Useing Reverse on Trikes

[msocko3]

You trike owners WITHOUT running boards, Question:

Is it easy/easier to push a trike on a flat surface over a two wheel bike??

My installer has his 2012 demo Roadsmith trike in his garage, and he showed me
how easy that trike is to push around OFF the trike and just wondered how easy
it moves with you ON the trike.

Cheers!

My 2012 Hannigan pushes a lot easier as a trike than it did 2 wheels, I hardly ever use reverse. I may have used reverse 1 time this year, and it was because I stuck my head in my back side and didn't selectively park .

[mgwtrike]

My 2012 Hannigan pushes a lot easier as a trike than it did 2 wheels, I hardly ever use reverse. I may have used reverse 1 time this year, and it was because I stuck my head in my back side and didn't selectively park .

Thanks, this is what I been hoping.

[FRR]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a adjustment to control the clicking you write about to engage the reverse system ????

Not that I or my tech knows of. I'm told when the reverse is engaged it activates a roller bar that is powered by the starter. It takes a second or two for that to happen and that is why if it is engaged too soon it doesn't have time to convert.

[Burnerboy]

Good info here....... thank you!

Ronnie

[M2102]

When I first hot my 1500 had a local dealer tell me in reverse it would back up a 6" curb. I never tried it but did have a up hill slope about 5' long and maybe 4" high at top. Never even bogged down. Now with my 1800 trike I do use it farely often. I will take advantage of pull thru in a parking lot but still comfortable using reverse when need arises. I can't tell a difference between 2 wheels or 3 as far as using reverse.

[Ol' Man Jeb]

I've always been a believer that if it's available, use it. Otherwise, what's the point?
Maybe if one fears their tires will wear out or the seat will become squishy from overuse, make a showcase for the machine and you can sit back and just admire it. JMHOP

[CrystalPistol]

I know .... old post .... but I get asked the same thing often enough that I know someone will be clicking here.

If your feet reach the ground well enough to apply sufficient tractive effort, YES as no energy is required to balance the trike like a bike .... all effort can go into pushing.

Likewise, if dismounted standing beside the trike, all effort can go into the push and no worry about pushing it over onto the far side or dropping it.

I very seldom use reverse though it works well on our '97 GL1500 Trike. Occasionally, like maybe once every year or two ... I'll stand beside the trike with engine running and reverse engaged and I'll press the start button as I pull up and back with my left hand as I back it up onto ramps maybe.

On the road & looking to park, I drift backwards into down hill parking spaces by clearing my 6 first, whip a short U, pull clutch in and give a shove backards with me feets and coast in. If level, I also back in but give a couple shoves then.

If it's an uphill parking space like up at Frank's Pizza, I just pukk up into the space as it'll be easy to drift backards gettin' out ....

after clearing my 6.

One day years ago I pulled out in the lead on a ride and made a uphill turn to my right onto a secondary road from a parking lot.

Behind was a buddy two up on a bike as he made the turn, I guess he spun the rear tire in some loose stuff or just didn't get enough throttle, I saw the belly of the bike in my mirror. I went to do a quick U-turn on the narrow road, I knew it'd be tight .... slowed, checked both ways, used all the road but front wheel still dropped off good 3" high edge of pavement at far side .... and it only got deeper but I got her stopped before she went there.

I engaged reverse, pulled up on handlebars and hit start button and reverse backed it up onto pavement fast like. I cut wheel to opposite side and backed front tire away from edge, put in 1st, and returned to my buddy and group. (No serious injury, only his pride and a slight scratch ... his wife was unmarked, and bike did get scratched on saddle bag ....

but he triked it right after that.)

Had it not been for having reverse I am not sure what I would have done to get that front wheel back up over that pavement edge. I did not intend to let it drop over but I did just the same as I misjudged (....

it was the rake kit's fault kicking that tire out further). Probably would have had to wait and get another in the group to assist me.

I also don't use Reverse as a park brake. I have small chocks, a wedge for the front brake lever, and a 1st gear.

[OldNick]

My reverse consists of a a car's starter motor and ring gear (not flywheel). It is incredibly powerful and can push the trike and a camper trailer up a slope. On the flat, trike alone, it can do maybe 10kph!

I use it every day, as I either have to push on dirt and gravel to back into my spot, or go up a slope to get out.

It does make a horrendous noise: cars have covers over their ring gear and still can be fairly loud.