XL883C Voyager kit steers like a 78 Olds98 with a broken power steering pump!

[Mike'sTrike]

XL883C Voyager kit steers like a 78 Olds98 with a broken power steering pump!

Hi All,

What triple tree/rake angle would you recommend to make this a more enjoyable ride. I Had it out in the parking lot practicing, and I thought my shoulders were going to pop out of my sockets turning this thing. BTW, it's for my wife & I don't see her doing a long trip with this curren set up.

also, I have read on the forum that adding a car tire on the back (dark side) helps, can anyone confirm or deny if that actually helps with steering. I just don't see that math working.

I am also adding the following this weekend: 11" pull back bars & a stabilizer/damper. This is to help with more leverage in turning and to controls steering wobble over bumps.

Any advise on what you did to make this kit perform better is most appropriated.

 

[paws]

Hi All,

What triple tree/rake angle would you recommend to make this a more enjoyable ride. I Had it out in the parking lot practicing, and I thought my shoulders were going to pop out of my sockets turning this thing. BTW, it's for my wife & I don't see her doing a long trip with this curren set up.

also, I have read on the forum that adding a car tire on the back (dark side) helps, can anyone confirm or deny if that actually helps with steering. I just don't see that math working.

I am also adding the following this weekend: 11" pull back bars & a stabilizer/damper. This is to help with more leverage in turning and to controls steering wobble over bumps.

Any advise on what you did to make this kit perform better is most appropriated.

Hi Mike! Welcome to TrikeTalk from west Texas!

You ought to contact the owner of this forum. He is Papa Zook (Randy) and owns Cut-n-Shoot Customs. He is a trike builder - and is your neighbor over at Conroe! He can answer your questions and also provide the proper rake kit at a good price.

Go to his website for more info or PM him here on TrikeTalk: www.cutnshootcustoms.com

Hopefully you’ll get that trike set up for the Mrs. and we’ll have another lady driver added to the ranks!

 

[Mike'sTrike]

Just sent him a message, thanks!

 

[rhino 2]

Welcome to Trike -Talk..........Mike....:wave4:......

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard Mike

 

[dadztoy]

Welcome aboard Mike... Well, Papa Zook will have the best answers as he is the local expert here, but speaking from my own experience I'll detail what I have done...

My ride is a 2009 GL1800 with a Tow Pac conversion... I added a 4.0 degree rake kit and the steering was vastly improved... But I also still ride my bike on 2 wheels from time to time, so adding anything more than 4 degrees would make it too unstable on 2 wheels... If your not going to ride the bike on 2 wheels in the future, you could go all the way up to 6 degrees, and that would make a huge difference in the steering effort of the bike... I have ridden 6 degree raked trikes and it truly is like making the switch from manual to power steering...

I also run a car tire on the rear of my bike (referred to as: "going Darkside") but it contributes NOTHING to steering... It does however give you a huge mileage jump before tire replacement is necessary, and increases ride comfort and improves handling in wet conditions... I currently use a Bridgestone Drive Guard run flat and am well satisfied with it typically getting 17K + miles before replacement is necessary... I don't know what tire would work on your bike but you could research it on some of the darkside forums...

Not sure if rake kits are available for the 883 but check with Papa Zook - he can set you up with a good rake kit at a decent price if they are available for the 883 - you should talk to him about that and then make a decision as to what would work best for you...

Les

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado. Papa Zook will hook ya up.

 

[Mike'sTrike]

Thank you for the info, I will reach out to PZ on the rake kit. I will see about adding some length to the fork tube to increase ground clearance as well.

My intention is to keep the Voyager kit on it full time for my wife and not ever going back to 2 wheels. In reality, that return to 2 wheel option in 5 minutes won't work on a 883C or 883L, you don't have enough ground clearance with the front plate or rear axle guides attached. Once you run into a turn at speed or any bumb or pot hole you are grounded out or wiped out. I would not drive that kit partially installed because it would a big issue here on these Texas and Lousiana roads. The roads here are not the best for a Voyager kit around here even when it is installed. Main roads okay to good to 70MPH, county roads I am doing 35-40MPH max with Bubba on my but with his pick up.

I read going dark sid is a huge safety issue for 2 wheelers in cornering, but I am thinking it may be an advantage for a Voyager kit because that center wheel is not really going on edge and you have a wider tire on the road for traction.

in any event, I will post more info on my experiences of this new found toy.

 

[Mike'sTrike]

BTW, I am adding a isolating circuit to the Vouager Kit. Everything I have read it sounds like the safer way to go. I only paid $18 bucks for this thing. I will let you know how it works after I install it.

 

[Mike'sTrike]

Low front end clearance 2-3/4"- no way you should ride this bike with the plate installed w/o trike wheels on a 883C or 883L. Just sayin...

 

[Mike'sTrike]

Low frond clearance - no way you should ride this bike with the plate installed.

I meant low front end clearance with the plate installed, I would not run this kit without the trike wheels installed... 2 wheels is going to be an issue with that plate on a bumpy road.

 

[dadztoy]

I read going dark side is a huge safety issue for 2 wheelers in cornering, but I am thinking it may be an advantage for a Voyager kit because that center wheel is not really going on edge and you have a wider tire on the road for traction.

Actually Mike, that is not true... A car tire corners quite well, sometimes better than a MC tire... I have no issues riding on 2 wheels with a CT on the rear... A more supple ride, better wet handling, and great handling on the twisties... The only thing I have ever encountered with a CT is that some will try to track the seams in pavement but that is not true of all of them...

I've been running Darkside for several years now and would never go back to MC tires with or without my trike kit on...

Additionally, one of the reasons I chose the Tow Pac InstaTrike kit was that it had very good ground clearance both with and without the trike cart installed, and, I could keep my wife's retractable foot pegs installed...





Les

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I'm not positive on this, but, don't most rake kits include a 2" extension to the forks???

 

[dadztoy]

I'm not positive on this, but, don't most rake kits include a 2" extension to the forks???

Mine did!

 

[Mike'sTrike]

Update...

Hi All,

What triple tree/rake angle would you recommend to make this a more enjoyable ride. I Had it out in the parking lot practicing, and I thought my shoulders were going to pop out of my sockets turning this thing. BTW, it's for my wife & I don't see her doing a long trip with this curren set up.

also, I have read on the forum that adding a car tire on the back (dark side) helps, can anyone confirm or deny if that actually helps with steering. I just don't see that math working.

I am also adding the following this weekend: 11" pull back bars & a stabilizer/damper. This is to help with more leverage in turning and to controls steering wobble over bumps.

Any advise on what you did to make this kit perform better is most appropriated.

Well I answered my own question: I added. The stabilizer back in January which did help some. I know, it's only been 5 months now and I just got the handle bars put on. I had to change the clutch cable and brake line to make them work, and at some point I will add some length to the harness so it will look cleaner.

Going with the bigger pull back bars was the missing link. The 883C stock bars are just to small, the unit drives 10x better with the added leverage. It handles great. I won't need to rake it, it that good!

Now for the car tire - (dark side). If any one runs one a sporty please let me know.