Trike Handeling

[Trikindan]

I have had my Trike a few days now, (finely got shipped) and have ridden it twice. Now I have LOTS of questions for you Trike Pros.

My Trike is a 1998 GL1500A Motortrike. It seems to wonder a lot, pulling left and right. I seem to be always correcting the straight line in my lane.

It also steers pretty stiff at slow speeds and in tight turns (not what I needed with my Back condition) I find myself really fighting the bars when going through turns.:AGGHH::Trike1:

I do not believe it has a rake kit installed because Motortrike said it was not needed with their kits. But I think they may be wrong!!!

I have checked tire pressure and it has 40 psi in front and 18 left, 22 right in rear. New Dunlap OEM tire on front and new BFG TA's on rear.

Rear air bags at 40PSI.

I was really hoping the Trike would be easy to handle and not stress my back but so for that's not the case.

Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Oh and by the way....My wife LOVES it!!!! So I know I've got to make this work for us.

Thanks in advance :clapping:

 

[rhino 2]

I have had my Trike a few days now, (finely got shipped) and have ridden it twice. Now I have LOTS of questions for you Trike Pros.

My Trike is a 1998 GL1500A Motortrike. It seems to wonder a lot, pulling left and right. I seem to be always correcting the straight line in my lane.

It also steers pretty stiff at slow speeds and in tight turns (not what I needed with my Back condition) I find myself really fighting the bars when going through turns.:AGGHH::Trike1:

I do not believe it has a rake kit installed because Motortrike said it was not needed with their kits. But I think they may be wrong!!!

I have checked tire pressure and it has 40 psi in front and 18 left, 22 right in rear. New Dunlap OEM tire on front and new BFG TA's on rear.

Rear air bags at 40PSI.

I was really hoping the Trike would be easy to handle and not stress my back but so for that's not the case.

Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Oh and by the way....My wife LOVES it!!!! So I know I've got to make this work for us.

Thanks in advance

Any reason for the different tire pressure's in the rear tires ie;18/22..
I don't know about the Honda but if had 4 PSI ''less'' in one rear tire in my T/G It will be pulling to the low side tire.... :Shrug:

 

[Trikindan]

Any reason for the different tire pressure's in the rear tires ie;18/22..
I don't know about the Honda but if had 4 PSI ''less'' in one rear tire in my T/G It will be pulling to the low side tire.... :Shrug:

The man I bought it from set it that way to compensate for the crown in the road. I haven't changed it to experiment with tire pressures yet.

 

[rhino 2]

The man I bought it from set it that way to compensate for the crown in the road. I haven't changed it to experiment with tire pressures yet.

Or he was compensating for something else..:Shrug: The roads here in Jersey are heavily crowned and I always kept the pressures in the rear even...
I would even them out and see how that works out... Try 25 psi as a starting point..

 

[Trikindan]

Or he was compensating for something else..:Shrug: The roads here in Jersey are heavily crowned and I always kept the pressures in the rear even...
I would even them out and see how that works out... Try 25 psi as a starting point..

OK I'll try that, Thanks. What do you think about the hard steering?

 

[JaysGone]

That's nuttz to mess with air pressure due to crowning of a road. A 4 pound difference is more then enough to make it pull one way or the other.
As for the bike not being raked.
I had a 99 Valkyrie non raked and it was a major PIA to ride except straight ahead. It had a solid rear axle too.
My current 2010 Gl1800 with a MT Adventurer kit has a 4.5 degree front and its like power steering.
MT claims you don't need it due to the shorter wheel base.
That may be true if your Hercules or in your 20s, which Im not anymore.
It doesn't hurt any trike to rake it, that's a plus in my book.
Put at least 24psi in each rear tire for starters. You may need more as I know nothing about your current rear suspension with air bags.
I have 24 psi in my rear tires also T/As with 32 psi in the shocks with a full tank. At half a tank I lower it to 26 psi.

 

[Trikindan]

That's nuttz to mess with air pressure due to crowning of a road. A 4 pound difference is more then enough to make it pull one way or the other.
As for the bike not being raked.
I had a 99 Valkyrie non raked and it was a major PIA to ride except straight ahead. It had a solid rear axle too.
My current 2010 Gl1800 with a MT Adventurer kit has a 4.5 degree front and its like power steering.
MT claims you don't need it due to the shorter wheel base.
That may be true if your Hercules or in your 20s, which Im not anymore.
It doesn't hurt any trike to rake it, that's a plus in my book.
Put at least 24psi in each rear tire for starters. You may need more as I know nothing about your current rear suspension with air bags.
I have 24 psi in my rear tires also T/As with 32 psi in the shocks with a full tank. At half a tank I lower it to 26 psi.

Humm......Sounds like I need to make some changes!!! 24 PSI in BOTH rear tires. Should I leave front at 41 PSI?

What Rake kit should I go with? 4 or 6 degree. Any suggestions on which brand and the beat place to buy the kit?

 

[dirtdobber]

When I did the mystery kit on a Dyna I was told I wouldn't need one being so short and small front wheel. It was what you described. I added a 6 degree rake. the difference was like night and day.
I think a 6 degree is a little too much due to being so short. It is like power steering.

I agree with using the same psi in both rear tires. I am using 22lbs in both of ours. Rides great

 

[keepinon]

On my '98 Valkyrie, MT, a few pounds lighter than the 'Wing, I run 20psi in the rears, 40psi front, and 20psi in the air bags one-up, 35 with two-up. I also installed a 6* rake kit, as the steering was rather stiff at slow speeds. As said above, like power steering now.

It tracks very straight. In fact, I often let loose of the handle bars to light a cigarette while moving... just not in a curve.

 

[Gold Rush]

Re: Trike Handling

I have had my Trike a few days now, (finely got shipped) and have ridden it twice. Now I have LOTS of questions for you Trike Pros.

My Trike is a 1998 GL1500A Motortrike. It seems to wonder a lot, pulling left and right. I seem to be always correcting the straight line in my lane.

It also steers pretty stiff at slow speeds and in tight turns (not what I needed with my Back condition) I find myself really fighting the bars when going through turns.:AGGHH::Trike1:

I do not believe it has a rake kit installed because Motortrike said it was not needed with their kits. But I think they may be wrong!!!

I have checked tire pressure and it has 40 psi in front and 18 left, 22 right in rear. New Dunlap OEM tire on front and new BFG TA's on rear.

Rear air bags at 40PSI.

I was really hoping the Trike would be easy to handle and not stress my back but so for that's not the case.

Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Oh and by the way....My wife LOVES it!!!! So I know I've got to make this work for us.

Thanks in advance :clapping:

Howdy Dan. I don't have any GL1500 experience but also don't see much difference between that and a GL1800 trike. I have over 119,000 miles on my '06 Motor Trike so have pretty much tried all the combinations. Here is what I can tell you:

First, you most probably should get a 4.5 degree rake kit installed. Your bike is too short and narrow to handle the geometry of the 6 degree rake well. You will be amazed at the difference. If you are handy with a wrench and know you way around the bike then you could do the install yourself. Our board owner (ZOOK) sells a very nice rake kit for a very reasonable price. Send him a PM or email.

Second, the OEM front tire is not helping you handling any. The tire wall tends to roll in curves. It WILL ware out pretty quick (5 to 7 thousand miles) then put on a Bridgestone BT-45 or Michelin Pro Activ (MTA) the same size as the OEM. Both are bias ply rear sport bike tires and will vastly improve handling and mileage.

Third, balance the air pressure in the rear tires. Yes you have crowning to contend with some but not everywhere and not all the time. If you don't ride on the right side of the road then there is very little crown at all..

Fourth, I'd reduce the rear air shock pressure some. Unless you are carrying a heavy load, that much pressure is making that rear suspension very stiff which is beating up your back and if you have a passenger really beating them up! I carry a lot of junk in the trunk so I usually run about 32 pounds then when I get into the twisties I pump it up to 40 or 45.

Fifth, keep the front air at 40 or 41 pounds. Even when you get the BT-45 or MTA on.

I think that pretty much covers your concerns. Some of the handling issues you have are things we all went through. A few hundred miles in the saddle will make you more comfortable with the trike but the new tire and rake kit will get you the biggest improvement in handling.

Good Luck with the new ride.:xszpv::xszpv:

 

[mhgoldwing]

The front end "walking" is probably caused by a slight crown in the middle of the lane. Here is Arkansas many of our roads are old and have ruts where the auto tires have worn the road down, leaving a crown in the middle of the lane. I often have to ride off-center to keep my from wandering from side to side. Also, agree that OEM tire isn't helping.

How do I know this? Get a new, smooth road and all wander disappears. Plus, I can feel the crown in the center of the lane pulling on my ST1300 when I ride two wheels.

Definitely add at least the 4.5 rake kit. It will make life much easier.

 

[JaysGone]

Humm......Sounds like I need to make some changes!!! 24 PSI in BOTH rear tires. Should I leave front at 41 PSI?

What Rake kit should I go with? 4 or 6 degree. Any suggestions on which brand and the beat place to buy the kit?

I, like you when I 1st got a trike was clueless.
You will experiment and find what works for you and your wife when riding.
The rear tires on your trike are defiantly underinflated. The 24 psi number is a good starting point.
You may need more but less?? I doubt it.
Im assuming your rear axle is a solid and at 41 psi isn't going to help your back one bit.
More air in the tires = less in the rear shock.
I change mine around due to the weight difference in the amount of gas in the tank. It can be that weight sensitive. The rear of the trike that is not my rear. But the bikes.
My MT kit has an independent rear. Its adjustable while riding. So it makes my life easy changing the psi around. You will find small weight changes can and are felt in your butt as you ride.
The 41psi is fine for the front. I personally use less but that's me and Im in the minority here on that subject. Personally I think Honda has the worst front end in the business as its built and setup.
Use up the front tire you have then get a 130 rear for the front.
Michelin Pilot Active was my choice. Cant go wrong with a Battle Axe. My other bike has a cheap Kenda rear and it works just fine too.

Other then asking Bazzoka in a PM about raking. I cant suggest a kit. I can say don't go over 4.5 degrees though. 6 is a bit much for a short wheelbase. Its a big expense for most, but the best thing you can do to enhance your riding experience.

Experience is the only teacher here and time. You will find what works for you.

 

[Smilam]

I agree with the above responses to run both rears at 24 lbs + or minus depending on how it feels to you. Just play with the pressures until you get the ride you like. As for the wandering in the lane. Since you have two rear wheels now your trike will rock back and forth following the levelness of the road from side to side. Don't fight it and just let it wander a little bit. After awhile you won't even notice a little rocking from side to side.
Steve

 

[6X3]

What Rush said.

 

[pcombe]

Any reason for the different tire pressure's in the rear tires ie;18/22..
I don't know about the Honda but if had 4 PSI ''less'' in one rear tire in my T/G It will be pulling to the low side tire.... :Shrug:

:Agree:

- - - Updated - - -

Humm......Sounds like I need to make some changes!!! 24 PSI in BOTH rear tires. Should I leave front at 41 PSI?

What Rake kit should I go with? 4 or 6 degree. Any suggestions on which brand and the beat place to buy the kit?

for now run the front tire at max inflation recommended on the tire to rule out flex in the tire.
Contact Bazooka forum administrator to check on recommended rake.
I will shoot you a private message ok?

 

[pcombe]

Humm......Sounds like I need to make some changes!!! 24 PSI in BOTH rear tires. Should I leave front at 41 PSI?

What Rake kit should I go with? 4 or 6 degree. Any suggestions on which brand and the beat place to buy the kit?

How much rake you should have on a raked triple tree depends on how much natural rake your bike has to begin with. I picked up a 5 degree raked tree from bazooka so it made my old Harley 9 degrees overall.
My tour glide responds quicker than any other trike I have ever been on and it steers easily with one hand on the highway.
My trike is a bit rough in town due to the solid axle and the rear tire ran in backward rotation on the front. (i.e. Harder rubber compound) but I built it for the open road and it smooth's right out.

:Coffee: In the meantime try running your trike in a gear where it is constantly pulling, lugging your trike will only cause more head shake at lower speeds and make it feel heavy in the steering. steering a trike is a push pull exercise, When cornering lock the elbow you are using to push on the handle bar and it will decrease fatigue thereby making it easier on your back huh?
Plant the foot on the side where you are feeling the centrifugal force trying to throw you off the bike and hug the tank with the other knee.
There is a learning curve to riding a trike, following some of these suggestions may give you a more harmonious outcome, and for Pete sake balance the rear tire pressure?

Contact Bazooka about a rake kit?