Oh No! Not Another Suspension Question!

[Grandpa1]

Before I ask my question I want you to know I have searched this forum and other forums. I have read hundreds if not thousands or maybe even millions of posts about what I'm looking for. I still don't have a good answer so I'm hoping some of you might be able to give me some advice.

I've had my 2012 Goldwing CSC Viper for a year and a half.
My wife and I love it! I plan on having this trike until I can no longer get on it.

I have never liked the stiff front end ride. It is too dang rough and I feel every bump through my handlebars. I don't like it.
It's a Goldwing thing and not the CSC part. The trike part rides great.
I've read about the harsh ride of the Goldwing and I agree that it's harsh. I want it to feel like a Cadillac on the front end. Soft and cushy!
I've researched all the available springs and monotubes and full monty kits on the market but I'm not sure what I need to get a less harsh feeling on the front end.
I've seen all the anti-dive comments and what other people have done but it looks to me like stronger springs would not do what I want.
What would all you guys recommend for me to smooth out the ride?
Thanks!

 

[mhgoldwing]

Several things come into play here and you've touched on most of them. Let me offer my opinion also based on research and my trike.

1. What rake do you have? Be aware that springs rates for raked front end are usually not the same as for bike.

2. Front Tires - unfortunately, we are currently stuck with heavy walled, bias ply sport bike tires which offer little or no cushioning so we feel every little irregularity in the road surface. Maybe the Avon tire (when available) will help but only time will tell.

3. Anti-dive - since yours is an '12 I doubt the antidive valve is the problem; but, it could be.

Because you stated you want to keep this trike until you can no longer ride I have some recommendations, one of which might appeal to you and hopefully make life better. Before you spend big money I would try to ride a trike that has the mods you're considering. (Note: the Progressive Monotubes cannot be used on a trike)

A) First, change the springs to a linear spring correct for your combined weight. Have the front end serviced while you are at it with new seals and bushings. I personally would recommend Traxxion springs and their service. See if this moves you forward enough to be happy. If not, go to the next step.

B) Have Traxxion Dynamics install the Ak-20 cartridges. They will have already installed the springs so you are ahead of the game. I have this plus the Traxxion fork brace which has nothing to do with softness of ride. I think about $1,800 but don't quote me on that.

C) Go to Hannigan and have the 180 front end kit installed. This will allow a larger 180 mm width tire instead of the 130 mm currently used. $3-4K installed.
(See Wheels's review on his Hannigan front end)

C) Purchase the Eurowing front end that uses a car tire on the front. I have no personal knowledge of this setup but one would certainly think it would ride well.

 

[JaysGone]

I agree with what you have posted 101%.
There to me is something inherently wrong with the front suspension design.
I noticed this 1st with my 99 Valkyrie and then expected 10 years later for Honda to have sorted this out.
I too wish there was an inexpensive answer to your basic question.
Unfortunately as Ive tried many different solutions to this.
All Ive ended up doing is tossing good money after bad.

I personally don't believe there is a solution to the crappy suspension Honda uses.
Until they redesign it or go backwards to a simple dual spring front end.
They seem for what ever reason stuck on the one dampener, one shock front end.
This is with most of their cruiser lines not just the Gold Wings.

In essence get used to it or get another bike.
Im closer to the get another bike myself.
Im not spending another dime in an effort to improve this bikes ride.
As I commute daily with my trike. The ride is very important.
My Yamaha RoadStar rides like a Cadillac, in comparison.

 

[JaysGone]

"What would all you guys recommend for me to smooth out the ride?
Thanks!"

Oh........... my final solution to the harshness was simple.
Although far from a cure.
I lowered the air pressure.
If you have as you stated read past posts.
You should have seen or read my deal here with most using 41psi.
No one has given me a good answer as to why on this good earth.
To use maximum pressure in a rear tire on the front.
Not a one as far as Im concerned has a good reason.
The tires for the most part regardless of manufacturer use 36psi.
Max psi is for max load as in total weight when used as a rear on the rear.
Its always going to be a crappier harsher ride with max air in it........
Me Im much happier with 32-34psi cold.
Hot add 4psi.
I let the heat bring up the pressure.
So most here are running a tire with 45psi in it.

 

[npike1236]

"What would all you guys recommend for me to smooth out the ride?
Thanks!"

Oh........... my final solution to the harshness was simple.
Although far from a cure.
I lowered the air pressure.
If you have as you stated read past posts.
You should have seen or read my deal here with most using 41psi.
No one has given me a good answer as to why on this good earth.
To use maximum pressure in a rear tire on the front.
Not a one as far as Im concerned has a good reason.
The tires for the most part regardless of manufacturer use 36psi.
Max psi is for max load as in total weight when used as a rear on the rear.
Its always going to be a crappier harsher ride with max air in it........
Me Im much happier with 32-34psi cold.
Hot add 4psi.
I let the heat bring up the pressure.
So most here are running a tire with 45psi in it.

Ditto to your post!

I like you have spent Hundreds and have not found very much of a improvement in the front end ride.

I have ridden just about every trike out there with front end mods and zip O as far as improvement that I would be willing to spend more money on. With that said just recently rode the Eurowing and a new Hanningan and was somewhat impressed.


They had raised the front end on the hanningan approximately 2 to three inches above stock and the ride was very nice. However no one was willing to tell me what they did or if they would be willing to do it to my 2013 roadsmith. Still working on them. But to me it looks like all they did is add a bigger spacer with stock springs. If so would probably give a good ride for 10 or 20 thousand miles and then need new springs.

Just another temp fix.

By the way I have been ridding trikes for over twenty five years and been working with a friend building trikes for 8 years. And, still do not know anyone with the answer to the front end problem.-----maybe hannigans 180 front end will answer some of us only time will tell.

 

[Grandpa1]

Thanks Guys! I knew I wasn't the only one that had this problem.

My wife and I are old now and we don't go on long trips like we used to so I don't think I want to spend the big bucks on the Hannigan front end. I know they are fantastic but a little pricy for me.

I looked at the Traxxion A20 setup and that is pretty expensive also and I cannot find where they will do what I want. They have great reviews but I just don't want to throw money at it and not get what I need.



I'm thinking of putting on a BT45 on the front with lower air pressure and maybe some Traxxion 1.2 springs when I service the front forks. At that time I will put the spacer in my anti dive valve and disable it since the springs negates the need for it.



My trike has a 6 deg. rake and Traxxion recommended the 1.2 springs for our combined weight.

I can do all that for around $300. I will gamble that much.



If the ride is still harsh after that then that's just tough titty because I'm ridin' the heck out of it!

I will get used to it!



Thanks!

 

[mhgoldwing]

"What would all you guys recommend for me to smooth out the ride?
Thanks!"

Oh........... my final solution to the harshness was simple.
Although far from a cure.
I lowered the air pressure.
If you have as you stated read past posts.
You should have seen or read my deal here with most using 41psi.
No one has given me a good answer as to why on this good earth.
To use maximum pressure in a rear tire on the front.
Not a one as far as Im concerned has a good reason.
The tires for the most part regardless of manufacturer use 36psi.
Max psi is for max load as in total weight when used as a rear on the rear.
Its always going to be a crappier harsher ride with max air in it........
Me Im much happier with 32-34psi cold.
Hot add 4psi.
I let the heat bring up the pressure.
So most here are running a tire with 45psi in it.

the reason for the 41 psi is to keep the tire bead attached to the rim during turns. A trike tries to pull the tire sideways during a turn; the higher the speed and the tighter the turn the more force applied. Where I ride in the north Arkansas twisties we are constantly in turns.

As a side note, Honda and Bridgestone recommend 42 psi front and rear on my GT023 tires on my ST1300. So that's what I run.

 

[Veritas44]

There have been an incredible multitude of discussions and debates regarding Tire Pressures both front and rear.
There have been even more proven Reasons and logical, sound, and fact-backed Explanations for those Reasons.
The Answers are known. They Are.

Fact & Truth are NOT subjective. Facts & Truth are not swayed or invalidated because someone just so happens to not "like" what they tell. They also are not any less factual or truthful just because they don't "jive" with the contrary opinions and imprudent practices of the Few.


As for the Front-End Shortcomings and Woes of the GL1800 post-Conversion to Trike....
Yepperz. That "Bogey-Man" Bane is real.

Of course it is Lacking (in Trike form).
It was designed & built for the OEM 2-wheeled Configuration-Not the Trike.
Go Figure.... Imagine That...
There are several Tweaks and Upgrades one can do to improve the performance as mhgoldwing (+1 to ya') and countless others (Solidbob to name one) have researched, posted, tried, and proven or dis-proven.
Those do help and mask or overcome much of the issue in varying degrees proportionate to the effort and costs incurred and One's individual level of acceptance.
Just comes down to how much you can or can't accept the way things just are and the time, effort, and cash you are willing to invest as a result.

Research, weigh the Options, do what you can and are willing to do (or don't).
Then,,,Accept what Is.
Spend your time Riding & Enjoying-OR-Lamenting & Complaining :Shrug:

 

[Solidbob]

See the referenced Thread - just look down the Trike Threads its there.... PM me for more details... FYI epper:

[h=3]Need Tire Expert / from 02/13/2014[/h]
Lots of Traxxion information there, Posts by me and others.... I did Traxxion to cure a tire cupping problem in 2004 on my GL 1800 as a bike and still using the same setup today with 80K on them as a Trike, never have needed service. Rides like the Caddy you want but I'm in Texas not WI or you could come ride it... There are many views and opinons and as I state they are an expensive fix to crappy GW Forks. Read details on their website. They are in Woodstock, Ga :

http://www.traxxion.com/hondagoldwing.aspx

They also have a dealer / installer in Iowa:

[h=4]Iowa[/h]Lithium Motorsports, Inc./Midwest Honda (7)
Brad Yoerger
2142 N. US Hwy 75
Sioux, IA 51105
800-736-7956

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Leading link forks!

 

[AZ Trike Guy]

Do yourself a favor and call Race Tech in CA. They know exactly what your problem is and can supply new springs to replace you weaker GL1800 original springs and supply new valving that can be adjusted on assembly. Their recommendations are very helpful. I replaced springs (non-progressive) and installed their Gold Valve and Emulator. I could adjust the ride from very spongy to stiff for under $300. I installed the kit myself and adjusted the ride to what I wanted. Be careful on all these front end mods not to over spring your ride. I would bet that most of you complaint is you anti-dive valve that is rendered useless with the RT kit. There is a simple trick that can be done using a nickle with the appropriate size hole drilled in the center or a spacer that is available to cancel the ADV. A 15 minute job. You'll find threads on other forums that tell you how.

 

[Mick]

Like others Im fed up with the wings front end. With stock springs and stock tire Ive bottomed the forks on the roads around here. I changed over to Progressive springs with a bias ply tire then over to Traxxion springs. Oh and I disabled the ADV when I went to Progressive springs. Its better but still not that Cadillac ride expected from a machine like this. Im not sure Traxxion cartridges or Progressive cartridges are the way to go after talking to a friend who has a similar model trike and rides like I do. With down time coming soon on the trike with winter coming Im seriously looking at Race Tech for the front end to improve the ride. I like the bias ply tire for mileage but its not as smooth as the radial and it doesnt absorb the small irregularities in the road. Springs help but still theyre more suited to a 2 wheelers type of riding rather than how we trikers ride.

 

[ROAD DOG]

I bought A 08 gl1800 With a CSC Cobra kit , it rode like crap the front end real stiff , get on a rough road the front end would shake ,it has a 4.5 rake ,who ever raked it put a 3" spacer {which i beleive they are installed with most rake kits}in above the spring to raise the front end up because the raked trees make it sit lower, that will raise the front end up it but it makes the springs stiff like there compressed half way , so you can go to CAD TO CHROME & get fork tube extentions put them on & remove the stupid spacers, that will make a great improment. I sent my forks out to race tech it took about 5 days round trip, complete rebuild new springs for my weight & the gold valve kit new bushings & seals the fluid they recomend & the antidive valve disable kit ,it was about $700. with shipping ,it made agreat improvment on mine.

 

[cjmitch]

Before you spend all this $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Go on Ebay, and search for GL1800 Anti-dive kit.
It will cost about $14.00.
Install it then go for a ride, if it feels better then you know your ADV valve is stuck, if not then all you are out is $14.00. and it may just solve you problem
You dont have to seach..
Here is the link...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GL1800-GOLD...Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d98b65ad&vxp=mtr