Teaching wife to Ride

[Paul_Trike]

Hello all,

My wife has decided it would be good if she learned to drive the trike. We started the training and I will say did well. However she is not comfortable not being able to see what gear she is in, I found a gear indicator for her on wingstuff that plugs into the diagonistics plug in.

So I have two questions

1. Has anyone use these?

2. Does anyone know if Motor Trike already uses the plug in? (I could remove the seat but thought i would just ask first)

 

[Gold Rush]

Paul I don't believe there is anything plugged into that port. Can't think of any reason to either... Give Richard a call at Motor Trike and he'll tell you if there is.

I know a guy up in Minnesota that has a gear indicator mounted behind the left speaker grill. It shows through the grill real well and it's up in good position so the rider would not have to take their eyes off the road.

Glad your bride is wanting to learn. I'd be happy if mine just could ride. She hasn't been physically able in several years now. Sure wish she could.

Good luck with the project. Pictures when done.........

 

[Paul_Trike]

Paul I don't believe there is anything plugged into that port. Can't think of any reason to either... Give Richard a call at Motor Trike and he'll tell you if there is.

I know a guy up in Minnesota that has a gear indicator mounted behind the left speaker grill. It shows through the grill real well and it's up in good position so the rider would not have to take their eyes off the road.

Glad your bride is wanting to learn. I'd be happy if mine just could ride. She hasn't been physically able in several years now. Sure wish she could.

Good luck with the project. Pictures when done.........

I really like the ideal of behind the grill I will have to look into how to mount it that way.

It may be a little while before we can buy and install but will diffently take pics

 

[Paul_Trike]

I like the behind the speaker grill better but I found this picture that does not look too bad.

 

[Bikerbozo]

The more important comment is....You taught your wife to ride and lived to tell the tale?
Congrats, you are the 1st husband in history that a woman has listened to and followed directions from.:Joker3:

 

[Gold Rush]

I like the behind the speaker grill better but I found this picture that does not look too bad.

Here is what I was talking about Paul. Nice and clean......

 

[John Luciano]

That gear indicator is a kit, on the 1500 there is a plug just above the right cornering light that has the gear indicator plug in it. I taught my friend how to ride. All I told her is don't try to guess the gears, if it feel wrong shift. When your over 40 MPH the OD light should be on .

 

[Paul_Trike]

The more important comment is....You taught your wife to ride and lived to tell the tale?
Congrats, you are the 1st husband in history that a woman has listened to and followed directions from.:Joker3:

Well I have not finished teaching her yet one lesson and it went well. As for as listening to me well that is why we want the indicator light as she is deaf and can't hear the rev so anything that helps her i am willing to do.

But because she is deaf it gives a blessing and a curse when you try and teach her. I have to walk her through what i want her to do then get on with her and hope she remembers what I told her. Well she does not hear the cursing from me in the back and when we stop I am able to tell her calmly what she should have done different. All and all is going well.

 

[Paul_Trike]

Here is what I was talking about Paul. Nice and clean......

Yes very clean and is what I want to do just don't know how he mounted it. Looks like the same one I going to get and is designed to stick on from the back. Maybe he just double sided tapped it from the side.

 

[Rosy]

That's take me back to the days in the 60s' when we were street racing and we were fixed on looking at the tacometer to see when to shift. Maybe she can look at the tac and she can shift at a specific rpm. You can determine on your trike, because most have different rear end gear ratios as to what rpm she should shift.
Just a thought before you install the gear indicator for her.

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

 

[Paul_Trike]

That's take me back to the days in the 60s' when we were street racing and we were fixed on looking at the tacometer to see when to shift. Maybe she can look at the tac and she can shift at a specific rpm. You can determine on your trike, because most have different rear end gear ratios as to what rpm she should shift.
Just a thought before you install the gear indicator for her.

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

We are using that technique right now, she just feels like she needs to know what gear she is in at any given time. I don't think she needs it but it it makes or more comfortable on the trike I am willing to do it as long as I can give it a nice clean look like behind the speaker grill.

Maybe it is better to say that anything that encourges her to try more I am willing to do.

 

[Rosy]

You are correct, she needs all the help she can get. I know at times I think I am in First and start to take off and, OOPPPPSSS, second gear.
I believe she will do fine as she get more mileage under her feet. At first it is a learning process, but after a few miles, you don't even know you are doing things, like shifting and breaking, it almost become natural.
I have spoken to my wife to learn the basics in case something happens to me she can get somewhere. She was brought up on a farm, so gear shifting is not a problem, as we have a Mini Cooper and she loves to drive it. It would be the hand clutch, instead of the foot clutch.
Good luck and have fun!

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

 

[seahawkfan1765]

Paul, I recently purchased a new to me Harley trike. The second item I ordered was the gear indicator assembly. I just feel more comfortable knowing what gear I am in. It think it is a fear of damaging the motor if i do something stupid. I give you a lot of credit for teaching her yourself. Be patient. Build up her confidence. Ride safe!

 

[John Luciano]

Is this it? Looks like it has a magnet on the shift lever and 2 sensors that look for the lever movement. Worth a shot for only $25.00 bucks
Red Digital Gear Indicator F Motorcycle Yamaha Honda Display Current Gear Change | eBay

 

[Paul_Trike]

the one I am looking at this one. I know it is more but works off diagostic system,

Gear Indicators w/Red, Blue, Green, Yellow LED Display - Honda Gold Wing Parts & Accessories by WingStuff.com

 

[Memnoch451]

Women riding motorcycles??? What's next.. they will vote, get jobs and wear pants?????

If you don't hear from me in a few days that means my wife read this and I'm not long on this earth!

 

[Konrad]

That's take me back to the days in the 60s' when we were street racing and we were fixed on looking at the tacometer to see when to shift. Maybe she can look at the tac and she can shift at a specific rpm. You can determine on your trike, because most have different rear end gear ratios as to what rpm she should shift.
Just a thought before you install the gear indicator for her.

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

I'm DEAF so I cannot depend on the changes in engine sound to keep me informed as to the present gear. So I learned to very automatically count gears as I shift - up to 5 when I see the "OD" light come on. When coming to a stop I automatically count backwards to "1". Within a month it was no longer a conscious thought process - just something one does naturally, like breathing. And it saves a lot of money.

 

[John Luciano]

My fiend Maryann who I taught to ride a trike . Had not driven a stick in 20 years. God rest her sole she was a thought teach, she in sister that she would never be able to drive a motorcycle she had to shift... SIDE NOTE that trike is for sale with only 10,000 miles on it. And it has a matching Bustec trailer .anyway. After about 3 miles of back roads she figured it out and I never heard a complaint. I did hear tell someone it is not really shifting it is just moving your foot. ( I laughted ) with the 1800 wing it really doesn't mater what gear your in anyway. You can start in 2 nd or go down to 25 MPH in 5 th , cruise all day in 4 th .

 

[Paul_Trike]

I'm DEAF so I cannot depend on the changes in engine sound to keep me informed as to the present gear. So I learned to very automatically count gears as I shift - up to 5 when I see the "OD" light come on. When coming to a stop I automatically count backwards to "1". Within a month it was no longer a conscious thought process - just something one does naturally, like breathing. And it saves a lot of money.

I agree that once she gets used to it she will never use the gear idicator, however right now she feels she would like it. As long as it encourges her to try more then I will more than gladly spend the money.

She has overcome alot in her life (after all she managed to stay married to me for 20 years now) and she truely inspires me so I want to assist her in all that I can.

When I got the trike she was not even sure she would ride on it with me she was sufficently afarid of it. No she will take naps on the back so she decided she would like to be able to drive it as well but there is still a level of fear (respect) that anything that helps her overcome that I am willing to do.

 

[Konrad]

I agree that once she gets used to it she will never use the gear idicator, however right now she feels she would like it. As long as it encourges her to try more then I will more than gladly spend the money.

She has overcome alot in her life (after all she managed to stay married to me for 20 years now) and she truely inspires me so I want to assist her in all that I can.

When I got the trike she was not even sure she would ride on it with me she was sufficently afarid of it. No she will take naps on the back so she decided she would like to be able to drive it as well but there is still a level of fear (respect) that anything that helps her overcome that I am willing to do.

You are a good husband, Paul, and I expect your marriage to be one of those that lasts forever. You are both blessed.