Should I stay or should I go?

[dadorfman]

Neither my wife nor I felt comfortable riding 2-up on the C50. Bought the trike used to see if she would like riding as a passenger on the trike. After ~3K miles and numerous modifications to suit her ergonomics, she does not enjoy riding the trike. The reason for buying the trike was an experiment to see if we would both enjoy riding the trike. I was prepared to flip it if she didn't enjoy riding with me.

As for me, I like the added stability on sand and gravel, but the push-pull steering got old real fast. It is so much easier to steer by leaning on a bike. Skyline Drive in Shenandoah was real work, not fun. Right now, I can afford to keep both trike and bike, but can't ride both enough to justify keeping either one. I learned to ride a bike at 58, bought the trike a year ago and have put around 3K miles on it. Stability is a real issue, especially at slow speed. How much would I regret flipping the trike?

Thanks for letting me rant.

[Rosy]

Getting older will tell you to flip the bike and keep the trike. Your knee and other joins will tell you soon enough, we had enough!
But, if you are young and full of energy, flip the trike. Us Boomers, love our trikes and we will never let them go!

Rosy

[cavie]

C50 is too small for 2 up riding. Rent a HD for a weekend and give it a try. 1300 is about a small as you can go. Put your wife on an HD or a Wing and you'll never go back. Night and day difference. Any trike needs a rake kit on the steering. Something I assume your didn't have on the C50. that's why you didn't like the push pull. Rake kit is power steering.

[rhino 2]

Tough decision, 6 years ago I traded in my VTX 1800 for a Trike [63 at the time], Within 3 months I missed riding two wheels, So I always keep a two wheeler in the garage, Just can't get riding a bike out of my blood, Long rides , bad weather I trike.. Nice weather local rides I two wheel... My advice keep both....

[Rick Kay]

Like Rhino2 said, if you are able to do it, keep the bike and the trike. I still ride my 2 wheeler as much as I am able, but really enjoy the trike, especially when physical limitations come in to play.

[rmrc51]

Cavie made a good point! Try riding a longer wheel-based unit like a Hannigan or Roadsmith. I'm sure your wife will feel much more comfortable along with you finding those units much easier to steer through the twisties.

And there's no getting away from our bodies telling us it's time to re-consider balancing and holding up a 2 wheeler. We're all different, but the time eventually comes for all of us. That's when the trike will enable you to stay in the wind longer!

[slick rick]

Another option would be to leave her at home ,,, of course a happy wife is a happy life ,,,just saying . I to don't care for the push pull steering but for the peace of mind I'll keep my trike , not to mention the safety factor .

[DTR 11TG]

I didn't know what a C50 was so I googled C50 and this is the first pic that I saw.



There was no brand name or pic in the post, but surely this is not what was triked. If it was I can see why you had complaints!

[rhino 2]

I didn't know what a C50 was so I googled C50 and this is the first pic that I saw.



There was no brand name or pic in the post, but surely this is not what was triked. If it

Different bike,
The c50 is a Suzuki 805cc V twin 45 degree, Not the strongest bike in Suzuki's line up.

[cavie]

2003 Suzuki Volusia. Became C50 in 2005. Great for one up siding in town and back roads, comes up short on the super slab.

[rtotten]

If nothing else works, try a Spyder very stable. I love mine. Good luck with your search

[Trail Blazer]

do your self a favor get hold of a goldwing trike with easy steer and take you wife for a ride. you will not be leave the difference. she will think she is in a rocking chair. don't over do it, stop ever hr. or so and walk around. I will bet she will like it and want one so you will have to sell both and by a wing

[DTR 11TG]

rhino 2 & cavie, thanks for that info about a C50

[jaxbobg]

I had a Suzi/Lehman trike some years ago and it just didn't have enough engine or weight for longer road trips. Upgraded to a BMW/Hannigan and now have a Goldwing/Roadsmith.

Sounds like your problems are two-fold. First off - push/pull steering is a lot less stressful on twisty roads than opposed leaning IF (and only IF) you have a 4 to 6 degree rake on your trike (big difference!!).

Second - wife is unhappy because the pillion seat is too small, too hard, too close to the driver's seat, etc. For a fact, my favorite grand-daughter hated riding backseat on the Suzuki, and now can't get enough road time on the BMW and Honda cruisers.

For what it's worth.

[Chazzman]

Maybe sell both and consider a different Trike. I went on a 550 mile ride crossed 5 mountains, taking in the Dragon Tail as well, at least 1000 curves and my Goldwing Viper preformed and handled flawless. This was a day ride, I wasn't tired at all from the turns.

After riding 2 wheels for over 40 years I would not go back to 2 wheels.

[ride3]

Well, after ann 1100 mile tripe my wife was still smiling....Thats including spending 2 straight full days with me...

A seriously comfortable ride for both

[dadorfman]

All good advice and I thank all of you for that. My wife won't feel comfortable with anything less than a cage around her. As for another model trike, I can't come up with the extra cash, even if I could get a great price for Ms. Suzi Lehman. I will look into changing the rake, though.

[jaxbobg]

Here is what you need to keep in mind - most (not all) women are cautious by nature and not risk-takers. My wife wouldn't ride on the 2 wheelers I owned and complained about my road trips (I mean it was really cold in the bedroom sometimes)

When back and leg problems finally gave me a choice of no more riding or get a trike, I got a trike - holy crap - the wife loves it and the heater is now on (I suppose you guys know what I mean).

[FRR]

From what I understand your wife doesn't want to ride at all. With that being the case, continue to ride if you really enjoy it. Life is too short, and some of us are too close to the end, not to do what we enjoy the most. She loves ya, right? Then she will want you to enjoy a hobby that brings you pleasure.

We only get to do this thing called life once. We, as a group, have sacrificed for raising the family, paying for college, paying our bills and getting out of debt. It is now time to do what we enjoy, even if others do not enjoy the same. Just my IMHO

[dadorfman]

Re-read Lehman's FAQs and the Owner Manual. I've been inflating the rear tires according to Suzuki's C90 instructions, not Lehman's Jackal instructions. Suzuki recommends 36 psi. Lehman recommends 26 psi. The last time I brought the bike in for service, the Suzuki/Lehman dealer returned it to me with the higher pressure. The higher psi causes a stiff sidewall, leading to head shake and harder steering. I will try the lower pressure and report back.