new to forum bought 2008 gl1800 with solid axle champion

[grinhart]

Hey,

just wandered if you could tell me if my wife can tolerate riding a solid axle trike? she had two back surgeries this fall and couldn't bike anymore, just wondered if she will handle this. Would an air seat help? all we could swing on SS is a solid ax. trike. Any words of wisdom?

 

[rhino 2]

Welcome to Trike-Talk Gary....:wave4: Wish i could help you , I do have a Tri-Glide with a solid axle, No question about it when i hit a Jersey pot hole it does rattle me and i don't have a bad back.. Im sure someone with a Gl1800 will chime in with some answers soon...

Again Gary.... Welcome...:clapping:

 

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome to Trike Talk Gary

I dunno about any other trike suspension

The HD line have solid rear axles

Not a bad ride IMO

You may want to check with a DR for peace of mind

 

[nucseal]

A good seat will help, take your time in this area and know what you are getting! Seats for a GL are expensive. If you have coil over shocks, you could soften them up with the spanner wrench, which would give you less rougher ride. If not, I would invest in a good set of coil over shocks. Keep the rear tires between 22 to 25 lbs. This all together will help with the ride.

Oh by the way welcome. I am sure someone else will chime in with their ideas.

Ride safe

Nuc

 

[Lucky]

Welcome glad you joined us. Ride safe

 

[mwebster]

Welcome from WV:wave4:

 

[1dn5up]

Tuff question to answer :Shrug: only your bride can answer it. Take the above advice given as a starter, then go from there.

BTW ; :welcome:

 

[Lee H. Mann]

A good seat will help, take your time in this area and know what you are getting! Seats for a GL are expensive. If you have coil over shocks, you could soften them up with the spanner wrench, which would give you less rougher ride. If not, I would invest in a good set of coil over shocks. Keep the rear tires between 22 to 25 lbs. This all together will help with the ride.

Oh by the way welcome. I am sure someone else will chime in with their ideas.

Ride safe

Nuc

Hey,

just wandered if you could tell me if my wife can tolerate riding a solid axle trike? she had two back surgeries this fall and couldn't bike anymore, just wondered if she will handle this. Would an air seat help? all we could swing on SS is a solid ax. trike. Any words of wisdom?

Gary, Welcome to Trike Talk Forum.

Rear tire pressure and suspension settings make all of the difference in a comfortable riding trike regardless the model.ThumbUp

 

[GrandpaDave]

Gary, Welcome to the forum. My wife and I ride a 2007 GL1800 with a Champion solid axle. My wife had back surgery also some years back and loves riding the trike with me. She has found it more comfortable than riding with me on two wheels as she says she isn't tense like she was when we rode on two wheels. I run 20 - 22 lbs pressure in the rear tires. The biggest thing I have found is when I'm turning into a driveway where there is a curb and gutter dip I either try to turn so I'm hitting the gutter with both back wheels at the same time of just take it slow as it will rock the trike pretty good.

The best thing is to get out and experiment like we did to develop a sense for the conditions and ride accordingly.

I look forward to hearing how she does hope the two of you can enjoy many miles on the trike.

 

[LadyonaMission]

Gary, welcome to the best place on the internet to get your trike questions answered. Have a wonderful 2018.

 

[Marc H]

:wave4:Welcome from Tn.

 

[hardwickbv]

Welcome from Indiana !!! :Coffee:

Bob

 

[paws]

Welcome to TrikeTalk from west Texas!

 

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard Gary. Also if she is the one doing the piloting then the ride will even be better as she would be more forward from the rear axle.

 

[paws]

Hey,

just wandered if you could tell me if my wife can tolerate riding a solid axle trike? she had two back surgeries this fall and couldn't bike anymore, just wondered if she will handle this. Would an air seat help? all we could swing on SS is a solid ax. trike. Any words of wisdom?

Is she the passenger or the driver? We had a solid axle, GL1800 Lehman Monarch II. Also have a GL 1800 MotorTrike independent suspension. The solid axle had maybe a slightly hard ride in the backseat but not very much, and the front seat was as good a ride as the MotorTrike IRS. We do have AirHawk seat pads we have always used on both. Doesn’t take but a little bit of air on those pads to make them nice and cushy.

 

[MDO]

Welcome from Missouri!

 

[Zammy]

Hello Gary, I can't help with your question but welcome to the forums.

 

[trike lady]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

At one time I remember seeing air pillow seat toppers for motorcycles, you may want to try one of those.

 

[desertclassic]

Welcome from New Mexico. I am sure a good seat and proper tire air pressure would help. My wife has a bad back from an auto accident, the trick for us is to stop often and take a break. Jim

 

[TGCarol]

Hi Gary :wave4: Welcome.

 

[Fearless]

Welcome to the forum stop by often. :good: travel safe Fred

 

[David357]

Hi Gary,

:welcome: to Trike Talk from South Florida.:wave4:

 

[paws]

Gary...

I saw your post in the DFT section stating that your wife cannot tolerate the solid axle ride. If possible, perhaps you could rent an independent suspension trike (IRS) for your wife to try out so that she can compare the solid to the IRS.

Also, be aware that a trike is not as smooth a ride as a 2-wheeler....When it comes to bumps and a rough road you will definitely feel it more on a trike than a bike although on a nice smooth road the ride is great. Might save you some time and money before investing in another vehicle. Wishing you both the best and hope you’ll be ready for spring riding!

 

[Mcahron]

A proper back brace and abdominal exercises and how you sit will make a huge difference compared to the minor differences the suspension will have.

 

[Ozarkryder]

We have a 2004 GL1800 Champion solid axle. Gloria has no problems with the ride in the passenger seat as long I avoid the most jarring bumps.

We also have a Diamond custom seat made to our measurements and weight. One thing that helped the most was the replacement backrest for the passenger. We ordered ours with the seat, but they can be ordered on their own. It is more upright than the stock seat and according to Gloria much more comfortable over bumps, as the shock of the bump is in line with her back instead of flexing her spine as in the more laid back stock position.

There are replacement backrests, spacers and some I know have had he stock backrest modified to take out the lean.

Someone suggested to hit things like speed bumps straight on. Gloria does better if I hit them at an angle - she says the rocking motion by one rear wheel then the other going over the bump is easier on her than an up and down jolt. She has an air pad she doesn't use anymore - it made it softer but she didn't like the feeling of, as she put it, sitting on a small waterbed.

Our Champion retained the rear OEM adjustment. I can adjust the ride stiffness a bit with the controls on the left fairing below the pocket.

Do some experimenting, as my wife did. She'll most like find some combination that will work.