Belly Pan on a GL1800 trike

[Scalp Hunter]

Has anyone here installed a belly pan on a gl1800 trike. I am seriously thinking of getting one. What is your opinion and or experience with them pro or con. I am aware of the potential heat issue.

John

 

[wingking51]

I have one on my trike that I had on when it was a 2 wheeler. I put it on mainly to protect the plastic antifreeze bottle from punctures. I can't tell any difference on the amount of engine heat coming off the bike. Because the metal is not thick, there is no issue with lower ground clearance.

 

[fatman]

I have one leftover from the two wheel days. I had something punch a hole in the anti freeze bottle when we first got the bike. I have compaired temp on my bike with others and have not seen any difference.

Fatman

 

[TRIKERBOB69]

installed one on the wing when it was a 2 wheeler, its the vented model and it works great on the trike as well, I am sure I would never have made it up to alaska without it on the trike, no heat issues, can change the oil and filter and do not need to remove the cowl. They are definitely a must upgrade given hond allowing the antifreeze container hang out in the open, SHAME ON HONDA for doing that:yes:

 

[bette]

Can the belly pan be fitted with the floorboards installed ?

 

[Comanche]

Hi John and Blondie,

I had a belly pan on my trike, but while riding in Oklahoma or Arkansas, I went over a hidden curb at a gas station and tore part of the pan. It rattled while cruising down the highway. I signaled to the rest of our group that I needed to stop. I shoved the edge of the pan back up and rode for another 150 miles until I ran over some road kill.

Had to endure the rattling for another 30 miles when we pulled into our motel. There was a Yamaha dealer right next door and they removed the pan for me.

I have checked with two installers and Jim Foster at KPS. All say it is not necessary for a trike and it could be my imagination, but I think the trike runs a tad cooler without the pan.

 

[Boscoporp]

Yes, i have a stainless steel vented belly pan. A friend of mine didn't and a speed bump cost him close to $2,000

 

[Scalp Hunter]

Thanks Stan, That's exactly why I am buying one. Too many speed bumps and I almost always bottom out.

John

 

[TRIKERBOB69]

Yes, i have a stainless steel vented belly pan. A friend of mine didn't and a speed bump cost him close to $2,000

BINGO,,mine save me several times on the alcan, not even a degree difference in temp. I have CSC ground effects and its fitted right up tight:yes:

 

[Yellow Trike]

I have the belly pan with the louvers - wouldn't ride without it.

 

[George Lewis]

Ditto Yellow Trike. It gets a little warm in So. Texas but my needle never moves. Would not be without one. Check the GL1800 web site and see the hole in the gentleman's oil pan due to a rock. His cost, $600.

 

[Tango]

Got one on mine also. Just like Bob's but a red one. CSC with the ground effects. Wouldn't ride with out one. Oil filter protection as well as the anti-freeze over flow bottle. Tom

 

[lectric]

The GL1800 is water cooled and adding a pan will not make any difference in temps. But it may save your oil filter, crankcase or coolant resevoir. Cheap insurance in my book. Had it on my 2 wheeler and if my new 2 me trike doesn't have one it will soon. JMHO

 

[Scalp Hunter]

Ordered the louvered stainless steel belly pan from wingstuff. it's supposed to be here on the 16th, and will be instaaled within 2 hrs of reciept. I'm amazed that I got away as long as I have without one. I've thaken some pretty serious hits to the underside and the trike gods have blessed me so far. This should have been the first thing I bought. but then again, maybe if I lost 50 or 60 pounds, I wouldn't need it.

 

[Buddy Moore]

Ditto Yellow Trike. It gets a little warm in So. Texas but my needle never moves. Would not be without one. Check the GL1800 web site and see the hole in the gentleman's oil pan due to a rock. His cost, $600.[/QU

I agree:yes:

 

[Maverick]

I have always had a belly pan on all 3 of my goldwings. Wouldn't be without it. Protects the oil filter and everything in the front along with the plastic bottle in the rear. Also, it keeps the bottom of the engine clean. I think with the vented ones your engine is going to get dirty. The more dirt on the bottom of the engine, the less cooling you have. I now have it on my '09 Hannigan trike, no increase in temp, no problem installing with running boards. You can get a cheap one from Wingstuff.com and does the same job as the more costly ones.

 

[cirbtap]

I had a belly pan installed while it was still a 2 wheeler.
Now that I have aqua shields too, it still fits oaky.

happy trails to all.

Pat

 

[Papa Zook]

A lot of guys I know run the stainless vented pan and like them. Good choice John.

 

[skuuter]

Got it on yet John......

 

[Scalp Hunter]

Installed it last monday. was not as easy as I thought because of the ground effects. took almost 3 hours, but now that I've done it, could redo the job in 45 minutes or less. fits perfectly, and of course it's not visible unless you lie on the ground and look under it. Note: if you're thinking about installing one they recommend wearing gloves. I didn't, instead I spent 30 minutes sanding the edges. Didn't help, I wound up with about 25 razor like "paper cuts" on my hands. Lesson learned: Wear gloves.

 

[skuuter]

Installed it last monday. was not as easy as I thought because of the ground effects. took almost 3 hours, but now that I've done it, could redo the job in 45 minutes or less. fits perfectly, and of course it's not visible unless you lie on the ground and look under it. Note: if you're thinking about instlling on; they recommend wearing gloves. I didn't, instead I spent 30 minutes sanding the edges. Didn't help, I wound up with about 25 razor like "paper cuts" on my hands. Lesson learned: Wear gloves.

Posted Pics yet.....???......THANKS....:wtg:

 

[BIG DENNY]

Love the site but still havnt got a answer to which is the best trike conversion as ask in many post. Am i missing somthing or all of them so so. Eimends braken coming lose i thouht that they were a direat fit and that would mean no adjusting it should fit to frame asbelt. Man am i lost Love The site just a old man tring too get back in the saddle again BIG DENNY

 

[Gorilla]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>BIG DENNY</strong>
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<div class="message">Love the sit but still havnt got a anser to which is the best trike converson as ask in meany post. Am i missing somthing or all of them so so. Eimends braken coming lose i thouht that they were a direat fit and that would mean no adjusting it should fit to frame asbelt. Man am i lost Love The site just a old man tring too get back in the saddle again BIG DENNY</div>

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</div>Welcome aboard. There is no good answer to what is the best conversion. To many variables. To each their own.

 

[lectric]

The trike you get will be the best one. That is what most are telling you. Go ride as many as you can then decide. As for belly pans here's a link to a great bargin Honda Goldwing Parts and Accessories I just installed mine today after hitting a rock yesterday. Thank goodness there was no damage!!!

 

[Comanche]

Scalphunter, Heard from the Grapevine that Blondie, not you put on your brake pan. I had one put on today. I also had brake pads installed. Regarding the belly pan, if you get one and want to install it your self, get the TULSA model. It just slides on. The others have to be bolted on.l

 

[Jenkinsrawhide]

You can get aluminum or stainless steel. I chose the 2 peice louvered stainless steel and consider it a good investment. Think I paid in the sixties for it and had a mechanic buddy put it on for me. Consider what is going to happen if you puncture your oil filter by not having one! Play it safe and invest in one. No heat problems that I know of, but mine are the vented two peice.

 

[TRIKERBOB69]

Installed it last monday. was not as easy as I thought because of the ground effects. took almost 3 hours, but now that I've done it, could redo the job in 45 minutes or less. fits perfectly, and of course it's not visible unless you lie on the ground and look under it. Note: if you're thinking about installing one they recommend wearing gloves. I didn't, instead I spent 30 minutes sanding the edges. Didn't help, I wound up with about 25 razor like "paper cuts" on my hands. Lesson learned: Wear gloves.

yup biggest issue is cuts on the razor sharp edges, read the reviews on wingstuff, covered that issue in my review and others have as well, its a lesson you learn fast even if you do not read them, dang things work like a charmepper:

 

[Muleskinner]

Just installed my vented pan from Wingstuff 2 days ago. Was a bit of a pain to do as I have a Hannigan kit with floorboards. You are supposed to remove the lower covers and mount the pan onto the same 4 bolts the lowers are bolted on with. Only problem is that you can't get the panels off with the floorboards on, but if you really pull hard, you can force the panels off just far enough to slip the pan in behind it, then bolt it all back in place. Non-gentle persuasion required!!!!!<br />
<br />
I was surprised, after reading the above posts, to find that all the edges had already been dressed to where there were no sharp edges. No gloves and no cuts. Maybe I just got lucky.<br />
<br />
Has anybody noticed a strong odor after riding with the pan? It smells a little like burning plastic, but I checked and the pan it did not appear to have a plastic film applied. With the weather we've been having, I haven't ridden very far, but I'm hoping the odor goes away after it gets "burnt in".

 

[tommy loso]

While taking the trike off of a trailor,I got hung up and could of cried real tears watching anti-freeze go all over the ground..It would be a hole lot cheaper to get the pan before this happens to you..We lost a day and a half on vacation to the mountains..I kept putting it off--live and learn...tommy loso

 

[Muleskinner]

I've now put over a thousand miles on my baby since adding the belly pan. The odor I mentioned earlier is gone and I have not noticed any increase in running temps at all. Great investment.