Rougher ride in town

May 18, 2015
54
27
North Florida
Is it normal or typical for the trike ride to be rougher on city roads when compared to highways? By rougher I mean feeling the bumps more and some front wheel slightly, but noticeably, torking left to right?

CSC with independent suspension. Thanks
 
Even kits with IRS have different types. The CSC that I owned had a mono shock so you feel the bumps. It certainly beats the solid axle rides, but some are better than others. Bikes and trikes simply do not have the suspension systems that cars have.
 
also the speed you are traveling gives the suspension more time to move in reaction to the road because you are moving slower. At spped you are going over some of the bumps in the road.
 
As the above have responded, the answer is a resounding "yes". If you're looking for a comfy smooth ride on a trike, I don't think you're gonna find it. Some better than others, but the smooth ride doesn't exist when you catch the 'bump', and with three wheels, difficult to miss them. Others may disagree, just my opinion.
 
As the above have responded, the answer is a resounding "yes". If you're looking for a comfy smooth ride on a trike, I don't think you're gonna find it. Some better than others, but the smooth ride doesn't exist when you catch the 'bump', and with three wheels, difficult to miss them. Others may disagree, just my opinion.

Haven't seen any disagreement as yet Bill. Even my Roadsmith bounces me around more in town... :xszpv: :xszpv:
 
Right Gold, I saw no disagreement, just added it as a caveat if were those that did disagree and still get my comment in for the OP.
 
Try adjusting the pre load suspension switches. You have to have the bike in neutral, to make the adjustments. I like how they come with 2 pre sets...one for 1 up and two for 2 up. I find about 16 -17 load works best for me. It well help with the rough roads.
 
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On my 1500 with a straight axle all I can do to help is drop the tire pressure to 20 and add no pressure to the shocks at all.
 
Thanks for all the comments. I'm still a fairly new trike rider and I love my trike. My wife has made more than a few comments about the bounce, etc., and as we all know how important it is to keep the little lady happy.

We have a two week 2,000+ road trip scheduled in mid-October. Tallahassee to Houston to Mena, AR then return to Tally. We will be taking our Aluma MCTXL along. Do I sound excited? :)
 
Is it normal or typical for the trike ride to be rougher on city roads when compared to highways? By rougher I mean feeling the bumps more and some front wheel slightly, but noticeably, torking left to right?



CSC with independent suspension. Thanks

Read through this thread:

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...Rake-confusion

And then keep in mind that a trike front end is a lot like a caster on the front of that Walmart buggy in that it's a wheel who's contact with the roadway is behind the imaginary point the steering axis strikes the roadway ..... hence "trail". Just like that Walmart cart, when a rear wheel on one side strikes anything that retards it's forward momentum even for a split second, it wants to pull that caster to that side. At low speeds you feel that in the handle bars being pulled left and right ..... it's more noticeable when the front end has NOT been modifies with a "rake kit" as then there is more trail (rake kits reduce trail by moving just the wheel & axle forwards closer to steering axis).

If a trike had NO TRAIL, if the wheel contact point was centered where that steering stem axis hit the roadway .... then you'd have a trike that would not transmit so much jerking force left and right at low speed ..... but then it'd also stay in a turn forever if not straightened and you'ld have to chase it all over the roadway.

If the wheel contact point was in front of where that steering stem axis hit the roadway ....

then you'd have a trike with "lead" and a very very dangerous situation at any speed as it will always want to turn left or right and go full lock. Be like if you rolled your trike fast backwards as it is now, except going forwards.
 
Remember, you now have 3 wheels on the ground as opposed of only 2 wheels. Your going to feel the road more.
 
Some rough roads

Past weekend I encountered some rough riding. Roads in eastern RI,:RT 138, 114 also RT6 in RI and MA- many frost heeves, bad patches and small pot holes from tough winters and "Lack of funding":mad:. My shocks were old and too stiff though low on miles, nuts had tightened. Both rear shocks broke! Had to be flat bedded. Front kind of out of line, muffler fell off and tail light loosened. Hard to avoid bumps on 3 wheeler. Luckily a friend at Beemer get-together was able to weld shocks so I could drive home. Be careful in Northeast, city or country!
 
when i had a 2008 honda goldwing with a champion trike i had the shocks set at the lowest setting. and the preload set at five. the tires were at 21 psi. road good for my wife and i. hope this helps.
 
I think that 21 psi would make for a softer ride, Road Smith recommends not less than 26 psi, so I honor that. I've tried 26 to 30, which is the min and max that RS recommends, I can't tell much difference in the ride either way.
 
On smooth roads my Trike rides smooth.... On rough roads my Trike rides rough.
No matter what air pressure i use.. Its just a natural occurrence... [Normal]
In the wacky world of Trike'ing....My truck does the same also!...:D
 
On smooth roads my Trike rides smooth.... On rough roads my Trike rides rough.
No matter what air pressure i use.. Its just a natural occurrence... [Normal]
In the wacky world of Trike'ing....My truck does the same also!...:D

Same here...
 
rcpaints

I just had my front end rebuilt using Race Tech, installed by Highway 15 bike repair in Freeburg, Il. Seems they did a very good job as I am well pleased with the result.
Is it normal or typical for the trike ride to be rougher on city roads when compared to highways? By rougher I mean feeling the bumps more and some front wheel slightly, but noticeably, torking left to right?

CSC with independent suspension. Thanks
 

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