Suspension on gl1500 motor trike

Hello everyone. I finally got my beautiful '99 goldwing motortrike. Unfortunately I had hurt my foot the day before and found out the day afterward that I had crushed the 5th metatarsal. I've now had a plate and 9 screws put in one little bone and will be casted well into June. I have lowered the shifter a little so I can get my cast in there and can do a little riding. I have noticed that the compressor only reads 5. If I push the button to increase, it will only go to 12 and no further. Then go right back to 5. Does this mean that there is a leak? I downloaded the motor trike manual, but that is for the 1800 and I don't think that it is the same for the 1500. Can anyone help me out here? I would definitely appreciate any input.

Sounds like a leak in the lines or connectors. As the preasure is increased to 12 lbs the leak opens enough that it goes out as quick as it is being pushed in. When you stop it leaks down to a point where the opening closes and it holds 5 lbs. which is not much at all. Find the pump and follow the lines to the airbags use soapy water on the connectors and suspect areas looking for bubbles. Have some one hold the button on while you are looking. Might help to hear the leak.

1995 GL1500SE MotorTrike owner here. If the lines and the fittings to the airbags are OK, check the airbags themselves. Most likely isn't the bags as it does hold some air, but won't hurt to check.

Another possibility - Check in the lower trunk to see if the auxillary air hose is [I]not[/I] hooked up. There is an air outlet in the trunk this hose attaches to so you can pump up tires (slowly!), air mattresses and such. If the hose is left attached it can leak down. (Umm...don't ask me how I know this.:blush:) Make sure the valve core is tight and not leaking, too.

After more checking and removing the seat we found the airlines are cut by the shocks. NO WONDER we have no air pressure! Now I'm looking to find air bags. They should be in front of the shocks. I can't find an airbag anywhere. I'll wait to hear from Motor Trike
Thanks for the replys

The trike may have had airshocks/air bags and they were replaced with non-air shocks or the air bags were removed. That's why the cut lines. Does your trike feel like it has a working suspension in the rear? See if you can see what you have for shocks.

On our '95 GL1500 Motortrike the kit that was put on is a Classic I, Which I understand was made before the McVey crew took over. The Classic I hasn't the air bag suspension, but the compressor pumps up the rear shocks as on the original Goldwing. I won't find any sign of airbags, but no cut air lines, either.

When you run the compressor, can you tell what is being pumped up and leaking down when you run it up to 12 and it falls to 5.

Another thought - is the display capable of reading less than 5 when working normally? :confused:

Ozarkryder
When we removed the rear tire to check things we found the air lines were cut by the shocks. So we started looking farther and found there was no mount for an air bag. SOooo
we thought there must be air shocks. The shocks have a coil spring around them but no air fittings. Maybe someone replaced the air shocks with reg shocks. Don't know. Sent E-Mail to Motor Trike seeing if they can give me any info. Someone gave me #'s to call at MT and if I don't hear anything I'll call them.
I'm amazed at all the help everyone has given. It proves the riders are great!

Problem solved! After talking to the mech thats been working on this bike for years, he said that the air shocks kept leaking so he installed spring assisted shocks several years ago. He claims other trike owners agree that the spring assist shocks give a better ride. I'm open for more opinions on this.


Thanks for all the help and info

We have coilover shocks and air bags on our 1500 Motor Trike.
The kit is a 2008 Coupe.
I run 25# of air in the shocks when ridding alone.
35# when ridding double.
40 to 45# when ridding double and pulling our trailer.

We think it rides great.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as we enjoy ours

wdy41. A good set of coil/shocks are just fine. If the ride is good for you now then you are good to go. With coil/shocks you set the trike up for how the trike is ridden the most.

What the airbags/airshocks due for you is allow some adjustment when you change the load on the trike/bike. When you change from one up riding to 2 up riding you can add some air and then maintain the same ride quality. Add baggage add a little more air. Un load everything and go riding sole then you let the air back out to the level you liked for sole riding. You can also change the air preassure a little to help the ride when you have a change in road conditions. You might let a little out on a bumby road to let the suspension move a little easier.

Bottom line if the way it is set up now is good for you don't change it. If you want adjustability switch the coil/shocks to airshocks.

I replaced my air shocks with a set of Progressive coil overs. I like the ride much better. I normally ride one up so it is rare that I have to adjust them for a passenger.

Third Wheel, How hard are they to adjust for two up riding? I'm thinking if I can adjust them a little, it will be a little easier on Marie's back.

Does anyone know if the Motor Trike Valkyrie has a set of Progressive shocks available that can replace the airbag system? My airbags are leaking

[QUOTE=wdy41;29094]Third Wheel, How hard are they to adjust for two up riding? I'm thinking if I can adjust them a little, it will be a little easier on Marie's back.[/QUOTE]
I can reach the adjuster from under the trike, tight but I can do it.