New triker cornering concerns?

[bernard]

Hello all! my name is Bernard I'm coming at ya from Tewksbury Massachusetts. I own a 2008 can am spyder which corners very well but i always wanted an H D trike sooo i just went out and purchased a 2009 ultra trike which i'll pick up in the spring!

Now as my friends find out about my new trike they all tell me that it is really terrible on corners and that I'm not gonna like it, is this true?

is it really that bad?

 

[Nana]

Hi Bernard,
I can assure you that your new Harley Trike will corner just fine! In fact, once you are used to it (expect a 200-400 mile learning curve), you will out-corner most two-wheelers. I would say the exception to that statement would be some of the "crotch rocket" riders, however anyone on the cruiser motorcycles will end up wanting to ride behind you so you don't push them through the twisties!

I ride a Fat Boy with a Champion kit (solid axle), and this is definitely my experience. Here is a video that my husband filmed following me (on the yellow trike) and Juju (on the silver 1300 VTX trike) through the Dragon this past spring. It will give you a hint of how much fun you will soon be having on your new Ultra trike! By the way, he was on his Street Glide, and you will feel how much he was leaning in the tight corners in order to keep up with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp7MaANinj0

 

[gareth323]

Hi Bernard;

I gotta side with Nana on this one; I ride a HD Ultra with a Champion kit and there's very few bikes that can corner like mine; England is noted for twisty turny roads and I can throw my Ultra around with no problems whatsoever; it sticks to the road like glue. If only it would go a bit faster on the straights and accelerate a bit quicker I'd be even happier but I can assure you that you'll have no problems on the corners. After experimenting with tire pressures I found that the best pressure is about 18psi (I picked that up on this forum) but this is really a personal preference and I would suggest playing about with the pressures until you're content. You gotta let us know what you think after you've taken delivery but I reckon you'll be a contented man within a couple of hours riding

 

[tis]

Hi Bernard: Welcome to the site, I have to agree with Nana & Gareth. Your gonna find you can go thru the twisty's alot faster on your Trike, you'll be pushing the two wheelers thru the curves. I was just up your way, stopped into Kelly's H.D. in Billerica and did a little shopping. Your gonna love taken that trike around the horseshoe curve up there on Rt.2 in North Adams....

 

[Monkei]

Hello all! my name is Bernard I'm coming at ya from Tewksbury Massachusetts. I own a 2008 can am spyder which corners very well but i always wanted an H D trike sooo i just went out and purchased a 2009 ultra trike which i'll pick up in the spring!

Now as my friends find out about my new trike they all tell me that it is really terrible on corners and that I'm not gonna like it, is this true?

is it really that bad?

Hi, it's BS.

I have owned and ridden a GL1800 2 wheeler, now a GL1800 trike (CSC), an ST1300 with Hannigan Sidecar, a Can Am Spyder SM5, and now a Yamaha Venture Trike (Hannigan). I have ridden in all kinds of conditions, all kinds or roads, at all kinds of speeds, so I think I can speak confidently on the subject.

The trikes ride great, while not as smooth as your Can Am rides. You will feel more of the bumps and rough roads on the trike than you will on your 2 wheeler or the Can Am, but cornering is really easy at a good speed and an EZ Steer on your trike. The sidecar is an all together different deal. My ST1300 was raked out by a company in Canada but I never got used to or ever liked the sidecar on the bike, looked great, drove not so good, or at least i never enjoy it.

It's easy for others who have no idea at all to tell you this and that about a trike, especially from those who think that 2 wheel bikes should never be triked, but you will enjoy your trike. It will corner great. Count on it, I guarantee it.

If you are able physically to still ride a 2 wheeler, than great, but for those of us with back and knee trouble ... trikes are the best way to stay in the sport.

 

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard Bernard. I also have a Road Glide with a Champion straight axle kit. It rides and corners super. No regrets on going to 3. Your friends just are trying to talk you out of it becasue they do not understan You are not giving up anything and are gaining your freedom from worry back.

 

[spiritdream]

Hello all! my name is Bernard I'm coming at ya from Tewksbury Massachusetts. I own a 2008 can am spyder which corners very well but i always wanted an H D trike sooo i just went out and purchased a 2009 ultra trike which i'll pick up in the spring!

Now as my friends find out about my new trike they all tell me that it is really terrible on corners and that I'm not gonna like it, is this true?

is it really that bad?

Welcome, neighbor!! Well, ex-neighbor - grew up in Wilmington, lake area, now living in the Sturbridge area. I still have family (in-laws) in Wilmington - they must be slipping, cause none of them have mentioned seeing a CanAm in the area! Of course, my brother-in-law thinks I'm a wuss for riding a trike, and my sister-in-law thinks I'm nuts for riding anything! LOL Rob and Lyn will probably chime in soon - they're also originally from your area.

And don't listen to your friends - they're probably thinking of the old atv's that used to tip fairly easy. This site is full of members who've been riding for years, and as they'll all tell you, you'll be fine!! :yes: The ride is going to be a little rougher, mostly because the HD has a solid axle. But with the right air pressure and shock settings, it's no worse than in a car (took me 2 seasons to figure THAT out!! LOL). I haven't ridden a CanAm, but I don't think you'll be sorry about getting the trike. It's not better or worse, just different.

Hopefully we'll have a short, mild winter, and Spring will come early! Anyway, welcome again!! Nice to have another New Englander!! :yes:

 

[John Luciano]

L I BE another neighbor. although I am in Conn. I am only a short distance from you. We are tucked out in the MASS/ NY / Conn. Corner ( called the Tri state area. I have been riding a trike now since 2002. I rode with 6 HD guys on Sun mornings. On night they decided to go to a cruise night . On the way back they took a short cut ( U know how dark back roads around You are ) Well the HD lights were not that bright and I had the GPS on the Wing . So they told me to lead. Well They had no trouble see the rear of my trike as I have 12 lights back there .I guess they fig I have to go slow because I might tip over .1st time I didn't have to stand on the brakes before every corner <LOL>. I had to actually stop a few times so they could catch up . Oh heck that even happened during the day time once too. As said before give it a few hundred miles ( 400 to 600) You may take less since you have been driving a trike style bike . I should have looked at the map before I chimed in . I heard the hairpin on RT 2 and ASSumed that you were near N. Addams

 

[Greydog]

I went through a lot of mental anguish trying to decide whether to trike my Ultra or not. I listened to all my pal's mis-information about instability, poor cornering ability ad nauseum. Finally found this forum and got the REAL scoop. I only have about 350 miles on my trike so far and have absolutely loved it since mile #30. It is a very stable ride, takes curves better than most two wheelers and I find the suspension much more comfortable than it was as a two wheeler. The biggest problem I had, at first, was the tendency to oversteer the thing. Much like a car, the two wheels in back allow you to feel the uneven road surface and at first it gives you the sense that the trike is "wandering" and trying to change direction so you instinctively want to counter steer to keep it in a straight line. For the first 30 miles or so I was weaving down the road like a drunken sailor!!! I soon got the feel of it and it's smooth sailin' all the way!!! Tire pressure is the key to comfort as far as bumps are concerned. My builder had 16 pounds in the rear tires when I picked the trike up and so far that's been great!!

 

[Saltywheels]

Welcome to the Forum Bernard. Having been a 'crotch rocket' pilot & track days enthusiast for over 2 decades of a 40 year romance with riding, I can say with conviction cornering & stability are not a issue. This comes with all of 2-3 months of 'experience'. And the learning curve was a snap! Greydog & the others are right. All this sage advise from yr buddies has been given to you by folks that have never swung a leg over a trike. Bearing in mind there are differences, they are inconsequential. Last week my wife & I rode with our usual riding buddies up to the Rock Store, a local Los Angeles mecca, known for it twisties & canyon roads. Needless to say, my Beemer & cruiser friends were quite impressed with the pace I was able to maintain (frankly so was I!!). Forget the bs floating around about 'real men dont ride trikes'. Once you do it, you'll wonder why you waited so long!!