Rough ride

[gbsb]

We went on a three day 1000 mile ride this week threw the hill country here in Texas. We have a 2011 TriGlide with Dennis's lift kit installed. The ride was rough I have 30# air in the shocks and 23# air in rear tires with 40# in front tire. It seems like the rear just road real rough, hurt your back rough. I had a 2008 Goldwing with a Champion straight axle kit. I put over 20,000 miles on it and thow it road rougher than a 2 wheeler it was not as rough as the Harley. How much air do you run in shocks and tires? Maybe just to much air pressure. I do ride two up all the time. I know the TriGlide is narrower and shorter than the Goldwings. Some help please. George

 

[Memnoch451]

I have seen as little as 16psi in rear tires with no ill effect on the tires and a much improved ride. As for the shocks... please make sure you are putting enough air into them as to not bottom out with your normal load.. I.e. Wife, dog, Trailer and any other house hold goods you might take with you on a ride.

 

[iaff84]

I run 16 in rear tires, 20 to 25 in rear shocks and 36 front tire.
Try the lower presure in rear tires, mine rides out very well two up.
Dennis

 

[gbsb]

Thanks I will drop the rear tire pressure. I was afraid low pressure would cause tire ware. George

 

[Phu Cat]

Have wanted to lower rear tire pressure, but have wondered just how low I can go without fear of pushing the tire off the rim if tire pressure is too low.

Phu Cat

 

[ti-rouge]

i heard that some peoples only put 15 in rear and no probleme!

 

[10rhrk]

after reading post on this forum, I dropped my wife's rear tire pressure from 25 to 20. She said she could tell a difference in the ride. She never complained about a rough ride before though. I guess she's tougher than most...lol

 

[TNTriker]

after reading post on this forum, I dropped my wife's rear tire pressure from 25 to 20. She said she could tell a difference in the ride. She never complained about a rough ride before though. I guess she's tougher than most...lol

It's not that I'm tougher, it's just that I'm not a whiner! My ride was fine with the 25, but a little better with the 20...nuff said:laugh:

 

[2blackbelts]

Here I go again on tires. As an ex motorcycle mfg. we were very careful to follow tire pressures.

I remember on American Iron with Michelle, or what ever the name of the show was, a bike mfg. was on there saying their rigids rode as smooth as a softail, just let the air pressure down to 15 lbs or so. The next show they did a retraction saying never to go below the mfg. minimum recommended tire inflation guide.

With low tire pressure and a big bump, you could break the bead lose.

2 bb

 

[msocko3]

Here I go again on tires. As an ex motorcycle mfg. we were very careful to follow tire pressures.

I remember on American Iron with Michelle, or what ever the name of the show was, a bike mfg. was on there saying their rigids rode as smooth as a softail, just let the air pressure down to 15 lbs or so. The next show they did a retraction saying never to go below the mfg. minimum recommended tire inflation guide.

With low tire pressure and a big bump, you could break the bead lose.

2 bb

I agree there is a fine line on how low you can run it, you can also break the bead with a tight quick corner and a lot of weight transfer.

 

[ti-rouge]

don,t forget those tire are made for car,or small van,,,but the 3 wheel is less weight ,,,when you corner ,the force is more in front tire,,,

plus i had flat tire twice and when i stop, the rim was touching the ground and the tire was still firm on the rim !!

i will not be afraid to run back tire at 15 psi but for be on the safe side when i am 2 on it i put at 20,,,depend on the weight to !

like those big truck, more they load it more they put pressure up !!

so i guess it depend of your back load!!! hi hi hi :laugh:

 

[jcolson]

I run 26lbs. in the rear tires & 30 in the shocks. The ride is going to be stiffer than on a 2 wheeler. I'd rather have a little stiffer ride & not have to worry about dumping the bike in sand or gravel or left over sand in the corners. You will have to scarifice somewhere. Just my opinion. I feel alot safer on my 3wheels.

 

[eagle1]

pot holes around here & rough roads are the norm here, county is broke & no-own wants to increase taxes.

 

[eagle1]

now some useful info. go to H-DTALKING.COM/TOURING and check out
changeing oil in air chocks by CTS 1950. great info there.

 

[DakotaTG]

I have the lift kit in the rear of my TG and run the front tire at 38 and the rear tires at 24 and 30 lbs for shock pressure with 2 up riding. I feel the ride is just fine. My wife says the ride on the TG is better on her back than our Lexus GS (previous ride) and our RX which is our current ride. Often when going down the highway on long trips she will have me pull over as she is getting sleepy and needs to get off and wake up. I will admit the butt does get a bit numb but I don't feel the ride is rough at all. This is for both 2 lane roads as well as interstate. North Dakota does have potholes and rough roads and we often mention how smooth roads are down south compared to ours. As mentioned earlier I would maybe take a look at the air shocks and make sure they are not bottoming out with the load before you even get on the road.

2011 TG Merlot and Black, Dennis' Lift Kit and Defectors.

 

[Shocker]

I run the Harley recommended tire pressure front and rear and max shock pressure (50psi) when riding two up. My 2012 rides very comfortable that way. My wife and I are not light weight.