etc are made. If you have any questions, go straight to the source and call Taylor Young at Roadsmith at (651) 777-7774. They are good people and will make sure you are taken care of.

 

[Gold Rush]

Jim, what Bob tells you is pretty much what I've found. As long as you don't get crazy in the twisters you can set up the suspension for the average kind of riding you will do. Setting the shocks in the middle position is OK for most but if you do any twisties one more step would be better. If you plan a ride in heavy twisties you might even go up to the top just for that ride, it will be a little rough riding but body roll should be controlled.

I think you are on your way to solving this. You will love it when you get it dialed in.... :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[Solidbob]

Zook & GoldRush..... thanks for supporting him..... a triker he will be before long..... just needs adjusting...... Take Care Jim and ride safe.....

Taylor at Roadsmith will treat you right..... good advice!!

 

[mgwtrike]

If you have any questions, go straight to the source and call Taylor Young at Roadsmith at (651) 777-7774. They are good people and will make sure you are taken care of.

:Agree: ...........But I think your installer should be more specific about things like this.

Like they say: All trike Co's. and their units are good, but it all comes down to the installer.

I had more fun working with my Roadsmith converter people then I had buying my 2012 Goldwing, and Taylor Young highly recommended them and now I seen why.

 

[Veritas44]

As there is no "Cookie Cutter" answer to "Proper Setup" for every Rider or even every Brand,,,, laying this or any right out the box General Setup not being exactly right for each subjective Situation or Rider on an Installer or a Trike is irresponsible and highly inaccurate. Heck people, it's not even a Real "Issue" for that matter.

Add to it that Poppa is a Newbie to triking (no offense at all to ya Jim) and it clearly is an ongoing process to get both the Trike and the Rider dialed in.
Ain't nothing "Wrong" with the Trike or the Install or the Setup.
It's just not had the chance to be put "Right" yet as the "Right" answer has yet to be determined.

Relax,,, Discover,,, Dial-In,,, then Enjoy.
The Process of the above itself is a pleasant Journey if ya accept it, don't sweat it, and don't knee-jerk to the negative or join in with those who do.

It's All Good and it WILL get even Better ThumbUp

 

[poppajim]

Newbi

As there is no "Cookie Cutter" answer to "Proper Setup" for every Rider or even every Brand,,,, laying this or any right out the box General Setup not being exactly right for each subjective Situation or Rider on an Installer or a Trike is irresponsible and highly inaccurate. Heck people, it's not even a Real "Issue" for that matter.

Add to it that Poppa is a Newbie to triking (no offense at all to ya Jim) and it clearly is an ongoing process to get both the Trike and the Rider dialed in.
Ain't nothing "Wrong" with the Trike or the Install or the Setup.
It's just not had the chance to be put "Right" yet as the "Right" answer has yet to be determined.

Relax,,, Discover,,, Dial-In,,, then Enjoy.
The Process of the above itself is a pleasant Journey if ya accept it, don't sweat it, and don't knee-jerk to the negative or join in with those who do.

It's All Good and it WILL get even Better ThumbUp

You are right on as me being a newbi and I have come to the conclusion it is that and not the trike. Each time out is better and I just need to keep riding it and figuring things out. Thank you ALL for you input and support. I talked to my installer today and they are their for me if needed, as I always thought they would be. Ride Safe

 

[Papa Zook]

You are right on as me being a newbi and I have come to the conclusion it is that and not the trike. Each time out is better and I just need to keep riding it and figuring things out. Thank you ALL for you input and support. I talked to my installer today and they are their for me if needed, as I always thought they would be. Ride Safe

When you said the trike felt unstable and that you couldn't take you hand off the handlebar even just to wave, that did concern me, so eliminating any issues seemed important. Trikes normally feel very stable, that is a main attraction for most owners. I'm glad to hear you are getting used to your trike and that your installer is supporting you. I'd recommend spending a bit of time in a big parking lot doing figure eights and even a few "almost" emergency stops so you are really familiar with the way your trike handles and stops.

 

[mgwtrike]

You are right on as me being a newbi and I have come to the conclusion it is that and not the trike. Each time out is better and I just need to keep riding it and figuring things out. Thank you ALL for you input and support. I talked to my installer today and they are their for me if needed, as I always thought they would be. Ride Safe

One of these nice days, I got to pay a visit to my friendly Roadsmith converter guy.
My trunk hatch keeps opening up and my "open" warning light comes on.
I called them and they said it's just a matter of adjustment.

 

[poppajim]

roadsmith trike

Went for a nice ride today with my wife put about 75 miles on mostly back roads. Liking it!!!

 

[poppajim]

She loves it

 

[mgwtrike]

Two weeks now with my RS conversion, I think I ready to give all the girls in the neighborhood a ride......:clapping:

 

[cjmitch]

...the ride was very different and difficult. Thought the ride home would be better but it wasn't can't really explain it but the trike felt really unstable.

Did you remove the OEM or gl1800 tire from the front of the new Trike?