Rear Tire Pressure

[americanbadass]

I know that this subject has been beat to death....but I am hitting it anyway! On my Victory trike, with the standard Lehman "no lean" straight axle.....I am experiencing a jolting rear suspension. The dealer says that the suspension is set right, but when I go over RR tracks or cattle guards at highway speeds-it feels like my kidneys are being pushed through my sphincter!!
I have experimented with tire pressure, but cannot find a better resolution between high and low. Right now I have 20 lbs in each rear tire, and have tried 22, 24, with about the same outcome. Any suggestions would be appreciated. One thing I have been trying to do is push up with my legs to ease the compression....but it's a pain in the a$$!
:gah: :gah:

 

[Bikerbozo]

Since you ask for "any suggestions". I suggest you suck it up and stop being a woose!
Apparently being forced to take my wife shopping in the truck, instead of riding has left me in a nasty mood. And yes, I am a woose also for giving in to the whining.:qpnmt:

 

[oahe]

I generally just slow down.

 

[americanbadass]

Since you ask for "any suggestions". I suggest you suck it up and stop being a woose!

....what the hell... who you talkin too.....:Shrug::Shrug::gah:

 

[americanbadass]

I generally just slow down.

Real helpfull advise...I always slow down at least 10 MPH....:xzqxz:

 

[oahe]

Well excuse me!!!:Shrug:

 

[americanbadass]

Well excuse me!!!:Shrug:

.............there is no excuse for you..............

 

[oahe]

.............there is no excuse for you..............

Well aren't you just full of ambiance and good will! All I can say that if you're riding around here you'd darn better slow down for an auto gate and a bit more than to 10 mph or you just might be walking. A long way! Have a nice day! :Coffee:

 

[americanbadass]

I also have a trike with IRS...and it is a Cadillac in comparison. I bought this trike for long hauls and club riding, because my other trike has apehangers and a built motor...so it gets pizz poor gas mileage.

....Just trying to figure out a solution, so I don't have to get a spinal decompression after each long ride!!!

 

[americanbadass]

Well aren't you just full of ambiance and good will! All I can say that if you're riding around here you'd darn better slow down for an auto gate and a bit more than to 10 mph or you just might be walking. A long way! Have a nice day! :Coffee:

I hope your daddy takes his keyboard away soon........

 

[oahe]

I hope your daddy takes his keyboard away soon........

My, aren't you quite the charmer? I bet keeping the ladies at bay is never a problem for you!

 

[jackpoet]

I think you have done what can be done. One question, do you have air shocks on the rear? What pressure do you run in them?

 

[jackpoet]

I have a Motor Trike on mine, move the air shocks up or down if riding two up or sing.e. Don't know if you have that.

 

[americanbadass]

I think you have done what can be done. One question, do you have air shocks on the rear? What pressure do you run in them?

No dual shocks at all-just a spring loaded shock in the center. Maybe I can research it, and figure out a way to loosen it a bit! Pic enclosed. Thanks Jack!

 

[slick rick]

Really got nothing to do with your suspension but may help your spine,,DID MINE... I had a jel pad put in my seat . You can always fab pads to mount air bags on suspension for a few DOLLARS !!!!! GOOD LUCK

 

[americanbadass]

Really got nothing to do with your suspension but may help your spine,,DID MINE... I had a jel pad put in my seat . You can always fab pads to mount air bags on suspension for a few DOLLARS !!!!! GOOD LUCK

Planning on that, meantime I put 25 lbs in the rear tires and will try it tomorrow...weather permitting!

 

[willom]

Don't know what kind of suspension the trike has, but my 06' glide with the air ride is running 50 lbs. in the shocks, which is much more than was used when it was on 2 wheels then taking about 15 lbs. It is not wonderful on rr tracks but is not a bad ride, smoother than when it was a bike.

 

[Mick]

I run my Lehman shock on the middle setting unless Im towing a trailer and have the missus on the back. When I 1st bought her I asked the dealer what the shock wrench was for. They told me with the wings adjustable suspension I wouldnt need the wrench. Some preload on the shock is needed for the suspension to work correctly. Of course the shock was on the bottom setting. I can understand why that dealer went out of business. Be careful running your tires at 25psi. If you keep it there youll wear the center tread of the left side tire more than the right.

 

[bikerbillone]

Yikes, BadAss, you are a BadAss.....

 

[retdpd]

I normaly run 24lbs on champion solid axle..if it helps you

 

[cscsonny]

ABA.I don't think people should be picking on you just because you look like you do,if that is you in the photo!

Now for your problem.This is something I played with for over a year going back to when the bike was a 2-wheeler.It is the shock,here's why.

The shock being mounted almost directly form the axel to the frame right under where your seat is mounted,will transmit any harsh impact to the frame area where the seat is mounted,thus transmitting it to your tailbone area and where you sit.Most bikes,the seat is mounted directly on the frame,except the Harley air ride seat used on police bikes.

I tried several ideas to isolate the seat from the frame,even had an heavt duty air pillow under ther for a while,it really helped,but developed a leak and didn't last long.

Progressive Suspension makes shocks that does not allow the harsh axle impact to get to the frame under the seat.I always had tailbone pain after a few hundred miles.

I put a Progressive 455 ,adjustable spring shock on the Wing and it was amazing difference in the ride and no more pain.The wife could tell the difference in the ride within 5 miles from home.

Our CSC conversion now has 2 Progressive adjustable shocks and I did play with the adjustments to get the best ride.

Maybe Progressive has a solution for you.

 

[SEABILL]

A while back there was a thread on this subject (not sure if it was on the board). The theme appeared to be that folks were softening up the springs thinking they would get a better ride, when they should have been adding preload to keep them from bottoming out.

Something to think about.

 

[americanbadass]

UPDATE...today I put 150 miles on, and with 25 lbs in each rear tire...it was a little better . That is the highest pressure I have ever run in either trike. I think I will have some gel put in my seat, and I may be able to live with it. :Shrug:

 

[americanbadass]

Yikes, BadAss, you are a BadAss.....

Thanks...wish I was "hardass" instead of badass!

 

[saab9k]

Upgrade to air suspension

 

[americanbadass]

UPDATE~ cause I know you guys care! I got ahold of a dude (Cory Voyles) at Lehman and he told me to check the shock adjustment. He advised to adjust it to the lowest pre-load setting to get the best ride.
So I put her up in the air climbed underneath...and what to my wondering eyes should appear---but the shock set to the highest preload. So I used my trusty spanner wrench and put it where he said!
If it ever warms up and quits snowing and raining I will see how she rolls! I did put about 300 miles on it last week and am looking forward to 50 degree weather again.

 

[Baz]

UPDATE~ cause I know you guys care! I got ahold of a dude (Cory Voyles) at Lehman and he told me to check the shock adjustment. He advised to adjust it to the lowest pre-load setting to get the best ride.
So I put her up in the air climbed underneath...and what to my wondering eyes should appear---but the shock set to the highest preload. So I used my trusty spanner wrench and put it where he said!
If it ever warms up and quits snowing and raining I will see how she rolls! I did put about 300 miles on it last week and am looking forward to 50 degree weather again.

That won't change the springs spec's. It will simply mean it will lower the ride height and change the area within the shocks stroke where the spring will work. i.e the shock will bottom out earlier. :Shrug:

 

[triketomcat]

After much research and a conversation with Lehman, the Tire pressure issue is important and they recommend 22 to 24 psi. Several suspension options appear to be out there, Progressive, Ricor, Ohli to mention the better known ones that are adjustable. After recent spine surgeries I gotta do whatever I can to soften the ride or just give it up and tide in a cage (NOT)

 

[triketomcat]

After spine surgery and trading in the two wheeler for a used trike I found the need to soften the ride a little before I crippled myself. I looked up all I could and even called Lehman and found that tire pressure is very important and should be 22 to 24 PSI. The other issue is the shocks themselves which lehman says are standard Harley FLHCUI shocks, alternate shock programs and products are available from Progressive, Ricor, or Ohli all being adjustable. I haven't made up my mind yet which to go with but leanin toward Progressive for the best bang for the buck :Shrug:

just my 2 cents worth