Handeling corners & curves?

[Okie]

Yesterday I went on a ride with a couple of friends and we went up a very neat long sloaping hill that has several curves. Being a new triker, I slowed down and took the curves a lot slower than both of them did on their Harley Ultras.
Is there a trick to handeling corners? I have an 04 1800 goldwing with a Trike Shop Kit. I kinda lean my weight to the inside of the curve. If riding double should the rider learn to lean also?
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

 

[The Wolf]

Okie,

I learned to ride the curves (Bends) coming down a very very tight mountain pass in Switzerland. My tip is to go wide into the curve and cut in (out & in). I found this gives you momentum to get through the bends. I am a bit daft but I also lean as it makes it easier for me to steer with the rake. This may not be the way others do it but it is very successful for me as we have hundreds and I mean hundreds of roundabouts here.

 

[John Luciano]

Lean is good Push AND pull on the bars and give it gas just as you did on the 2 wheeler. I can get my inside tire to smoke <LOL>

 

[hdrider]

Once you get the hang of it do you feel you can stay with or outperform a good rider on 2 wheels?

 

[Okie]

Wolf, that makes sence to go into the curve from the outside and move into the inside. I can see where that would work.

The rake sure makes it easier in the curves. Before I had the rake installed it seemed to want to wash to the outside and that was a spooky feeling. I'm getting a little more comfortable with it after riding the last three days. Today we didn't have very much wind and it was really great riding.

I was also wondering if a trike properly ridden could keep up with a touring bike. I know I can't keep up with the sport bikes because I couldn't do it on my harley, and really didn't want to, especially at 64 years Old.

Okie

Tulsa, Ok

 

[Ozarkryder]

The Wolf and John pointed out, do lean into the curves. This wil reduce the feeling you are being pushed to the outside of the curve. Also helps to push down on the outside footpeg - that will also help counteract the push away from the inside of the curve. Also it uses your leg to keep you upright instead of arms, mid and upper body muscles. Helps make it easier to steer. Wolf suggested taking a curve out & in. They teach that in the MSF riding classes. It is not only smoother line, you can also see further through a curve, so it's safer. Technical term is a "late apex". Generally good riding techneque on 2 or 3 wheels.

The MSF also taught "Slow, Look, Lean and Roll" to go through a curve.

We don't lean, but slow slightly, look through the curve then power through. As john mentioned, use both arms - push and pull. If I have the backrest on, I also use that to push against. Again, not using the body muscles as much.

hdrider axes:Once you get the hang of it do you feel you can stay with or outperform a good rider on 2 wheels? Yep. A good trike pilot can keep up with most of the riders out there. I was going down the Pig Trail (locally famous for it's curves) to camp at a rally, and I kept having to brake in the curves for a pair of sportbikes ahead of me. They'd pull away on the straights, I would catch up on the twisties. They were dragging pegs, not hanging off on the turns. (I would guess good riders, not racers) They weren't too happy I was keeping up with their race replicas.

They were even more surprised when we stopped and saw I was pulling the Bunkhouse camper. I've always been able to keep up with cruisers and touring bikes.

Sometimes a bit slower from a stop becouse of the extra weight, but right there wanting to pass in short order.

 

[Okie]

Don, I've always told my wife to stay uprignt on the bike and not to lean. I want her to become part of the bike so I know how much to lean.
Is that backward to what ought to happen on a trike?
My thinking is if she leans (shifts weight) to the inside of a curve it will help hold the trike down on the inside turn. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

 

[Nana]

Okie, I have never felt anything like the trike lifting on either side as I take turns, and I have no trouble keeping up with--and pushing--the two wheelers I ride with. I think you will find that it will just take a little time and a few miles, but suddenly you will realize that you aren't even worrying about it. You are just having fun and your trike is hugging those curves and having fun along with you!

 

[John Luciano]

My rule of thumb is give it 1,000 miles. Don't be discouraged before that. Some catch on in way less time. Seems the less you rode before the trike the easier it is to learn to ride a trike. If you were not an aggressive 2 wheeler u will still be able to be an aggressive 3 wheeler. I have a DVD of a 2 wheeler trying to keep up with a trike on the Dragon and he didn't do too good. Scraped pegs all the way threw it.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

My .02

The FBG will handle very well doing the twisties. The only time I am aggressive is on the curvy roads, that's just fun for me. Otherwise it is limit or +5 or so.

Maybe you guys can help me with one of my spooks since this thread is about the same stuff.

My front wheel doesn't seem to want to stay hooked up or on track and will push, even slide, to the outside of the curve. If you hit a bump in a curve it will get worse so you really have to be mindful of just how much the front wheel can take. I'm not really talking about a lot of speed either.. maybe 45 to 50 through a "normal" mountain curve on a blacktop road. Less than 40 through a really tight curve.

Info:

Tire is stock HD that was on the Ultra and almost looks new.

42 pounds of air

4.5 rake kit

Rear tires @ 24 lbs

Adjustable coil over shocks @ #1 setting

Air suspension set at #50-55 for curvy roads and #40 for comfort riding. (on board comp)

I have a true track as well, left it on during the conversion.

Would this be normal for you guys too or could the back end be out of alignment causing a push?

Left turns are worse than right hand but not much.

 

[Okie]

I think the 1,000 miles is a good idea. I'm noticing that now I've ridden the trike about 400 miles and things that felt spooky at first seem natural now.
My Trike Shop Kit has independant suspension so it would take a lot to lift the inside tire.
I'm not a hot rod rider. I've ridden since I was 13 and I'm now 64 and knock on wood I have never had a bike of any kind slide out from under me, but I've always had a fear of that happening. I just sold my 06 Heritage Softail Harley and I never once scraped the pegs in a turn on that bike. To me it's not fun riding with the fear of wiping out so I don't ride that way. You may beat me through the turnes but I'll catch up on the streight.
I'm really loving the trike. Finally got to ride it yesterday without much wind and it was fantastic. Supposed to rain most of the week here in Oklahoma and cold next weekend. But it's getting closer to good riding time the trees are starting to bud.
I really appreciate all the good advise I've received on the forum.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

 

[John Luciano]

I had that hippity hop with mine until I put the rear BIAS PLY tire up front. If you are running a Radial get it off. The side wall is much to soft. it is for cornering . I know you say you r cornering . YES but not using the side wall at all like you did on 2 wheels . Your front tire ( TYRE that's for WOLF ) is like skipping and sliding . Look at a picture of a trike going around a sharp curve ans a 2 wheeler. BIG difference.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

I had that hippity hop with mine until I put the rear BIAS PLY tire up front. If you are running a Radial get it off. The side wall is much to soft. it is for cornering . I know you say you r cornering . YES but not using the side wall at all like you did on 2 wheels . Your front tire ( TYRE that's for WOLF ) is like skipping and sliding . Look at a picture of a trike going around a sharp curve ans a 2 wheeler. BIG difference.

That makes a lot of sense too John. At first I thought it due to the crown of the tire until it wears flat for the trike. A tire with less sidewall height may be worth looking at too. My back tire was about gone so I canned it but it too was radial.

I have read a few things about replacing the front tire to another type... will have to review that. Any other Harley trikes have the same issue?

I know on a car you don't mix bias with radial and since I live at the foot of the mountains that seems to be the majority of my rides so you learn real quick about an 80' cliff drop off and handling. Spooky at times.

 

[John Luciano]

On a trike it is OK and desirable to have Bias front and Radial rear. try it you will love it. TRUST ME

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Absolutely

 

[Ozarkryder]

Don, I've always told my wife to stay uprignt on the bike and not to lean. I want her to become part of the bike so I know how much to lean.
Is that backward to what ought to happen on a trike?
My thinking is if she leans (shifts weight) to the inside of a curve it will help hold the trike down on the inside turn. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

On a 2 wheeler, staying upright on the bike is leaning, as the forces are going straight down through the vertical axis of you and the bike as it heels over in a curve. If you (and your wife) lean into the corners on your trike, it will let you ride longer without fatigue because you aren't fighting the centrifugal force as much.

 

[ben721364]

Lean is good Push AND pull on the bars and give it gas just as you did on the 2 wheeler. I can get my inside tire to smoke <LOL>

It's not really the same technique as on a 2 wheeler. You want to push the bar on the outside and pull the inside bar. It might help to lock your elbow on the outside, especially if you do not have a rake kit. In other words, you steer as opposed to counter-steering a 2 wheeler. Hope this helps.

 

[John Luciano]

Good one BEN the old lock the elbow trick . Been doing for so long I forgot I did that. Also been off the BABY since October and the old CRS is always present ya know

 

[cjmitch]

Once you get the hang of it do you feel you can stay with or outperform a good rider on 2 wheels?

Leave them in the DUST.

but seriously
The push and pull is a great technique, but do not use your arms.
Instead lock your arms and push the bars in the direction you want to go.
this takes the pressure off your shoulders, and lets you use your body weight to turn the bike.
If it feel like your being thrown, (to the outside of the turn) STEP on the INSIDE foot peg of the bike.
this will make the trike practically sit up straight, and squat in to the turns

"Don, I've always told my wife to stay uprignt on the bike and not to lean. I want her to become part of the bike so I know how much to lean.
Is that backward to what ought to happen on a trike?
My thinking is if she leans (shifts weight) to the inside of a curve it will help hold the trike down on the inside turn. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok "

I have found that if a turn is particularly tight I also tell my wife to put pressuer on her inside foot peg, and lean in ght direction also.

 

[John Luciano]

I tried going threw twistes with my feet up in my front cruiser foot boards seemed to help . as you said I pushed with my right arm and my left foot . experiment you will find a best way that works for you. then you will saying come on sporrt bikes I will show you who's boss. <LOL>

 

[hdrider]

I'm looking forward to learning the proper way to ride a trike... but I'll tell ya.. I ride with a couple x motor cops from the LA area. If the day comes I can say bring it on to them and even keep up,, I'll be a happy camper. I'll be honest that I can't begine to keep up with those guys if they want to leave me on the 2 wheeler LOL.

 

[John Luciano]

I saw the Conn State Police DRIVE/Ride . they were our escort for a ride and I can agree with you on that

 

[Okie]

Ben, that does help. I realized in reading your post that I'm already locking my elbow on the the outside arm in a turn.
I do have a 5.5 Degree Rake and it makes it all that much easier to handle the turns.
Thanks.

I love this forum! Can't tell all of you how much I appreciate you comments. I just need some good weather now to ride the thing. It's going to be 27 here tonight and the high tomorrow is 45 and not going to be warm for the next week. OH WELL, this is March.
Okie
Tulsa, OK

 

[Goldwingtrike]

Man, it is a good feeling to be reading all this. I have been preaching this for over three years and was beginning to feel I was out in the void all alone. The first time I rode the Dragon up in the Carolinas and Tennessee I was "told" to follow the two wheelers since I could not stay up with them!!!! After the first 5 miles of me honking my horn for them to go faster, they pulled over and let me by. I was down at the store a good 5 or 6 minutes before they got there. The funny part was these guys had been riding motorcycles for the best part of their lives and I had been riding less than two years.

Garland

 

[Okie]

Well it's finally happened! I went for a ride today with my friend that bought my 06 heritage soft tail and we rode over a few roads that I had already ridden the trike over and I could tell that it was much easier for me to take the turns and curves.
I've got about 1500 miles on the trike and the lifting feeling I had on even easy curves, now seems to be gone.
I've worked at the things that I've been taught on this forum and it has really helped.
We had a beautiful day here today with the temps in the upper 70's and very little wind.
We are planning a three day trip from Tulsa to Hot Springs, Ar and then up to Harrison, Ar and then to Eureka Springs, ar. Planning on going the 20's of April. Now we are just hoping the weather is good. Lots of good twistie roads in this area and beautiful to boot.
Again, thanks for all the help everyone has been.
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

 

[John Luciano]

Like anything it takes practice. The first few times it is scary. I am always asked ( after of course how much is it ) aren't you afraid it will tip over. I think this what is in the mind of the new trike rider and they don't turn or lean as much as they should . Once you get past that and try to lift that inside wheel ( I still have not accomplished that task ) u will begin to enjoy the twisty roads. Glad you got thu it OKIE. Ride safe and don't run over the 2 wheelers they can't help going too slow.

 

[Okie]

John, you are right about the tipping over. A couple of years ago we were in Santa Fe, Nm and a trike turned a corner in front of me and his left rear tire was about 2 inches off the ground. He wasn't going that fast and it wasn't a 90 degree turn, more like a 45 degree because his street wasn't square with the street we were on. I think that picture has been in my mind all this time. I have no idea what kind of kit it was but it was on a goldwing.
I'm not a dare devil and I know that at my age (64) it takes thing longer to heal than it used to so I can glide along and enjoy the ride just a smuch as the guys that have to drag the pegs.
My old saying "It ain't the destination, it's the journey"
Okie
Tulsa,OK

 

[John Luciano]

I will bet it was an add on Voyager kit you saw . I did it every time I took a sharp corner when I had mine. I had to get rid of that out of my mind when I started on the trike. I don't think even a sharp turn at 25MPH would do that on a trike .
I would love to hear from others if they ever lift a wheel .

 

[Mikethetrike]

I will bet it was an add on Voyager kit you saw . I did it every time I took a sharp corner when I had mine. I had to get rid of that out of my mind when I started on the trike. I don't think even a sharp turn at 25MPH would do that on a trike .
I would love to hear from others if they ever lift a wheel .

One of my favourite rides is to Hartside Top Cafe in Cumbria. The Cafe is situated at the top of a 1904ft pass and is one of the best rides in the North of England. I have been riding this route for many years on solo bikes and the last 3 years on various trikes.
Part of the route, about 30 miles, is of scenic views with twisting roads and some very tight hairpin bends.
My trike is a Gold wing with a CSC conversion which I ride relatively quickly but there is no way I could keep up with performance bikes on this route unless they are old farts like me trying to keep within the speed limit. However I am competitive and don’t like to slow other people down, so I have on many occasions taken one of hairpin bends a bit quicker than I should and the inner wheel has come off the ground, much to the wife’s dislike. The Wing is probably the most stable of the trikes I have owned but they all have a limit to what they can do, I think it is best to know this limit and then ride within it.

 

[Boscoporp]

Hi John,

After reading all the imput on this turning and leaning I am confused. I ride a 2003 Honda GW Trike with a MotorTrike conversion. I have a Michelin Activ pilot on the front reversed. I have BF Goodrich steel belted radials on the rear. This is how I bought the trike. I do NOT have a EZ steer rake at all.
Is this the correct combination? I , too have a little fear in fast curves!

If I am on a curve going to the left. Are you saying go in wide and turn short?? Push against the curve with a right straight arm and pull with the left? In this example what do I do with my feet and knees??

Yes, I agree with you about the lifting of a back tire. i was in a GWRRA Trike Class and we had a dozen trikes going around and around a parking lot attempting to lift back tire. We did it fo twenty minutes and I watched and rode with a rider. We NEVER saw a wheel off the ground!