Curves & Curves

[Marv1]

Have had the trike now for about three weeks now and have took it out the best I can weather permitting. Very happy so far ! Still cautious around curves. Any tips on taking curves on the new tri glide and proper tire pressure ? Probably in my head in may tip.

 

[TheBobs]

Marv, time in the saddle is the best thing. Also mind the yellow signs. If the curves says 35, go 35. Best technique (and I read it here somewhere) is to pull and push at the same time on the handlebars. Say for example you are going to the left: pull on the left grip, push on the right and lock your elbow. Locking the elbow on the outside of the turn helps you keep your body straight. As I'm sure you've figured out, leaning your body does nothing except put you in a position that removes ANY leverage you may have had. Some else here said that they put pressure on the outside floorboard. I have to admit I find myself doing that myself as it also helps keep your upper body straight.
Again, do what the yellow signs say until you have mastered your own technique and learn what YOUR limits are.

 

[screwball]

My wife took to trike like a fish in water. She 'forgot' 15 years of 2 wheel riding in a weekend. Me on the other hand had to think really hard for the first month. Hardest was the leaning thing. Second is that you can't split lanes, gutter run, or hit the sidewalk like I used to do on the Dyna and E-Glide. I've looped the Grand Canyon from California, toured most of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California. There is just no comparison on the trike. Biggest problem you will have is the crowds that always seem to gather around your trike when you park it. Ride it in good health, ride it like you stole it, ride the hell out of it!

 

[Bikerbozo]

I now like seeing how fast I can take curves. That said, if road is tilted out or bumpy, I slow down (or if wife on trike). You'll get a feel for it with practice.
Below is a pic I took when passing though your neck of the woods in Nov.:Joker3:

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

I found that if your going into a turn or curve that I hug the gas tank with the inside of my inner leg to help with the control of my trike

 

[Trent]

Hey Marv...It will come to you..Took me about 500 miles..the break in period..to get the hang of it...Then another 500 to really figure it out...I push my 2 wheeled ridin' Buds thru the curves now,, unless they are behind me trying to keep up!!
Like Bozo, I am not as umm,, aggressive?..crazy?...dumb?..or whatever, when I have my sweet BOB {Babe On Back} with me. Consider getting the rear lift kit from our friend Dennis on this forum. It will greatly improve the handling and the grip on the road thru the curves. Have fun on that new Trike!!

 

[Memnoch451]

I too took a little time to get use to it from two wheels. I got some pointers from a "sidecar" guy and I think the first post pretty much hit the nail on the head. I was told to keep your back straight, push with one arm and pull with the other. For I while I had to think about it but, now I just steer into turns and have fun. ThumbUp

 

[Trent]

Last week my HD dealer let a guy that had been ridin' a two wheeler for 50 years take a new TG for a little test ride.They knew him very well and figured he would be just fine...Bada$$ old school Harley guy his whole life. It was almost very ugly. He could not turn it!!. Almost slammed into a row of used bikes sittin' out front..then almost drove it up over an island and curb. Kept puttin' his feet down to try and stop like he became brain dead about how to use the brake. The sales guy had to run to him and shut off the motor before something worse happened. He was very embarassed as a lot of people including his Buds were watching. They wish they had taped it to put on Youtube but then were glad they didn't cuz they didn't want to embarrass him further. It made for some interesting discussion about switching from 2 to tripod. Not very easy for a lot of people.

 

[Skeet7373]

Last week my HD dealer let a guy that had been ridin' a two wheeler for 50 years take a new TG for a little test ride.They knew him very well and figured he would be just fine...Bada$$ old school Harley guy his whole life. It was almost very ugly. He could not turn it!!. Almost slammed into a row of used bikes sittin' out front..then almost drove it up over an island and curb. Kept puttin' his feet down to try and stop like he became brain dead about how to use the brake. The sales guy had to run to him and shut off the motor before something worse happened. He was very embarassed as a lot of people including his Buds were watching. They wish they had taped it to put on Youtube but then were glad they didn't cuz they didn't want to embarrass him further. It made for some interesting discussion about switching from 2 to tripod. Not very easy for a lot of people.

LOL, I went yesterday to practice at the dealer. They brought out a trike and drove it to the back parking lot. Wouldn't you know it, there was a 18-20 foot englosed trailer parked right in the middle of the parking lot. Oh, this lot is closed off just for their storage. Yes, I aimed right for that trailer after I said "I'm not going to hit that trailer". So, yes its embarrassing to find out you can't ride 3 wheels. I have to have alot of practice! Karen

 

[trikertroy]

I suggest finding a smooth grassy field or some such place and do some burn outs.. panic stops and then maybe a few side slide drifts.. By practicing in a safe place you will know what your trike is going to do when something unexpected happens..

You will develop a "feel" for your top heavy machine...It aint like leaning a bike.. you gotta steer these things..

I, personally, love to blast thru corners and other performance activities.(safely) Trikes can be VERY easy to drive and corner, even for first timers,,,IF it is designed to do so..
There are OTHER types of very decent and often superior trikes then the common conversion styles.

There is NO logical reason for anyone to have to be white knuckled when going around corners..or any other time.. There are cures and fixes (and replacements) for any trikeing problem.. Perhaps your trike just needs to be adjusted and "set up" by someone knowledgable.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Hell, when I was looking, my dealer said they couldn't let me test ride a TG because it would drop the value of a new one. He did let me try their 1970 Servicar with the 3-speed suicide shift (and foot clutch). I got it up to 3rd gear in the parking lot and kept going in a snake pattern just to get the feel of 3-wheel steering. Then I got a proper TG test ride a month later at an open house a couple of hours away.

 

[Marv1]

Thanks for all the tips on the twisties !

 

[Seavon]

Marv, I have been riding my trike now for about 4 months and do not think I would want to go back to 2 wheels. I love the safety and curves hold no fear to me now. I will admit I do get whisful at time when going in a sweeping curve and the 2 wheeler just leans and goes and I am actively steering my 1 ton battlestar the whole way.

 

[adaptolife]

Love my Ghost Wheels!

 

[Burnerboy]

This is wonderful reading for me, cause, as of yet I have not gotten my new triked out bike, back from the shop, I'm getting excited about learning how to ride again, never rode a trike, but decided I wanted to "go for it" and just sent bike in to be triked out.........
trike shop says maybe one more week and I'll have a new motorcycle with three wheels in my garage.............. let the new adventure (learning to ride) begin! epper:epper:

Ronnie

 

[Fearless]

Ride it like you stole it

A quote from Steve. Find a empty parking lot and test out the curves brakes etc. remember push and pull with your arms on turns. Watch fuel Islands you will be surprised how fast it becomes second nature Welcome to our world we love our Triglide ThumbUp ride safely fearless

 

[Texan]

It will come to you with practice. One thing I learned several years ago pushing a side car down the road, which is the same as riding a trike, is like most have said "learn to pull and push at the same time". Also, when you go to make a left turn power into the turn and let off the throttle when making the turn. Making a right hand turn coast into the turn and throttle thru it.

You'll learn that you can out corner and out turn any of your 2 wheeled buddies. I've proven it to all the guys I ride with. Since I've started riding my trike 3 yrs ago (I have Parkinson's) none of my buddies can out do me on Needles Hwy or Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills.

As Paul Hornung use to say, Practice, practice, PRACTICE !!!!

8~\o

 

[Capt.Bob]

LOL, I went yesterday to practice at the dealer. They brought out a trike and drove it to the back parking lot. Wouldn't you know it, there was a 18-20 foot englosed trailer parked right in the middle of the parking lot. Oh, this lot is closed off just for their storage. Yes, I aimed right for that trailer after I said "I'm not going to hit that trailer". So, yes its embarrassing to find out you can't ride 3 wheels. I have to have alot of practice! Karen

Like any motorized bike/trike, your vehicle will go where you are looking. In a curve, remember to look where you want to go!

 

[J.T.M.]

At first I thought I had ruined a good bike by triking it. After several miles I now feel it was the best think I have done in a long time. The curves scared the heck out of me but now I will corner with the best of them. I was told to accelerate through the turn. This sounded dumb because more speed just didn't seem to be the right answer. After trying it a time or two I found the trike takes a set and corners great this way and does not seem to lean to the outside. Try just a LITTLE throttle in each curve and you will see what I am talking about.

 

[2234ME]

Adjusting

I don't know what was harder adjusting to riding the trike or adjusting to riding a trike. The more I rode of course the more comfortable I felt handling the trike. Adjusting to the fact I was on a trike took a lot longer. I slayed the dragon last week, My 03 Road king / Motortrike with newly added Rush pipes Ness Big sSucker, a P.C.-V from Fuel Moto and Andrews 26 cams and a Zook rake kit tore up the rode. My friends on two wheelers couldn't keep up I passed two bikes that pulled over for me. Needless to say my additute got some serious adjusting. I highly recommend the road to anyone in need of a smile

 

[HDB0B]

At first I thought I had ruined a good bike by triking it. After several miles I now feel it was the best think I have done in a long time. The curves scared the heck out of me but now I will corner with the best of them. I was told to accelerate through the turn. This sounded dumb because more speed just didn't seem to be the right answer. After trying it a time or two I found the trike takes a set and corners great this way and does not seem to lean to the outside. Try just a LITTLE throttle in each curve and you will see what I am talking about.

:Agree: Just like any 2 wheeler .... brake before the turn ... accelerate out of the turn. Remember that you can brake in a turn with a trike ...

which is something you do not want to do with 2 wheels.

Experience builds confidence.

Ride behind other trikers.

Bob

 

[GARYD]

I'm glad to see others that know what I know. I've been telling everyone that I can take a turn way faster then any 2 wheeler, but they don't believe me and won't take me up on the offer to test it. All mouth.

A couple years ago I hooked up with a bunch of rice rockets on the BRP. I stayed with them for 7 miles until they turned off on overlook. They gave me the thumbs up as I rode past - they were believers.

Last year I caught up with 3 Ultra Classics on the Dragon. I think they tried to get away from me, but I wasn't having any of that. I accompanied them to the finish - just to see if I could.

I wouldn't try that if I had just bought a trike, but after a few thousand miles, not a problem.



I do get a lot of comments on how fast I can change lanes.

Depending on the curve/turn, I usually power all the way through it.
Sometimes, just for fun, I freak out the riders behind me by "leaning way over" in a tight curve.

epper:

 

[Moe55]

Couple years ago we did a charity run for a friend. Half way there was a rest stop, one women asked us about the trike and how we like it. We all headed back and some how a car got in the group. Finally got a straight way and passed the car everyone followed me. We had lost the main group so kind of acceded the speed limit to catch up. Did not know where the end was and not from the area. Any way at the end the women that had talked to us came up and said thank you. Your welcome but what did we do? She said she wants a trike but her husband said they can't go around a curve or keep up with a group. She said when you passed the car he could not keep up with you so he can't use those excuses anymore.

We all laughed!

 

[Lizzardo]

It is definately different. You have to unlearn a few things from your 2-wheeler days. Other posters hit it well - push/pull on the bar to aid in turning and adjust your speed accordingly. Because you don't have the benefit of leaning in to the turn, it is a bit more manhandling in curves and speed is your biggest control factor. I have noticed I still do have a tendency to lean in sharper curves but I've adjust my lean to opposite - if hard turn left, I tend to shift my weight to the right (in my mind, logically, I'm keeping the outside wheel from lifting). One unique trait I've found with the trike is that under load (passenger and/or gear) it does haven a tendency to want to plow straight ahead so again, speed is your primary control factor.

I can relate to the poster about the 2-wheel trial - I sometimes take the demo's out for the local dealer and what i see a lot of is remembering you have a wide load back there so you don't have 3 sections of lane to work with - you have 1. You can slide slightly inside or slightly outside, but you will start crossing the center line or hitting the shoulder with the back wheels. I also notice that people tend to hug medians in the curves and they get VERY close to riding that rear tire up onto the median. But everyone I've ever taken out on a trike has come back wanting one.



And yes, it certainly is a crowd pleaser.

I get the same thing when I park mine. Come back out and there's a bunch of people looking it over and taking pictures. Then i grab my helmet out and put that on and the crowd goes wild... My friends call them my paparazzi squad now. Just as long as they don't touch, all is good.

 

[Hogdoc]

WOW! All great information for a new trike owner. Thanks, because curves are my biggest hurdle at this point.

 

[Bo and Doc]

:Agree:
It's like driving my vintage Porsche 911 at the racetrack,
"Squeeze the gas, save your A$$"

 

[Jack Klarich]

Look thru the curve and throttle thru it I do not lean
Stay off the brakes un less u dont feel comfortable JMO

 

[DK Custom Products]

:Agree:
It's like driving my vintage Porsche 911 at the racetrack,
"Squeeze the gas, save your A$$"

"When in doubt, throttle it out."

The first time I test rode a Tri-Glide I commented that it handled like a Porsche or a go-cart.

I have a blast on my Tri-Glide. Love the way it handles.


As far as how to ride a Trike, while there are many similarities between a 2 wheel motorcycle and a Trike....a Trike is Much More like an ATV or 4-wheeler when it comes to How to ride it, than it is a motorcycle.

I ride both, a Trike and 2 Wheelers...about the same # of miles each year. Many times both on the same day.

I don't consciously countersteer on a 2 wheel bike and I don't consciously push/pull on the Trike. Both or instinctive from so much riding, and my body knows, on an unconscious level, which one I am on and acts accordingly.

If one has not ridden an ATV 4-wheeler to get that type of riding into their muscle memory, then practicing in a big empty parking lot would be a good way to build muscle memory, PLUS I would not be thinking consciously about how it is the same or different than a motorcycle, I would just practice with it for what it is. That will probably lessen the possibility of confusion.

Hope that makes sense.

Kevin

- - - Updated - - -

WOW! All great information for a new trike owner. Thanks, because curves are my biggest hurdle at this point.

Practice...and then you can do this...If you want.






or this!







Kevin

 

[Gone2Three]

"When in doubt, throttle it out."

The first time I test rode a Tri-Glide I commented that it handled like a Porsche or a go-cart.

I have a blast on my Tri-Glide. Love the way it handles.


As far as how to ride a Trike, while there are many similarities between a 2 wheel motorcycle and a Trike....a Trike is Much More like an ATV or 4-wheeler when it comes to How to ride it, than it is a motorcycle.

I ride both, a Trike and 2 Wheelers...about the same # of miles each year. Many times both on the same day.

I don't consciously countersteer on a 2 wheel bike and I don't consciously push/pull on the Trike. Both or instinctive from so much riding, and my body knows, on an unconscious level, which one I am on and acts accordingly.

If one has not ridden an ATV 4-wheeler to get that type of riding into their muscle memory, then practicing in a big empty parking lot would be a good way to build muscle memory, PLUS I would not be thinking consciously about how it is the same or different than a motorcycle, I would just practice with it for what it is.


Kevin

Kevin you are such an inspiration to me! I can only hope to ride with such confidence on those twisties at that kind of speed. For now I'll continue to work on it...maybe one day ThumbUp

 

[GARYD]

Kevin, that's the best description I've heard lately. I'm like you, I ride the trike and 2 wheelers and I don't even think about what to do on each. Just years of riding does it for me. Everyone kids me, when I ride a 2 wheeler, about forgetting to put my feet down.