UPDATED! Help - wife's trike test ride a mess.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Congrats to the both of you.As others have said take it slow and don't push it. I'm 64 this spring and have been on two wheels since the age of 14 and it took me about 2000 miles to get really comfortable with the trike.She will be fine,just the two of you go out at first and let her get used to it,before long you will be telling her to slow down lol.

[desertclassic]

Congratulations. I am sure it will be a breeze. I know when I switched over to a trike it took a while to be totally comfortable. The thing that was my big wake up was when I recalled how I steered my snowmobiles some 40 years ago. That was to push the handlebar instead of pulling the handlebar. It was so much easier for me after I recalled this. I know she will fine, just get a little ride time. Jim

[consitter]

I've been following this thread, and I'm so glad that she decided on buying the trike. Like her, I had difficulties getting used to how it handled. My biggest problem was remember how wide it was, especially when pulling up to a gas pump. Didn't have any mishaps (knock on wood), but I was close a couple of times.

At least now, I don't have to worry about supporting the whole bike with one leg when stopped at a red light where the road is crowned at a fairly severe angle. And I don't have to hold the bike steady when a passenger is mounting. I've just about lost it several times when the passenger was getting on, on two wheelers.

I am rooting for her to enjoy!!

[cjmitch]

Two year olds ride trikes and it takes them just minutes to learn how to steer.

Because they dont have to UN-learn anything. with a kid the progression is from 3 wheels to 2.... with adults the progression is from 2 wheels to 3..
A BIG difference

[graygoat]

I also have been following this thread, good advice has been given and I have nothing to add, but congrats to both of you! At least when riding season starts, she can get right on and start the process "fresh". Not like getting off the 2 wheeler today and on the trike tomorrow, if you know what I mean. Might make the learning process a little easier. Best of luck and do keep us posted.

[trike lady]

Congrats on the new trike.

[Jolie]

I have the Suzuki Tramp and love him. I wanted a Freewheeler last year but the insurance premium was way more than I wanted to pay and there was nothing wrong with my trike so I kept him. Have her try the Freewheeler. My trike was delivered to me. I had written 2 wheels but never a trike.

My handy man drove it out to the high school and turned me loose and I did everything that everyone here told me in the months I was waiting for warm weather and my trike. I did stops and then take off turn to the left or turn to the right. I did parking near a light pole (like at the gas pumps, I spent 2 hrs out in our high school parking lot on a Sunday and been riding since. I'm 5'5. It does take some getting use to for the push pull. I really think the Freewheeler would be easier. Just looking at the Tri Glide I'm intimidated by it's size and all the controls.

[Rosy]

Jolie. You are a trooper.
So, our suggestions in the start of your adventures driving a trike really paid off. Glad to hear that.
BUT, when you have prior riding on two wheels, everything takes a different view. You are prong on doing the "Old things" you have been doing for many years. That's when you need a stead fast mind set, Forget everything you learned about driving a two wheeler, start fresh! The Only Thing you need to know is how to use your controls, they don't change, starter, brake, clutch, shifter, and the sound of your engine!
I believe this is the hardest thing a driver with prior riding experience has to do, FORGET, I mean really FORGET!
Rosy

[Jolie]

Jolie. You are a trooper.
So, our suggestions in the start of your adventures driving a trike really paid off. Glad to hear that.
BUT, when you have prior riding on two wheels, everything takes a different view. You are prong on doing the "Old things" you have been doing for many years. That's when you need a stead fast mind set, Forget everything you learned about driving a two wheeler, start fresh! The Only Thing you need to know is how to use your controls, they don't change, starter, brake, clutch, shifter, and the sound of your engine!
I believe this is the hardest thing a driver with prior riding experience has to do, FORGET, I mean really FORGET!
Rosy

You're so right on that! I got my license in '93 and rode a Honda 650. I didn't ride on 2 wheel for real long and then went back to being a passenger (boyfriend and I broke up, it was a bike he bought for me and he kept it). Over the years riding a 2 wheeler slipped away except for the basics so it was easy for me to go to a trike. Things work out for the best. I had a second surgery in October on my wrist (my doctor banded me from riding in September) and it was very successful. I woke up with no pain and movement like I had before the fracture so I'm ready to ride. I could go back to 2 wheels now but no way I love my trike! Sticking with it.

[Rosy]

That is great with the wrist! Sometimes medicine will do great things, while other times, " it is the practice of medicine"!
They are still practicing on my leads to my pacemaker, so active, I have broken two leads in the last seven years! Do nothing for a couple months while veything heals, just look at the trike and wish! LOL But, I did tell my cardiologist, don't worry, you'll get it right, one of these times!
Please keep us posted on the wife's progress with the trike!
Jolie, have a great summer, maybe some day we can look into each other's eyes and say, Hello!
Rosy

[Kevinch]

I thought it was time to update this thread. Nancy did buy the 2017 black Tri Glide, it was purchased on January 30th. The trike immediately went into the shop for the mods we had discussed (reach bars & extended lines, rear bumper, chrome front forks) and then moved into their storage area. It was delivered to our home from storage in mid April.

We started training at a small vacant business lot in a small industrial park less than a mile from our home. Initially, I acted as the trike engine & actually pushed the trike while Nancy steered, engine off, around a small obstacle I threw onto the pavement. A few times doing that & we were ready to try it under trike power (at least I was!). Initially, Nancy feathered the clutch out in first gear without throttle. The big torque of the V-twin really helped here as the vehicle would move at idle. I rode as a passenger, coaching as we again simply rode in an oval around the obstacle I had placed (which was a small, soft, bright yellow dog toy.) When necessary, I would nudge her arms from behind to keep us going in the correct direction.

After a few of these sessions, we began to explore a little more of the park which allowed for gear shifting & starting & stopping at intersections. As this was late afternoon & early evening & weekends, the place was pretty much deserted. We did figure 8s, some moves in & out of parking spaces using reverse, etc. It wasn't too long before Nancy drove it from the park to our home, then inside our development, then beyond - all with me as a passenger.

I'm happy to report Nancy is now riding the trike on her own. Up to now she hasn't gone out alone & I'm riding along on my bike but I'm sure that won't last. She is doing great, & most importantly she LOVES it! We made some additional changes to the trike for fitment: different shift levers with the rear extended a little offering more floorboard space; extended shift pegs & rear brake pad so she doesn't have to twist her knees in as much, and DK Custom floorboard extenders moving them out about 1" for a more comfortable foot position. When ordering the floorboard extenders, we also ordered their lift kit. If not approached slowly & preferably at an angle, the pipes dragged coming up the driveway. Not anymore! I've noticed Nancy seems to ride more relaxed now, & in some instances more confident than she did on 2 wheels of late. For instance, when stopping at an intersection and/or parking her position when coming to the stop is much better & the movement is much smoother. On the highway, she smoothly rides along at traffic speed without lane wandering or hesitant movements as well as she did on 2 wheels & after 20 years of riding she did that well.

The decision to move forward on buying the trike & gamble Nancy could & would learn to ride it appears to be paying off. I really do appreciate all of the feedback here on the forum to my original post. A special thank you goes out to cjmitch who offered a lot of help through private messages & also, upon discovering we lived relatively close to each other, offered to meet up with us to help. I'm looking forward to having my favorite riding buddy back!

[Kristie]

Great to hear, Kevin! So happy for you both! Many safe miles to the two of you!!!

[Zammy]

Excellent Kevin, hope you have many miles and smiles together.

[Fearless]

All's well that rides well good for the both of you Congrats. travel safely Fred

[Gorilla]

Don't you love it when a GOOD PLAN comes together. Congrats ride safe

[desertclassic]

That is a great ending to the story. Glad that all worked out. Jim

[Dave59]

I'm glad to hear things worked out for both of you! Ride safe!!

[Condor Spirit]

First off, Kudos to you Kevin for being super supportive and not giving up on your wife's venture. I too rode for over 4 decades on two wheels. I had a good instructor when we purchased the trike. But on the way home I was thinking "oh crap what have we done"! I really didn't like it and thought we made a huge mistake. It took my brain and muscle memory about 1K miles to get used to it. Now I love it . I did have pull back bars put on which helped a lot. I'm also a shrinking 5' 4" and had to lay over the tank to make a sharp turn. I've gotten used to the foot controls and boards feeling like they are under the bike after having the same as your wife an 1100 Silverado. I would probably buy the spacer etc. that would move them out except for one thing. I hate that you have to buy things after the fact to make a Harley better. (riser to keep pipes from dragging, fans to cool the engine, a louder horn so people can hear you, oil relocation kit, etc. etc.) I'm not a scrooge, I just feel paying that much for a motorcycle you shouldn't have to pay to make these common sense changes that should be manufactured into it.

Anyway, hope you both have many miles of enjoyable riding together

[Rosy]

Great news! I believe we all feel great to have another rider joining in! Many safe miles will be ahead of you and your wife!

Rosy

[Kevinch]

I've gotten used to the foot controls and boards feeling like they are under the bike after having the same as your wife an 1100 Silverado. I would probably buy the spacer etc. that would move them out except for one thing. I hate that you have to buy things after the fact to make a Harley better. (riser to keep pipes from dragging, fans to cool the engine, a louder horn so people can hear you, oil relocation kit, etc. etc.) I'm not a scrooge, I just feel paying that much for a motorcycle you shouldn't have to pay to make these common sense changes that should be manufactured into it.

I understand completely Condor; generally you come to realize that the price you pay for the vehicle is only the price of admission & there are many more $$ to spend! But honestly, the Yamaha 1100 Nancy had was not much different than the HD in that we spent time & money on getting it fit too. I installed handlebar risers, all new braided SS cables & hoses & a Mustang saddle on that bike to obtain a more comfortable fit for her. In retrospect, a more narrow handlebar would have also been a good idea. As you probably know, aftermarket oil filter relocation kits are a big business for those as you have to remove the exhaust system to replace the internal oil filter. I never put one on; I got fairly proficient in the whole procedure & never had to do it more that one a year as I changed the oil every 5k. She wanted passing lamps so the Yamaha bar & lamps were installed (but "custom" wired with a relay on a separate circuit than the headlamp). We considered lowering the suspension; Nancy felt it wasn't necessary so I didn't pursue it but in hindsight I think it might have helped prevent what resulted in a dropped bike once or twice. The windshield had to be trimmed as neither of the 2 mounting locations resulted in a correct height for her.

So, on this Tri Glide we went ahead & changed the suspension but by raising the rear instead of dropping it; installed different handlebars (as opposed to risers) & changed out the hoses (no cables here!). The windshield will need replaced or modified to adjust the height; the saddle height seems OK but we may have it dished out a little to relieve a little pressure on the tailbone & the nosed narrowed a bit. (I had Mean City Cycles modify the saddle for my Ultra Limited by reshaping & installing memory foam - highly recommended). I see those things as fine tuning the fitment to your particular stature & body type, not really making changes that should have been made at design.

We've never owned Harleys before so I can't comment on personal experience with reliability. I don't know if you've tapped the horn button on a later model HD touring bike - but believe me, you don't want to do it in your garage as they are loud! Also since '14, the Tri Glides have had the fans & radiators cooling the water circulating around the exhaust valves so they run a little cooler than the air cooled versions. With the offset rear cylinder the Yamaha 1100 probably ran a little cooler than a comparable HD, but not that much - Nancy used to complain about her right leg getting very warm on it. There are still a lot of air cooled V-twins out there without cooling fans; though it be hard to argue fans don't reduce heat & add to longevity of the engine.