Valkyrie Interstate Trike questions

[r84boomer66]

I am new to triking, have ridden on two wheels for the last 30 years. Bought a gorgeous Valkyrie Interstate trike over the week end but am very disappointed. I maybe was expecting too much. I rode this thing home for 900 miles and was scared to death that I was going to wreck the thing. The steering is extremely hard at low speeds and when I hit a bump at low speeds the handlebars want to jump completely out of my hands. I had previously owned a Valkyrie Interstate bike so was familiar with it in two wheel form. I had a local trike shop check it out and they stated that it was operating normaly for a trike but did have "heavy" steering. I am having them add an ez steer kit to see if this will help. The front tire needs replaced as it is worn with slight cupping on the right side. The tire is on order and should be replaced later this week.

I just don't know if the ez steer will correct my issues. Anyone with experience with this type of bike I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback you can provide. If this ez steer does not correct my issues then I am going to sell the trike and like I said maybe I am expecting too much from a trike but want to feel comfortable driving through town with one hand and not have to have a "death grip" on the handle bars at all times.:no:

[Nana]

Hey Boomer. Welcome to TrikeTalk. You are definitely in the right place to get advice and input. <br />
<br />
First of all.... <b>Do not judge your trike riding enjoyment or comfort for at least 300 - 400 miles after getting the tire replaced and the EZ steer installed</b>. The dealer who built mine advised me to give it 1000 miles before passing judgement. In all honesty, by 300 - 400 miles I was having a ball, and I'll be you are bigger and stronger than I am by a long shot! <br />
<br />
Secondly, <b>DEFINITELY go for the EZ Steer</b>. You will find it giving you the effect of power steering. I drove one without it and found it very heavy to steer, but with EZ steer there is little or no effort.

Worlds of difference.<br />
<br />
Thirdly, <b>please take time to read through all the posts in this link</b>: <a href="http://www.triketalk.com/forum/general-forum/242-experianced-trike-riders-please-post-here.html" target="_blank">http://www.triketalk.com/forum/gener...post-here.html</a><br />
You will find a lot of pointers that will help you know what to expect as you adjust to the differences between two wheels and three. <br />
<br />
So don't give up quickly. I'll bet with a little time and with the EZ Steer, you will soon be loving the trike!<br />
<br />
Again, welcome aboard. No honest question is stupid or made fun of here! It is our goal to help all trikers get the most out of their experience. So ask and share all you can.

[JJTRIKER]

you also should have them get the 2 inch fork extenstions it will keep the bike level. michelin pilot active rear tire mount on the front reversed rotation
and you will be home free with the best. make sure to have then check the bearings on the neck as well

[Gorilla]

I think Nana and JJ have it covered. Without the ez-steer you have experenced the worst you will be pleasently surprised after installation.

[r84boomer66]

Finally got the ezsteer installed and all I can say is WOW! What a HUGE difference. Went from possibly selling the trike to now wouldn't take a million dollars for it. Unbelievable that the ezsteer could make that much difference but it absolutely did, took away the slow speed "head shake" and is now stable as a sports car in corners!:yes:

[tis]

Boomer: Just read your posts, glad everything worked out for you with the E-Z Steer, that does make the world of difference. Like everyone says give it 600 to a1000 miles and you'll never want to get off. Again congrats on the trike...

[katfish16]

Glad everything has worked out for you... We have some very helpful people on this board.. and most are very nice.
Hope you will continue to visit and post.. Also post some pictures when you can.. We love pictures......

Ride safe and enjoy.....

[Nana]

Terrific news, Boomer!!!!! What a joy to be able to ride and feel comfortable and secure now.

[John Luciano]

Boomer ,
Who is the trike made by? (what kit is installed on it?)

[Baz]

Hi Boomer I'm very relieved for you, you must have been wondering " what have I done" I know even from my limited experience that it will just get better from here on.

[r84boomer66]

The trike conversion is CSC and the steering/rake kit is from steerite.

[Puff]

I am new to triking, have ridden on two wheels for the last 30 years. Bought a gorgeous Valkyrie Interstate trike over the week end but am very disappointed. I maybe was expecting too much. I rode this thing home for 900 miles and was scared to death that I was going to wreck the thing. The steering is extremely hard at low speeds and when I hit a bump at low speeds the handlebars want to jump completely out of my hands. I had previously owned a Valkyrie Interstate bike so was familiar with it in two wheel form. I had a local trike shop check it out and they stated that it was operating normaly for a trike but did have "heavy" steering. I am having them add an ez steer kit to see if this will help. The front tire needs replaced as it is worn with slight cupping on the right side. The tire is on order and should be replaced later this week. I just don't know if the ez steer will correct my issues. Anyone with experience with this type of bike I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback you can provide. If this ez steer does not correct my issues then I am going to sell the trike and like I said maybe I am expecting too much from a trike but want to feel comfortable driving through town with one hand and not have to have a "death grip" on the handle bars at all times.:no:

I know where you were coming from... when I first did the conversion on my Valk, I couldn't wait to take it for a test-run. When I got back home, I put it in the garage, shut the doors, and didn't want to look at it again.

To set the scenario, having been a sole parent and now retired, I don't have a bunch of dollars, and I'd just turned my beautiful handling Valkyrie into a monster AT HUGE EXPENSE! It felt like driving a truck without power steering and having flat tires.

But my mate Gert (gertbuilt on this forum) built me a triple-tree that raked the front end and it was a totally different story... like turning on power-steering. The weird thing is, both manufacturer of the kit (dft) and my supplier told me it wasn't necessary to rake the front end... that is incorrect!
The trail is way too big for a trike, and every little bump, rock or corrugation will try to pull the bars out of your hands.

A leading link or raking the front end will fix the problem... believe me, I found out the hard way too.

[stacebg]

> snip> The weird thing is, both manufacturer of the kit (dft) and my supplier told me it wasn't necessary to rake the front end... that is incorrect!
The trail is way too big for a trike, and every little bump, rock or corrugation will try to pull the bars out of your hands.
<snip>

thats what i hate about the big manufacturers
the say "oh our rear doesnt need a front end mod"
some sidecar installers dont mention it either

i think the theory is sell the trike or sidecar then when you dont like it bring it back and we will fix it

when ever i put on a sidecar or put in a rear one of the 1st things to discuss is the front end situation

i think people should know so they wont get disgusted and park it after they come back from the 1st ride
stace

[Gorilla]

I think they don't mention it so they can sell the kit at a good sounding price vs what they would if they included a rake kit. The bike can be ridden without the rake it just is not comfortable or enjoying.

[Puff]

I think they don't mention it so they can sell the kit at a good sounding price vs what they would if they included a rake kit. The bike can be ridden without the rake it just is not comfortable or enjoying.

I actually asked my supplier if a rake or leading link came with the kit...
"Doesn't need a front-end mod, we've built a few of 'em now, no problems"
or words to that effect. I can't describe how gutted I was after that first ride,
seriously, it would be enough to turn most people off trikes forever it was so bad.

And after that 1st ride, I rang my supplier and he assured me that a lady has a Valkyrie conversion without an altered front-end, and she's driven all around Australia. I replied "She must have arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger"
he replied, "Oh no, she's only a little thing"

All I know is that 'little lady' has her trike up for sale on the Ulysses (Australian M/C club) website, and I do know that my lady, who incidentally is not 'a little thing', found the trike way too hard to handle before it was raked. Whatever the reason, a newcomer to trikes should be better informed by the retailer... A bit of honesty would go a long way.

[TrikeTradersLLC]

I'll second that. It's why we take the time to explain different conversions and options, and the importance of having the front end done to make the trike not only steer better, but also reduce the front end shake over bumps. The Valkyrie is one of the heaviest steering trikes around, how anyone could tell you it couldn't use a front end mod, is beyond me. In fact it always amazes us how many other trike builders will just convert and sell trikes without the front end done, and never mention it to their customers, until they complain of how bad the handling is. It keeps their prices cheaper to not have it or mention it, that's why...and too many people are choosing what trike they buy purely on price right now, which is never good. So after their first impression of the trike is terrible, then the dealer's answer is 'oh, well we can put a rake in it and that'll take care of it'. Why not either just put them in and include it in your price (as we do 90% of the time) or tell the customer about it, and give them the choice whether they want to try without or not? We want our customers to be happy with their trike from the moment it leaves our lot, hoping the next time we see them or hear from them it is: riding down the road, telling us how much they love their trike, to schedule routine maintenance from all the enjoyable miles they're putting on, or to add some 'safety chrome'..

[Lady Triker]

I actually asked my supplier if a rake or leading link came with the kit...
"Doesn't need a front-end mod, we've built a few of 'em now, no problems"
or words to that effect. I can't describe how gutted I was after that first ride,
seriously, it would be enough to turn most people off trikes forever it was so bad.

And after that 1st ride, I rang my supplier and he assured me that a lady has a Valkyrie conversion without an altered front-end, and she's driven all around Australia. I replied "She must have arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger"
he replied, "Oh no, she's only a little thing"

All I know is that 'little lady' has her trike up for sale on the Ulysses (Australian M/C club) website, and I do know that my lady, who incidentally is not 'a little thing', found the trike way too hard to handle before it was raked. Whatever the reason, a newcomer to trikes should be better informed by the retailer... A bit of honesty would go a long way.

I second that. The Valk is a monster, even as a two wheeler. My husband has a 01 Valk Interstate. He rode it for a few years without the rake and also said it was a bugger to steer (he's about 5'7" 150#s). I rode it a few times (when not on my Gold Wing raked trike). The Valk has been dubbed the "fat lady " for a reason. We just had it raked last fall and wowsa, what a difference.
It's not impossible to handle, but just so much easier with the rake.
With my Gold Wing the difference was not near as significant as with raking the Valk.

[Puff]

<snip>
It's not impossible to handle, but just so much easier with the rake.
With my Gold Wing the difference was not near as significant as with raking the Valk.

Don't know about the Wing, but the Valk has around 5-6" of trail, that's way too much for a trike. I've seen quite a few Wing trikes with no rake, perhaps they have less trail... Any Wing owners fill us on the the trail built into their machines?

[rmrc51]

I second that. The Valk is a monster, even as a two wheeler. My husband has a 01 Valk Interstate. He rode it for a few years without the rake and also said it was a bugger to steer (he's about 5'7" 150#s). I rode it a few times (when not on my Gold Wing raked trike). The Valk has been dubbed the "fat lady " for a reason. We just had it raked last fall and wowsa, what a difference.
It's not impossible to handle, but just so much easier with the rake.
With my Gold Wing the difference was not near as significant as with raking the Valk.

I'll be taking my Valk in next week for a rake, progressive springs, new front tire (yeah, I'm putting a rear tire in the front backwards, lol) and a full end to end servicing. After reading all of the positive experiences, especially with Valkyries, I can't wait to get her back! :wtg:

[Nana]

You will love it, Rich!!!!! Then....bring on Spring and tons of riding