My First Trike Experience

[bikerbillone]

As a prospective 2005 Wing RoadSmith conversion driver, I've certainly spent a lot of time on this forum reading, thinking.

Several days ago I rode to Daytona to the RoadSmith store for show and tell and a test ride. Of course, around the parking lot for a 'feel' ride, then out to the street to play in traffic. What an experience that was. Remember, push/pull steering, no feet down, brake with rear, follow on a bit with front, ride the middle of the road, watch the fenders, watch that sensitive steering, no lean, fight the steering a bit in those full stops, then a right or left turn. OMG, unlearn everything on two wheels, relearn three. So I question, am I up for this? Can I ever do the Dragon again? Do I spend the big bucks for something I'm not sure will work? The alternative is not good, continue to ride two wheels, two up in the flatlands of FL, until I can't hold up the beast?

Or have a tip over in some foolish parking lot situation,. I suspect many trike riders have faced these questions and met the challenge to become accomplished drivers/riders.

One question that's bugging me now, is risers. Trying to figure out if I need them before the conversion, or just get r done and figure it out later. I'm thinking now, Kury risers 2" up and back.

Just my thinking this Saturday morning, nothing dramatic. Any comments, be pleased to read them.

[Lucky]

Don't know about risers I am 5'9" and don't have them.Ride will get a lot better real quick with practice.RIDE SAFE

[wiredgeorge]

A few months back my wife and I bought a small Chinese Icebear trike (150cc) and I played on the trike on back roads around where I live out in the middle of nowhere. That is the extent of my trike experience. The little Chinese trike has almost no rake and takes conscious effort to keep in a staight line of heavily crowned and very bumpy streets but once I got used to steering the little trike, I had a ball on it.

I couldn't afford a trike conversion at this time so I traded my 06 GL1800 for a 97 GL1500 with a brand new Roadsmith conversion with running boards and EZ-steer. We left the house Friday before last for KD Cycle in Altoona Alabama to make the trade. The weather had changed the night before and temps were now in the low 50s and the wind was howling. We rode up 85 mph TX130 toll road to North of Austin and then up IH35 to IH20 all the way to Birmingham and the ride was cold, at times wet and miserable. Thank goodness there were Waffle House restaurants at every stop!

Swapped our 06 for the 97 in Altoona AL. at KD Cycle and headed home... Couple observations...

the trunk on the conversion holds about the same amount as the two saddlebags on the 06. The top trunk seems to hold a bit more. All in all, about the same amount of carry space as before the conversion. The driver seat on the 97 is about the same feel as the 06 but has more leg room. The floorboards are comfy perches for alternate foot positions. The pillion is a bit smaller on the 97 with my wife seated on top of me. I am going to move the trunk back. The 1500 doesn't have as much oomph as the 1800 but the power is adequate; possibly the feel of lower power is due to the added weight. I think I can stop an 06 GL1800 without conversion faster than the trike; rear peddle/brake action takes more effort. The trike tends to wander a bit; especially on roads where there is poor road base and a wear line from car/truck tires such as IH20 in Louisiana.

The heavy heavy winds blew the trike around and required more concentration BUT I think the trike was about the same in that regard as the 06 GL1800. Wind gusts were 50 mph or more at times.

You asked about riding? I adapted relatively easy I think because of my experience on the Icebear. Sharp turns (especially off-camber) require high effort and can be tiring in the wrists and hands. The trike isn't leaned over into turns and tends to lean the wrong way in sharp turns which was and is a bit disconcerting to me but after a total of 2200 miles practice (that is up and back mileage), I am now getting used to the feel and can hit turns faster. The trike is fun to ride and gets a LOT of attention. I have been riding for close to 50 years and wanted to make sure I had a trike under me before the wing got to be too much when poking along on uneven surfaces and such like doing 3 point turns or peddling the bike along in road base, etc.

My wife likes the feel of riding on the Roadsmith IRS conversion and feels that highway bumps and thumps are muted compared to the pillion on the wing. She would like some armrests as the 1500 seat doesn't wrap like the 1800 and she said it made it harder to go to sleep without the seat wrapping.

She also liked the inch or two extra room on the 1800 pillion and I am going to move the trunk back to give her the room.

[bikerbillone]

Thanks for that read, George. Good practical and detailed information.

[rmrc51]

Bill,

As you can see by my signature below, I have a 2005 Wing/Smith. You'll definitely get use to handling the trike after you put some miles under your belt (or should I say 'seat', lol). The stability the trike offers, to me, is priceless! I'm also 5'9" and I do have the Kuryakyn risers. I find that they give me the right amount of adjustment to have my arms a bit more relaxed and not stretched out, especially when doing a locked left or right turn. The Roadsmith conversion is fantastic. The IRS clearly gives a smoother ride then the solid axle (IMHO) and the longer wheelbase also contributes to that end as well. Needless to say I'm extremely satisfied with my ride and plan to keep her for many, many years to come. I also bought mine from KD Cycle in Altoona, Alabama.

[adaptolife]

Wow! You make it sound like a lot of work! Also reminds me why I went with Ghost Wheels 6 years ago! They hold my Road Glide while stopped and at parking lot speeds, but give me full 2-wheeled handling while riding. I have put over 25k on them. But enjoy the Roadsmith, and ride careful.

[bikerbillone]

Bill,

As you can see by my signature below, I have a 2005 Wing/Smith. You'll definitely get use to handling the trike after you put some miles under your belt (or should I say 'seat', lol). The stability the trike offers, to me, is priceless! I'm also 5'9" and I do have the Kuryakyn risers. I find that they give me the right amount of adjustment to have my arms a bit more relaxed and not stretched out, especially when doing a locked left or right turn. The Roadsmith conversion is fantastic. The IRS clearly gives a smoother ride then the solid axle (IMHO) and longer wheelbase also contributes to that end as well. Needless to say I'm extremely satisfied with my ride and plan to keep her for many, many years to come. I also bought mine from KD Cycle in Altoona, Alabama.

Thanks, Rich, this is information I can really relate to.

If you're 5'9" and the Kury risers work for you, then it should be on my list, and it will be. I believe you mentioned you have the AccuRide.

Discussed this with my installer, he said he did not think I needed the AccuRide or the the Preload since I'm not a heavyweight, nor is my passenger. We don't plan to pull a trailer, so he did not see the cost effective advantage.

[rmrc51]

Thanks, Rich, this is information I can really relate to. If you're 5'9" and the Kury risers work for you, then it should be on my list, and it will be. I believe you mentioned you have the AccuRide.

Discussed this with my installer, he said he did not think I needed the AccuRide or the the Preload since I'm not a heavyweight, nor is my passenger. We don't plan to pull a trailer, so he did not see the cost effective advantage.

Bill,

I don't have the AccuRide or the Preload either. My installer and my service manager at BlueRidge Power Sports (Honda dealer) both said I really didn't need it. I've already taken a few rides with my better half and in all honesty, I didn't see any difference in the trike body dropping (at least it wasn't noticeable to me or my wife) nor did I feel any difference in the ride quality or power. Like you, I also don't pull a trailer and we're not considered heavy weights either. (my wife likes that, lmao )

[Gorilla]

you will get used to it. it takes about 400 to 500 miles just to get comfortable so dont worry

[Lakeman]

Your wife sleeps while riding!

[FRR]

Bill, don't worry, you will do fine. I recently converted my 2004 Wing but still have my 2007 Harley Ultra. As soon as I start them up I know which one I"m on and act accordingly. You will still be able to ride a 2 wheeler if you buy a 3. The best way to get used to them is just to ride them. Parking lot rides tell you nothing. Get it out on the road and after a few miles you will get the hang of it real fast. I've never talked to a person or read of a person that wasn't happy with their Trike. And some still ride 2 wheelers.

[bikerbillone]

Thanks, FRR. That's excellent advice. Get it converted, hop on that bad boy, and head home. Good info on the two wheels as well. I think about that.

[Ssssnake]

OK a newbie on here BUT, I ride an 03 Honda VTX 1300. I am having a put on/take off kit put on it as soon as I/We get back down to our winter home in Clearwater,FL. I saw a put on/take off kit called a Richland Roadster. Their just outside of Tampa off I 4 actually I think it's in Dade City. I went over on a saturday morning last month & met with the owner. Just a good ole southern boy with a real good idea for a real good price. For $ 3590.00 you get a custom built trike kit(built for exactly your bike) that includes 15" aluminum mags on the rear, additional L.E.D. lights on the front & rear( the front you say?) You get two clear lights on the front of the new rear fenders. They act as additional running lights and help you know where your rear fenders are so you don't get too close to anything with the trike. Additional lights in the rear because you Can Never Have Enough Lights In The Rear!

Also the price includes painting the rear fenders and a piece of trim in the rear where those much needed New Rear Lights mount. They try to match your paint as close as possible & from what I saw in person, they get pretty darn close. The owner showed me his whole operation, raw materials, fabrication, paint booth & anything else pertaining to the kit. I was impressed enough to stop on my way TO my winter home & drop my VTX off so he could get started on it ASAP. They need your bike about a week to get it exactly right. I think this price is more than fair for what you get. And they will modify your kit if you swap bikes. Something to think about if cost is a factor, which it is in my case!

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard. have fun with the new conversion

[bikerbillone]

OK a newbie on here BUT, I ride an 03 Honda VTX 1300. I am having a put on/take off kit put on it as soon as I/We get back down to our winter home in Clearwater,FL. I saw a put on/take off kit called a Richland Roadster. Their just outside of Tampa off I 4 actually I think it's in Dade City. I went over on a saturday morning last month & met with the owner. Just a good ole southern boy with a real good idea for a real good price. For $ 3590.00 you get a custom built trike kit(built for exactly your bike) that includes 15" aluminum mags on the rear, additional L.E.D. lights on the front & rear( the front you say?) You get two clear lights on the front of the new rear fenders. They act as additional running lights and help you know where your rear fenders are so you don't get too close to anything with the trike. Additional lights in the rear because you Can Never Have Enough Lights In The Rear!

Also the price includes painting the rear fenders and a piece of trim in the rear where those much needed New Rear Lights mount. They try to match your paint as close as possible & from what I saw in person, they get pretty darn close. The owner showed me his whole operation, raw materials, fabrication, paint booth & anything else pertaining to the kit. I was impressed enough to stop on my way TO my winter home & drop my VTX off so he could get started on it ASAP. They need your bike about a week to get it exactly right. I think this price is more than fair for what you get. And they will modify your kit if you swap bikes. Something to think about if cost is a factor, which it is in my case!

This sounds interesting. Had I not already committed to the Road Smith, I'd be talking with this guy. The price is certainly right.

[Gorilla]

Just to clarify to others the Richland uses the stock rear wheel as the drive wheel. It is like a Voyager Kit. Looks nice if you like the 3 wheels in the back.