First ride on a new trike conversion questions

[Rreffner]

Okay, so I'm having my 2006 Wing triked out with a CSC kit. The trike company is 150 miles from my home. I've never ridden a trike but feel comfortable on 2wheels. What would be a recommended approach when I am ready to leave and ride home. I'll be riding home on I-10, a fairly straight road with good pavement. I don't expect heavy traffic but will probably encounter 18 wheelers along the way. 70 MPH probably. Thanks everyone..

 

[Dirtydan]

Just ride it. But remember that you now have a fat ass. I almost cracked up my sidecar on the ride from Hannigan to the hotel. Forgot how far it stuck out.

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Don't try to lean into the curves, no need in putting your feet down to hold yourself up at a stop light. I'm sure you will get a hundred of other thing to do and not do.

 

[knob]

Spend an hour or so in an area with little traffic to get the feel before you hit the highway. If you have any experience with riding an atv, you will adjust very quickly. Give yourself plenty of room at the gas pump. It's easy to forget how wide you are back there. Have fun!

 

[Gorilla]

do some figure 8's in a parking lot first also to get the hang of turning.

 

[Goldwingrdr]

Don't over steer, just use a light touch, you'll find it very responsive especially with the 6* rake. I'll second the gas pumps, remember how wide you are. I've been on my CSC Viper about 3000 miles now, love it, the more I ride it the better I like it.

 

[kybigmac]

Just take your time and try to relax it will come to you very quickly. I would suggest you not get on the interstate right away,take 2 lanes to start with if you can. When I bought mine I had only test rode 2 trikes,when I left the dealer I rode 10 miles of 2lane ,then 10 miles of interstate. When I was on the interstate with all those trucks my butt was tight but then I got off and rode 120 more miles home on 2lane.By the time I got home I was pretty confident on the trike. As someone else said ATV experience helps. Anyway good luck and ride safe you'll love it !:xzqxz:

 

[Keystone]

Follow what the others have suggested and you will do fine.

Oh, and by the way.................

WELCOME TO TT! ThumbUp

 

[mhgoldwing]

here's a little tip my installer gave me to help with the transition. Find the nearest parking lot, open space, etc. Put your right hand in your pocket. Then use the left to put the trike in first gear and get moving. With only idle speed, do some figure 8's until it feels good. Then use only your right hand and repeat.

Stay off the high speed Interstate until you get a few miles under your belt, including practice stops and starts, turning, etc. Making a mistake at 70 mph could be catastrophic.

If you don't have running boards be extra careful not to put a foot down. Running over your foot is not cool and will draw a crowd instantly.

Have fun and welcome to our world.

 

[Phu Cat]

No countersteering with trikes. If you worked hard to learn that skill now you have to unlearn it.

PC

 

[Fireeater]

All of the above and I am stressing, remember the backend is wider. I say that for you to remember when you pull up to a gas pump to fill up....and when you pull away......

 

[87Trike1200]

Agree with all above - the parking lot practice is very good advice. When on the I-roads and others want to do 70+, let them go around. I would mostly stay right and try not to be, "The Leader of the Pack" ( 50's song for you young guy's - :laugh: ). Best wishes, let us know how you make out on the trip home...

 

[Big Juice]

Everything previously said! All of their experience is very important.......parking lot practice, non-interstate for a few miles, beware of gas pumps and concrete post, don't lean it - turn it (you don't "ride" a trike, you "drive" a trike), keep your feet up and also, remember to stay in the "middle" of your driving lane, so your butt doesn't hang over the line or off the road! It's very easy to forget just how wide you are now, while looking ahead over your 2 wheel motorcycle. Ride safe and be happy, you are a "triker" now!

 

[Lee H. Mann]

It is very easy to ignore and forget just how wide you have become ... regardless !!:OffTopic:

 

[03VolusiaTrike]

Had some learning to do when I got mine. The best advice I received was when pulling up next to something think of your backend being as wide as your "wingspan". Put your arm straight out to the side as a guide for clearance. If you can touch it, it probably can touch your paint, not good. Have fun and enjoy every mile!!!

 

[DPK]

I strongly reccomend that you practice some easy working up to hard swerves in a parking lot until you realize the trike isn't going to turn over unless you do something really stupid.

Dan

 

[Rreffner]

Thanks for the good advice everyone. Look for my first ride report.

 

[WalterM817]

For at least the first 500 miles those speed ratings signs on the curves of a highway are your friends. After you get used to it you can push it a bit but safety first till you know your machine!

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

As stated above,
You are wider now so be careful of curbs, parking at shopping centers, turns, pulling up to gas pumps, pulling into your garage, to name a few.
You will enjoy your new trike and have miles of smiles on it.
If married your wife will enjoy it so much better then 2 wheels. I know mine did.

 

[Catfish]

Looks like everyone has you covered so I'll tell you of my first experience on a trike. My trike was delivered a week before a trip to Gatlinburg Tn from Quincy Ill. Every year my son-in-law, his father who is 74, and another friend take an adventure and this trip was one of them. I still had my Harley, but wanted to test out the new machine and get some experience so away we went. I hadn't driven it more than 5 miles before that trip and I'm here to tell you to keep your top hat on and it will be a great experience. We covered 2500 miles on that trip. I wish at the time, I'd had the knowledge you've been provided in this thread. Won't be long and it will feel like an extension of your body. My wife was 62 before she ever got a motorcycle licence, it took a lot of coaxing. Guess who the b on the b is most of the time. I'm thinking it might have been a mistake.