MotorTrike-Unsafe at any speed?

[dbwhitsitt]

I have a 2012 Goldwing with 18000 miles, purchased new with the conversion. My trike developed the same unsafe driveshaft issue as hundreds of other MotorTrike Owners.

MotorTrike will replace the driveshaft, but claims the warranty period began when the dealer triked the bike, not when I purchased it new.

The yoke came off the driveshaft while riding down the interstate and nearly broke the bike's frame crossmember completely free from the weld and bent the transmission output shaft.

Fortunately, with the nearly broken frame, we were able to survive. An $8700 repair to replace the frame (frame is $5300 alone) and output shaft caused by their unsafe kit that they refuse to stand by. Beware MotorTrike. Purchase at your own risk of life.

 

[Gorilla]

First welcome aboard. Second have you contacted the owner of MotorTrike personally or been letting the dealer do the talking? If you have not the personal contact may make a difference. Good Luck

 

[CrystalPistol]

Glad you made a safe stop!

Sounds like a lot of damage for a drive shaft .... but then the oem frame is aluminum.

Well, I was distracted ....

Meant to also ask .... was there any warnings, vibrations, indications of bad U-joint, etc before the big bang?

 

[tfdeputydawg]

I thank you for alerting others to possible problems.
Welcome to the forum.
Have you talked with the owner of MotorTrike?

 

[dbwhitsitt]

Motortrike contact

Contacted them directly. Some vibration i noticed while on the road the day of the trip. As for bomb throwers, they are well aware of the issue with the problem and my trike specifically. Richard has talked to the dealer.

 

[keepinon]

I'm driving my second MT, '07 1800, no problems so far. I've put 20k miles on it.

My first was a GL1500. I had some drive shaft problems that were self inflicted, but expected for that reason. For many years I "flipped" GW motorcycles, from the 1100's to 1500's. I bought them 'cause they needed repairs, either carbs (from sitting) or drive shaft/final drive because the owner didn't follow the recommended maintenance interval or used the wrong grease.

To tell the truth, I don't know the recommended interval for the 1800 shaft maintenance, I just pull the shaft every 10k miles & lube it. But their new shaft (green front u-joint) is easier with the grease zerks...

Just a heads up to any GW owners, do your maintenance and it should last a long time.

Hope you get everything settled & back on the rode soon.

 

[dbwhitsitt]

Service

Service is absolutely important. In my case, it was serviced 200 miles before the failure. I liked my Motor Trike. I just wish they did the right thing and fixed the unsafe design so no one else has the problem.

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Sorry to hear about your problem with the drive shaft. I had a GL1500 with the Motor Trike kit and loved it without any problems. I have a friend with a GL1800 and it had a CSC kit on it and he had problems with the drive shaft on it. He told me that CSC knew about their problem and you could buy a replacement drive shaft but the company would not replace his under warranty. Sounds like a problem with more that just one company.

 

[dbwhitsitt]

I appreciate your comment. I'm reading in another forum that someone had an experience with the heim joints giving and the shaft falling out. Fortunately it was in their driveway. Could be that was the problem. Whatever the cause, I never thought I'd be going through this after just 18,000 miles.

 

[Gold Rush]

Good Mornin' Donald. Welcome to Trike Talk. We are sorry to hear of your episode.

Could you do us a favor and tell us what year, conversion model and year this happed to? There are so many different variables and many issues are specific to that particular set up. Thanks in advance.

Ride safe and have a better day. :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[paid4c4]

Donald
One of the main reasons I bought my 2010 MT Adventurer trike was because I was given practically a written guarantee that Motor Trike would stand behind any issues I might come up with buying a used bike while it was still under warranty.
They were good to their word. 101%
The main issue right off the bat was a drive shaft issue.
It was replaced the same day with a new unit taken off a dealers already assembled unit.
MT has for me anyway been good on their word 100%
At the time the nearest dealer to me was a 140 mile ride one way.
Both the dealer and MT couldn't have treated a stranger and new owner of a used vehicle better.
Other then the drive shaft issue, Which was a safety related issue.
Ive since had ZERO repairs to my trike driven daily as my commuter for the past 4+ years.
So to say its an unsafe machine is a falsehood.
They will find you a proper dealer and take care of your issues.

- - - Updated - - -

I should also add.
Richard is a man of his word. His word can be taken as a 100% act of good faith.
Ive never had a good word for anyone's customer service.
Motor Trikes word is as good as it gets.

I'm certainly glad to read this as I purchased a 2006 MT with 21K earlier this year. I've service the entire unit, driven 2K miles already and feel it is a good safe trike. It's at Honda of Fairfield having the brake recall completed and should come home today or tomorrow. Good luck to the original poster getting his MT repaired.
Bill

 

[cjmitch]

Trudat.

not by me..

 

[dbwhitsitt]

Good Mornin' Donald. Welcome to Trike Talk. We are sorry to hear of your episode.

Could you do us a favor and tell us what year, conversion model and year this happed to? There are so many different variables and many issues are specific to that particular set up. Thanks in advance.

Ride save and have a better day. :xszpv::xszpv:

2012 Goldwing, Adventurer trike Kit.

 

[dbwhitsitt]

Donald
One of the main reasons I bought my 2010 MT Adventurer trike was because I was given practically a written guarantee that Motor Trike would stand behind any issues I might come up with buying a used bike while it was still under warranty.
They were good to their word. 101%
The main issue right off the bat was a drive shaft issue.
It was replaced the same day with a new unit taken off a dealers already assembled unit.
MT has for me anyway been good on their word 100%
At the time the nearest dealer to me was a 140 mile ride one way.
Both the dealer and MT couldn't have treated a stranger and new owner of a used vehicle better.
Other then the drive shaft issue, Which was a safety related issue.
Ive since had ZERO repairs to my trike driven daily as my commuter for the past 4+ years.
So to say its an unsafe machine is a falsehood.
They will find you a proper dealer and take care of your issues.

- - - Updated - - -

I should also add.
Richard is a man of his word. His word can be taken as a 100% act of good faith.
Ive never had a good word for anyone's customer service.
Motor Trikes word is as good as it gets.

IF, and that is a big IF, you find the bad shaft before any damage, they have been great in fixing it. I previously had an issue under warranty and they were great. Unfortunately, after researching past issues of the shaft falling out, bad joints, and design issues it appears MotorTrike should have recalled their trikes and fixed the problem.

I should pick up my trike later this week. I will post a picture of the frame damage caused later. At least my daughter and I weren't injured or worse. Not everyone has been so lucky. As for being safe or unsafe, fixing a problem after the fact doesn't make it safe until AFTER the fix. With the damage made, shipping the trike to MT and letting them weld the frame would NOT have been a proper or safe repair.

 

[JSMITH]

Have you tried???

So sorry to hear about your luck with them. Have you tried Cass County Choppers??? I had a lot of issue before and with another kit and I finally went to them and they took care of it for me.. Check them out they may be able to help you ...

 

[JaysGone]

In my case I did notice something not right with the driveshaft. When giving it gas from a dead stop not a sound.

But 2x accelerating on the ramp in 3rd shifting to 4th at about 55mph. I felt a bang. Like metal hitting the frame. The 1st time I thought maybe I ran something over??
2nd time I thought a bomb went off.

Called MT and the dealer nearest to at the time. 140 miles away and said see you in the morning.

Road up there and they checked the drive shaft.
Most of the needle bearings had fallen out of it.

Obviously I had taken my life in my hands driving the trike there. So being it was in an unsafe condition on a weekend and Im 149 miles from home. The dealer took a drive shaft off of the floor model they had just built. Installed and sent me on my way.

Turns out the new shaft was the old design. Called Richard a newer design shaft was sent to me....... On my own time I road up to the dealer again when I felt like it. I got an oil change and the new driveshaft installed at N/C. 3+ years later still commuting every day. Lube the shaft every 5K and so far not an issue.

Cowel Motor Sports in Lake Placid Fl is an A+ place and so are its people. I now have a dealership 15 minutes away. I still go to Cowel when and if I feel the need for nice ride and an oil change on a Saturday.

 

[Rowdy]

As a previous owner of a MT I have always believed the drive shaft was the biggest flaw they had. There are just too many failures dating back even to the early 1500 models. The first thing I had to do with mine was order a new drive shaft from MT.

If there was not a problem why would MT put a safety strap around the drive shaft to catch it in case it let go. I could never understand why MT would not swallow some of their pride and move the diff. over so an in line drive shaft could be used. It would have solved the issue yrs. ago. The shaft in it's present location has entirely too much angle for the length.

 

[Gold Rush]

MT could have fixed the issue by redesigning their entire product line to be the width of a Hannigan conversion. That is how Hanigan is able to do the off set differential.

The problem is the IRS right side CV joints and axle shafts. The sever angle those CV joints would have to operate at just is not possible without widening the kit a lot. Sold axle conversions are more doable but that would as a minimum require chassis redesign.

 

[Rowdy]

Originally Posted by Gold Rush



MT could have fixed the issue by redesigning their entire product line to be the width of a Hannigan conversion. That is how Hanigan is able to do the off set differential.



The problem is the IRS right side CV joints and axle shafts. The sever angle those CV joints would have to operate at just is not possible without widening the kit a lot. Sold axle conversions are more doable but that would as a minimum require chassis redesign.










The problem was there long before MT started producing IRS. They were late to the party with their IRS and the drive shaft issue was present on the 1500s. They used the honda yoke/joint on the front and an auto ujoint at the diff.

No CV joints.

 

[dbwhitsitt]

Pic of damage.

How do I get a pic of the frame damage to post? Current design may be great but MT knowing of the safety issue that exists for hundreds if not thousands of riders and not recalling is NOT a safety minded business. I may be wrong but I think the safety strap came about after a failure threw someone into a concrete barricade. I would have to read the lawsuit again. I believe there were big bucks paid out on that one. While not as bad as the Ford issue with rear end crashes causing fires, it is a safety issue that MT has to fix. At minimum, if you have a MT that does not have green yoke, park it and get replaced.