Trident/Honda trike

[Papagino]

Hi all, new to the forum. Picked this up about a month ago, I've learned a bit about it through other forums. It's a1981 gl500 with a Trident conversion, formerly used as a police trike. It runs fairly well, but has a bad shimmy going down the road. Tires and rims look OK, so I'm starting to think it's a bad u-joint. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Papagino

 

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome to Trike talk

Do the handlebars

shake?

Or do you feel the shaking in the seat or floorboards?

 

[trike lady]

Hello & :welcome: to Trike Talk. :clapping:

 

[rhino 2]

Hi all, new to the forum. Picked this up about a month ago, I've learned a bit about it through other forums. It's a1981 gl500 with a Trident conversion, formerly used as a police trike. It runs fairly well, but has a bad shimmy going down the road. Tires and rims look OK, so I'm starting to think it's a bad u-joint. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Papagino

View attachment 116633

Welcome to Trike Talk check your steering head, bearing it could be worn, and with that Windjammer fairing on it, that would make it more pronounced,!

 

[Papagino]

shimmy

Welcome to Trike talk

Do the handlebars

shake?

Or do you feel the shaking in the seat or floorboards?

pretty much the whole trike

 

[Papagino]

shimmy

Welcome to Trike Talk check your steering head, bearing it could be worn, and with that Windjammer fairing on it, that would make it more pronounced,!

thanks, I'll do that

 

[trike lady]

It is a short wheel base trike and its not designed to go very fast, I think according to what little history I could find it was stated 80mph was top speed. https://tnmot.org/collection/honda-cx500-police-trike/ A number of members here own them and may be able to tell you where they get parts and what axle was used to build them years ago https://www.cx500forum.com/ I'm going to say worn bearings are the issue.

 

[Papagino]

shimmy

It is a short wheel base trike and its not designed to go very fast, I think according to what little history I could find it was stated 80mph was top speed. https://tnmot.org/collection/honda-cx500-police-trike/ A number of members here own them and may be able to tell you where they get parts and what axle was used to build them years ago https://www.cx500forum.com/ I'm going to say worn bearings are the issue.

thanks, I've never had it over 30 mph, the shimmy is that bad

 

[trike lady]

I've only seen pictures of these trikes and my guess is they are made like any other trike conversion and that the swing arm assembly may have a part worn or if rubber it is dry rotted where it assembles to the host bike frame. I had to locate a parts break down of a CX500 to see how it is put together. https://www.hondapartsnation.com/oemparts/a/hon/506f7f20f8700229747b88f4/swingarm

 

[hardwickbv]

Welcome from Indiana!!! :Coffee:

Bob

 

[Marc H]

:Shrug:Welcome to Trike Talk Papagino!!!

 

[Papa Zook]

Hi all, new to the forum. Picked this up about a month ago, I've learned a bit about it through other forums. It's a1981 gl500 with a Trident conversion, formerly used as a police trike. It runs fairly well, but has a bad shimmy going down the road. Tires and rims look OK, so I'm starting to think it's a bad u-joint. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Papagino

View attachment 116633

I like it..got that Craig Vetter fairing goin' on...cool!

 

[ol' school]

Welcome to Trike Talk!

 

[Burnerboy]

Does your model trike have a rake'd front forks???

My Roadsmith has a 5.5% rake on it.

Ronnie

2/17/24

 

[Pooch]

How old are the tires, what's the date code on them?

 

[KirkDT]

That's a cool Honda trike!