First Trike Ride!

[Blondie Gal]

Konrad, you can come to Maggie Valley and see Dale do that tippy-thing with an antique bike and a sidecar - Nana and Marge and Mattel did it with him last year (Mattel screamed loudest of all! :innocent and we have pictures to prove it! What a fun time we're gonna have! :yes:

 

[Reader1]

Konrad - Thank you for your story. My husband is picking up my first trike tomorrow. When the weather clears, I will go to a parking lot and practice figure 8's before I take it out on the road. I am hoping that my reason for going to the trike will benefit me. I can ride a 2 wheeler, but was always too scared of the lean, even though I knew how. I knew someday I would go wide, and hit something head on. Again thank you, your story really helps newbies like me.

 

[Konrad]

Konrad - Thank you for your story. My husband is picking up my first trike tomorrow. When the weather clears, I will go to a parking lot and practice figure 8's before I take it out on the road. I am hoping that my reason for going to the trike will benefit me. I can ride a 2 wheeler, but was always too scared of the lean, even though I knew how. I knew someday I would go wide, and hit something head on. Again thank you, your story really helps newbies like me.

Someone else mentioned this but it doesn't hurt to say is again: the trike is a totally different animal. It is a very good idea when practicing those figure eights to leave the bike in first gear and put your right hand in your right back pocket and steer only with the left hand. Reason - make the left hand the dominant hand for steering so that you do not apply undue pressure on the throttle with the right hand in a turn as you might when pushing or pulling - let the left hand do the work. I've done that inadvertant right-hand throttle twist and it is scary! :AGGHH:

 

[Saltywheels]

Konrad & Reader: Yup! Trikes are a whole lotta fun to ride & in many cases easier. But like everything else on wheels, it has its limitations & MUST be respected. And....it's not invincible. Trikes do & will have 'bad days'. Point I am trying to make here is that you have to ride smart to stay safe.:blahblah: Sorry about the sermon...old habits die hard Instructed too many hot-shots who spent a Sat at the track with me only to wipe-out later on because of the 'invincible-me factor'. :Sleep1: oopps there I go again!!

 

[Reader1]

Saltywheels - I appreciate your sermon - Any help I can get I am really paying attention!

 

[Meastro319]

Having never really ridden 2-wheelers before, steering the trike was okay. It was the darn throttle/clutch combo that got me!! Killing the engine at every stop, and slowing down to go around corners or into my own driveway having the engine die!!Sheesh!! And then, practicing in my cul-du-sac trying to go from a dead stop, I'd keep"chugging" the engine and then killing it!! I felt llike (and still do sometimes!!) a 16 year old just learning how to drive a stick shift car!! Neighbors thought I was a hoot though. Guess I was good entertainment for them. Of course, now they all want rides.

 

[Nana]

I'm sure the steering is easier if you aren't used to leaning on two wheels. It is a real adjustment to go from 2 - 3 initially!

 

[spiritdream]

It is a very good idea when practicing those figure eights to leave the bike in first gear and put your right hand in your right back pocket and steer only with the left hand. Reason - make the left hand the dominant hand for steering so that you do not apply undue pressure on the throttle with the right hand in a turn as you might when pushing or pulling - let the left hand do the work. I've done that inadvertant right-hand throttle twist and it is scary! :AGGHH:

And here is where I get a bit confused....if I take the right hand off the throttle, doesn't the engine stall if I don't have the clutch engaged? And if I engage the clutch, what makes the trike move?

The right-hand throttle twist in turns is one large reason I'm on 3 wheels - consistently did it in training class and just KNEW that I'd kill myself out on the road doing that!! LOL Worked out well though - I LOVE triking!!

 

[Konrad]

And here is where I get a bit confused....if I take the right hand off the throttle, doesn't the engine stall if I don't have the clutch engaged? And if I engage the clutch, what makes the trike move?

If your idle speed is properly set your engine will not stall whether the clutch is engaged or not! If at a full stop, just let it out slowly and easily, the bike will move. If already in first gear and moving, the bike will continue to move slowly at idle speed. Let your left arm do the work and get used to it. You'll do just fine. :yes: