Getting the hang of it

[USNrider]

The Aero 750 trike arrived on Wednesday this week and my wife couldn't have been happier. She's a little nervous to take out a brand new trike in our neighborhood (too much through traffic) so I took it for a spin. My initial thought was, holy crap- 'm leaning and the bike isn't turning. After a quick adjustment to recalibrate the way I thought about driving I got it around the block a few times and was able to get to the point our son could ride with me. It still seemed like I was being pitched to the outside off the trike as I took a curve, but I manged to get through the neighborhood with our son without crashing and he had a blast. Last night after getting home I took it out again, this time pressing back against the backrest and leaning my body into the curve to maintain balance. Man is it a hoot. I won't be converting my wing any time soon, but it was a blast to ride. It was already low on gas so once I hit reserve I returned home to get some money and we filled it up. Lots of people looking at it which means there will be plenty of people looking once we get the paint job we want on it. epper:
Pictures can be seen here: Bike transformation pictures by blackaero1 - Photobucket

 

[Nana]

What fun! So glad you are enjoying it . Get your wife out in an empty parking lot to start with. Let her get the feel of it there, and it won't be long before you have to sneak out in the middle of the night to get your turn on it, as she will be having too much fun to share! LOL!

 

[John Luciano]

Try the left had in your pocket turning and doing fig 8's in a parking lot . don't for get to push and pull and also the pushing arm can have the elbow locked . Read the beginners thread on here lot of tips . and last ( well almost last ) Give the trike gas in corners just like the 2 wheeler . the more adjusted you get the more gas you can give it now last HAVE FUN and don't get too many bugs in your teeth. Smile with your mouth shut. I could see the grin on your face from here

 

[USNrider]

Thanks, I'll be taking out to a friends house today to show it off and install a CB so her and I can talk to each other while riding. He lives in a neighborhood that has virtually no traffic and is also right around the corner of an old MSF range that isn't used anymore, but is almost always empty so hopefully I can get her on the range to at least start with straight lines riding and such.

 

[krooozn]

I too am still getting to know the world of a trike, it's fun and it's awkward all at the same time. Most everything you ever knew about bike riding goes out the door with a trike! But practice makes perfect and the more you take it out, the more comfortable it gets. Also I have found that it actually handles a lot better and easier if you take it out on the highways instead of riding the backroads like I do here in Suffolk. I was terrified of getting out on the highway at first, but now it's becoming more of a preference for me.....anyway....your wife will really enjoy riding her trike once she gets the feel of it....Good Luck and ride safe....

Anita :Trike1:

 

[USNrider]

Oh yeah, its a huge learning evolution. We're out here in Va Beach so not too far from you. I had it on the highway today since I took it to work to show it off and play with it some. There was only one oh crap moment. While in a curve (not a turn, just a road with a curve in it) doing about 40mph I hit a bump with the front wheel and it went airborne, the trike went a little crazy, but once traction was regained all was well. Just not something I've ever experienced on a two wheeled machine. The benefit my wife has is she has not been an operator of a bike long enough to get confused by the new feel as it will all be fairly new to her. Although she has ridden plenty on the back of both the Aero and the Wing with me.

 

[Smoken'JOE]

One of the things I have found with is leaning my head and shoulders into a curve. You then don't get the "thrownout" feeling and it feels good too.

 

[skuuter]

I know this is "Old News" from riding 2-wheel Motorcycles, but.....

Look as far through the curve as possible...!!!

Believe it or not, it works even better for Trikes. I tend to look farther through a turn on the Trike now than my 2-wheeler, and rarely notice the "backward feeling" lean while doing so....ThumbUp....

 

[USNrider]

Yep- figured that out already. Did some reading on various sites and even took a peek at the GWRRA trike class doctrine. Now I just gotta advance the timing 4 degrees and change the oil. I've learned that the nice cobra exhaust I had on the bike before it shipped has a very nasty headache inducing tone around 70mph so once I do the engine work I'll see what I can do to simmer down the exhaust note.

 

[USNrider]

I know this is "Old News" from riding 2-wheel Motorcycles, but.....

Look as far through the curve as possible...!!!

Believe it or not, it works even better for Trikes. I tend to look farther through a turn on the Trike now than my 2-wheeler, and rarely notice the "backward feeling" lean while doing so....ThumbUp....

Oh yeah, huge impact on the trike. The first day I wasn't doing this but as I got more comfortable on the trike I was looking further and further into the curve and it was much more enjoyable and I was able to move a tad faster through the curve with a solid level of confidence I wasn't going to get into any trouble.

 

[Juju]

What a beautiful trike the Shadow makes--she's going to have such a great time on that machine!

Head up and looking through the curve is great advice--just like on 2 wheels. I've also found that on tight curves, I like to shift my weight slightly toward the inside. Maybe just my imagination, but the trike seems to take the curves better that way.

 

[skuuter]

GREAT Lookin' Trike....my Wife has a White One.....ThumbUp

 

[whentwothree]

What fun! So glad you are enjoying it . Get your wife out in an empty parking lot to start with. Let her get the feel of it there, and it won't be long before you have to sneak out in the middle of the night to get your turn on it, as she will be having too much fun to share! LOL!

I can't wait to get the wife on the CSC TRIKE, She rode & owned a honda 450 Rebel and a SPORTY hugger 883, she was not as comfortable on two as she was on the rear, so far I luv it :10: I do not have (1) ,I don't like about it. anyhow for a great group Thanks for all the great reading & advise I WANT TOO RIDE ............epper: Working on my second tank of gas so thats aprox. 150 m.

BYECYCLE

 

[Mgammon]

We are new here and are still learning, or trying to learn this little gal. Got my wife a
95 GL1500 Roadsmith so she could continue riding after her back surgery. Love it, but
I still feel like I am trying to ride a bucking bronco at time .. The bike also seems to be
pulling to the right if I release pressure on the handlebars. Is this normal? If not, what
do I look for .. Pressure in tires is within spec and I contribute it to me not sitting
perfectly right on the scoot .. If it is something I need to look at seriously, let me know.
I want to master this thing as soon as possible so I can take Deb to the parking lot and
start getting her trained .. She has about 13 years on 2 wheels, but this is going to be
totally new for her ....

 

[Nana]

Marshall, I'm not sure what you mean by tire pressure is "within spec". If it is spec for the rear (car) tires...... it is WAY too high for the trike, and you will bounce all over the place! Keep the front tire pressured up just as you do on a 2-wheeler, but the two rear tires should be dramatically less than spec. Begin at about 20 psi and experiment up and down. If your wife is going to be primarily riding alone, I'd suggest you go lower ---- I keep mine at about 17 psi for maximum comfort and ride quality. Most of the riders here keep their rear tires around 20-22 psi even if they are riding two-up.

 

[DonFor]

Marshall welcome to trike talk. I have a 2008 Roadsmith , Triked by trike Shop Daytona, their recommended tire pressure for rear tires 36lbs and the front 40 lbs. I ride with these specs and have no problem. Again welcome.

 

[skuuter]

Marshall welcome to trike talk. I have a 2008 Roadsmith , Triked by trike Shop Daytona, their recommended tire pressure for rear tires 36lbs and the front 40 lbs. I ride with these specs and have no problem. Again welcome.

Not necessarily advocating this, but, out of curiosity, have You ever tried running around 20 lbs in the Rears. Mine came with 36, but after experimenting, I settled on 20...Amazing difference in Ride, Bump Absorption, and Road Feel.....ThumbUp

 

[Mgammon]

Thanks folks ... Yes Nana, was going by what the side of the tire says .. Running a
Dunlop Elite II in front and it is set at 40psi .. Rear tires are Cooper car tires and they
are at 36psi .. Will drop them in half and see what that does ..

I think the pull to the right may be our torn up roads .. Lot of heavy truck traffic and
about 80% of the roads are gouged on both sides with a high middle. Makes driving
really stupid, but even on the concrete interstate at 70mph, there still appears to be
a little right drift if I take the pressure off the handlebars ... Will check fork pressure
tonight and make sure that is even ... Tks all ..