Curves

I'm new to trike riding, it feels as though the trike wants to drift to the outside of curves, is that normal? I slow down now to go into curves maybe that is what I need to do??

Hi Roadking! First of all, you are perfectly normal.... there is a learning curve when you move from 2 wheels to 3. You are probably still trying to counter steer, as you did with your 2-wheeler. Take things slow, allow yourself 300-500 miles of riding, and you will find you are quite comfortable and enjoying the trike.

This thread has a lot of discussion on this that might help you: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/honda-trikes/1065.htm

Remember, approach beggining of curve at the outside and work your way in, begin acceleration as u leave the curve. (and what Nana said)
cooltech

You will accomplish it, it just takes time and practice.

I'm fairly new, having only been riding a trike since July. I've figured out that the crown of the road has a lot to do with how difficult a corner is. They usually slant from the middle of the road to the outside. This usually makes right turns easier than left because when you go to the left, the trike is tilting to the right making you feel as though you're being thrown off of the trike to the right. To compensate for this, I lean heavily to the left just as you would do with a 2 wheeler. Seems to help.

I'm brand new to triking too ThumbUp I've gotten out a handful of times now, and the first time I was taking curves at about 20 km/h hehehe (made for some nice line ups behind me lol, and probably some pissed off drivers - Good thing I either had another bike or truck behind me while I got the feel of it), now I'm taking curves at least at the posted speed limit - sometimes faster and I definitely lay on the throttle when I'm exciting (feels natural and awesome to do so). I still need a lot of time on the road, though with our weather, she's almost parked Reading this forum helped alot - ALOT pepper.... and I did not hit the hwy until I felt comfortable - my first few trials were all on back lightly-twisty roads, with a max of 50 km/h. When I got it right in my head it was seriously like a switch. After trying all sorts of leaning or over-thinking with push/pull, etc..... I remembered one poster said to place weight on the opposite foot of the turn on the floorboard. This sounded weird to me when reading it, but I tried it, tried it some more.... and now just before the curves I let off the throttle, start adding weight to my opposite foot/leg which naturally moves my body towards the curve - whilst it feels like I'm giving some weight on both sides... and sometimes I will push on the handlebars more than pull, depending on the depth of the turn. Works beautifully! It is much different than 2 wheels.... I almost wondered if I made the right choice the first few times out (I could have cried lol), even turning the trike in a parking lot was a bit freaky the first time... now I noticed I'm doing that without even thinking and much more fluid. Soooo much fun... I'm catching bugs with my teeth cause I can't stop smiling harhar. I definitely feel better with each run I do (learning and learning), and I'm so happy.... I've even learned to stop gripping the bars for dear life, realizing that the bike feels better the more relaxed I am on the bars and through all the bumps. I've also noticed the crowns too, I found that if I focus on where I'm going, ahead of me - I don't worry so much, as my natural reflexes does it's thing to keep me on track. I'm not a fast driver (former bus driver for kids haha), so speed has never been my thing on 2 wheels or more, it's all about comfort level and safety. Stay safe, have fun

Very well said, TrikeBaby!! ThumbUp

We have 2 trikes. One with IRS, and the other with a solid axle. The turn characteristics are different. The IRS leans a little more than the solid axle one. With practice it shouldn't matter which rear end you are using. It's a learning curve. Good Luck

Why thank you rmrc51

Well said Trikerbaby.. I have ridden my 1800 Goldwing trike around the mountains in Europe and Scandinavia. I go out to come in. Don't bother if there is a line a mile long...your the rider and you come first...safety first. Once you get the hang of it try taking your trike to a place where it is quiet and take the bends (curves) a little faster to get the gist of your vehicle. Once you have done that you will be the business and no one will stop you!!ThumbUp

Does your trike have a rake kit?
If not a trike "fights" against your steering in put to straighten itself up in a curve/turn.
A rake kit reduces this but, it is still present to some degree.
Also, practice and learn to push down on your outside foot in a corner to counter act the feeling of being forced off the seat! Good thing for the passenger also.

+1 what Trike Baby said.Whatever you do try not to ride beyond your comfort level.RIDE SAFE

Yes, as mentioned there is certainly a learning curve!! I found that for me what worked was taking the curves at a speed I was comfortable at, and then pushing the envelope a little bit more until I was comfortable with that speed, and so on until you get to the point where you are downright afraid to go any faster. Experiment a little with body position etc. until you find what works best for you. After a while you won't even give it a second thought, it will just come natural...

There's one thing you mentioned about "pushing" on the handlebar. That, my dear, IS the major answer (secret) to handling/driving a trike at any speed. Pulling will make you tired and you feel like your "fighting" the trike. Cupping your hands at the end of the handle-bar is best (more so the left hand) as this also takes the tension away from your hands/fingers/shoulders. Yes, those telling you to use your feet is also a good idea...but if the pushing method is used, one doesn't need to do it unless your really hustling down the road.

One has to use the momentum (speed) and "pushing" of handle bar of the bike to turn into a corner and then use "power" to exit the other side of the corner. My wife and I were both taught this method years ago and it's the best advise we ever got for driving the trike. And , no, I don't have a "rake kit" but will be installing one soon. More for her than me as it helps those with not a lot of strength or medical limitations.

The method of outside/inside IS truly the way to handle most corners (pushing the bars). However, off-camber corners (corners that look like they go away from you) are a tad different. Letting off the power helps with this road issue that trikes don't like. So keeping a lookout for this issues is paramount to riding safely. Otherwise you'll cross the center line of the highway at your most vulnerable time.

Where I live in PA, we have a lot of road crown...so I add a few more pounds of air pressure (6-10lbs.) to my right-side rear tire. This helps to keep the trike running straight with less effort from the right hand/arm. Rear air pressures are also one of those little secrets to get the trike to ride straighter and smoother for both driver/passenger. Experiment with them...might bring a BIGGER smile for those tasty bugs. ThumbUp

2TZ

Nana said:

Hi Roadking! First of all, you are perfectly normal.... there is a learning curve when you move from 2 wheels to 3. You are probably still trying to counter steer, as you did with your 2-wheeler. Take things slow, allow yourself 300-500 miles of riding, and you will find you are quite comfortable and enjoying the trike.

This thread has a lot of discussion on this that might help you: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/honda-trikes/1065.htm

Click to expand...

Did this thread get lost in the transition, blank page come up.

2Trikez said:

There's one thing you mentioned about "pushing" on the handlebar. That, my dear, IS the major answer (secret) to handling/driving a trike at any speed. Pulling will make you tired and you feel like your "fighting" the trike. Cupping your hands at the end of the handle-bar is best (more so the left hand) as this also takes the tension away from your hands/fingers/shoulders. Yes, those telling you to use your feet is also a good idea...but if the pushing method is used, one doesn't need to do it unless your really hustling down the road.

One has to use the momentum (speed) and "pushing" of handle bar of the bike to turn into a corner and then use "power" to exit the other side of the corner. My wife and I were both taught this method years ago and it's the best advise we ever got for driving the trike. And , no, I don't have a "rake kit" but will be installing one soon. More for her than me as it helps those with not a lot of strength or medical limitations.

The method of outside/inside IS truly the way to handle most corners (pushing the bars). However, off-camber corners (corners that look like they go away from you) are a tad different. Letting off the power helps with this road issue that trikes don't like. So keeping a lookout for this issues is paramount to riding safely. Otherwise you'll cross the center line of the highway at your most vulnerable time.

Where I live in PA, we have a lot of road crown...so I add a few more pounds of air pressure (6-10lbs.) to my right-side rear tire. This helps to keep the trike running straight with less effort from the right hand/arm. Rear air pressures are also one of those little secrets to get the trike to ride straighter and smoother for both driver/passenger. Experiment with them...might bring a BIGGER smile for those tasty bugs. ThumbUp

2TZ

Click to expand...

I am very new to trike riding and have found it helpful to use my knees on the tank. I just press them against the gas tank when going into a curve and it helps relieve the feeling of being thrown opposite. Similar to just pressing down with your feet.

TrikeBaby covered it nicely. Push-pull, and a little weight on the outside peg, or board as the case may be. It'll be second nature after just a short while.

Yup! All getting used to the effects of centrifugal force when you can't lean any more...