mystery designs iss, who has one

[dirtdobber]

I have a mystery designs iss trike. Handles beyond what I thought it would but it will beat you do death.
I have tried 12lbs and up to 50 lbs. I have lowered with the struts as suggested by a dealer. He said 8 1/4 inches on the strut as close as I could get was 8 3/4 inches. Belt and caliper hits the fender.
I love the looks and the handling. The ride will not do. It is like a rigid. There is no movement in the suspension. My buddy of 300 lbs sit on it and bounced on the seat it moved 1/16 of a inch. My wife and I hit a bump that my street glide that we wouldn't think nothing of it. On the trike it threw my wife and I up in the air and off the seat. Her back has been hurting for 3 days now because of it.
If I can't get a softer ride it will have to go.
I have had a few trikes through the years but never had such a bad ride like this on any of my bikes/trikes.
Any ideas on what I can do.
I have checked everything over and over. It's like it is in a bind somewhere.
I tried only 2 of the air shocks set from 40-60lbs. The ride is too soft and bottoms out.

[Sloufoot]

I'm not familiar with Mystery Designs set-up except for what is shown on their web site. BUT they are showing standard suspension set-up as having 4 Progressive air shocks ! Way too much suspension for the weight ! You never mentioned which model you have or the weight. But 4 Progressives !! WOW !!
I don't know how it would work with just one set taken off, because they are not supporting the arms in a center position. Might want to torque the arms a bit. The Harley Tri Glide only uses 2 air shocks. Progressive or stock.
With 4 air shocks on the rear you would be able to adjust, but just a couple pounds change would have a BIG change in the ride. It would be a lot more than thinking double like 1# being the same as 2# in a 2 shock system. Plus you have to deal with the shock reaction itself. The air side is more for the weight than the shock of a bump. Although the air makes it ride rougher or softer, it is like adding leaves or taking out leaves in a leaf spring.
Another thing will give a rough ride is the shock angle with the arms. They seem to be almost straight up & down. If the lower mount on the shocks were closer to the wheels it would have better leverage for a bump absorbing softer ride.
Just a thought,,,,, You can also lower the tire pressure. Helps on most all Trikes. I run 24#- 26# in the rear. Some go as low as 18#.

[John Luciano]

When I talked to the owners of Mystery trikes they Bragged about the rear end. Looked at my DFT told me It was not true IND rear. They have no sway bar.

[dirtdobber]

I have the ISS fender package, no body. Just fenders.
The shocks do swivel at the top.
I sent em a email asking for help again.
The handling of it is out standing. The G force will make you slow down in the curves before the trike needs to. It will eat some curves.
I am going to try a different type of shock.
The Dana rides has been using the Monroe MA785 corvette air shocks. Unlike the Progressive it is a true air shock. They will go down to 9.75 inches and up to 14 inches I think it is. They are low cost and only has 1,100 lbs of lift.

[Sloufoot]

I have the ISS fender package, no body. Just fenders.
The shocks do swivel at the top.
I sent em a email asking for help again.
The handling of it is out standing. The G force will make you slow down in the curves before the trike needs to. It will eat some curves.
I am going to try a different type of shock.
The Dana rides has been using the Monroe MA785 corvette air shocks. Unlike the Progressive it is a true air shock. They will go down to 9.75 inches and up to 14 inches I think it is. They are low cost and only has 1,100 lbs of lift.

That's a great looking trike ! The rear tires give it a great look also good corner handling ,,,, but they don't ride worth a damm. They would ride like a rock ! But you have a problem with enough weight to compress the suspension on that rear end. There looks like enough suspension to hold up at least twice the weight you have.
Like mentioned in another post, his DFT has a sway bar. That also changes things.
The tires on the Tri glide are half the ride. People have changed from stock to a different profile & brand & found a much better ride. The stock tire on them is 205 65R 15.
Just for kicks & grins, find a pair of taller profile tires, say 65 - 70 series, mounted on their own wheels . If you can find the same bolt pattern, & just prove out the ride difference. It will be a BIG difference.
I have a set of 225 50R 18 on my cager. Rides like a chuck wagon ! Wish I could go to another tire, but only one different size for that rim.

[dirtdobber]

This is one of the problems. Can't change tires. Nothing any bigger than a 35/45 series tires won't fit under the fenders.
In fact, you have to take the fenders/wheels off together to get the tire off.
I may look out back to see if I have any wheels that might work. I live in the country so we keep a lot of stuff that most folks won't. I probably have 20 wheels laying out back. I don't recall any 15inch. I have several 14/ and some 17. Only 15 that I can think of is 6 lug.
I made some adjustments yesterday and was able to get it some better. I am okay with it as it is but my wife can't handle it. It is rougher in the back you know.
thank you for your suggestion.

[2Trikez]

Running those 50 series tires leaves no sidewall flex. Four air shocks...come on, but that's what they think is needed for a good ride?

I've ridden trikes with 50, 60, 70, 80 series tires over the years. Using 70/80 series is best overall on most of the trikes kits today. But the Mystery is a different animal. They want "looks" not comfort/ride. And in most cases these "fat tires" are high dollar motorcycle tires (200/300 series). I'd rather have a car tire on car rims on the rear. My back likes the ride/comfort on those all day rides.

2TZ