Triker Wannabe

[HeartSleeve]

I'm going thru the prelim work now on a HD/Lehman Sportster Trike, Raider - and I am bouncing between giddiness and fear.

I've never owned or rode a bike of any kind. I am 59. I am barely 5'2" short but I'm a gamer.

I have my name on a beauty in Seaford, DE - a sun-glow/gold XL 1200C... but I am terrified I won't pick up the finer points of clutch/shift/brake well enough or fast enough to pull the trigger.

I'm set to take the nocei safety course at the DMV in two weeks, and I'm working the paperwork now - ins, financing etc.

What I am lacking is confidence. Any suggestions?

Here's a picture:

[ThirdWheel]

First all HeartSleeve, WELCOME. No worries. You will pick up the shifting and all other things with time. Just take it easy. Read the forums here for riding tips.
If all else fails..beer.

[Goldwingtrike]

One thing you will not have to worry about is falling down. You looked sorta natural sitting there on the Trike. I had never ridden a motorcycle at all, but five years ago I did the same thing that you are doing. My only reget is that I did not do it sooner. A lot of miles that I could have ridden and enjoyed!!!!

Garland

[Gorilla]

Heartsleeve Wewlcome aboard. It all seems strange and terrifing at this time, but take your time and learn a little at a time. Before long you will be having the time of your life. You look great on that ride. Ted

[HeartSleeve]

One thing you will not have to worry about is falling down. You looked sorta natural sitting there on the Trike. I had never ridden a motorcycle at all, but five years ago I did the same thing that you are doing. My only reget is that I did not do it sooner. A lot of miles that I could have ridden and enjoyed!!!!

Garland

Thanks, guys.

It helps to hear that I'm not the only one starting off fresh so late in the day, so to speak. I'm at that freakish stage where I don't even know which questions to ask the dealer. Found out today that this trike does NOT come with or allow a reverse gear... is that a big deal, or a non-issue with a trike sportster, ya think?

Mary

[Mr.Wizard]

There ya are!

Glad you made the trip over here. Plenty of good souls and even better info. I think Nana, one of the moderators here, is about your height too. She will chime in here shortly to say hey.

At 29 (had better say that or get in trouble) the wife decided to learn how to ride. She asked me to get her a bike so... handing her the DMV book saying.. you pass this and get your learners and we will run to HD and take a look. Well lunch the next day she came home from work early and handed me her learners. :yes:

She decided on a Dyna Lowrider as her first bike. She has been riding two wheels since (bout 2 years ago). She took the Motorcycle Safety Course, worked with her Dyna for a few months in a huge empty parking lot on weekends and on the road she went never looking back. She rides like a pro now.

Learning how to ride a trike is easier, in my opinion, than learning how to ride two wheels. After you get the feel for the brake, clutch and gears it's all wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth. You'll love it.

[HeartSleeve]

Hi Dave

I'm looking forward to learning alot from these good people. I seem to recall in the haze of 41 years ago, I was similarly intimidated at the thought of learning to drive a car... it occurred to me one afternoon, if some of the loopiest kids I knew back then could do it, surely I could do it too! And I never looked back!!!

And I've been driving a 6-speed stick shift for years, so hopefully some of the same principles will apply.

One thing's for sure -- talking to you folks on this forum has me lickin' my lips to get behind the wheel tomorrow or next dry day (monsoon season here at the beach currently).

Thanks again!

Mary

[Trikerjim]

Glad to have you with us Heartsleeve...Like everyone said "Take it easy, No rush.." Nana is about 5' and rides a Fatboy so it's not a problem. Read all the posts on here that you can and ask ANY questions you want. If we don't have an answer for you, ...we'll lie...

[Nana]

From one little lady to another... :clan: You are in the right place

Actually (don't tell reksul...if he is offering me 2 extra inches, I'll take 'em!) I am just 5 feet tall! So start having faith in yourself, 'cause if I can do it...you can too :yes:

I started riding over 18 years ago, and was on two wheels until 2006 when I added a Champion kit to my Fat Boy, and I have no regrets at all! I think you are looking at a beautiful trike there --- love the picture you posted! And you are probably smart to start right out with the 3 wheels. It will save you from learning to change the style of riding between 2 and 3 wheels. You can simply learn and build your confidence on your three wheels right from the start. Take your time and have fun! You may never ever stop smiling .

[HeartSleeve]

Thanks, Nana -- I'll probably have to take the safety course on a two-wheeler, but it is just 2 6-hr days, so there shouldn't be alot to unlearn or get accustomed to... my head will still be spinning even while I'm grinning!!!

Right now I'm reading all I can by way of road rules and tips, so I dont have so much to absorb at the same time I'm trying to keep my hands and feet synchronized! :-D

[Ozarkryder]

Welcome to the forum Heartsleeve!
Good you are taking a safety course, that will help the confidence a lot. 15 years ago my wife started out on a VW based trike with a foot accelerator and an automatic transmission. She sold it and bought our current trike, a Goldwing GL1500. It is a great mile-muncher, but she is intimidated by all the controls, so she has stayed on the rear seat for the last few years. (Plus the 'Wing has radio, CB, cruise control and bunches of knobs and buttons - it looks a lot more intimidating than it really is, once you get used to it)
She decided that this year she would really learn how to ride the 'Wing. Even though it is on 2 wheels, she is planning on taking the MSF basic riders classes. She figures that if she can pass the course on 2 wheels, she'll be confident on 3 wheels.
Reading your post, it sounds like the excitement is overcoming the nervousness. I think you will be just fine.:yes:

[Gorilla]

heartsleeve, The issue of no reverse is not anything. That trike will be super easy to move around and you'll learn to plan your parking. Ted

[Papa Zook]

Hey HeartSleeve-
You can do it !
Take that safety course and start living.You'll love it.

[HeartSleeve]

Thanks for the good info and comments. When I spoke to the sales guy today, he echoed what you said - reverse will be NO PROBLEM and he's available to show me what to do and allay my fears around the reverse issue. I figure if I really needed it, Lehman would have made it an available option. But it is nice to hear from someone who doesnt have a monetary interest in calming me down!

[Okie]

Heartsleeve, I'm new to trikes (about 2 months) and they are easier than 2 wheels. Since you drove a standard shift car you won't have any problems with a trike.
A friend of mine never learned to drive a standard and had a bad time getting the timing of a bike and finally quit riding.
As far as the reverse you will learn where to park and where not to park. I have a 1800 goldwing and I push it around real easy getting in and out of garage and a lot of parking spaces I don't use the reverse.
Oh, almost forgot "Welcome the the forum".
Okie
Tulsa, Ok

[John Luciano]

Think of it this way you now have 2 brakes (one foot and one hand) think of it as a car. U stop on a hill. WITH A CAR you stop with FOOT on brake and clutch, now you have to do the foot shuffle the get the foot off the brake on to the gas pull the other off the brake on to the clutch slip it out so far to keep it from rolling. ETC ETC.
WITH A TRIKE Stop at light foot on brake Squeeze in the hand clutch that's it. Drop it down to 1st with you FOOT. Light changes turn throttle grip , take your foot off the foot brake and let out the hand clutch . That's it. You are now using 2 hands and 2 feet instead of just 2 feet.
WELCOME: I have taught 3 girls (Women ) one was only 5' 2", how to drive a 2 wheeler . One never drove a standard shift the others did. Took them 1/2 an hour to get the clutch and brake thing down. The one that never drove a stick had a harder time understanding when to shift and why<LOL>

[Juju]

Hey Heartsleeve--Welcome aboard and that is one rockin' trike you're sitting on in the photo!

A few words of encouragement from someone who also started riding late in life: DO IT DO IT DO IT! Once you've started, you'll wonder why you waited so long!

I started on two wheels only about 3 years ago, took the MSF course, bought a bike, and was having the time of my life with it. Before getting the bike, I had not driven a car with a manual shift for maybe 20 years, but it all came back almost immediately and most definitely helped me learn to ride more easily.

But my knees, abused by years of running and skydiving, are not what they used to be, and have displayed a tendency to "not hold up their end," so to speak. So I decided to check out the trikes. Sold my bike last November, took delivery of my trike last month (from our very own Bazooka), and I'm loving it even more than I did the bike.

Re: no reverse--very much a non-issue. I was concerned about this too, at first, but really, it's no problem. Nana has no trouble pushing her Fat Boy trike, and I can push my Honda trike easily. Just avoid parking your trike with the nose pointing downhill.

You look comfortable and happy in the picture you posted. Can't wait to hear that you've bought her and given her a good home!

[HeartSleeve]

John and JuJu,

that's really good information. I'm getting my ducks in a row. Yesterday I called my agent to find out about ins, and it was between $5-600 a year, which is def doable. Today I was supposed to go back to the dealer for a little spin around the pkg lot, and to see if I can straddle it with both feet on the ground (duh - on Saturday, I sat there with my feet extended on the spikes, and didnt think to stand up on it.... dumbamI ) but it is raining cats and dogs here this morning, so that's a deal for another day.

I took the safety course manual to bed with me last night (now THAT'S devotion!!) and had dreams of trikes in my head all night!

One more question ... in browsing some of the threads last night, a new unknown term popped up--- a rake tree ??? -- something like power steering? How essential is it esp for a newbie??

Thanks again, one and all for guiding me thru this.

Mary

[Nana]

Mary, I wouldn't worry too much if your feet aren't "useable" for maneuvering the trike; That is just a nice extra if they do for the occasional time. You never want them down if the trike is running (you absolutely don't want those rear wheels climbing up your legs!!!!), and it is so simple to push from the front or the rear if it is in neutral.

[John Luciano]

Rake tree adds an angle to the front end causes the front wheel to go out farther. Think of the Choppers( EASY RIDER ) with the long front end only shorter. By doing this is decreases the effort to steer the trike. Not sure if available for the Sportster. anyway not like you can't ride with out it. Like the difference between power steering and not. But not quite that bad., maybe 1/2 that bad. I don't have it on my trike. If available it is in the $1,000 range and can always be added later.