H.D. trike steering

[apulizzi]

Has anyone out there with a Harley Tri Glide experienced issues with their bike veering straight while attempting a slow turn? My 2011 Tri Glide did this to me during a club ride. I was slowing down to make a gentle left bend in the road, but the trike seemed determined to go straight, causing me to drift off the pavement onto the shoulder. When this happened, the gravel and sand caused me to lose control and crash head-on into a stone wall. Everything from the neck forward on the trike had to be replaced and is now ready to ride. My left wrist and hand were severely damaged. I hope to regain quality use of my hand and wrist again.

 

[screwball]

WOW, hope you're OK! We just picked up wife's 2011 Tri-Glide this afternoon. She rode it home through the canyons 50 miles. Very twisty ride. She had no problems at all. I was riding her old (now my new) 2009 Tri Glide. It will take some time for me to get used to trike steering.

Good Luck!

 

[msocko3]

I've not had anything like this happen, I've ridden my 2010 easy and hard into corners with no issues.

 

[kkaykk]

Has anyone out there with a Harley Tri Glide had problems with their bike pushing streight while trying to make a slow turn. My 2011 tri glide did this to me on a club ride. I was slowing down to make a lazy left bend in the road. The trike just wanted to go straight causing me to drift off the pavement on to the shoulder of the road. When this happened the gravel and sand put me out off control and in to a stone wall head on. Every thing from the neck forward on the trike had to be replaced and is know ready to ride. My left wrist and hand was severely damaged. Hope to regain quality use of my hand and wrist again.

Really sorry to hear about your misfortune and corresponding injuries. I recently purchased a 2011 Tri Glide and have not experienced any of the steering issues you mentioned. When they were making repairs on the bike was there anything mechanical they could identify as causing or contributing to the steering issues? Hope you heal qucikly. Be safe.

 

[TriGlide]

It plowed on yea. It can happen. Road conditions, Speed, Condition of front tire, Front wheel locked up.To much brake on the front wheel. Can happen on any Trike.

 

[apulizzi]

Thanks for all your support. Nothing was mentioned during and after repairs about anything mechanically wrong with the trike. There was some sand on the road but I did not feel it sliding. It could have been to much braking on the front wheel that caused it to push or plow. The trike seemed to do this before the accident every time I tryed to make a turn under deacceleration. The trike has been repaired and right now I'm waiting on the shop to send off my clutch pack to E.F.M. Clutches in Ohio to fit it with one of their automatic clutches. This will elimenate the use of the clutch lever for right now. Hope that this will put me back on the road. The wrist is still healing.Thanks Andrew.

 

[Dwight]

Apulizzi

Let us know how the auto clutch works for you. Clutch pull is pretty heavy on my Road Glide and it looks like one of these clutches will work with the hydraulic clutch mine has. Thanks for posting this information, I knew someone offered one but I hadn't been able to find it.

Thanks
Dwight

 

[morrishuckeba]

It could have been that the rear end locked up. If that happens you will not be able to steer the front wheel.

 

[KRUZR]

Sorry about what happened with your new 2011 Trike. I'm a new Trike rider, and all winter I combed the internet, including this forum on Trike riding tech. After checking the air pressure in the tires, off I went for my maiden ride. There is a road with three 40 mph turns, so that is where I headed. I took it easy, and of course, it was very different than going through the turns on my Street Glide.

I made those turns at about 35 mph. Then, I went to a large parking lot and practiced some of the Trike Riding Training techniques that I've read about (like Trinity Trikes), starting by riding around (which can't be done with one arm), stop-and-go maneuvers, and figure eights.

After realizing I would not tip over and could hang on to it, I rode in left and right circles until I worked up to 20 mph. When I returned to the three-turn road, I could take them at 40 mph going one way and then repeatedly at 50 mph without pushing it. I don't know what happened during your accident with the Trike, but maybe what I experienced could be helpful?

 

[Chumbly]

Man, it sucks to hear this. If it were me though, when I get back on the trike, I'd head to a large parking lot and try to repeat the scenario, to see if it will happen again. Reason- I wonder if the problem isn't in the differential locking up. Another thing- before I'd spend mega bucks on converting to an automatic clutch, I think I'd try the Pingel shifter (link below)... it might be too late for you though. Heal up and enjoy the ride.:wtg:
Pingel All Electric Up/Down Shifters

 

[Tribe]

I stopped in to have my bike inspected yesterday and told the guy I was converting my VTX into a trike and that is exactly what he warned me about. I guess that happens more than we know. I hope you heal fast bro.