Honda VLX w/Voyager kit

[gasman]

Helped a friend buy a used bike/trike because she wants to get into riding and she figured this would be a good way to get started. It's a 97 Honda VLX with a Voyager conversion kit. We picked it up in NE CO and I rode it home SW CO solo. I'm an experienced two wheel rider and have had a side car so knew somewhat what it would be like. But this thing scared the bejezus out of me. Twice it almost pitched me off of the bike, once in a corner doing 45 mph it started pogoing, bouncing back and forth let off the throttle and braked lightly stopped and settled down, and once on a straight doing 55 hit some rough pavement (not exceptionally rough) and it started pogoing again much worse than in the corner. A real short changing experience. Also, this thing is always having the suspension upset at the slightest rough bit of pavement. HELP I don't want her to ride this unless and until I can get this straightened out.

 

[Konrad]

I have zero experience with the Voyager but have heard those same comments many times previously with the Voyager being the chief malefactor of the "training-wheel" kits. I wonder if the rider's feeling of lack of safety or instability is actual or simply perceived as I have not heard of anyone actually dumping.
And of course, there is the problem of rake, or rather, the lack of it. If one is to convert between two and four wheels, one cannot add a rake kit (which isn't going to work with two wheels) and that is going to make cornering and steering in general much more difficult.

 

[gasman]

Thanks for the reply. I was the one that rode it home 400 plus miles and I can guarantee it was actual and not perceived.

 

[Marc H]

First off I have no hands on with a voyager trike but from what i've read about them the first thing I would do is check the preload.If there isn't enough I believe it could cause what you are experiencing.Maybe Zook or someone with more actual experience will chime in with better info.

 

[gasman]

Will check that out as well as tire press. Thanks

 

[John Luciano]

After owning a 1980 Goldwing with a Voyager on it. I can tell you a few things. On a tight corner it is not uncommon for the inside wheel to ride A foot off the road while it is spinning. This alone can give you that unbalanced feeling.
The motorcycle will tilt in the opposite direction as a 2 wheeler , giving you the feeling it will toss you. Speed bumps can bottom you out. In some situations the drive wheel can leave the ground and spin. They are known also for breaking welds. What to do. 1) I would check all the welds. Especially the ones on both sides of the axle . I actually reinforced mine with gussets. 2) I would reset the preload. Drive the center drive wheel up on to a board 1" thick. You will notice both wheels are off the ground. Loosen the rear u bolts and allow the outer wheels to touch the ground. Tighten the u bolts. This should help a lot of the uneasy pogo... Please let me know if this helps...
Btw I owned one for 3 years and 5,000 miles . Wife rode on it once and never again. I traded it for a trike and we ride thousands of miles on it. She even falls asleep on it.

 

[gasman]

Thanks John, I torqued the steering head bearings down just a touch today and it helped a bunch. I'll try your recommendations and let you know how it works.

 

[gasman]

John, I just now rolled it up on a 3/4 pc of plywood, both Voyager tires are on the ground. Tried to rotate them and they're grounded enough that it will move the entire unit forward or backward with no wheel spin.

 

[John Luciano]

That's as good as it gets... If it feels unsafe to you that s the way it feels. It will not feel like a trike. When I went from Voyager to trike it was night and day.did you check all the bolts and welds?

 

[gasman]

That's all on the list for tomorrow.

 

[shadow]

use to have a Voyager kit and I will never ever do that again..........there dangerous and the frame could break and you would never know it , like mine did until you take the belly bracket off, we found it in time when we made the which to the DFT Trike conversion..................Voyager Kit............not recommended................

 

[old stoner]

I had one on my 1800 goldwing and I hated it!!! Like the other members stated I was afraid it was going to tip over on corners !! It was a big piece of crap and they are not considered a bike or a car in the state of Washington!! I ended up getting a Champion trike kit, built it myself and my wife and I love it!! I can light the tires up on corners if I want to and I almost run over bikes I am riding with!!

 

[gasman]

Figured out what the prob was. I Torqued the steering head bearings down a bit more and it now rides reasonably good. At least I'm not afraid to ride the damn thing anymore. Has what I would consider normal shakes etc. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[gasman]

Torqued the steering head bearings and it's all good now. Thanks everyone.