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[Roadsmith Trikes]

​Hi Everyone! Roadsmith Trikes is here to help with answers to questions or anything else you might need for your Roadsmith Trike. We will be checking this forum regularly and promise to get back to you as quickly as we can. If you need immediate assistance, please don't hesitate to call the main factory number 800-331-0705! Thanks and we look forward to chatting with you!

[bikerbillone]

Thanks RS, that's good news. Guess my first question, differential oil check and change..... How often should it be checked and/or changed? I'm aware there are different methods for checking the level for certain years, but can't remember what it was. Mine is a 2012 conversion.

[rmrc51]

Thanks RS, that's good news. Guess my first question, differential oil check and change..... How often should it be checked and/or changed? I'm aware there are different methods for checking the level for certain years, but can't remember what it was. Mine is a 2012 conversion.

Good question!

Also interested.

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Good question!

Also interested.

Hi guys - the differentials should be filled with 1 quart (only) of 80/90. Do not overfill, as that will cause excess fluid to escape through the vent-hole, causing a big 'ol mess.

We recommend checking the level at the beginning of the season, and periodically throughout the year, especially before a long trip. You should feel confident with the level if there is no evidence of a leak/weap. Otherwise, there is nowhere for the oil to go.....

To check level:

1. The fluid level should be 1" below fill-plug threads
2. Find an Allen wrench with the short end of the "L" measuring an inch or more
3. Remove fill plug
4. Insert the Allen wrench into the fill hole with the end pointing down
5. Remove Allen wrench and measure/check level

You can certainly change the fluid as often as you would like. We don't recommend having to worry about it until at least 50,000 miles.

[bikerbillone]

Thanks RS. One for the file and future reference.

[hopefullysoon]

Can the tour pak on a Gold Wing Trike be relocated back approx. 2 in. to add more space for the passenger?

[wiredgeorge]

Can the tour pak on a Gold Wing Trike be relocated back approx. 2 in. to add more space for the passenger?

The tour pack doesn't have a lot to do with the trike kit to be honest. I located the tour pack on my GL1500A back about 3 inches. Honda doesn't make it easy.
I used two pieces of steel... about 3 inches wide and about a foot long and about 3/16" thick and drilled holes for mounting the truck rather than mounting to the mount points on the body and used some rubber washers and fender washers to take care of vibration. Used holes in the new brackets to mount the trunk and mounted the brackets to the old mount points. You have to take off the bottom part of the trunk and work with it. Main issue is wiring harness as they don't give you much extra wire. I needed to disconnect and re-route some wiring harness as I recall. Once the trunk is back, it opens up seating and your passenger isn't sitting on top of you!

I am surprised Honda didn't make it a bit easier to adjust location of the tour pack... I had a Kaw Voyager and the tour pack on it sat on rails with slots and you just loosened the locking nuts and slid it up or back wherever seemed good to you as I recall. For a luxury touring bike, wasn't much point in making it so cramped when adjustability engineered in would have been sooooo easy.

[hopefullysoon]

Good morning WiredGeorge, Thank you for your prompt and detailed response. Was not for sure if the tour pak was actually affected by the trike kit, or not. Your response covers that issue. I had relocated the tour pak on an Aspencade years ago, so that will be my plan for the GL1800 Roadsmith, when I find one that suites our preferences. We are still on a 2 wheeler but searching and searching.

Take Care!

[wiredgeorge]

Good morning WiredGeorge, Thank you for your prompt and detailed response. Was not for sure if the tour pak was actually affected by the trike kit, or not. Your response covers that issue. I had relocated the tour pak on an Aspencade years ago, so that will be my plan for the GL1800 Roadsmith, when I find one that suites our preferences. We are still on a 2 wheeler but searching and searching.

Take Care!

I think that buying an already converted trike makes more sense to me (I am cheeeeep). The conversion kit costs $10-15K regardless of type of true conversion and options. Suggest you check out goldwingdocs.com and look at the "Classifieds" that appear right on the banner. This will give you a search engine for Goldwings so plug in "trike" as the search term. I am always astounded at what great deals are out there. The search seems to be performed on a variety of different selling sites but mainly CL.

As far as a GL1500 vs a GL1800 trike, well, get the newer one if that is within your budget. Keep an eye on early GL1800s (2001-2003) for frame cracking behind left passenger board... I have seen several cracked and it is always tempting to buy an early GL1800 because of cost. I think Honda whipped the frame issue in the 2003 run. A local fella was trying to sell his GL1800 with cracked and repaired frame (he did the welding) for REALLY cheap as he was an honest guy. Not sure I cared for the repair but it was probably fine... BTW: I love riding a trike and still ride a Triumph America and old KZ900 and KZ1000 solo... all trike riding is 2-up with missus.

[jayhawkokie]

Hope I'm not hijacking the thread. Do I need a special wrench/tool to adjust the coil over shocks? I just got my new HTS this Wednesday and I think I need to tighten the suspension so it doesn't feel like the body is rolling to the outside in a curve, It's on the low setting, I was going to bump it up to the middle step, unless those with experience think I should put it on the high step, I also have the adjustable suspension pre-load and I have it set on 12 right now riding one up.

[bikerbillone]

Pull the wheel and a spanner will do the job.

[jayhawkokie]

Pull the wheel and a spanner will do the job.

I'll go to O'Reillys to see if they have one in their loaner tools. Thanks for the reply.

[bikerbillone]

No problem, glad to help when I know what I'm talking about. If you have the time, e-mail taylor young at Road Smith, bet he will send you one free. Pretty good people at Bear Lake.

[jayhawkokie]

I had a spanner that came with the same kind of shocks that I put on my 74 Bug but can't find it, I was hoping I could improvise. Should I put them on the middle or high setting?

[bikerbillone]

I ride two up, some miles of mountain roads, I'm at the softest setting and still feels tight, but for some reason there's progressive shocks which are some shorter than the OEMs, that makes for a 'tighter' ride. I'm the second owner, so I suspet the first guys did the progressives. Your question, if it was me, I'd start somewhere in the middle and go from there. Maybe someone else will give you some more info.

[jayhawkokie]

Your question, if it was me, I'd start somewhere in the middle and go from there. Maybe someone else will give you some more info.

I've gotten a few more miles under my belt and I'm feeling more comfortable in the twisties and I love the ride of the Roadsmith, I couldn't be any more pleased that I went with Roadsmith so I think I will leave the shocks where they are for a while and maybe decide to change them later. BTW, I found my spanner.

[jayhawkokie]

Took the trike to Heartland Honda to get a couple small issues fixed and I had their trike installer move the shocks up one notch, and he gave me a spanner tool if I need to change them. The ride is a small bit stiffer but not bad, but it feels better in the curves. My hat off to the folks at Heartland.

[wiredgeorge]

You can get a thin piece of wood, some padding and some black vinyl from Hobby Lobby and cover the area from top to bottom behind the passenger backrest. It makes the gap look less noticeable.

[jagjeep]

Hi Everyone! Roadsmith Trikes is here to help with answers to questions or anything else you might need for your Roadsmith Trike. We will be checking this forum regularly and promise to get back to you as quickly as we can. If you need immediate assistance, please don't hesitate to call the main factory number 800-331-0705! Thanks and we look forward to chatting with you!

Hi Roadsmith,

Last year I had my 2002 Honda Valkyrie converted to a trike with one of your kits and have been impressed with the overall quality of your product. I do have one concern though and it's with the tail lights.

During the daylight hours both are not very bright. I tried to correct this problem by changing the bulbs to L.E.D's which helped a little. Can you pass along any suggestions for increasing the brightness of the lights?

Thanks.
Jagjeep

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Hi Jagjeep,

We are in the process of identifying options available to you for brighter taillights on your Roadsmith Valkyrie trike. We will get back to you via your personal email as well as posting a response in this thread. Please stand by....