On curves to the left it feels softer than right curves
Hello all. I have a TowPac kit on my '88 GL1500 Goldwing and it is overall great. I have noticed, tho, when the road curves to the left, the right side of the rig feels "soft" but when the road curves to the right, the kit feels more stable. I have checked tire pressure, alignment and downward pressure. On a straight and smooth road with no crown, it is great. It is really just noticable on those curves to the left and when the road crowns. On the road crowns, I feel like I'm leaning to the right...again something going on with the right side of the rig...? Thanks in advance for your help.
P.S. Still getting used to the steering thru curves. It feels like I'm really having to "muscle" thru the turn. Is that what you folks have noticed?
Re: On curves to the left it feels softer than right curves
Muscling is about right. I don't have any experience with the Tow Pack, but have set up a Voyager. There should be a setting somewhere that adjusts the down force of the TP wheels. Try just sitting on the bike and leaning left and right. If it feels the same you may not be centered up in the saddle...?? If the right side does feel 'spongier' it's time to read the installation manual.... Good Luck.
J
Re: On curves to the left it feels softer than right curves
[QUOTE=Condor;281450]Muscling is about right. I don't have any experience with the Tow Pack, but have set up a Voyager. There should be a setting somewhere that adjusts the down force of the TP wheels. Try just sitting on the bike and leaning left and right. If it feels the same you may not be centered up in the saddle...?? If the right side does feel 'spongier' it's time to read the installation manual.... Good Luck.
J[/QUOTE]
Thanks Condor...I'll check it.
Re: On curves to the left it feels softer than right curves
Sounds like what your describing is a difference in down force on the two TP wheels... Unfortunately there is no "scientific" way to check the down force that I know of... The TP techs told me to grab the TP wheel and try to move it, giving a good rearward or upward yank on the spokes... The down force should be such that you can just break the wheel loose from the ground with a good tug on the wheel spokes...
Another thing you might try is to measure from each rear corner of the cart frame to the floor/ground and see if the distance is the same... Mine is within 1/16" of an inch from side to side... A little bit of difference in this measurement can make quite a bit of difference in handling...
My TP kit is installed on my 1800, so the rear suspension is different between the two bikes, but have you tried playing with the air pressure on the bikes rear suspension??? I wouldn't think this would effect just one side of the TP but you can never tell, because the 1500 employs an air bladder on one side and a spring on the other side - might be worth a try playing with air pressure...
Also remember that due to the crown of the road, with the RH lane sloping downward, RH turns will feel different than LH turns because you hardy ever turn to the left the same way you turn to the right... Where the crown on the right is severe, you will find that it takes substantially more steering effort to keep the bike centered in the lane... I tend to drive right down the middle of the lane most times to minimize this effort...
In terms of steering effort, what can one say - steering effort is high even on a regular trike conversion, unless you install a rake kit... That may be a viable alternative for you if you plan to leave the TP kit on... Even if you don't, your not "going to instantly die" or have "an apocalyptic event" with a rake kit on 2 wheels... Just be aware that the bike will handle differently, most likely responding slower to turn input... There are people who have raked their bikes and still occasionally ride them on 2 wheels...
When I have my trike kit on, I just have to be aware that I have to slow down a bit more in turns to reduce steering effort and to be able to safely guide the bike thru the turn... I have thought about a rake kit, but I seem to be able to handle things for the time being, so until I actually go for a full conversion, I'll stay with the stock configuration...
Best of luck,
Les
Re: On curves to the left it feels softer than right curves
My Tow=Pac equipped '94 Vulcan 1500 was already set up when I got it and after re-learning to ride; I found I had to play with the outrigger tire pressure a bit and also learned to "stiff arm" the steering depending on road crown or camber. In my area, what appears to be a "flat" road or highway, is in fact not flat. Our roads all tile to one side or the other and you have to adjust as you go.
A lot of good info to check...
[QUOTE=dadztoy;281716]Sounds like what your describing is a difference in down force on the two TP wheels... Unfortunately there is no "scientific" way to check the down force that I know of... The TP techs told me to grab the TP wheel and try to move it, giving a good rearward or upward yank on the spokes... The down force should be such that you can just break the wheel loose from the ground with a good tug on the wheel spokes...
Another thing you might try is to measure from each rear corner of the cart frame to the floor/ground and see if the distance is the same... Mine is within 1/16" of an inch from side to side... A little bit of difference in this measurement can make quite a bit of difference in handling...
My TP kit is installed on my 1800, so the rear suspension is different between the two bikes, but have you tried playing with the air pressure on the bikes rear suspension??? I wouldn't think this would effect just one side of the TP but you can never tell, because the 1500 employs an air bladder on one side and a spring on the other side - might be worth a try playing with air pressure...
Also remember that due to the crown of the road, with the RH lane sloping downward, RH turns will feel different than LH turns because you hardy ever turn to the left the same way you turn to the right... Where the crown on the right is severe, you will find that it takes substantially more steering effort to keep the bike centered in the lane... I tend to drive right down the middle of the lane most times to minimize this effort...
In terms of steering effort, what can one say - steering effort is high even on a regular trike conversion, unless you install a rake kit... That may be a viable alternative for you if you plan to leave the TP kit on... Even if you don't, your not "going to instantly die" or have "an apocalyptic event" with a rake kit on 2 wheels... Just be aware that the bike will handle differently, most likely responding slower to turn input... There are people who have raked their bikes and still occasionally ride them on 2 wheels...
When I have my trike kit on, I just have to be aware that I have to slow down a bit more in turns to reduce steering effort and to be able to safely guide the bike thru the turn... I have thought about a rake kit, but I seem to be able to handle things for the time being, so until I actually go for a full conversion, I'll stay with the stock configuration...
Best of luck,
Les[/QUOTE]
Thanks so much dadztoy. That is a lot of good information. I'll check those things and do a trial run to see what fixes the issue. Thanks again.
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[QUOTE=jmk865;281993]My Tow=Pac equipped '94 Vulcan 1500 was already set up when I got it and after re-learning to ride; I found I had to play with the outrigger tire pressure a bit and also learned to "stiff arm" the steering depending on road crown or camber. In my area, what appears to be a "flat" road or highway, is in fact not flat. Our roads all tile to one side or the other and you have to adjust as you go.[/QUOTE]
That's what I'm finding out as well. Overall I like it, but just having to re-learn, like you said. I love the stability, but do kinda miss riding on two wheels...just getting old with bad knees...lol...but hey, it allows me to keep riding.
8 in TP instatrike on a 2005 GL 1800
Hello dadztoy,
I see you own a tow pac Insta trike on a GL1800. Do you still have it?
I have one on my 2005 GL1800 with my 8 inch wheels, regular motorcycle wheels for my front and rear. I have been reading your posts on how you set your bike up with the TP.
What led me to this post was my search for how to setup my own ride properly. I rode this past weekend and I noticed that I have to slow the bike way down when trying to take a left or right hand turn and when that happens one of the TP wheels usually raises up and I have to fight my steering and hang on hard. I know to push and pull but that feeling is rather unsettling and it feels like it puts a lot of strain on the attachment points (ie. rear crash bars and underneath the saddle bags where it attaches to). Not only did I feel strain etc. but there my body definitely was beat the next day...I really had a workout. Otherwise driving the highways, roads, that did not have too many hard curves were manageable.
Speaking of slowing way down even when turning a hard circle in an empty parking lot whenever I increase my speed I notice the inner TP wheel come up.
I have not gone dark side yet but have thought about it but before you went darkside what were your suspension settings, Frnt and rear wheel and TP pressures set at? I weight a 160lbs, don't carry much gear with me but would like to do so on longer trips. Right now my tires still have life in them and will probably ride it till it wears out.
Also, I wonder if having the smaller 8" wheels have anything to do with the ride handling and comfort?
I would appreciate your experience as a TP owner in this matter and hope to read your response.
Thank you so much!
Ed