Hydro-plane

[jc1300]

Anyone have this issue? I was reading a Facebook thread and a few of the guys where saying the TriGlide is easy to hydroplane and then likes to go sideways. 25K and never had that happen....anyone?

Thanks - jc

 

[rhino 2]

Anyone have this issue? I was reading a Facebook thread and a few of the guys where saying the TriGlide is easy to hydroplane and then likes to go sideways. 25K and never had that happen....anyone?

Thanks - jc

Never had that happened on my Two T/G's.....Total of about 55 thousand miles...

And i ride in snow and rain....

BUT.....Like my Old Man [God rest his soul] Would always say...;

The inability to see or have a problem is not proof that a problem doesn't exist...:Shrug:

 

[lah2420]

Have not had it happen to me. Been in some real toad stranglers of rain too. As with driving anything, you adjust your riding to fit the conditions and all should be good.

 

[jc1300]

......Toad stranglers...... As with driving anything, you adjust your riding to fit the conditions and all should be good.

I promise to use that term from now on! And never once give you any credit....lol

 

[DK Custom Products]

I have hydroplaned a few times.

A couple of times on deep puddles near the house...not all three wheels at the same time.

Once, and it skeered me, was at the bottom of a hill, and all three were hydroplaning simultaneously for a second or two. We were going straight and we continued going straight...but it was still scary. If it had been in a curve...dunno what would have happened...but I don't think it would have been good. I was going to fast for how deep the water was.

Once in a curve, just the two rear wheels hydroplaned, the front wheel was on the crown of the road. The rear wheels did go a bit sideways (a few inches). When it "caught" it was not a big jerk or problem at all. I was aware it may hydroplane and that is why I had the front wheel on the crown and was going about 1/2 the speed limit.

All that said-

1. My experience is they do not hydroplane easily...it only has happened a few times out of thousands and thousands of miles of riding in the rain. And those times it happened, I am sure I would have hydroplaned in a car or truck. In fact, that road near the house where I did on the TG, I also do more easily in the F150.

2. If there is heavy/deep water on the road, it's gonna hydroplane if you're going fast enough, same as it would with a cage or a 2 wheel bike.

3. Worn tires don't channel the water as well, making hydroplaning easier.

Be safe out there!

Kevin

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Had it happen to me this past Sunday riding back from KY in a flat out monsoon water standing in the roads,scared the snickers out of me,didnt lose control just felt it kick a little bit sideways.Was riding below the posted speed limit.I have used the term frog strangler before.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I had a real scary ride thru Georgia during a tropical storm a couple years ago

My own fault, I was in a hurry to get home

The standing water on the road pulled and sucked the front wheel in

I finally slowed down and tucked in close behind a semi, he diverted most of the water off the road

Can a Harley trike hydroplane YUP

 

[2006gold]

It has happened to me at least two times. Both were during rains (and I believe a large factor) was using cruise control. Now, the cruise control gets cancelled the second I hit rain. Best thing to do is get off the road and under cover until the rain passes and the roads dry a bit.

 

[jc1300]

Have any of you {when it was time for new tires} gone to a better "Rain" tire? If not....why? Thanks

 

[rhino 2]

SOP......Its in all the manuals .....Do not use cruise control in the rain....

 

[1dn5up]

Nope never had it happen.

 

[MDO]

While we're stating the obvious, Jim Croce said don't tug on Supermans cape, don't spit into the wind

 

[jc1300]

So.....Back to the question {and let's assume by now we all should have a pretty good grasp on our riding skills and limitations} It seems that in this group - The general feeling is that it's not anymore twitchy than it should be? My question was posted because I've not had any indication that it is.....at least the way I drive in the rain.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Yep, done that, slipped there. I would say in conditions that TG hydroplaned, a car would have also. FYI don’t use front brake in the snow or certain rainy conditions. It loves to lock up way too easy.

 

[peteg59]

ABS vs Non ABS...

 

[ShapeShifter]

I've gotten some unpleasant reactions from the trike while riding in downpours and unexpectedly hit those uneven patches of pavement, and the rear gets squiggly. This really increases the pucker factor and I have to not over react with sterring, brakes or throttle. Just gradually ease off throttle, no brakes or sudden steering inputs, and she regains grip.....and a mile or two later, my composure returns.(Whew)

 

[DK Custom Products]

So.....Back to the question {and let's assume by now we all should have a pretty good grasp on our riding skills and limitations} It seems that in this group - The general feeling is that it's not anymore twitchy than it should be? My question was posted because I've not had any indication that it is.....at least the way I drive in the rain.

I have not found the TG to be the least bit twitchy. When there is deep standing water (or a chance of it) gotta slow down, just like you would in a cage.

The one advantage a cage may have in those type situations over the TG is that the 4 tires are further away from each other than the TG's 3 tires are, so a smaller pool of standing water may get all 3 of the TG tires hydroplaning, whereas on the cage only 2 or 3 of them may hydroplane simultaneously.

Conversely, a 2 wheel bike is going to be more at risk for hydroplaning, with only 2 tires, and they are in the same track, whereas the TG has THREE tracks.

Yep, done that, slipped there. I would say in conditions that TG hydroplaned, a car would have also. FYI don’t use front brake in the snow or certain rainy conditions. It loves to lock up way too easy.

:clapping: Yep! When there is standing water (or a chance of it), snow or ice. Gotta ride far slower and more carefully...and NO front brake (which is one of the reasons that linked brakes suck).

btw, riding in the rain...wet roads, the TG is fine, very sure-footed, so don't let rain/wet roads get you nervous. Would MUCH rather be on three wheels than two wheels on a wet road.

It is the Standing (pools) water that presents the possibility of hydroplaning.

I have ridden many thousands of miles on wet roads on the TG, and it is very stable, and reassuring to know that in a curve, if there is some oil or dirt that has mixed with the rain, that on the TG the most you will get is a little slip, whereas on a 2 wheel bike the probability of low siding is high.

They were designed to "slip, not flip" and the HD Trikes have that nailed down.

Kevin

 

[jc1300]

Riding in the rain has never bothered me more than the inconvenience part. Now that the butt is sitting on the trike, it's even less an issue. I've never had a hydroplane problem, but then, I don't drive like a putz in the rain either. I am getting close to a rear tire change - Probably go here:

Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus

Extremely high rated tire in both rain and quiet. I'll let ya know when I make the change - jc

 

[DakotaTG]

I've had my 2011 TG hydroplane on me once and it did give me a little bit of a pucker moment. It was the first week of June and the wife and I were on our way back from Idaho to North Dakota and had already ridden most of the previous day in the rain with no problems. We were on I94 about 40 miles west of Miles City, MT and had been riding in rain all morning and early afternoon. It was pouring out and water was pooling up in the ditches and fields along interstate, we hit an area where the wheel tracks were worn in the roadway and water had collected in them which caused the rear tires to do a little hydroplane dance. It was only a second or so but enough to kind of make you set up and notice. We were only doing about 60 and so I slowed down to about 55. We ended up pulling into Miles City about 2:30 p.m. and calling it a day. Wanted to dry out and warm up. Also saw on the TV that night that that area of Montana was getting record amounts of rain and rivers were flooding. We ended up riding in rain the next day all the way until about 20 miles east of Bismarck, ND and about 75 miles from home. Haven't had any other instances of hydroplaning since and have ridden many miles in rain.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Riding in the rain has never bothered me more than the inconvenience part. Now that the butt is sitting on the trike, it's even less an issue. I've never had a hydroplane problem, but then, I don't drive like a putz in the rain either. I am getting close to a rear tire change - Probably go here:

Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus

Extremely high rated tire in both rain and quiet. I'll let ya know when I make the change - jc

Another tire to take a look at is the Goodyear Comfortred. I have about 10K miles on some and am very happy with them. Much better than the stock tires in sidewall flex, which gives a better ride, and just as good, or better in road grip, dry, wet or snow.

Kevin

 

[Texan]

Have had it happen twice. Both times on flat stretches of road after a rain. Lucked out both times and kept it moving down road after a bu&& puckering experience. Did see the after results of a young lady hydroplaning and flipping it a couple times. She spent a couple days in the hospital.

8~\o

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Yep, done that, slipped there. I would say in conditions that TG hydroplaned, a car would have also. FYI don’t use front brake in the snow or certain rainy conditions. It loves to lock up way too easy.

Slid thru an intersection over the weekend,coming down a hill and the light changed locked the front tire up and i swear it picked up speed lol.

 

[rhino 2]

Slid thru an intersection over the weekend,coming down a hill and the light changed locked the front tire up and i swear it picked up speed lol.

Once the front tire locks up it becomes a ski and it will pick up speed a little because now only the rear tires are braking....When i ride in snow....the front brake is mostly useless for breaking...And once that happens on snow you lose the ability to steer also....Till you come off the brakes and slow down...Unless you have ABS......

 

[520fd]

Don't drive faster than your Angel can Fly. Slow down.