Straight axle or independent?

[fiddle_mike]

I had already made up my mind on a champion but they don't only offer a straight axle for a 1500 gw. I was going that way but people are telling me I won't like the ride of a straight axle. So from people who know what are your thoughts?

 

[Keystone]

I have ridden both. I prefer a solid axle.

Some like Dodge, some like Ford and some like Chevy.

 

[Gunner45]

Test rode a IRS and bought a solid axle. No complaints on the ride and I figure with the solid axle I have less to go wrong.

 

[fiddle_mike]

Looks like it depends on where you live and the quality of the roads. I found an old thread on this subject with plenty of opinions

 

[pcombe]

My champion solid axle is a might rough in town but when I get it on the highway it smooth's right out. I prefer the straight axle in turns very solid on mtn. roads.

 

[bcop31]

My champion solid axle is a might rough in town but when I get it on the highway it smooth's right out. I prefer the straight axle in turns very solid on mtn. roads.

My bike is being converted this week. I also chose to go with a Champion Kit. My Goldwing is a 2007 so I was able to get the IRS. I have absolutely no doubts that the solid axle will be just fine on your bike. I was torn between solid or IRS and decided on the IRS but probably would have been happy with the solid axle had I not read that the passenger would be happier with a IRS. :0) My wife rides with me 95% of the time so if I can make her ride better with an IRS, then I will give it a try. Best of luck to you with your new Trike.

RJ

 

[FRR]

Go with ISP...You're rider will appreciate it.

 

[mhgoldwing]

I have a question: How many trike manufacturers currently build a solid axle trike kit for the GL1800? Why?

Enjoy whatever you choose.

 

[Hot Rod 1]

I rode a GL1500 with a CSC solid axle kit for several years. I recently purchased a Roadsmith HTS Kit for my GL1800. The ride is like a night & day difference. Although my GL1500 with a solid axle kit handled better in the turns, my GL1800 with the IRS rides much smoother. I rode my GL1800 14,000 miles on two wheels before converting. I feel my GL1800 with the Roadsmith IRS kit rides almost as smooth now as it did on two wheels.

 

[Papa Zook]

The best selling single model of trike in the history of trikes is the Harley TriGlide. Dealers cannot get enough of them to supply the demand. It is a solid axle and you never hear any complaints about the ride. The new Harley Freewheeler is also solid axle...same thing, its a hot seller and you also never hear any complaints about the ride.

The solid axle trikes also handle better in the twisties, have a bullet proof automotive rear end and less moving parts. Each has its advantages, but there is nothing at all wrong with the ride of a solid axle trike. If they were as bad as some people claim, the TriGlides and Freewheelers would not sell. If you have any doubts, ask someone to let you ride their solid axle trike and judge for yourself.

 

[geol]

I am on a 2008 solid axle Champion. Bringing it home, I talked to my pillion rider and wife of 43 years about the ride compared to our GL1500 Roadsmith IRS. She said it was almost identical except for very sharp bumps. After doing some reading of the owners manual, I discovered they had left the air shock in place with the Champion conversion (along with adding coil over shocks in the rear).<br />
<br />
The guy who owned it prior to myself weighed close to 400 lbs and had jacked the air shock up to max loading. We experimented with the loading which goes from 0 to 20 and discovered that 14 was perfect for a passenger and the solid axle Champion conversion now rides as well as the Roadsmith IRS. BOth handle excellent... it also took us awhile to figure out that preload on the Roadsmith needed to be carefully adjusted.<br />
<br />
When we picked that trike up, preload was set to the softtest setting. Riding the trike home from Alabama on horrible-bad interstate 20 was a nightmare. Once I jacked preload up to its stiffest setting, the trike was transformed and handled and rode like a charm. <br />
<br />
While test driving other trikes, we rode a MotorTrike conversion with solid axle and no EZ steer and it was painful, even after a short ride.

Ride was harsh and steering was a chore. Guy offered it to me for a song but we passed. I wished I had tried to adjust the shock loading (not sure how they do it) but to this day I am convinced we lost a good deal just because of adjustment. I could easily have added the EZ Steer buy buying an inexpensive rake kit from Bazooka. The guy actually had to air up the tires so we could test ride... was very wealthy and bought it for a toy and his wife would not ride so he just let it sit.

 

[mhgoldwing]

The best selling single model of trike in the history of trikes is the Harley TriGlide. Dealers cannot get enough of them to supply the demand. It is a solid axle and you never hear any complaints about the ride. The new Harley Freewheeler is also solid axle...same thing, its a hot seller and you also never hear any complaints about the ride.

The solid axle trikes also handle better in the twisties, have a bullet proof automotive rear end and less moving parts. Each has its advantages, but there is nothing at all wrong with the ride of a solid axle trike. If they were as bad as some people claim, the TriGlides and Freewheelers would not sell. If you have any doubts, ask someone to let you ride their solid axle trike and judge for yourself.

the best you know is the best you've had.

 

[jaxbobg]

I've owned and ridden trikes with both solid and IRS axles and can be happy with either one.

An occasional rider might notice a bigger difference, but I suspect there are a lot of other factors at play here - like skill of the rider, type and condition of roads, type of suspension, degree of rake, tire types and pressures, one or two-up riding, and on and on and on.

I'm not an engineer or mechanic, but with years of experience I've found there are so many variables involved that it all boils down to a matter of personal preference and perception.

Why else would we have so many debates about tires, conversion kits, motor oils, suspension systems, rake kits, etc.

 

[Chazzman]

You just need to ride both and make your own decision. I like IRS myself over straight but some like the straight over IRS.

 

[Sunman]

I have owned both an IRS trike (MotorTrike GL-1800 IRS) and a straight axel (Harley Davidson Freewheeler). I notice very little difference in the ride quality. My wife says that the FW is quite comfortable except on very rough roads but that was also true for the MotorTrike. Both were very good in the curves. I prefer the straight axel as there is a lot less moving parts to have trouble with. The MotorTrike IRS broke down on me in the boonies and had to be towed in once we found a MT dealer. Any trike can / will break down but with the FW it is all Harley and all I have to do is call a Harley Dealer. Just my opinion.

Sunman

 

[Illini_Triker]

The best selling single model of trike in the history of trikes is the Harley TriGlide. Dealers cannot get enough of them to supply the demand. It is a solid axle and you never hear any complaints about the ride. The new Harley Freewheeler is also solid axle...same thing, its a hot seller and you also never hear any complaints about the ride.

The solid axle trikes also handle better in the twisties, have a bullet proof automotive rear end and less moving parts. Each has its advantages, but there is nothing at all wrong with the ride of a solid axle trike. If they were as bad as some people claim, the TriGlides and Freewheelers would not sell. If you have any doubts, ask someone to let you ride their solid axle trike and judge for yourself.

But your talking Harley riders heck they ride a hardtail and don't complain

 

[Papa Zook]

But your talking Harley riders heck they ride a hardtail and don't complain

When they're our age they do...

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I bought my 2006 Goldwing Champion brand new. I had a choice of SA or IA. I took the solid axle and we are very, very happy with it.
We have 50,000 trouble free miles on it.
As a side note, I'm glad I didn't get Champions IA as they had problems with the first ones. The bolts and joints on the ID were breaking.