1997 Heritage Springer Trike

[Gorilla]

This sight is awsome !! I just read all the posts on springers and trikes. That was a little dissapointing to read all the cons about springers on trikes. I am triking my 93 Fatboy, WAS going to take the HD springer off my 84 FXST and put it on the trike. But not now. O-well I will still have a two wheel springer to ride also.

Welcome aboard Tomturtle. We aim to provide data for members to use in their decision making process. Remember most posting are from their personal experience.

 

[ThirdWheel]

Tomturtle - Welcome. If it is set up correctly you shouldn't have a problem with the springer.

 

[hat]

Hey Third Wheel,
Can you tell me what I need to do to fix this wobble? Rake the neck? Extend the springer rockers? Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Thanks,
Hat

 

[Greydog]

Have you tightened the neck bearings yet? I understand it's common practice to tighten the bearings enough to reduce the "fall away" to about one swing of the forks. Some of the wrenches here can tell you exactly how much fall away you should have on a trike but I can't remember.

 

[hat]

Yes Greydog, we have tightened the neck bearing. Thanks,
Hat

 

[Loose Nuts]

G'day Hat.
You're on the mark with both (or either) the rockers and the raked trees reducing trail and reducing the wobble.
If you have too much rake, your handle bars will flick left if your right rear wheel is lifted. Let's say you ride off the street and into your drive way. If you approach it square, your steering will be fine. If you approach it at 45 degrees, your steering will flick right as your right wheel hits it, and left as your left wheel hits it. This can be displayed by pushing on your bikes left engine case, your handle bars will turn right. Push on your right engine case, they will turn left. Reducing trail will reduce the amount of leverage your rear wheels will have over your handle bars.

I've read your posts, and I can see you know what trail is, and you understand that either the rockers or trees on your springer front end will alter your trail. If I'm not mistaken, with a telescopic front end, you should be looking for between 2 and 3 inches of trail. With a springer front end, I'd change it with the rockers, and I'd aim for 3 inches, because when you hit a bump with a springer front end, your trail will be reduced more so than with a telescopic front end, and if you have too little trail, your front end will steer too quickly and could over steer badly. Too much trail is uncomfortable but rideable. Too little is dangerous.

In summary, if I were in your shoes, I'd drop my trail back to 3 inches, measured with me sitting on the trike with a full tank of fuel. Also, if you set it up so the centre of the rear hinge of your rocker sits slightly lower than the centre of your front axle, your suspension will work better than if the rocker hinge sits higher than the axle. A steering damper will help. My trike front end has way too much trail, 6 inches or so. It was dangerous, and used to flick violently from left to right over bumps. An $800 ohlins steering damper made it rideable........ so much so that I haven't fixed my trail yet. It doesn't try to spit me off anymore :Yes2:

Hope this helps....

Rick.

 

[Pup]

I have a springer trike and lowering the rear end by 1 inch (shocks) made a ton of differance. It still wobbles at low speeds but not as bad as prior to the drop.