Confused on straight axle or independent suspension

[Dwight Goodman]

I hope I don't open a real can of worms but here goes, first of all I know I want a trike. I have a 14 Street Glide Special with low miles That I could convert with an independent suspension, or buy a Tri Glide all ready done with straight axle. Or Goldwing, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Etc. with independent. I just don't know what to do. Which one is best????? Thanks

 

[nucseal]

Your can find some info on straight axle vs IRS here:

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/1208-Independent-suspension-vs-straight-axle

As far as which one is better than the other is definitely a matter of YOUR opinion. Need to ride several brands and the Tri Glide to make a inform decision. Take your time and don't rush, like all things its a big investment.

Secondly, there is a lot of information on this form, just do a search for your question.

Ride Safe

Nuc

 

[CrystalPistol]

IRS Independent Rear Suspension, SAS Solid Axle Suspension.

Here, we have straights … and curves. Places like Oklahoma, Kansas, etc … more straights, less curves.

Generally, and I've seen it on rides, IRS lean outwards a little in hard cornering, SAS trikes don't. On a bike, you lean into a curve with the bike, how far you lean depends on speed and turn radius. On a trike, you sit on it and hold on. I like to lean my upper body into the turn, push outside grip and pull inside grip, it helps prevent fatigue. My trike is SAS. With IRS, a hard turn leans the trike outward and there's a wee bit more effort to lean in required. If the IRS is set up for a softer ride, it'll lean more than one set up for less lean via sway bar adjustment (some IRS trikes feature sway bars, but sway bars are almost like tying the rear wheels together like SAS trikes do, so ???)

Both IRS and SAS trikes leave three tracks, you will hit potholes, etc that you can ride between on a two wheeler. Some say IRS ride smoother than SAS trikes, maybe so, but I can't see it based on my rides. There's two car tires on car wheels there, drop either one in a pot hole at 55-70 mph and you can be assured, you'll feel it good. To me, they feel pretty much same then.

IRS rears sometimes have alignment issues, all have adjustments … I have not seen the same with SAS trikes.

Some swear by their IRS, but I like my SAS.

Try some of both.

 

[paws]

We had one of each..both were Gold Wings. We were both drivers. As the driver I found that each gave a comfortable ride. For the very few times I was a passenger on my husband’s solid axle I found the ride to be a little harsh.

But then I was a passenger on my independent suspension just last October and surprisingly thought THAT ride was a little harsh. I sold the solid and kept the independent.

For me I guess the bottom line is...I’d rather be the driver.

As previously said...try both and if you will be carrying a passenger be sure they are along for the ride.