How long

[Older Guy]

how long does it take to get used to a trike? I just sold my 2011 cvo streetgide and thinking of going with a new Harley triglide. I rode one a few weeks ago and it scared me to death. It seemed like it was all over the road. I guess I will have to learn to ride all over again. I am 75 yrs old and still wanting to keep riding. I loved the streetglide but with my wife who rides with me 95% of the time it became a handfull to park and move around.
Any thoughts how to feel at ease on the trike?
Thanks Older Guy

 

[icedad]

It took 380 miles to get used to mine and then some. After I got my trike home from the 380 mile road trip to purchase her, I let some air out of the tires in the rear, added some to front tire to help it steer easier. Then I took out some air in the rear shock. Took the trike out and it rode like a dream. I got used to it real quick after that. The hardest part was getting used to the wider stance and actually having to turn the bars to steer.
Some people are going to tell you to practice in a parking lot or in your subdivision. Me? I guess I always preferred OJT.

 

[RdKnB]

Took me around 200 miles, I also had to play with air pressure. Love it and ride often on it

 

[Dennis Murawski]

I just had my 2007 FLHT converted with a Champion IRS kit. I almost crashed it in the first 100 yards. I hated the feel of it. It rode too rough, was too twitchy and scared the crap out of me. I now have 3,000 miles behind me and it's a totally different feel. Yes, it doesn't feel quite right. But I've found if you learn to relax and let the trike do its own thing, it can be an enjoyable ride. Just keep reminding yourself that the front wheel should be in the middle of the lane and look over your shoulder as you pull up to gas pumps, toll booths and mailboxes.

 

[bpago]

All the above is great advice. I took delivery of 2014 TriGlide Monday. Traded in a 2011 ultra limited. I took a trike course 8 months ago and I still scared myself because of my 2 wheel rides. A week ago I rented a 2013 HD for 2 days of easy riding to get the feel. At high speed on interstate I felt very uncomfy. After 2 days I started feeling better. Tomorrow I'll do a 200 mile Florida backroads ride. The more time you get on 3 wheels the better it feels.

 

[RcSuD]

I think it takes only a couple hundred miles. When I pulled mine out of the parking lot the first time I headed towards the wall. Scared the crap out of me, then quickly thought, "steer it where you want to go". After a while I didn't have to think anymore. Then the real fun began. Don't give up. You'll love it in a very short time.

 

[msocko3]

how long does it take to get used to a trike? I just sold my 2011 cvo streetgide and thinking of going with a new Harley triglide. I rode one a few weeks ago and it scared me to death. It seemed like it was all over the road. I guess I will have to learn to ride all over again. I am 75 yrs old and still wanting to keep riding. I loved the streetglide but with my wife who rides with me 95% of the time it became a handfull to park and move around.
Any thoughts how to feel at ease on the trike?
Thanks Older Guy

Some get used to it sooner than others, I was totally comfortable in about 20 miles. Before I got my 2010 I took my dads 09 for a ride. We started in a school parking lot where I rode some figure 8's and circles then onto the road, he road my 06 Ultra and I his Triglide. At 1st I was also working the bars way more than I needed to, within 5 miles I figured out to just relax my grip on the bars and let the trike do its thing.

Once I did this I was no longer fighting it which is what I think a lot of folks do wrong when they start riding one. The Honda dealer I traded my 2010 at had the same comment. The one manager took my old Triglide out on a run, he said it scared the crap out of him, said it was a handful compared to a Goldwing's he has ridden with a Hannigan kit which they are an installer. I told him all he had to do was relax and quit death gripping the bars, he said he figured that out after scaring himself silly for a handful of miles.

 

[pcombe]

how long does it take to get used to a trike? I just sold my 2011 cvo streetgide and thinking of going with a new Harley triglide. I rode one a few weeks ago and it scared me to death. It seemed like it was all over the road. I guess I will have to learn to ride all over again. I am 75 yrs old and still wanting to keep riding. I loved the streetglide but with my wife who rides with me 95% of the time it became a handfull to park and move around.
Any thoughts how to feel at ease on the trike?
Thanks Older Guy

Don't mistake the trikes ride by only riding it in town. a trike will be more rough on a city street than the highway. There will always be a little handlebar shake.
Watch yourself around gas pumps etc. you can easily forget about the fenders at first.
Tire air pressure is so important. It really makes a difference in how the trike handles.
Steering is a push pull combination. When you enter a turn you might even slide around from one side of the seat to other to increase your arm leverage.
Once you get used to the trike you will really like it!

My smaller size daughter can even handle it.
She grew up on my two wheeler and the bike has always been promised to her one day, but she was way too small to handle it as a two wheeler.
After i triked it she took to it like a duck to water.
A couple hours in a big parking lot the first day and a back road the next and she had never before piloted a motorcycle.

 

[Sloufoot]

A couple hours in a big parking lot the first day and a back road the next and she had never before piloted a motorcycle.

That I think is one BIG help that someone doesn't have to un-learn all those years of 2 wheel habits.
The third wheel is a totally different ride. Some people get it in their heads they don't like the idea of a trike, & they never will get to the point of admitting they are enjoying the trike. Many end up trading it off for another 2 wheel. But I bet when they drop the 2 wheel in the gravel, or at a stop because someone moved in the rear seat, Another trike will be in order !:xszpv:

 

[Tuccandler]

By now you can tell that not everyone's learning curve is the same. I've been on two wheels since 1967 and finally added a 2013 tri-glide to the mix. My adjustment took a little time. I picked the trike up from out of state and had a long haul back to Nevada. Highways and city driving was actually a no brainer from the start. Found out what riding the twisties was like when crossing the mountains from Ca to Nv. Here is what I found, Enter the corner just like it has two wheels but remember you can make sharp turns by moving your body forward, hug the tank with your legs and put pressure down on the floorboard that follows the turn(turn right, pressure on right floorboard). After 2000 miles My better half and I ride the twists as wheel as we ever did on two wheels and it feels sturdy and controlled because you can use your brake into a corner if you need it.
Go for it, you wont regret it.
Ride Safe,
RC

 

[Peter A.]

Rode 2-wheels for 40+ years/bought my 2010 H.D. Trike and initially thought I had made an expensive mistake - took 200 miles or so then I relaxed and just took it easy for awhile. Now 42 thou. on it and just LOVE it/very confident and
happy with my choice.
My good friend (75 yrs young) bought one also and we make annual extended trips together.
I still have/ride my HD 2-wheeler also (really nice to have the option to choose which to ride).
Pete (going on 70)
pepper

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Hi John: Just think of her as your new girl friend. You have to go slow at 1st and get to know each other. Then you'll move on down the road nicely together ThumbUp

 

[Older Guy]

Thanks every one for your support and answer to my ? s. I will let you know If and when this happens,
Older guy John