Riding in Rain

[Dockem]

Going to pick up my new (to me) trike and the forecast is for 80% chance of rain.
I'm going to be riding over 600 miles thru this mess, praying that the weather forecasters are overstating the odds.

Any good advice for riding Interstate highways in rain? I have raingear and have ridden before on two wheels, never on a GW trike. Wife will be following in the SUV w/ CB.

Thanks

 

[FRR]

Lot safer on three than on two.

 

[rhino 2]

Just remember standing water can cause Hydroplaning... Other than that, All i can say if you rode a two wheeler in the rain, Three will be a synch...ThumbUp

 

[Dockem]

Just remember standing water can cause Hydroplaning... Other than that, All i can say if you rode a two wheeler in the rain, Three will be a synch...ThumbUp

What is the trike's reaction to hydroplaning? Does it fishtail right or cause the rpm's to rev when the rear tires lose grip?

TIA

 

[rhino 2]

What is the trike's reaction to hydroplaning? Does it fishtail right or cause the rpm's to rev when the rear tires lose grip?

TIA

I havent hydroed with my Tri-Glide... But i have with my [EX] Spyder.. No fishtail.. Just the rpm's jump up similar to a slipping clutch....Gets your attention real quick...:xzqxz:

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[CrystalPistol]

What is the trike's reaction to hydroplaning? Does it fishtail right or cause the rpm's to rev when the rear tires lose grip?

TIA

It ain't the front tire you have to watch out for so much. I have never had a bike hydroplane in any rain .... tire patch is just so narrow in relation to the weight on it.

However ..... I have had our trike hydroplane and it ain't no fun. One time I was doing 35 mph on Rt 11 coming out of Staunton just after a heavy rain and there was some water running across the road and I even relaxed throttle enough to just maintain and suddenly .... rpms picked up and rear of trike went to the right and I just steered front tire the way I wanted to go and ..... drew a deep breath. Rear was probably 30 degrees off center before it came back. I have also had it happen when caught on the Blue Ridge Parkway in a sudden storm, though those instances just one rear wheel hydroplaned depending on which was in the worn "shallow ruts" which capture water ..... I knew when it did so as rpms changed up.

I've seen others with near slick rear tires on their trike because they can get a few more miles out of them. That's crazy IMHO. When my trike's rear tires get down to half .... which they are now .... I start looking round.

You are gonna be on interstate, 65 or higher limits, new trike experience .... look close at rear treads, watch the water and ride conservatively is my advice.

 

[2006gold]

Do not use cruise control!!!!! Once the tires break loose from the road the cruise control will try to make the trike go faster leading to more hydroplaning. Had it happen to me with the Honda and twice with the Stallion. (Slow learner I guess).

 

[Dockem]

Thanks everyone. Should be a learning experience!

 

[Retired Army]

The first ride on a trike requires getting used to the fact the machine is not counter steered. Turns are initiated by pushing and puling, plus holding the handle bars in the desired direction. Gyroscopic progression is in force during the turn meaning the wheel tends to remain in a straight line. The lateral forces experienced during the turn give the feeling of being of pulled off the side. Take some time to adapt to the handling before entering traffic. Also trikes have a larger turning radius than two wheelers. It is always better to park so you can move forward when departing. Welcome to the world of 3 and many hours of enjoyment.

 

[mhgoldwing]

Personally, I would try to avoid the Interstate if possible. Between the spray from trucks and vehicles combined with the dirty air to ride in..... UGH!

 

[DblTrbl]

As a side note to all the above info...... when stopping for fuel stay wide of the pumps!!! Just remember that the rear of the trike is wide and you need to give it room....if not, you may be repairing your fender(s).

 

[CrystalPistol]

As a side note to all the above info...... when stopping for fuel stay wide of the pumps!!! Just remember that the rear of the trike is wide and you need to give it room....if not, you may be repairing your fender(s).

Oh yeah .... what he said! ThumbUp

 

[ol' school]

Do not use cruise control!!!!! Once the tires break loose from the road the cruise control will try to make the trike go faster leading to more hydroplaning. Had it happen to me with the Honda and twice with the Stallion. (Slow learner I guess).

+1 on this!

 

[Dockem]

Back home agin in Indyanner....

2/3rds of an Iron Butt, took us approx 12 hours with stops about every 120-150 miles (well, one stop at 100 miles for cheap gas, folks in AR got gas still at $1.99/gal!). The wife followed me in our Ford Escape with a CB to communicate.

Our Honda Dealer in AR did well for us. Thanks to our Salesman, Chris Howell. Got the accessories installed prior to our arrival. Found out my helmet headset cord was shot and they installed a new, updated headset/cord while we waited Friday afternoon. They kept the trike in the service bay overnight because of severe storms going thru Fri. night. Topped off the tank, checked the tires just before leaving the Sat. morning.

Thankfully, only had about 90 miles of rain total the entire trip! Worst in eastern Arkansas, then light, nuisance mist around Effingham, IL. No torrential downpours to contend with, all the heavy storms went thru before we got there! :clapping: Lots if threatening clouds to worry about. Glad I had the Frogg Toggs though!

Now gotta clean up the "Silver Streak".

The wifey had fun listening to the 18 wheelers talking about us when they found our channel. They were polite and gave us information. They knew we were "high tailing it" getting home.

Gotta love the wifey for helping out on our adventure! :clapping: A nice restaurant meal is owed!



If you don't recognize the Honda Dealer pic, PM me or check the GW trikes listed on evil Bay and you'll recognize the store.

 

[consitter]

You sir, have a great looking trike, and a great wife!

May both of you enjoy your new purchase. If what I read about the trip home is any indication, I'm assured you will!!

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Wondering...

How was you first experience triking? How do you feel about the steering and handling versus a two wheeler? I'm guessing you didn't ride any twisties, but I'm sure you experienced how the steering is, especially at low speeds making turns at gas stations.

If you have rode 4 wheelers in the past, you were totally prepared for how a trike feels though.

 

[bikerbillone]

Don't Forget the Rain Gear

Don't forget the rain gear, it's hard to find good rain gear that's not a real hassle to get on before the drench.

 

[Dockem]

First experience on a Trike.

Wondering...

How was you first experience triking? How do you feel about the steering and handling versus a motorcycle? I'm guessing you didn't ride any twisties, but I'm sure you experience how the steering is, especially at low speeds making turns at gas stations.

If you have rode 4 wheelers in the past, you were totally prepared for how a trike feels though.

I was a bit nervous, to be honest. Read up a lot here on the forum, talked/emailed friends with trikes asking for advice also. Also found a great video on YouTube about how to get on/off trike - I'm a bit "inseam disadvantaged".
I had ridden a 4 wheeler once, about 10 years ago, so not a factor in experience.

My observations were:
1. Steering (raked) did seem twitchy, but got used to it. Putting my feet on the highway boards could make the bike wander a bit, but not bad. An adjustment to get used to.
2. Cornering - wow, very different with no leaning! No counter steering, but the push/pull didn't seem foreign to me at all. Actually kind of liked it!

You do have to hang on in low speed tight corners and I would bodily lean also ( 2 wheeler habits die hard), used some of the tips given here too! Corners like it was on rails if smooth pavement.

But I have some more practice to do. Biggest pucker came when getting on the Interstate, a 180* rt hand entrance ramp going up hill with undulations. I took it a bit hotter than my experience dictated and had to try again. As I went thru the curve I had to slow down, re-position in the lane and on the seat(!) and retry to accelerate to merge - more than one time. It was a challenge, but once the entrance ramp straightened, I gave full acceleration to merge. That was a bit hairy.

No problem in gas stations thanks to advice here. Steered wide of the pumps!!!! Hopefully no future "Pole Positions". But I seemed to always get the pump with a puddle......
The throttle was a bit tricky and I learned to "ease" it on so the bike wouldn't jerk and such while turning. Similar to a 2 wheeler in throttle response, so not unexpected. The salesman let me ride it around on his huge parking lot Friday for awhile and I sorta got the hang of it - . Tight, quick corners make you use the knee grip, for sure!

The last 50 miles were on 2 lane with some mild twisties/hills (No Deals Gap stuff!), so the twisties didn't seem too bad after dodging 18 wheelers and traffic on an Interstate at 80mph. I did have to slow a bit as there were still a few wet areas due to rain a few hours before, no puddles tho. Corners in town, downshifting, etc. will need more practice. I was a bit rusty on that score.

3. The wife teased me at stops as I would forget and try to put my foot down. She'd yell in the mike to stop it when she saw my left leg/foot twitch off the floorboard!:laugh: I never hit the ground as the Trikes floorboards prevented that.

Due to my knee/hip soreness, etc., I hadn't really ridden my Valk I/S for nearly a year. (She was feeling unappreciated.) It didn't seem as hard to adapt to the trike because of the time lag. Except for that dang left foot! HAHA

Am I happy? YOU BET! Great to have the wind in my face again! The feel of a precision machine underneath you, taking corners, and being on a "full convertible" ride, being with the world again!
SO GLAD I did it!
epper: epper: epper:

This is a GREAT forum for advice, etc. Thanks to all. Still learning!

Hope the wife will put up with the accessories bills in the next few months!!!! Wind management will be a priority, gotta keep the wifey happy!!!! Maybe a tall Tulsa shield. My buddies will be more than happy to help me out spending money, HAHA!!!

 

[Retired Army]

Now for the most important facet of the world of 3. KEEP THE WIFE IN THE LOOP AND EXTREEMLY HAPPY AT ALL TIMES.

 

[Marc H]

Glad to see you made it fine and had a good first experience.I know where you were.I visited there last year when visiting my step daughter and grand kids in Alma.I was truly impressed and in awe.For me being around that many gorgeous trikes in one place and time was like being at a high end car dealership.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I was a bit nervous, to be honest.

Picking up a "strange to me anything" far from home and depending on it to get me home would make me a little nervous.

2. Cornering - wow, very different with no leaning! No counter steering, but the push/pull didn't seem foreign to me at all. Actually kind of liked it!

You do have to hang on in low speed tight corners and I would bodily lean also ( 2 wheeler habits die hard), used some of the tips given here too! Corners like it was on rails if smooth pavement.

But I have some more practice to do.

Absolutely..... practice is good ...... do lean your upper body inside the turns as you push against that far grip and pull the near one closer .... especially in the twisties. Get your "Wife Unit" in the habit as best she can, take her on practice rides. Sitting straight is fine in a straight line, but if you have to make a sudden swerve to miss a deer or just spotted pot hole, etc ..... you both will need a learned lean. You also need to communicate tight curves, etc to her as she may be looking off across a field as you near a sudden turn and she won't lean with a bike and stay on so easy ..... she'll need to bend that upper body and grab a'hold.

No problem in gas stations thanks to advice here. Steered wide of the pumps!!!!

Daytime gas pumps are easy ..... at night those big posts will sneak up close. On ours I added a 4 light amber LED clearance lights to the front of each fender (I attached 3/16" SS rod bent in a shape to clear tire to tape wires to up inside fender.), gives a soft amber glow to our sides, and lights up them pump curbs and guards. Gives a good visual in the corner of my eye.

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Happy to see you made it back with the new trike. You have a nice looking trike and I'm sure you will enjoy it for many miles of riding. You got yourself broken in to the world of triking all in one trip. Ride safe and have fun!

 

[jim mccarty]

I'd get me a room in a nice motel & wait a day or so.
I hate starting out in the rain.

 

[lgjhn]

That's a really sweet-looking trike. Very nice.

You, sir, are to be commended.

There is no way in Hades that I would have tried to ride my trike back home for the very first time.

I had my Wing converted and trailered it home...glad I did because the first time on it, I liked to wiped out my wife's row of crepe-myrtle trees along the driveway!:AGGHH:

It took me quite a bit of riding up and down our driveway just to even get used to steering it. I kept thinking: "I destroyed a perfectly good Gold Wing...for this crap????" I hated it and wanted to unload it the very first day. I actually called the conversion company up and asked them if they would buy it from me. My wife talked me out of it. I liked to never got used to it....took a 1000 miles for me to become totally comfortable with it. Today? I wouldn't trade my trike for anything. Best thing I ever did.

But there is no way I would have tried to ride it 600 miles home the first try....brave....very brave....or crazy...LOL

 

[paws]

We bought our first Gold Wing trike for Jim only about 125 miles away. Never had driven one - been on 2 wheels a long time. Had been reading on this website as to handling one. Asked the seller if he had any advice to offer. He only advised not to take curves faster than what was posted mph on the curve sign - but then he had only driven it 2517 miles - it was brand new. Jim told me to ride it home - he followed in the car. We stopped for lunch halfway home and I advised Jim that I loved this thing - as soon as we get home I'm finding myself one. I did find one for me and we haven't looked back. We love them. Hope you enjoy yours as much as we have ours.<br />
Carla and Jim

 

[Dockem]

But there is no way I would have tried to ride it 600 miles home the first try....brave....very brave....or crazy...LOL

I don't claim to be sane, and probably not as brave as I think? But determination and preparation made up a lions share of the experience.

AND I have a very understanding wife that puts up with my antics! (She must be, been married 37+ years. Has to be still in love!)

 

[Zammy]

Congrats on getting home safe and sound Dockem, I liked your narrative on the ride, may you and the Misses have lots of miles and smiles.

 

[DblTrbl]

I don't claim to be sane, and probably not as brave as I think? But determination and preparation made up a lions share of the experience.

AND I have a very understanding wife that puts up with my antics! (She must be, been married 37+ years. Has to be still in love!)

OR, she just doesn't want to spend time training someone else!!:xzqxz:

 

[Dockem]

[/COLOR]OR, she just doesn't want to spend time training someone else!!:xzqxz: