Is it just me, or.....

[rvance]

Just picked up my new-to-me 2008 GL1800 MotorTrike Adventure. It has about 12,000 miles on the conversion. My issue is that when on a bumpy road (I-40), it will start rocking side to side and even get the front end involved in the action about 30% of the time. I have tried various settings for the air bags and tire pressures. When I started out in NC it had 21 pounds in all 3 tires. That made the mountain curves a lot of work. I settled on 40# front and 25# rear with 32 showing on the suspension guage. I rode it from Fayettesville NC to Humble, TX from noon last Friday to Sunday evening. About half of it was in the rain. I notice that over 90 MPH it seemed to be very unstable and would start oscillating with very little disturbance. The one I had previously rented in Austin cruised at 90 with no problems.Any thoughts?
Ronnie

 

[TexasGuy]

First suggestion: slow down. We don't want this to be your last post.

I have the same year GW as yours, also with a MotorTrike conversion. I haven't noticed any of the problems you're talking about. You are about right on the tire pressures - 41# in the front and 24# in the two back tires are recommended. I think your preload pressure may be a little high. If you're riding solo then try it at 20 (do the adjustment while standing on the ground beside the trike). If you have a very heavy load in the trunk or if you have a passenger, then you would want to bump the pressure up. When I have my co-rider with me, I set it at 40 - 42. Seems to work well.

If none of this helps any then I suggest getting the suspension checked out. If you're in Texas, take it up to Troupe and let the MotorTrike people look at it. They are a great bunch of people and will fix your problem for sure.

 

[Lucky]

If I were riding 90mph mine would probably do that to from the jerking in my arms.RIDE SAFE

 

[cscsonny]

90 mph in the rain could also make any trike feel unstable

 

[Paul_Trike]

I have a 2010 Motor trike I don't ride at 90 but had to test it one time. And it was very stable. But usally I am not over 70 and still stable.

Have you checked your tires for balance and tread wear?

 

[Gold Rush]

Ronnie I can't say I have a cure but I have found how to control it. I carry a lot of weight so I learned quickly the 24 pounds Motor Trike says to start with won't cut it. When I'm running on pretty straight roads I use 45 pounds. When I get into the twisties I bump that up to 52 pounds. Also I run 28 pounds of air in the rear tires....

I checked everything on the suspension and pulled the front end apart twice looking for possible problems. You know we are riding the shortest and narrowest trike out there. Doesn't take much to get that combination shaking around.

If you find a total cause/cure please post it for all of us to see.. Until then the best I can tell you is to keep the air up and be careful...

 

[mhgoldwing]

Trikes are extremely affected by road surface. Even my Roadsmith will rock left/right on some stretches of road.

Since you bought this used I would go over everything carefully:

Tire balance - particularly the rears
Tire pressure - always 41 psi in front
Rear wheel lug nuts
Suspension components - particularly that one/both air shocks are not leaking. Uneven pressure could cause handling issues.

You might consider taking trike to Motor Trike or one of their top notch installers and having them go through the entire trike to insure that all is set/functioning properly.

That said, trikes driven consistently at 90 mph are asking for trouble.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Now if you were West of San Antonio I could understand the 90 mph since speed limit there is 85mph. The only jerking I get is in my head when my wife slaps me there for going too fast... I'm also jealous because no way can my TG keep up that kind of speed continuously. The wind usually drags me down.

 

[rvance]

As far the 90mph, I was just keeping up with traffic on I40 in Tennesee and it wasn't in the rain. The test ride was in west Texas. Some times the rocking commenced at speeds as low as 60. I am taking it in to H&H next week for it's 12k mile checkup. Thanks for all the comments.

Ron

 

[Papa Zook]

What, if any rake kit is on it? That would be the first thing I would look at. Second, if there is a rake kit on your trike, I would strongly suggest you set the torque on the steering stem nut to 30 lbs. That should make a big diffefence. If no rake kit has been installed on your trike, add one.

 

[rvance]

I agree that speeding is generally bad, but come on, I plan on living until I die. I mostly ride very safely. If people didn't want trikes that could cruise at 90 all day, there wouldn't be so many GoldWing conversions. I tried tire pressures from 20 to 25 in the back and 28 to 41 in the front. Preload from 23 to 55. These seemed to vary the speed and sensitivity to the occilation, but it still happened. I wondered if the shock absorber could be contributing. I wish the design allowed for shocks where the air bags are. I weigh 250 and had about 40#s of junk. I think it just needs a tuneup/alignment.

 

[rvance]

It has the 4.5 rake kit. I will check the torque on the stem nut. That that makes sense. I also plan on adding a fork brace, but I don't expect that to help this problem.
Thanks:
ron

 

[adaptolife]

Just slow down

 

[DeerWrangler]

Although its odd you might take a look at whether or not either of the rear tires have a cord breakdown. I had something sim to yours and it was causing it to act like it was limping as whatever speed it wanted to start acting up.
The rake kit would do it if loose butyou should notice that ESPECIALLY if you were backing out of your garage downhill and then its much more prone to have that shakking feeling. ONE real issue with some of the rake kits is that while they kick that front end out a little many do not come with an extender that has to be added on top of the forktubes in order to lengthen the distance between the top fork clamp and the wheel axle thus bring back the ground clearance. Shouldnt make a diff in wobble but one never knows as what causes an issue on one trike doesnt always effect another.

 

[rvance]

Problem solved. Took the trike to H&H in Onalaska and they found that the shock spring preload was all the way up. No matter what the air bag setting, the springs were too bouncy. Great people, too!:GL1800:ThumbUp

 

[Nana]

I'm so glad you have the problem solved! That would be a very nerve-racking feeling on the highway. And it is also good to have found a great shop to work with in the future .

 

[Gold Rush]

Problem solved. Took the trike to H&H in Onalaska and they found that the shock spring preload was all the way up. No matter what the air bag setting, the springs were too bouncy. Great people, too!:GL1800:ThumbUp

Well Now, that is interesting for sure.... I know that mine are also on the highest setting. Do you know where H & H changed the setting to?

Also, you might put a couple more pound of air in the rear tires. I weigh in pretty close to you and find 28 pounds in both tires works well for me.

Thanks for the update!!!!

 

[rvance]

I had them set them in the middle position since both my wife and I are heavy. I do plan on upping the tires to 28 psi for long 2-up trips.
Thanks:
ronnie

 

[rvance]

PS: They said they come from MT on the lowest setting and they never change them.