Another front end wobble thread

[littlerider]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and the main reason I signed up was to ask a question about the front end wobble in experience --- although I look forward to taking to other trike owners about other things.

I bought a 1986 Apsencade with a Voyager trike kit already installed. On smooth roads, everything handles fine. A small bump does cause a little "wiggle", but nothing I can't handle. If I hit a place where there are 3 or 4 little bumps close together, I get a major front end wobble that's so bad I have to stop to get the bike under control. It's like a each bump causes a little problem that together gets magnified into something bigger. I've only ridden it at slower speeds (up to 40 mph) because with the problem, I haven't trusted taking it out where I can get to higher speeds.

I took it to a Honda shop and they looked at all of the things I've been told can cause the problem - steering bearing. tire bearing, shocks, tires, etc. They found nothing wrong with any of those. They did find a spring on the trike kit that needed fixed and did that. Unfortunately, two guys rode the bike and say they didn't have any problems with the wobble, yet when I went over and rode it after they fixed the spring, the only difference was in the stability of the trike itself.

After looking around the internet, it seems like one or two things may be causing the problem for me. One person suggested that as a lightweight rider (115lbs) a stiffer front suspension may be the fix. Being new to motorcycles, I have no idea how to go about this. Most other people seem to suggest changing the rake angle with a triple tree at 5-6 degrees. My bike is still sitting over at the shop and I'm trying to find suggestions and advice before I call them back around lunchtime so I know what I need to try or if I should just have it brought back home and giving up. I really enjoy riding, but for my own reasons I need the trike kit in order to do so.

Anyone have any good advice or suggestions?

 

[Solidbob]

A Voyager kit is a strange animal as it has to be adjusted right or it won't ride right, and then it's still weird. Your 86' Honda I would bet still has the original bearings on the triple trees, ALL Balls Racing now makes tapered bearings that will work on the GL1200:
http://www.allballsracing.com/ymmsearch/index/searchfromhome/ #22-1020 is the kit number I will bet installing this will stop the wobbles on bumps problem, follow the directions for torque. If you jack the bike up so the forks hang and there is no weight on the triple tree and front end there should be a slight pressure needed to turn the bars, if they flop side to side those bearings should be replaced with the above. Also check front wheels bearings for slop, then setup your Voyager kit by the book -
http://www.mtcvoyager.com/resources/preload/ Hope that helps.....it's still weird!!! Had one and didn't like the constant adjusting .....

• 1200 Goldwing (B)
• B UNIT: Fits most touring motorcycles

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I'm replacing my All Balls with a new set this coming Monday.
Having my dealer check the Trike over before our trip to PA next week for our Friends On Wheels rally.

 

[littlerider]

Thanks solidbob. When I called the shop, the guy told me the bike still has the stock front end so it sounds like I need to order the rake. Someone else just told me about the All Balls so I'll check them out.

 

[Solidbob]

You do not need to RAKE a bike on a Voyager Kit, if the bike is every removed from the kit it will be dangerous unless the rider knows about it and compensates. May cause a High-Side condition, steers to quick as a bike!!!!

 

[littlerider]

If I do get it raked - which I'm not positive about yet - I won't be riding it as anything other than a trike. If I sell it in the future, I'll have to tell the buyer about the modification and it will be up to them to change it back if they want to ride it without the trike. Something tells me by the time I get around to selling the bike will be so old no one will want it anyway unless they're a collector of old bikes.

 

[John Luciano]

Having ridden a Voyager for a few years myself , I am here to say , that what you have is what you have. If you expect it to be a trike it will never be. The set up is no where near the same. What works on a trike will not effect your set up. Save your money and get a good used trike. Rake won't help. Over preload will help some, but will add stress to the Voyager frame. The shake will always be there if you let your arm relay or let go with one hand. Shake is worse under 35 MPH. You can improve it some by playing with the air pressure in the front tire. Try going up a few lbs. and then down you will notice the shake will move to a slower or faster MPH depending on air pressure. Soften your rear tire or increase preload to 3/4 of an inch. Or more.,

 

[vw driver]

A steering damper has been known to alleviate if not eliminate the wobbles you are experiencing.ThumbUp

 

[littlerider]

You've all given me something to think about. Some people are fully anti-Voyager kits and others seem to think they're just as good as any other trike. Between this and another forum, it seems most people who have the Voyager kit say there are things to fix the problem. I'm going to see what happens with the quick easy adjustments or additions, then decide from there if I should put any more money into it. Thanks for your opinions, ideas, and advice.

 

[stacebg]

sometime the wobble goes away when you get over the 35mph mark
if you are interested we might do something like one of these for you.. independent suspention an electric lean that compensates the crown in the road..

 

[John Luciano]

With that you eliminate the rear wheel ( hard to tell from picture) so it is a true trike.
Anyone that say they are as good as a REAL trike are kidding themselves. They work as good maybe, because you don't fall down , and you do not support the weight. That is were the similarity ends .

 

[stacebg]

With that you eliminate the rear wheel ( hard to tell from picture) so it is a true trike.
Anyone that say they are as good as a REAL trike are kidding themselves. They work as good maybe, because you don't fall down , and you do not support the weight. That is were the similarity ends .

john did you mean pics i posted?? they have 3 wheels and independant suspension

 

[John Luciano]

Yes pictures. I think I talked to you a few years ago at Conn motorcycle expo in Hartford.
can this be one of your early ones

 

[stacebg]

Yes pictures. I think I talked to you a few years ago at Conn motorcycle expo in Hartford.
can this be one of your early ones

nope... my 1st in 79 was the only one without indepenent suspension dont care much for the quad axle on a bike bike.. i had the red one there probably close to 15 yrs...