new rider. question about rough ride....bad back

I purchased my first trike, to get into the hobby, back in 10/2020. A beautiful 2005 GL 1800 w/ a champion conversion. I have put about 2000 miles on it since then. My wife loves it. we ride to breakfast on Sundays and go antique shopping, etc. Very nice. I have ridden about 30,000 miles on large 2-wheelers, but this is my first trike.

I have had 2 lumbar surgeries. I know trikes are inherently rougher riding than bikes, since it takes 3 tracks in the road. However some larger bumps in the road are killers on my back. I am wondering what, if anything, I can do here.

:GL1800:

I have several thoughts, and I would appreciate some input from this, very knowledgeable, forum. thank you, in advance!

options:

1) i took the can-am course w/ my son. we rode parking lot only, and i dont know how it will do on the HWY. I prefered the GL1800 and decided that direction for me; however, he wants a spyder. I could sell the GL1800 and get a spyder, if that would help

2) the champion has solid rear axle. will independent RE make that much difference in ride quality? what about cornering? will I lose anything? Is it worth it to sell the current solid axle and go for the IRE?

3) should I look at the triglide? I preferred the Goldwing, last year, but I haven't ridden the harley.

It do like this trike, so I am not sure I will do anything, but if I can improve things, I may do it.

thank you,

dpete

Danny, The basic answer to your questions all circle around your personal preference.

Go test ride the various independent suspension Goldwing models available. Test ride a Tri-Glide.

You will have much more information to compare at that time to come to your own reasonable conclusion.

dpete said:

I purchased my first trike, to get into the hobby, back in 10/2020. A beautiful 2005 GL 1800 w/ a champion conversion. I have put about 2000 miles on it since then. My wife loves it. we ride to breakfast on Sundays and go antique shopping, etc. Very nice. I have ridden about 30,000 miles on large 2-wheelers, but this is my first trike.

I have had 2 lumbar surgeries. I know trikes are inherently rougher riding than bikes, since it takes 3 tracks in the road. However some larger bumps in the road are killers on my back. I am wondering what, if anything, I can do here.

:GL1800:

I have several thoughts, and I would appreciate some input from this, very knowledgeable, forum. thank you, in advance!

options:

1) i took the can-am course w/ my son. we rode parking lot only, and i dont know how it will do on the HWY. I prefered the GL1800 and decided that direction for me; however, he wants a spyder. I could sell the GL1800 and get a spyder, if that would help

2) the champion has solid rear axle. will independent RE make that much difference in ride quality? what about cornering? will I lose anything? Is it worth it to sell the current solid axle and go for the IRE?

3) should I look at the triglide? I preferred the Goldwing, last year, but I haven't ridden the harley.

It do like this trike, so I am not sure I will do anything, but if I can improve things, I may do it.

thank you,

dpete

Click to expand...

Take a Spyder [Demo] For a long ride Hi-Way and local streets ....Then you'll know!

Out of all the Trikes I Had the Spyder rode the best right out of the box..I put 30+ thousand miles on one...

dpete said:

I purchased my first trike, to get into the hobby, back in 10/2020. A beautiful 2005 GL 1800 w/ a champion conversion. I have put about 2000 miles on it since then. My wife loves it. we ride to breakfast on Sundays and go antique shopping, etc. Very nice. I have ridden about 30,000 miles on large 2-wheelers, but this is my first trike.

I have had 2 lumbar surgeries. I know trikes are inherently rougher riding than bikes, since it takes 3 tracks in the road. However some larger bumps in the road are killers on my back. I am wondering what, if anything, I can do here.

:GL1800:

I have several thoughts, and I would appreciate some input from this, very knowledgeable, forum. thank you, in advance!

options:

1) i took the can-am course w/ my son. we rode parking lot only, and i dont know how it will do on the HWY. I prefered the GL1800 and decided that direction for me; however, he wants a spyder. I could sell the GL1800 and get a spyder, if that would help

2) the champion has solid rear axle. will independent RE make that much difference in ride quality? what about cornering? will I lose anything? Is it worth it to sell the current solid axle and go for the IRE?

3) should I look at the triglide? I preferred the Goldwing, last year, but I haven't ridden the harley.

It do like this trike, so I am not sure I will do anything, but if I can improve things, I may do it.

thank you,

dpete

Click to expand...

Pete

First and very important what is your tire pressure. Put 38 to 40 in front and 20 to 22 in rears and see if that makes a difference.

If you really want a Gold Wing see if you can find a independent suspension one to try out. Remember to have the tires at the same noted pressure. The ride should be a little better especially for your passenger but you will lose a LITTLE in cornering. You may not even notice that difference.

Test ride the Spyder and the Harley. I can tell you the Harley tire pressure will be higher than I stated because the dealer has to set it at the higher pressure. I do not know about the Spyder tire pressure.

Good luck Remember tire pressure.

Gorilla said:

PeteFirst and very important what is your tire pressure. Put 38 to 40 in front and 20 to 22 in rears and see if that makes a difference.If you really want a Gold Wing see if you can find a independent suspension one to try out. Remember to have the tires at the same noted pressure. The ride should be a little better especially for your passenger but you will lose a LITTLE in cornering. You may not even notice that difference.Test ride the Spyder and the Harley. I can tell you the Harley tire pressure will be higher than I stated because the dealer has to set it at the higher pressure. I do not know about the Spyder tire pressure. Good luck Remember tire pressure.

Click to expand...

Good advice!

i have this to add for your consideration... I have owned/driven 2 Gold Wings...one had independent, the other solid axle. As a driver I did not find any difference in comfort between the two...was never a passenger so cannot comment on the backseat comfort.

The tire pressure on the Gold Wings can be very key to the comfort...absolutely agree with Gorilla’s numbers above...I found that 38# cold in the front and 22# cold in the rears was best for me driving solo.

After 5 years on my latest trike I added Ride-On to all 3 tires as I was riding the independent suspension trike out by myself and did not want to risk being stranded with a flat tire and no cell phone service. I must say I thoroughly appreciated the smooth and balanced ride that stuff gave the trike...on a decent surfaced road at highway speeds I would turn loose of the handlebars and wave my arms above my head....the bike never left the straight path until it met an anomaly in the road. Now 4 years later those same tires still have the same Ride-On I applied... still have the excellent ride on them. That was my experience with Ride-On...others on this forum have voiced complaints about it in their Harley tires.

Additionally, we found the shock setting was at the highest (possibly was set for 2 up originally) and lowered that for carrying just me.

Those Gold Wings performed flawlessly for me...never had any problems...always kept up routine maintenance on both the Honda bike part of it and the trike kits and never rough-housed with them.

I bought a new 2021 Spyder RT Ltd this week as I had been looking/test riding them for 3 years...finally they made some design changes I could live with. I liked the look for something different and the semi-automatic transmission.. no more holding that clutch in at long stop lights...there are many here in Kerrville. I don’t need a super comfortable and roomy highway trike anymore as I won’t be doing any more long distance, overnight travel to the Texas Hill Country...I finally moved here.

I wish you the best...

I moved from a GW RoadSmith trike to a 2020 Spyder RT Ltd after eight years, that made appreciate the suspension on the Spyder. Just gotta go test ride one to see if it works for you. Better yet, find one to rent for a day.

Trikes

We test rode many different makes and models on Goldwings and Can Am's before we bought ours. We liked the CSC Cobra the best. I thought it handled nice and rode the best for us.

I have had 2 neck sugeries, 5 1/2 back surgeries, 2 knee surgeries, and a mini and major stroke. So handling and ride is important to us.

This last year our ride and handling wasn't what it used to be so i had Traxxion front springs put in and also ordered Rocky's Comfort Risers for the handlebars. WOW what a difference in ride and handling. Now since the Comfort Risers, i can sit straight up and have my back fully against the backrest and the risers raised the handlebars, brought them back, and moved them closer together too. His are the only ones that you can move the handlebars in or out, with what works and feels best for you. Other companies make risers too but theirs are not adjustable. Had a buddy that had Rocky's and after sitting on his and thought i would give it a shot.

Would do both again, the Traxxion front springs and Rocky's comfort risers.

Agree on the tire pressure as stated in the posts above too.

Good luck and hope you find what works best for you.

Tire pressure is #1 to make a softer ride for sure

Have you ever tried riding with one of these?

thanks for the comments on this. I didnt get the opportunity to test ride trikes before this purchase.

I do have some risers, although they are a different brand, recommended here last year. They helped. I do have a back brace like that somewhere, but I never thought of riding with it. I will try this as well.

I will definitely adjust my tire pressure. air suspension travel looks to be very small, although I havent measured it.

Jack Klarich said:

Have you ever tried riding with one of these?

Click to expand...

Jack, I'm pretty sure you are talking about the back brace......:Joker3::Joker3:

David357 said:

Jack, I'm pretty sure you are talking about the back brace......:Joker3::Joker3:

Click to expand...

I am .I have used one for years

Jack Klarich said:

I am .I have used one for years

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Is the brace hot while wearing it here in Florida?

David357 said:

Is the brace hot while wearing it here in Florida?

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Not really, but I guess it depends on what kind you get. My job required me to wear one as far back as 1993 so I got used to it. It does give a false sense of security if you have a really bad back. After riding to Mn and back from Florida I am glad I took it with me

David357 said:

Jack, I'm pretty sure you are talking about the back brace......:Joker3::Joker3:

Click to expand...

............:laugh:...