Trike Training Course(s)- Your experience

[wa.bound]

Hi folks-I wanted to ask your opinions on taking a trike training course.
Time for a huddle-- :GrpHug1::GrpHug1:

~Did any of you take a training course?
~Did you rode a two-wheel before switching to the trike?
~If so, did you take a trike course and did you gain a lot from it?
~If you have prior motorcycle experience and did not take the course-how different do you feel on the trike/the learning ups and downs on your own and would you now encourage others to take a course?

I have had my license (motorcycle) for 10years but only rode my own for a little bit. I stayed as a passenger the most (much to my chagrin) because of the struggles with balance and strength with the injuries. I've written a blog on the training courses etc and I believe they are a good idea but I am really having a hard time (mentally and slightly financially) coming off/handing over $300 for the 2day course. I have yet to meet one person that I personally know, that owns a trike, that took the training course. Everyone did it by a their own learning curve-figuring it out. They all have 2wheel experience-more than me but I know the basics of the motorcycle riding. I have a huge empty housing development behind my house that has 4 sharp curves, 3streets (for making full-on turns) and it's a completed road-meaning pavement but no houses. It's where I used to practice on my past motorcycle and I'm wondering if I shouldn't just do the same on the trike and then get it out on the highway after some practice in this empty lot. We are lucky to have large amounts of open road/highway leading out of town in 3directions so it would be a good start with high speeds etc (higher than 35).

What do you think? Be honest please I really need some guidance because again, it's killing me to hand over that money when I want to think I could figure out the stuff on my own. Believe me, I know the pros to taking the class, I just want to hear the possible cons to NOT taking it.

Thanks all! Sorry this was so long.

 

[Lucky]

IMO Before I would pay that kind of money I would wear that practice track you have out.If in time I was uncomfortable then I mite try the course.Whatever you choose take your time and watch for those people that A'INT WATCHING FOR YOU.RIDE SAFE

 

[katfish16]

Joining GWRRA is a lot cheaper... they offer trike courses at all their rallies. I have had their 2 wheel courses and they were good..

Only a suggestion.. Good luck in whatever U do.

 

[Nana]

I rode on two wheels for almost 20 years before triking my Fat Boy. There was a definite adjustment period with the trike -- becoming automatically aware/conscious of the width of my new "big butt" , and to feel at ease with the steering, which is very different from the leaning turns on two. However around the 250 - 300 mile mark, I came in from a ride with a big grin and told Mike that I had suddenly realized I wasn't tense, and that I was feeling at home on the trike and having a blast riding! I have never looked back.

Initially, I did what you are describing --- found a quiet neighborhood and just rode it, turning corners both ways, practicing tight U-turns, pulling into the curb without rubbing the curb, etc. Then I moved out to country roads for some sweeping curves at higher speeds, and then onto the highways.

I had never heard of a trike class (I had taken the motorcycle safety class years before, and it was wonderful!), so it wasn't even something I considered. Honestly, for me, getting comfortable with the trike is what I needed. After that point, really the same principles apply and I still ride the same way I did on two wheels -- alert, defensive, looking ahead and through the corners as far as I can, etc. (and tending to speed :innocent. That said, I wouldn't hesitate to take a trike class if one was available to me at an affordable price. It is always good to learn and to refresh what you already know!

 

[Boscoporp]

Yes! I have taken a trike class. Yes, I rode two wheelers before the trike.

I took the trike class thru GWRRA at one of their rallies for $50.00 The first day was all class room and the second day we stayed on the trike couse for almost 8 hours. I had been riding trikes for 90 days before I took the class.

The information that I learned in the trike class has saved my life many times over! They teach you what to do in case of the emergencies that will come up in your everyday riding. Well worth your time. Don't listen to people that tell you to learn it by riding. That could be Hazardous to your life!

i am going thru a trike pulling a trailer course at Wing Ding July 5-8 in Knoxville. Must be a member. It's only $50.00 a year to belong to GWRRA.

PM me if you want more!

 

[Meastro319]

I had never driven a motorcycle before getting my trike last year. (well, maybe a couple of times way back in high school) Got my trike last April and just practiced, practiced, and practiced some more. Boy was I ever nervous. So much power!!! AND I had to control it. Luckily I had/have a good mentor. Practicing on my cul-du-sac was one thing. getting out onto the nearby street, THEN onto a real highway!!!Yikes!! That was something else. I think it was around the 500 mile mark that I felt the same way nana felt. I knew I could do it. And I smiled a lot!!
So, NO I have not taken a riding course of any kind. Would I?? Will I in the future?? You BET!! And, yes, I was/am a little nervous this spring riding again. But each time out gets a little bit easier. Like Lucky said though,...be aware!!! "They" are out to get you. Ride defensively.

 

[Big0]

Hello -

Just on my way back from the Trike course. It's mandatory here in florida and happens to be the same one that they teach in Washington. The course was good - when you read about riding trikes it doesn't match up with what is taught in the course. The course gave some good info. and some good riding tips. Had ridden a bike 15 or so years ago but definitely learned some new things that are important on the Trike versus a two
wheeler..
Big-0

 

[wa.bound]

Thanks everyone!
Big-0 I've learned through the FL-DMV that the trike course is only mandatory if you do not already have your motorcycle endorsement-which I do, that's why I'm question the $300 with a big :AGGHH::faint::faint::gah::gah:

$50 for the course with GWRRA (had to look up what that even was LOL) that's so much nicer than $300!
Surely I don't have to have a Goldwing to participate? I'll have to look in to that and see what I can dig up.

 

[katfish16]

If U go to the GWRRA site U will see U do not have to have a Goldwing to belong.


: : : GWRRA : : : Gold Wing Road Riders Association : : :

U can get the toll free number from the web site and call them too.


Also if U join find one of ur friends who belongs to it, and give them credit for getting U to join..

Good luck.

 

[DanDolfn]

There was a definite adjustment period with the trike -- becoming automatically aware/conscious of the width of my new "big butt" , and to feel at ease with the steering, which is very different from the leaning turns on two. However around the 250 - 300 mile mark, I came in from a ride with a big grin and told Mike that I had suddenly realized I wasn't tense, and that I was feeling at home on the trike and having a blast riding!

I'm going to have to get used to it quick. My dealer is about 70 miles from my home, so I'll do a few spins around his neighborhood and then I'll have to head home. It will be about 2/3 highway and 1/3 thru towns.

I'm a little nervous about it.

 

[Nana]

You'll do fine, Dan. Don't go faster than you are comfortable. And definitely take some time to drive around the parking lot and the block a few times!!!!

 

[kkaykk]

I'm going to have to get used to it quick. My dealer is about 70 miles from my home, so I'll do a few spins around his neighborhood and then I'll have to head home. It will be about 2/3 highway and 1/3 thru towns.

I'm a little nervous about it.[/QUOTE]

Had the same feelings about the pickup. I really support getting training when and if available but that was not an option I had. I was suprised how quickly I adapted to the trike. The biggest issue for me was the width (the urge to filter through heavy traffic). After less than an hour in a parking lot and side streets I was on my way in both heavier city traffic and on the hightway. It really helped reading all I could about the difference between riding on two wheels and going to three. As long as you stay within your comfort zone you should be fine.

 

[grampadonut]

had been riding 2 wheels for a number of years (alot of milage) when i picked up our trike in another town..sadly there a small mountian to go over with a few twistys on the down side..was never so scared when trike didnt turn as leaned to left or right
please do alot of practice before taking new trike home
best
peter

 

[Big0]

Did the course and went to change my license here in florida. They gave me a motorcycle endorsement on the license not just for a Trike. That's fine i used to have a motorcycle but didn't have the endorsement for a lot of years. i think that the DMV here is confused still with the Trike issues.
big0

 

[hitime]

You don't have to be a member of GWRRA to take the Trike rider's course at one of thier rallys. You will have to register for the rally, so when I did it, it cost me about $100 ($50 for the rally, and $50 for the class). It is pretty much the exact same thing as the MSF Experienced Rider's Course - only without having to do the figure 8 in the box. I had take the ERC twice already, so the maneuvers were not unknown to me. However, I thought it was worth practicing the evasive maneuvers in a controlled environment, with people who could observe objectively and provide feedback on what I was doing. Worth the $50 for the class. However, the $50 for the rally was a total waste of my cash. YMMV

 

[Gorilla]

Did the course and went to change my license here in florida. They gave me a motorcycle endorsement on the license not just for a Trike. That's fine i used to have a motorcycle but didn't have the endorsement for a lot of years. i think that the DMV here is confused still with the Trike issues.
big0

bigO look on the back of your license. Is there a S restriction?