what NOT to get

[JaysGone]

Man...that really sucks. Too bad you can't find a way to go around. All I can say is to be careful and take them as slowly as possible. I would be crawling over them.

I looked at the running boards today and there are 2 nice size gouges in the left front.
They must be from going over the bumps at an angle.
None I could see on the right side.
There is 1 bump in particular that I go over or around if possible.
Thats the one I know Ive hit both times.
So today with my post in mind.
I went around bump 1 through some parking spaces no problem at 8:30 and squarely over the one closest to the store at about 5 mph.
Sure as crap..............banged it mid frame......
Its in front of the Home DePot in the mall.
It runs across the full width of the lanes.
That 1 I usually ride around over the frontal area of the store.
There are 3 bumps I cant go around at least once daily and I scrape the frame on all of them.

Ill take some pictures tomorrow if I remember my camera.
Im going to give it alot of thought as to removing the floor boards, but I do use them sans the OEM foot pegs.

I also have to add one more thing.
Im amazed by the number of folks walking past the trike parked in front of the store who comment positively about the trike to me as I stand outside taking a smoke break..
Most have never seen one before.
I do park it on the wallkway next to the front doors.
Its never going in the parking lot here.

 

[rgw5944]

I looked at the running boards today and there are 2 nice size gouges in the left front.

My question is, what does it matter if there are gouges on the underneath side of the running boards? I doubt the gouge police will be checking the underside of your running boards anytime soon. How many times a month do you ride the trike to Home Depot verses how many times do you ride for pleasure? I think it would be worth some consideration to take the car to Home Depot or park the trike in a area where you don't have to go over the bumps and walk in. I doubt that you would be happy going back to OEM foot pegs after having the running boards.

 

[Lakeman]

I have the headlight flashers on the lo beam so I can still run my spots. With it on lo beam it can't be seen from any distance. People tell me that my head light is out. I just don't use it any longer!
What is a crampbuster?

 

[hbrogan57]

Gouges underneath can cause issues. Florida has a salty high humidity and that can cause issues if the Fiberglas is broken open in this manner. Over time salt can cause the Fiberglas to begin to break down and then, that little gouge becomes a bigger issue.

But you are correct in mentioning that one probably wouldn't be happy going back to just the floorboards.

The simple solution is the same that you mentioned. Try NOT to run over them by parking someplace else or taking another vehicle.

I looked at the running boards today and there are 2 nice size gouges in the left front.

My question is, what does it matter if there are gouges on the underneath side of the running boards? I doubt the gouge police will be checking the underside of your running boards anytime soon. How many times a month do you ride the trike to Home Depot verses how many times do you ride for pleasure? I think it would be worth some consideration to take the car to Home Depot or park the trike in a area where you don't have to go over the bumps and walk in. I doubt that you would be happy going back to OEM foot pegs after having the running boards.

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I wouldn't get a extra gas tank if it was a option for Champion.
I stop every 150 miles for gas and we like to stretch and walk around.

As for the Accent Boards(running boards), those I like.
They finish off the bottom of the trike.
Champions are small enough that I can put my feet down to move the trike around.
I have never hit bottom with them. I just remembered from the first time I rode it, to watch out for speed bumps and other things.

 

[Rick Kay]

Don't mean to run your Harley down as I have one also but their Mickey Mouse charging system will barely run what is stock on them and certainly not much anything else. That is probably the reason for the dimmer lights....

Hardly a "Mickey Mouse" charging system, Hoghead. It's a 3 phase, 50 amp charging system. I can run about anything I like without problems. Also, just an FYI, LED lights have a much lower draw than incandescent bulbs, and would not make the lights less bright.

 

[JaysGone]

My question is, what does it matter if there are gouges on the underneath side of the running boards? I doubt the gouge police will be checking the underside of your running boards anytime soon. How many times a month do you ride the trike to Home Depot verses how many times do you ride for pleasure? I think it would be worth some consideration to take the car to Home Depot or park the trike in a area where you don't have to go over the bumps and walk in. I doubt that you would be happy going back to OEM foot pegs after having the running boards.

I dont ride for pleasure.
At least not in the standard useage as most would here use to word..
I use the trike and or my bikes to commute to work daily.
My car is a 17 year old beater for rainy mornings.

I dont care about the gouges. Ive just maybe overly mentioned them.

The question was what would you NOT order if you had to do it all over again.
If new. I might not knowing what I know now order the running boards.
Im the 2nd owner and made the desicion to buy this trike in all of 3 days.

Running boards to me were and are needed as I do ride in the rains maybe 100+ days a year comming home from work.
Both of my other bikes have foot boards and when it rains my legs from the knees down get soaked.......
Its subtropical here and rains almost daily end of April till the beginning of Nov.
Going home I could care less how wet I get.
But wet feet are never fun during a ride for me.

Unfortunatly for me I cant raise the MT kit end of the bike.
No real clearence on mine.
At least with my Yamaha when I had it slammed<hard tailed>. I had a choice and did go back to stock height after a few weeks of banging the frame on the same bumps in the same parking lot.
My Valk has more then enough clearence, doesnt even come close to banging.
With the MT kit raising the air pressure. It lowers the front angle and makes things even worse. At 30 psi I dont bang anything at 25 it does<did>. At 35psi it bounces all over the place and has a lousy ride.
I have no problems with the speed bumps in my home complex.
They are 1/3rd the size of whats in the parking lot where I work.

So for me if it bangs it bangs Ill live with it.

 

[JaysGone]

Gouges underneath can cause issues. Florida has a salty high humidity and that can cause issues if the Fiberglas is broken open in this manner. Over time salt can cause the Fiberglas to begin to break down and then, that little gouge becomes a bigger issue.

But you are correct in mentioning that one probably wouldn't be happy going back to just the floorboards.

The simple solution is the same that you mentioned. Try NOT to run over them by parking someplace else or taking another vehicle.


You already should know me better.
Using a car isnt the answer or the solution for me..
Riding through the parking spaces is when I can.
I preffer bikes and will deal with the gouges before they can cause damage to the fiberglas.
Ive had a few fiberglass bodied cars before and you are 100% right about what salt and humidity can and does do to cracks in them down here.
By the way a few of those cars also banged on said bumps.

 

[hbrogan57]

If there are true gouges in the Fiberglas then there is already damage. It probably isn't all that noticeable but it IS there. Those little cracks that are there now can only get worse if not taken care of. Salt and water will start seeping in between there and can cause issues down the road.

You already should know me better.
Using a car isnt the answer or the solution for me..
Riding through the parking spaces is when I can.
I preffer bikes and will deal with the gouges before they can cause damage to the fiberglas.
Ive had a few fiberglass bodied cars before and you are 100% right about what salt and humidity can and does do to cracks in them down here.
By the way a few of those cars also banged on said bumps.

 

[JaysGone]

I have the running boards on my '08 MT ADV and I have about 3.5" clearance. You might need to add fork extensions, especially if your forks were raked without them. I am going to add another extension to the forks to get another 1/2 inch or so. Also, your front springs might be sagging.
rv

Trikes where it should be.
i assume??
3 inches at the board rail.
If you see the bolt heads in the rear frame right side of the picture.
The bolt heads are a touch over 2 inches off the ground as is the rear frame at the back too.
Its very low.......
Springs are OEM with 11.3K miles its a 2010.
It is indeed raked.
4 inch extentions might be a good idea in the future.
Thanks.

As the front tire goes over in the center of the bump due to the angle on the frame it bangs. I got the gouges going over 1 bump in particular at a left to right angle.
It doesnt happen every time.
Hit the glass, didnt hit the floor board rails at all.

These bumps are much larger wider and higher then a normal speed bump.
They want and mean 15mph in our lot.

Here is a picture of my left board with the dings.
Guys please let it end here.
I dont want or need to have this issue go on and on here.
Ill handle it.........

 

[JaysGone]

If there are true gouges in the Fiberglas then there is already damage. It probably isn't all that noticeable but it IS there. Those little cracks that are there now can only get worse if not taken care of. Salt and water will start seeping in between there and can cause issues down the road.

See the picture in the above post.
They are fresh.
Ive got both those gouges in the last 7 days.
Ive only had the bike back for a week.
Ill address them this weekend.
Thanks

 

[hbrogan57]

That's some serious gouging you have there. Perhaps a trip to the management of the center where this is happening might be in order.

I am curious as to how these are ABOVE the bar and along the side. Perhaps it's just the camera angle but that's what it looks like.

Here's a couple with the clearance, front and rear, of mine. Notice that the rear clearance is about two inches higher than the front. Maybe yours is different but it might be something to consider doing yourself.

FRONT

REAR

​

See the picture in the above post.
They are fresh.
Ive got both those gouges in the last 7 days.
Ive only had the bike back for a week.
Ill address them this weekend.
Thanks

 

[JaysGone]

That's some serious gouging you have there. Perhaps a trip to the management of the center where this is happening might be in order.
I am curious as to how these are ABOVE the bar and along the side. Perhaps it's just the camera angle but that's what it looks like.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I get along well with the local manager of the mall.
He gives me a heads up as to when the Corporate owners are coming and asks me to move the bike/trike from the sidewalks.
Is a Mall liability insurance issue with on the walkway.

Ill check my heights against yours later and I do appreciate the pictures.
The gouges are above the bar height its not a camera issue.

I have a feeling the gouges are/were caused by me trying to negotiate the bumps riding over on an angle.
As the front tire goes over the bump.
Due to its width and height it whacked the glass instead of the bar.
As in a left to right angle with the bike sort of leaning over.

As to complaining......that wont do a darned thing.
For years we have been bitching about Home DePots loading ramps debris, nails, screws splintered wood excreta all over the place.
My parking spaces are right next to their dock.
The 3 company vans tires average 2-4 nails in them at any time.

Last time I parked the Yamaha in the back.
I got a flat in the sidewall of a brand new Metz 880 rear with only 200 miles on it.
I had to have the bike picked up and taken in for a new tire at my own expense.
So complaining about HD to Corporate is a waste of time been there have do that.
With the money they bring into the Mall.
We get no place.

 

[Konrad]

Would not buy the headlight plastic shields again. They don't conform to the headlights very well and the little round Velcro attachments look awful IMO. They're in my garage cabinet now. :Shrug:

I have a set of those on my 2006 GL1800 Roadsmith and have had no problems whatever - perfect fit. And no one has ever noticed the Velcro attachments. I wonder if yours are defective in some way . . .

 

[Konrad]

I have the headlight flashers on the lo beam so I can still run my spots. With it on lo beam it can't be seen from any distance. People tell me that my head light is out. I just don't use it any longer!
What is a crampbuster?

The difference must be in personal preference - I have had headlight modulators on all my bikes, and wouldn't want to ride without them.

The crampbuster is a kind of manual alternative to cruise control: a plastic device that attaches to your throttle and allows you to rock the heel olf your right hand up or down to adjust speed without tight-wrapping your fingers around the grip.

 

[87Trike1200]

Although I have never used one, I have never understood the need for "cramp busters / throttle rockers" on a bike with cruise control. Why not just set the cruise, loosen your grip a little and wiggle your hand for exercise? Could someone please enlighten me. :Shrug:

 

[Konrad]

Although I have never used one, I have never understood the need for "cramp busters / throttle rockers" on a bike with cruise control. Why not just set the cruise, loosen your grip a little and wiggle your hand for exercise? Could someone please enlighten me. :Shrug:

Get one for both left and right! They make great "wrist-rests" so you don't actually have to "grip" the bars - really makes aging hands and fingers much more comfortable!

 

[Paul_Trike]

cruise is not always the answer. I ride mine to work and even though I am on the highway I have to have cruise off due to heavy traffic I can but use cruise for about 45 miles so my throttle boss comes in very handy.

 

[Lakeman]

Konard thanks, I do have a crampbuster and cruise control, I use the cruise control on the highway but not in town or congested traffic and the crampbuster works good.
The headlight modulators are good but on hi beam not lo. I want my "spots" to be on all the time and mod on hi beam. I got the HD wiring harness to allow the spots to be on all the time (hi & lo beam), but someone buggered up the plug from the dash to lights and I can not plug the wiring harness in so I don't use the modulator at this time. Will tackle it again sometime.

 

[JaysGone]

Im ready to give up or try to raise the dang chassis.
I don't know what height its supposed to be??
I guess I can call MT and find out.

Yesterday on a cut driveway I hear a scruuunch!!!!!
Latest scrape.

Running boards???
No way no how next bike.

For whatever reason Photobucket isn't cooperating now.
Its a scrape on the lower edge of the right side rear fender.
About 3 inches long and right on the bottom edge.
My clearance there is 5 inches and I still managed to bang it...........

Just sealed it with urethane and called it quits for now.:gah:

 

[Shimpy]

Although I have never used one, I have never understood the need for "cramp busters / throttle rockers" on a bike with cruise control. Why not just set the cruise, loosen your grip a little and wiggle your hand for exercise? Could someone please enlighten me. :Shrug:

If you ride in a disciplined close group and are not leading, you will always be adding or subtracting to your cruise setting.

 

[hbrogan57]

Can't understand why you are scraping so much. I managed to scrape just once and that was on one massive speed bump going through a parking lot.

Other than that I have had absolutely no problems. I go at a crawl speed over them and am not letting anything "slam" down hard.

Im ready to give up or try to raise the dang chassis.
I don't know what height its supposed to be??
I guess I can call MT and find out.

Yesterday on a cut driveway I hear a scruuunch!!!!!
Latest scrape.

Running boards???
No way no how next bike.

For whatever reason Photobucket isn't cooperating now.
Its a scrape on the lower edge of the right side rear fender.
About 3 inches long and right on the bottom edge.
My clearance there is 5 inches and I still managed to bang it...........

Just sealed it with urethane and called it quits for now.:gah:

 

[bikerbillone]

If you ride in a disciplined close group and are not leading, you will always be adding or subtracting to your cruise setting.

True, only in certain situations you can use the up/down cruise buttons.

 

[JaysGone]

Just unlucky I guess.
4th boo-boo.
Not to mention quite a few chips on the nose and fronts of the fenders above the bra.
Actually the chips I can understand.
Riding down here there is alot of sand and smallish pebbles always on the roads.
This a beach front area more or less. No top soil unless its been brought in.

I avoid things as much as I can.
They just seem to find me.
Who thinks about how wide a trike actually is when entering a sidewalk cut out??
Not me rubbed it on the high edge in front of the store

 

[Lakeman]

I would never use cruise control in a group ride.
JaysGone you need to be real careful when pulling up to a gas pump!

 

[JaysGone]

I would never use cruise control in a group ride.
JaysGone you need to be real careful when pulling up to a gas pump!

Im still not used to trikes having width.
Its not a built in thing with me obviously yet.
I don't like the way the cruise control works on the Wing.
Ive only used it 2 or 3 times since getting the trike.

Im smart enough to fill up from gas cans at home
I keep 18 gallons.
I have since my buddies bike caught on fire at a pump about 20 years ago.
Double filler caps on some HDs spilled some gas on the bike.
His starter motor sparked.............Poof.

If I have to use a pump I short fill it.
Top off when I get home.

 

[hbrogan57]

I pay attention when I enter a sidewalk cut because I actually care about my machine and what happens to it. Just like paying attention when going over speed bumps.

Sure, it's wide, but as I stated before, I have only scraped ONCE going over a speed bump and I have never scraped at a sidewalk.

There are far more accidents that happen from folks that keep large amounts of fuel at home. Unless, of course, you have a storage tank in your back yard.

I happened to know a guy that only kept a 5 gallon jerry-can filled. His went "poof" one day when he went out and turned his light on. Fortunately, there was no damage, but it was enough to scare the crap out of him.

The cruise control is certainly something that DOES take a while to get used to. I still don't use mine all that often. But I am getting to where I acta=ually like it when traveling a longer distance on the interstate.

Just unlucky I guess.

I avoid things as much as I can.
They just seem to find me.
Who thinks about how wide a trike actually is when entering a sidewalk cut out??

Im smart enough to fill up from gas cans at home
I keep 18 gallons.
I have since my buddies bike caught on fire at a pump about 20 years ago.
Double filler caps on some HDs spilled some gas on the bike.
His starter motor sparked.............Poof.

 

[slimfin]

Where I live here in Utah, a cruse control is great. We have open spaces and not to much traffic. But when I go to the big city, I don't use it that much.

 

[JaysGone]

Im not on enough open road during my commute to work to use the cruise control.
I have tried it on I-95.
I just haven't really had the need to use it yet.
I haven't even taken the trike on a pleasure run anywhere as is since getting it.
Someday maybe??
I find myself using my bikes on the weekends instead of the trike.

As for storing gasoline.
I have a cinder block garage not directly connected to the house.
There is however an enclosed walkway front door to the garage door entry.
It almost all gets used with in 5-6 days.
Goes in the car too after filling up the bikes and trike.
Im only getting 26-30 mpg on a good day with the trike.
Filling that at 150-160 miles.

I still haven't honestly figured out the best shift points with the trike yet.
Shift at 2500 rpm or run it up to 4000ish???
Feels like I can run in 5th gear almost all the time.
I did check the plugs today on the trike and they look like new, nice color not running rich at all. They all were .039
Bikes are in the mid 30s to low 40s. Its been years since Ive checked mpg with them.

 

[icedad]

If were buying a new trike, I would not get the aluminum wheels. Chrome or painted.