Champion trike kit and EZ steer on 2005 Goldwing

[dpete]

Hi,

I am looking at a 2005 GW trike with a champion kit w/ 30K miles. appears to be in great shape, but I wont have a chance to see in person before purchase.

question. any experience w/ champion straight axle and EZ steer.

I would be a first time trike owner. Does this sound like a good decision?

any help is appreciated. thanks,

danny

 

[rhino 2]

Hi,

I am looking at a 2005 GW trike with a champion kit w/ 30K miles. appears to be in great shape, but I wont have a chance to see in person before purchase.

question. any experience w/ champion straight axle and EZ steer.

I would be a first time trike owner. Does this sound like a good decision?

any help is appreciated. thanks,

danny

Just a little more background.....Are you going to see in person just before you purchase it......Or purchase [Send the seller money] then see it...?..

 

[cScjhb]

I prefer independent rear suspension but I know a lot of people who are happy with solid. One of the issues of the 2005 and older Goldwings is overheating at slower speeds. The GW 1800 radiator fans blow from rear to front. (it's true) When you are going 15 - 25 MPH that has the effect of not having ANY air flow through the radiators. Honda increased the radiator size on the 2006 and newer models to help with this. Having said that, I have had 6 different Goldwings and never experienced any big problems. Look at the valve covers for discoloration in the clear coating. Overheating will cause them to turn a yellowish. Good luck..... Jim

 

[dpete]

Just a little more background.....Are you going to see in person just before you purchase it......Or purchase [Send the seller money] then see it...?..

Potentially buy, ship, then see.

it's in Florida. I am in Dallas. No way to see before the sale.

 

[dpete]

potentially buy, ship, then see.

it's in Florida. I am in Dallas. no way to see before sale.

https://trikesbikesfortmyers.com/Tr...Myers-FL-e0117eac-71d6-4743-97a8-aa01011413ec

 

[paws]

Just my opinion,,,,I would not buy something I could not look at and drive FIRST or have an experienced triker do that for me... unless it was brand-spanking new. I would think there would be plenty of trikes for sale closer.

 

[dpete]

I do see a 2008 motortrike that is in the DFW area, but it has 67K miles as opposed to the 2005 with 30k miles in FL.

 

[dpete]

I took the advice here and decided to buy a trike locally. I found a 2006 GW w/ 40K miles and a champion kit and trailer. It is in Fort Worth, 1hr from me. I drove over and looked at it. They are having the oil changed and detailed now. I will test drive it when i go to pick it up next week, and if anything is wrong, I will step back; however, it looks good so far.

 

[trikeman]

:clapping::wave4:

 

[dpete]

supposed to pick it up Monday. I am pretty excited.

It's all detailed and looks nice.

 

[rhino 2]

supposed to pick it up Monday. I am pretty excited.

It's all detailed and looks nice.

.....ThumbUp.......

 

[cScjhb]

Congrats...... Nice looking trike and trailer. Anxious to hear your thoughts after you have a few miles on it. Looks like you made a good choice. Ride safe...... Jim

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Congrats

Congrats on finding a very nice looking Trike. Hope it rides as good as it looks as you will be set for a very long time.

Perfect time of the year to go riding now too with the weather finally cooling off a little!

 

[dpete]

I picked it up Saturday from ft worth (1hr away).

drove it home and drove it each day since. It is very different from a bike, which i expected and learned from this forum.

i find that the largest issue is shifting while turning. that is tricky. i am riding every day and smoothing out as I go.

My wife rode on the back and really likes it, compared to the 2-wheeler i had for years. She only rode a couple of times and didnt feel comfortable. on the trike, we rode around town, and she really felt comfortable. That is a win that makes it all worth while for me.

so far, I am really loving the GW trike.

this weekend, my son (18) and I are taking the 3-wheel safety course, which uses can ams. The goal is to get his 3-wheel license so he can drive the GW and maybe get a ryker later.

 

[dpete]

I find that the hardest thing to get used to is turning and shifting, which seems to be most turns that happen from a stop.

 

[triwinggirl]

I have a DFT rear end, the lightest on the market at 258 lbs. I'm not a big fan of solid axle rear ends; they are very heavy and will slow you down. Remember, your trike has to pull that extra weight. I also am not a fan of EZ steer raked front ends, they wear out forks in a couple of years, and new ones are required. You can not rebuild barreled forks. I spent a lot on my Eurowing car tire shock absorber front end. Rides and steers so much better, and the tire will crack before it wears out

 

[dpete]

I took the advice here and decided to buy a trike locally. I found a 2006 GW w/ 40K miles and a champion kit and trailer. It is in Fort Worth, 1hr from me. I drove over and looked at it. They are having the oil changed and detailed now. I will test drive it when i go to pick it up next week, and if anything is wrong, I will step back; however, it looks good so far.

View attachment 92521View attachment 92522View attachment 92523

I have been riding around North Dallas a bit every day, since I purchased it. Running errands, picking up chick-fil-a, etc.

Both HWY and urban riding.

I am really enjoying it and getting used to it. I find the trickiest part was turning and shifting at the same time. Locked handlebars makes shifting a bit tough, but I am getting used to it and smoother.

I left the trailer behind, since I had a 1 hr drive home, and it was the first time driving a trike. I need to schedule time to go back and pick it up. Any tips or cautions about pulling a trailer beyond the obvious? I have never pulled a trailer on a bike or trike before.

 

[Gorilla]

Danny most people say they don't even notice the trailer back there. Just remember it when parking etc. because it can be a little tricky backing up.

 

[paws]

You might also notice the trailer bumping/jerking the trike a little..maybe not...nothing to worry about. Just remember to allow adequate room to cut in/out/changing lanes around other vehicles in traffic. Relax..You’ll be fine.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I have been riding around North Dallas a bit every day, since I purchased it. Running errands, picking up chick-fil-a, etc.

Both HWY and urban riding.

I am really enjoying it and getting used to it. I find the trickiest part was turning and shifting at the same time. Locked handlebars makes shifting a bit tough, but I am getting used to it and smoother.

I left the trailer behind, since I had a 1 hr drive home, and it was the first time driving a trike. I need to schedule time to go back and pick it up. Any tips or cautions about pulling a trailer beyond the obvious? I have never pulled a trailer on a bike or trike before.

Nice set up there!

I had the same trailer (CycleMate CM-2000) to pull with a slightly narrower (nearly 6 inches narrower over all at least) Lehman trike, you'll hardly notice it in pulling except perhaps in acceleration or stopping, depending on load. I never shifted with the handlebars in tight turn position, there's no need to. When I drove school buses in the "Hill-city" in the '70s, I learned that once a corner of a curb passed that door, I could crank the wheel to turn. I learned that even with my narrower trike, if I made a turn, if the trike's rear inside most wheel cleared, the trailer cleared due to it's narrower profile. Trailer or No trailer, watch them gas pump islands & pole type guards with the Trike.

 

[dpete]

I picked up the trailer yesterday. It was a breeze. I did not even feel it back there. The previous owner doesnt have the barrel keys to open the trailer. It is unlocked and will not fly opened, for sure; however, I wonder what my options are here.

I would also like to upgrade the lights to LEDs on the trailer. They are pretty dim during the daytime.