I have a 2004 gold wing w/motortrike conversion. Does anyone no how much air pressure I should use in the rear airbags? I'm afraid if I use too much they will burst. I have been useing 25psi for 1 & arround 35psi for 2.
Handeling corners & curves?
- Thread starter Okie
- Start date
I don't have that issue, but back when I rode Honda atc's, it was lean to the inside, weight on outside peg, start wide and tighten it up, and nail the throttle! My bike has a trike conversion that allows it to handle like a 2-wheeler. I can drag the floorboards. Ghost Wheels.
Re: Handling corners & curves?
I've had my 99 Valkyrie Interstate with Motor Trike kit since 2000, and lifted the inside rear wheel twice when taking a corner stupidly fast. The first time, I thought I was gonna die, but it just settled down fine, and the second time, I knew it would be OK, and it was. Happened a long time ago, and don't expect it to happen again. I believe in keeping to the outside of the curve; you can see further ahead that way. Sometimes I shift my weight to the inside, sometimes I don't, but there is no problem with keeping up with the two wheelers in the twisties. After reading these entries, I'm going to try and analyze what I do while riding. At this point, I don't think about it as much as I think about the traffic, road conditions, etc. Thanks for all the previous posts, it's a lot to think about.
I've had my 99 Valkyrie Interstate with Motor Trike kit since 2000, and lifted the inside rear wheel twice when taking a corner stupidly fast. The first time, I thought I was gonna die, but it just settled down fine, and the second time, I knew it would be OK, and it was. Happened a long time ago, and don't expect it to happen again. I believe in keeping to the outside of the curve; you can see further ahead that way. Sometimes I shift my weight to the inside, sometimes I don't, but there is no problem with keeping up with the two wheelers in the twisties. After reading these entries, I'm going to try and analyze what I do while riding. At this point, I don't think about it as much as I think about the traffic, road conditions, etc. Thanks for all the previous posts, it's a lot to think about.
Do what you are doing now. Adjust the pressure up and down as you need it to find out what PSI works (feels good) to you. Some where around 35-45 for two up riding.
The max that MotorTrike recommnends is 100LBS. however you'll never use that much. Stay under the max PSI and you won't have to worry about hurting the air bags.
Ride safe,
Mike
Puff
Contributing Member
That's exactly what I do on my Valk trike (Mr Bumbles) and it makes cornering a breeze... Also, 2 wheelers don't get away from me
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To me, experience is the only way to get the feel of taking sporty curves. Remember, whether 2 wheels, or 18... LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO BE after the curve. Don't look just ahead of the trike. If you use your eyes to look at the place in the curve where you want to be, your brain will put you there! It's kinda like "eye hand coordination", exept this is "eye and BODY coordination. I lean into the turn all the time when I am trying to negotiate a curve at speed. Another trick I learned from racing is, You can get rid of that "Oh My God!" feeling in a tight turn, if you apply the rear brakes lightly, keep the EXACT throttle, or a tad less than when you started the turn, and progressively add pressure after going into the bend.
Don't freak and lock em up, don't let off the gas, just apply enough rear brake pressure to be able to feel the rears getting loaded. Then keep that pressure, adjusting more/less as needed, till you come out the end of the curve. This Pre-loads the braking system, as well as the suspension, and adds another control input by you, as to speed, and keeps the trike biting into the turn. If you practice this, and I could'nt get it at first, you will immediately recognize the solid feel I'm talking about. Keep your eyes up ahead on the exit of the curve, and it is a great feeling! Once I mastered it, I can keep up with the Harley and 1800's no probleme'!! Be safe, and try it! My wife even says the trike feels "more in control" when negotiating curves at speed! jimsjinx
Don't freak and lock em up, don't let off the gas, just apply enough rear brake pressure to be able to feel the rears getting loaded. Then keep that pressure, adjusting more/less as needed, till you come out the end of the curve. This Pre-loads the braking system, as well as the suspension, and adds another control input by you, as to speed, and keeps the trike biting into the turn. If you practice this, and I could'nt get it at first, you will immediately recognize the solid feel I'm talking about. Keep your eyes up ahead on the exit of the curve, and it is a great feeling! Once I mastered it, I can keep up with the Harley and 1800's no probleme'!! Be safe, and try it! My wife even says the trike feels "more in control" when negotiating curves at speed! jimsjinx
- Admin
- #69
I know this is a bit off topic for your question, though not your thread title, so for the sake of safety I want to say to every trike owner reading this: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS take it easy in the curves until you really get used to how your particular trike takes curves. I know of several trike owners who gunned it through curves and ran off the road. One good friend of mine was on his new trike, hit the curb in a turn, flipped and rolled it down a 15 foot bank and got seriously hurt when the trike landed on top of him. Once you get thoroughly used to your trike, you can take curves with the best two wheelers, but it takes time to adapt to steering, not leaning through curves.
Maury: +1. Secret is to go in with a steady throttle & light on the rear brakes. That 'solid' feeling you talk abt is priceless. Learned that on the track with 2w also! Letting off the gas is just as bad on 3w as on 2w. Easy does it!
And...go take a course....it really helps!
And...go take a course....it really helps!
I had a 2008 GL 1800 Champion Trike with straight axle. A very good ride plenty of power and handled great I could corner with the two wheelers no problem. I bought a 2011 Tri Glde in July and love the trike. Wing would drift a little in curves but Harley seems to have more traction and the tires really hold the road. Anyone else notice this or just me. gbsb
Slow down! After reading the replies to this topic, it seems obvious that some of us are maybe hitting the curves too hot. Just like cars, different trike designs are going to handle a particular curve at different speeds. Take the time to learn your bikes limits, and operate within them.
Thanks to everyone for a superb posting. I too had my fears on cornering when I bought my trike in 2011. I'd been riding 2-wheels for over fifty years and had always followed the bike through curves -we call them "bends" in UK - and also widened the curve by "wide entry-clip the apex-wide exit" procedure. The group that I travel with - all 2-wheelers - average 160 kph, topping 190 kph frequently. I've definitely lifted the inside wheel on many occasions trying to keep up, and now lay back in the curves, hoping to catch up on the straights. It's exhilarating to say the least, and at my age (78 years young) sometimes exhausting. But i love every moment of it. Thanks again for the most useful advice. As they say, keep the rubber on the roads!
skuuter
One of the Origionals
Yep, GREAT Advice. Every Rider, Their Abilities, Experience, Every Trike, Every Area Road Type, etc. vary a lot. Just ALWAYS keep in mind:
NEVER Over Ride Your Comfort Zone or Abilities...if You're even "slightly" stressing at the pace You are riding, then, You are riding Over Your Head...!!!
...and I can never stress this enough: When on twisty, curvy roads, ALWAYS look as far through EVERY curve as possible...ThumbUp
I just rode my 1st trike 1200 miles from PA to FL and absolutely loved it; at least on the highway, which I usually avoid on my 2 wheel Wing. In any case, I noticed as I spent considerable time in the passing lane, the trike wanted to ride off the left lane; as a result, serious cupping...?
skuuter
One of the Origionals
No, I cannot go as "Fast" on my Trike as when I'm on a Sport Bike...Yes, I can go "really close" to about the same speed as I can go on a Cruiser. I, too started out "leaning" on the Trike, but have since, pretty much given it up (maybe ever so slightly in really tight/narrow corners at fairly high speeds), I simply adjusted to the Trike's "different" lean characteristics through a corner...ThumbUp....."Wizard": I could easily do what You described when I had the stock Dunlop front radial tire on my Trike. After installing the "Rear" Michelin Pilot Activ Bias-ply, it moved the "break-traction" point on a stutter bump in a corner to a much higher MPH...also if You do break traction, it re-hooks much quicker. I think a lot of this seems to be due to the rear Tire's wider contact patch, stiffer side wall, and quicker turn-in (You don't have to cut the Bars as sharp to get the same amount of turn/easier to square the corners).....ThumbUp
Staying up with the two wheelers was the reason I went with the Independent Rear Suspension (IRS). I have a MotorTrike kit on my 2005 Goldwing. Love it and I DO stay up with the two wheelers....regardless of what they are on.......and I am 75 years old.
Staying up with the two wheelers was the reason I went with the Solid Rear axle. :Shrug: I have a Champion kit on my 2007 Honda VTX 1800. Love it and I DO stay up with the two wheelers....regardless of what they are on.......and I am 68 years old.
Trikes tend to follow road crown. Mostly the problem is two lane roads. So trikes are frequently set to pull left a bit, to counteract the tendancy to go right on two lane roads.
That makes the situation on the left lane of a four lane divided highway worse. There's no cure, you either pick one or the other problem to address, or compromise on both.
Beware of any loose gravel on climbing curves. They can cause your bike to skip or slide to the outward apex. AS for keeping up with a two wheeler, acting a damned fool I raced a buddy on a two wheel Harley at speeds in excess of 100mph on the interstate. Knowing him like I do, that he would not give up, I backed off. No need to get killed. At that speed it feels like the bike might want to slightly dance around a little bit. I don't reccommend doing it and I have quit it. I am 75.
Logan "Rawhide" Jenkins
Lebanon, Tennessee
Good comments, here.
When turning, I lean whatever is comfortable; passenger, too.
On sharper turns, I lock my elbow straight, then use my shoulder to control the steering.
I installed a GW 1500 rear tire on the front of my GW1800, installed backwards, and found better performance, but had a little hydroplaning during a freak/heavy rainstorm where I should have just pulled over to wait it out. MUCH better mileage, too!
Front tire presure is crucial to avoid cupping, and have better control.
On sharp turns, squeeze the tank with the knees, put weight on the pegs, and reserve some push/pull on the handlebars in case for those unexpected bumps, decreased radius turns, etc.;
At 65, and after many years of pushing the limit in the twisties, I feel satisfied that I can now retire, enjoy the scenery more, ride safer and hopefully longer on the trike.
When turning, I lean whatever is comfortable; passenger, too.
On sharper turns, I lock my elbow straight, then use my shoulder to control the steering.
I installed a GW 1500 rear tire on the front of my GW1800, installed backwards, and found better performance, but had a little hydroplaning during a freak/heavy rainstorm where I should have just pulled over to wait it out. MUCH better mileage, too!
Front tire presure is crucial to avoid cupping, and have better control.
On sharp turns, squeeze the tank with the knees, put weight on the pegs, and reserve some push/pull on the handlebars in case for those unexpected bumps, decreased radius turns, etc.;
At 65, and after many years of pushing the limit in the twisties, I feel satisfied that I can now retire, enjoy the scenery more, ride safer and hopefully longer on the trike.
The independent rear suspension (IRS) helps on my MotorTrike equipped 2005 Goldwing with a 2010 kit.....rake kit installed. I keep up with them all accept the crotch rockets who are dumb enough to try and go faster than I can.
I am 76, so age does NOT matter.
I am 76, so age does NOT matter.
OK, here goes. I've read all the posts and I agree with most of them. John Luciano seems to have all the bases covered. Now it's my turn. I recently purchased a 2002 Gold Wing Trike with a Hannigan kit. Previously I had a 1991 Gold Wing Trike with a solid rear axel. I rode that trike for a few years. I felt it was time to upgrade to Independent suspension. The club I belong to had a rally this past week in Springfield, Mo. Two of the club members are extremely aggressive riders that everyone respects and do not dare challenge them on any type of road. I wanted to know if my choice of trike kit was the right choice so I decided to challenge them. I was quite surprised I was able to keep up with them and at times I had to apply my brakes to avoid hitting one of them. After the twisty ride came to an end, quotes from both riders went like this...."I WAS BLOWN AWAY".....I KEPT LOOKING IN MY MIRROR THAT DAMN WHITE TRIKE WAS STILL THERE". Needless to say I was very pleased with the performance of the trike and my over coming the fear of a couple of curves I thought I wouldn't be able to negotiate....whew!!! Also I wanted to mention I have the Michelin Pilot rear tire (reversed) on the front. I have 15,000 miles on the tire and it still looks almost new. And lastly....I'm 78 years old and still going strong.
Dr. Joe
Dr. Joe
My only comparison is with a friends 2011 tri glide that i put several hundred miles on while in tx this past winter----
The VTX 1800 Champion was MUCH better handling all the way thru than his TRI Glide.
I would give the quality of the tri glide"s chromed parts a better mark than the HONDA, he also gets better mileage than my VTX
skuuter
One of the Origionals
I have no problem keeping up with Other Trikes and Cruisers on my 2010 Gold Wing 1800 Motor Trike IRS, and occasionally give a Sport Bike a run with a poor rider at the controls. Having ridden many, many Trikes and several different Brands, I still prefer IRS over Solid.....just a Personal Preference.....ThumbUp
It's so good to read so many posts from the "older" riders! There is a lot of experience there! I, too, am 78, can't believe it at times, although the body tells me so, so many times! I ride a Goldwing GL 1500 trike with a mixed bunch of riders on everything, from 750's, to 1600 Valkyries. I'm the only Trike-rider, and you can only find out about the "art of cornering" by riding! In the early days I was often riding the outside 'gutter' the only thing keeping me on the road being the curbing! I've learnt how to handle the curves now, and can ride through them with the best of the bunch of solos! Understand how your bike reacts and take it easy to begin with, you'll be 'tops' in no time!
I have a 2005 GL1800 with a MotorTrike IRS. ONLY the crotch rockets can out run me in the curves and I ride with another two-wheeler GL, a Kawa 2000 and a big Harley.
I strongly believe every rider has to be comfortable with his approach to any aspect of triking. While you have a lot more control than with a 2-wheeler, you are still flying down the road on a rocket with nothing more holding you down but your weight, hands and legs. Personally, I like to push things a bit--but not too much! While leaning doesn't have the same effect as on a 2-wheeler, the fact is you can dramatically change your center of gravity.
The aquashields help with this technique because you can place the entire area of your feet on a solid surface. I can take curves on my MotorTrike conversion much faster than the 2-wheel Harley dressers. I can actually get the rear wheel on the outside of the curve about 2 inches off the ground. At that point, I am not in danger of tipping over, but I do not have enough strength to turn hard enough into the curve to counteract the centrifugal force, so that's my limit.
As for cornering, I like to spin the back end around on the country blacktops. There are different effects depending on how hot it is and if there's any sand or gravel, which tends to accumulate at the intersections, but again, I have no desire to push it to the point where I would "spin out". I'm not sure you could safely do either of these maneuvers with an independent suspension (I have the 2005 conversion, which has a straight axle). Some of my riding buddies, most of whom have Harleys, are amused by what I do, some are amazed and others are frightened, but I feel comfortable with sticking to my limits and not doing anything I can't handle.
The aquashields help with this technique because you can place the entire area of your feet on a solid surface. I can take curves on my MotorTrike conversion much faster than the 2-wheel Harley dressers. I can actually get the rear wheel on the outside of the curve about 2 inches off the ground. At that point, I am not in danger of tipping over, but I do not have enough strength to turn hard enough into the curve to counteract the centrifugal force, so that's my limit.
As for cornering, I like to spin the back end around on the country blacktops. There are different effects depending on how hot it is and if there's any sand or gravel, which tends to accumulate at the intersections, but again, I have no desire to push it to the point where I would "spin out". I'm not sure you could safely do either of these maneuvers with an independent suspension (I have the 2005 conversion, which has a straight axle). Some of my riding buddies, most of whom have Harleys, are amused by what I do, some are amazed and others are frightened, but I feel comfortable with sticking to my limits and not doing anything I can't handle.
I picked up a 2002 GW Lehman trike last month. This is my first trike and 11th bike overall. Most of my bikes have been sport bikes and this is the first road sofa for me. Gotta say it does drive a lot different initially than my sport bikes and all the pro's and con's have already been discussed in detail. I like the stability (my balance isn't that good any more) of the trike and lets me keep riding.
A few weeks back I went for a ride with 3 other friends that were all on sport bikes. Here is Wisconsin they are building a lot of roundabouts. After a good day of riding we were all kinda hotdogging back home and going through a 2 lane roundabout I took it a little too fast on the outside of another buddy of mine. I am not sure how high my inside tire came off the ground (probably only a few inches) but I found out right there the back axle isn't posi which is a good thing. As soon as the tire came off the ground the bike RPM's went high which made me immediately release the throttle. It didnt matter anyway because the bike didnt accelerate since the tire that was off the ground just spun faster till it re-contacted the ground again with a slight chirp.
Lesson learned on my part and if I do this again I will be leaning into the turn for sure and maybe taking it a tad slower.
A few weeks back I went for a ride with 3 other friends that were all on sport bikes. Here is Wisconsin they are building a lot of roundabouts. After a good day of riding we were all kinda hotdogging back home and going through a 2 lane roundabout I took it a little too fast on the outside of another buddy of mine. I am not sure how high my inside tire came off the ground (probably only a few inches) but I found out right there the back axle isn't posi which is a good thing. As soon as the tire came off the ground the bike RPM's went high which made me immediately release the throttle. It didnt matter anyway because the bike didnt accelerate since the tire that was off the ground just spun faster till it re-contacted the ground again with a slight chirp.
Lesson learned on my part and if I do this again I will be leaning into the turn for sure and maybe taking it a tad slower.
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