2014 TriGlide Handeling

[ShapeShifter]

Bummer that you don't have a class available locally. When I brought my Tri home, yeah the first few turns were a little pucker-y. I had 3-wheeler ATV's back in the '80's, so I was fairly comfortable on the Tri, but you can't kick the ass end out on the turns like you can in the dirt. After going thru the class, I was feeling a lot better. They had a couple loaner bikes, one was a Ural with sidecar. It was fun flying the sidecar around the circle. With the ATV's we got so we could ride on 2 wheels a long ways, the big fat tires made it easy. Ain't trying that on the Tri...

I took the Three Wheel Riders Course last summer, it was sponsored by Can-Am. Just went to their site, then choose my state and select a location closest to me. What was nice was for registering with Can-Am they gave a hefty discount. Two day course only cost me $75.00.

We has a session on leaning (always heard ya didn't lean on a trike).... we road a oval course right to left, then left to right, four laps ever increasing speed and we had to lean aggressively to our left and right. What a hoot! Completely surprised me, but it works. That's not how I ride day to day, but nice to know there's a technique I can use if the situation calls for that. I certainly got my monies worth and then some.

 

[Douglas44]

It should handle left turns exactly how it does right turns. The variable is probably you. If the trike truly does handle differently in left than right turns, something is awry with the trike and it needs to be fixed. (possibly alignment?)

Go to a big empty parking lot and do some S turns, same radius left and right and see if it is really the trike handling differently, or if it is the (usually) wider left turns and right turns that have you feeling differently.

OH, and make sure that both rear tires have the same PSI in them. I recommend 22 psi. It is much more stable and comfortable at that psi than at 26.

Here is a '14 Tri Glide in left and right turns, going at a good clip-



Kevin

I was told by a motorcycle instructor that this turning problem comes up a lot in his training classes. He and some other instructors think it may have something to do with being right or left handed . He couldn't give me any actual science based data, but said that he has seen it enough to get a feel for it from his students.

In racing school they talk a lot about looking through the turn as far as you can , never look down . Another thing they teach are ways to avoid "Target Fixation" Meaning looking at an objector not looking far enough through a turn. The only thing you can do is practice, go slowly and think about where you want to go . Then add speed as your comfort level improves. Please remember , "the public road is not a race track" .

I personally took some sort of refresher training every two or three years , and believe firmly that it saved my bacon .

One of the best classes I took was "Ride Like a Pro" . Taught by a former motor officer .

Good luck and keep practicing.

 

[Cagmo]

If somebody around here offered a class, I’d take it in a heartbeat!

Absolutely. The State of Illinois has a good program of free rider courses throughout the state. I have taken the experienced classes every three years when I was on two wheels and always came away a little smarter. Plus the insurance break was nice, too. That said, Illinois no longer offers trike/ three-wheeler classes because they can't get even 5 people to sign up for the course. I guess all of us graybeards are just too knowledgeable. Old dogs and new tricks. Cagmo.

 

[Douglas44]

Absolutely. The State of Illinois has a good program of free rider courses throughout the state. I have taken the experienced classes every three years when I was on two wheels and always came away a little smarter. Plus the insurance break was nice, too. That said, Illinois no longer offers trike/ three-wheeler classes because they can't get even 5 people to sign up for the course. I guess all of us graybeards are just too knowledgeable. Old dogs and new tricks. Cagmo.

Here's a possibility; When I wanted to take the Ride Like a Pro course , I got several of the guy's I rode with to commit, contacted the guy who runs the program to register all of us , got a slight discount . The class we took was in Fl. led by Jerry Palidino , the originator . Good class, I also found out he was setting up franchise owners . You might contact him and see if anything is available in your area.

Another tip; our local city ( Winston Salem) has a motor unit, they put on a one day seminar then a ride to evaluate the students. Pretty cool , 10-12 riders all escorted on a "Brisk paced" by them . Got lot's of stares , and looks by the public. All in all a fun day with local motor officers.

 

[Nbaque1]

Corner steering

I find that in right hand curves if I push steering with left arm and vice versa it helps me with staying seated then pulling with right hand on right hand curves and vice versa.

 

[paws]

Hey Nick! Welcome to TrikeTalk from west Texas!

I have ridden the Cloudcroft and Ruidoso area for many years...always a pleasure.

Post often and ride a lot!

 

[consitter]

I find that in right hand curves if I push steering with left arm and vice versa it helps me with staying seated then pulling with right hand on right hand curves and vice versa.

Yep. You can use centrifugal force to your advantage. Use less of your strength that way.

 

[ShapeShifter]

Charlie, If you're interested in taking a Three Wheel Riders Course, it's available at a course near you in Westfield, MA. You would need to register with Can-Am, then sign up for the available date that's best for you. Some location and course dates are in the snapshots below. Hope you're enjoying the Tri Glide!ThumbUp

 

[Charlie2014]

Thank you for all responses.

I did go to a parking lot to see how Trike handled in all kinds of turns etc. The Trike felt the same with right or left hand curves. Since posting my original 'left hand sweepers' bothering me, we put another 100 miles on our Tri Glide. All total, we have 200 miles and, yesterday's ride went a long way to getting faith/comfort on the Trike. It dawned on me ( don't know why it didn't before), that it's the Crown of our roads..on Left hand sweepers, the right side on the trike is on the low side of the road, plus centrifugal force and made me feel uncomfortable. In short, tips and suggestions by members of this forum made our ride much more comfortable and went a long way to start loving the trike. The pluses of the trike vastly outweigh the few things I miss. I still have my 01 Ultra and the idea was to keep both Ultra and Trike...decide which is going to be sold. I'll probably give our Ultra to my daughter/son in law just as I did with our 83 Roadster.

I will experiment with tire pressure ( it's now 22) and, air shock pressure until I can save enough to buy and install better shocks. At almost 70 with medical problems, the Trike is keeping us in the wind..We had a ball yesterday.

Thanks to ALL!!