Steering Feelings

[3 for 2]

Well after a month of research on line and riding two Gold Wing trikes, one a Motor Trike solid axle and the other a CSC IRS, I decided on the Motor Trike IRS.

When I rode the two trikes and turning into a curve at relatively slow speeds I felt that the front wheel was sliding toward the outside of the curve.

Have you experienced this and how did you overcome it? Mentally I get the centrifugal forces and the steering but not the sense of the front wheel sliding. Also from this message board I understand it takes several hundred, if not a couple of thousand miles to be completely used to the trike. I should have my trike by the end of June. I should also mention I have been riding two wheels since 1973. Whoa! Did I say that?

I would appreciate your words of wisdom.

 

[rhino 2]

Well after a month of research on line and riding two Gold Wing trikes, one a Motor Trike solid axle and the other a CSC IRS, I decided on the Motor Trike IRS.

When I rode the two trikes and turning into a curve at relatively slow speeds I felt that the front wheel was sliding toward the outside of the curve.

Have you experienced this and how did you overcome it? Mentally I get the centrifugal forces and the steering but not the sense of the front wheel sliding. Also from this message board I understand it takes several hundred, if not a couple of thousand miles to be completely used to the trike. I should have my trike by the end of June. I should also mention I have been riding two wheels since 1973. Whoa! Did I say that?

I would appreciate your words of wisdom.

Is there a chance you were still trying to Counter-steer like you would on a two wheeler...:Shrug:

 

[G.W. Viper]

Well after a month of research on line and riding two Gold Wing trikes, one a Motor Trike solid axle and the other a CSC IRS, I decided on the Motor Trike IRS.

When I rode the two trikes and turning into a curve at relatively slow speeds I felt that the front wheel was sliding toward the outside of the curve.

Have you experienced this and how did you overcome it? Mentally I get the centrifugal forces and the steering but not the sense of the front wheel sliding. Also from this message board I understand it takes several hundred, if not a couple of thousand miles to be completely used to the trike. I should have my trike by the end of June. I should also mention I have been riding two wheels since 1973. Whoa! Did I say that?

I would appreciate your words of wisdom.

I am also getting my first trike in a couple of months. Two things so far that i am trying to remember are, say when turning left, pull left end handle bar. And lock elboe on right arm and push with shoulder. And also push down with opposite foot on floor board which would be your right foot. Reverse everything making right turn. :clapping:

 

[3 for 2]

Is there a chance you were still trying to Counter-steer like you would on a two wheeler...:Shrug:

Rhino 2 anything is possible but I thought I was doing the pull and push thing.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Have been riding on the street since the age of 18 now 63.Just purchased a Tri Glide April 20th of this year.Yes there is a learning curve thats for sure,i now have 1800 miles on it and feeling very comfortable with it.Every body is different so take your time and dont rush it and never ride out of your comfort zone.If you feel the need go to a big parking lot and practice there.As far as the front wheel sliding i have never felt that,other than not sure how aggressive i could be in a corner.Just take your time and you will love it.

 

[3 for 2]

I am also getting my first trike in a couple of months. Two things so far that i am trying to remember are, say when turning left, pull left end handle bar. And lock elboe on right arm and push with shoulder. And also push down with opposite foot on floor board which would be your right foot. Reverse everything making right turn. :clapping:

Kferg, I think there will be a lot to re learn once I get the trike. Good luck with your trike.

 

[3 for 2]

Have been riding on the street since the age of 18 now 63.Just purchased a Tri Glide April 20th of this year.Yes there is a learning curve thats for sure,i now have 1800 miles on it and feeling very comfortable with it.Every body is different so take your time and dont rush it and never ride out of your comfort zone.If you feel the need go to a big parking lot and practice there.As far as the front wheel sliding i have never felt that,other than not sure how aggressive i could be in a corner.Just take your time and you will love it.

Mykneesbehurtin it sounds like you are well on your way with 1800 miles. I'm hoping it's all in my head and all will go smoothly once I start riding.

 

[pcombe]

Well after a month of research on line and riding two Gold Wing trikes, one a Motor Trike solid axle and the other a CSC IRS, I decided on the Motor Trike IRS.

When I rode the two trikes and turning into a curve at relatively slow speeds I felt that the front wheel was sliding toward the outside of the curve.

Have you experienced this and how did you overcome it? Mentally I get the centrifugal forces and the steering but not the sense of the front wheel sliding. Also from this message board I understand it takes several hundred, if not a couple of thousand miles to be completely used to the trike. I should have my trike by the end of June. I should also mention I have been riding two wheels since 1973. Whoa! Did I say that?

I would appreciate your words of wisdom.

"When I rode the two trikes and turning into a curve at relatively slow speeds I felt that the front wheel was sliding toward the outside of the curve.

Have you experienced this and how did you overcome it? Mentally I get the centrifugal forces and the steering but not the sense of the front wheel sliding"

When I read this I have to question the front tire inflation, If your feeling the tire sliding or something like this check to make sure the tire is at max inflation or it will flex to the side to much and give you the willies.
A motorcycle front tire is made so it side flexes in corners.

A rear tire? not so much due to harder rubber compounds etc. that is one of the advantages of running a rear tire backward rotation on your trike. you no longer lean so you don't need side flex.

I prefer a solid axle suspension in the twisties out on the highway, but sure understand the comfort of the IRS in town where roads are rougher.
I built mine for the highway and it smooth's right out when it's running where it was built to run but it's a might rough in town. :Shrug:

 

[roadking2]

I never had the feeling that the front tire was sliding. My only advice is to cast away your fear, point the front tire where you want to go and forget about anything you are feeling. Keep that front tire towards the middle of the lane going wherever you want the trike to go and forget about whatever you are feeling in your rear end. It took me about a couple hundred miles and I was comfortable with the feeling of a trike. After a couple hundred more I never even thought about how it felt to ride it. For me when I first started it was the rocking of the IRS rear end that I had the most trouble with.

It was just that feeling of the rear end rocking back and forth as each tire dipped for every bump in the road. It was a smooth rocking but it was very distracting to me at first. I concentrated on the front tire and put faith that the rear end followed the front. It does. Soon enough I didn't even notice the rear end anymore and I have no problem carving my way through the twisties now.

You'll get there, just keep on riding and remember how much more comfortable you are today compared to how you felt on day one. Stay within your comfort zone and pretty soon, you won't even think about it. You'll just hop on and go for a enjoyable ride on your trike, loving every minute of it, and enjoying the day, just like the rest of us do.

 

[desertclassic]

The big thing for me that made it work was to forget about the pull, just relax the pull arm and push with the other arm. Sure made life easier for me. Jim

 

[Gold Rush]

Unless I missed it (sure hope I did not) nobody has mentioned the possibility of both test rides still have the OEM radial tire mounted.

Don, when I first got my '06 GL1800 converted I was not aware there was a down side to the radial. First time I almost put the trike into the ditch I went looking for "WHY" !!!! One of our members told me about the radial / bias ply conundrum. It was the silver bullet for that gremlin. I put the BT45 on and that push went away. I have one of the new AVON TRIKE tires setting in the shop just waiting for my present BT45 to ware out....

 

[mhgoldwing]

Well after a month of research on line and riding two Gold Wing trikes, one a Motor Trike solid axle and the other a CSC IRS, I decided on the Motor Trike IRS.

When I rode the two trikes and turning into a curve at relatively slow speeds I felt that the front wheel was sliding toward the outside of the curve.

Have you experienced this and how did you overcome it? Mentally I get the centrifugal forces and the steering but not the sense of the front wheel sliding. Also from this message board I understand it takes several hundred, if not a couple of thousand miles to be completely used to the trike. I should have my trike by the end of June. I should also mention I have been riding two wheels since 1973. Whoa! Did I say that?

I would appreciate your words of wisdom.

1. Be sure you have them change the front tire from OEM radial to either one of the bias ply tires we use, BT-45 or Michilin MPA at 41 psi.; or the Avon Cobra Trike tire also at 40-42 psi. The stock front tire's sidewalls will flex during cornering.

2. Think about riding an ATV when you first start driving you trike. You steer it the same way.

3. The only time I have had a front tire feel like it was slipping was when I was pushing hard through a tight turn; never while riding the recommended speed. Yes, it does take constant pressure to keep the trike in turn or otherwise the front wheel will straighten out immediately.

As others have stated it usually takes 500 to 1,000 miles before you are really comfortable on the trike, particularly in the twisties. The best thing you can do is follow an experienced triker through the twisties with him leading at a nominal pace. This is how we help new trike riders out around here. One of our members recently triked his GW with a Hannigan kit. I told him he had the best cornering rig on the road and to stick on my bumper through The Dragon. He did and was amazed how much better he felt by the time we reached the end of it. The next two days he followed me through the Smokies and became totally confident that his trike would do what he wanted.

Good luck and keep us posted.