Making The Switch - Bike to Trike - Great Info!

[duane43344]

I've had my trike since July 2005. Prior to the "real deal" I had a Tow-Pac on a Silverwing and prior to that I had ridden 2-wheels.

I didn't have time to be uncomfortable on the new-to-me trike because we flew to Florida and I immediately got on it to ride it home to California.

First addition - the one inch convex mirrors so I can see the fenders.

What people say about planning on extra time at stops for questions is absolutely true. This last weekend I had someone admit to FOLLOWING me into a gas station to ask questions. That was a first.

We live in an area with lots of curves in the roads. Best advice I ever received was to SLOW DOWN BEFORE the curve and POWER IN the curve. Since there is no lean to the trike it makes life so much easier to be SET for the curve before I get into it. (I probably do this less now, but I still remember how important it was.)

My trike doesn't have an emergency brake so I put the trike in reverse.

It is a good thing I have a large windshield or my teeth would be full of bugs from smiling!

Bro..on a Wing, NEVER EVER use reverse to park!!! Too many have broken the small gear on the starter/reverse gear. ALWAYS put it in 1st gear to park. Will hold MUCH better.

[trikes4ever]

Built my 1st one about 40 years ago - a Lithia Automotive VW 'kit' (piece of pipe with HD neck welded on, 1/4" steel plate at the back to weld to horns, and a metalflake green fiberglass body). Last project (about 8 years ago) was a from scratch VW, started with a Cyclestyle frame - which I loved - totally did away with VW suspension, used coil over shocks). I've spent more time on 3 than 2 over the past 40 years, and ready to go back to 3 this winter.

[trikes4ever]

get the balance rechecked on the tires

Not to hijack this, but I just put on brand new tires last week. Before the change I've had two weights fall off the rear wheel, not to mention how ugly they look when they are on. I investigated Dynabeads and they sounded like a really good idea, so I ordered a few ounces. They are very inexpensive. My indy who mounted the tires had never seen or heard of them. All I can say is that up to 70 mph (as fast as I choose to go) I've experienced absolutely no vibration, and there are no weights either front or rear. You can put them in through the valve stems, so no need to remove the tires - but DO remove the existing weights should you decide to give them a try.

[Smoken'JOE]

Not to hijack this, but I just put on brand new tires last week. Before the change I've had two weights fall off the rear wheel, not to mention how ugly they look when they are on. I investigated Dynabeads and they sounded like a really good idea, so I ordered a few ounces. They are very inexpensive. My indy who mounted the tires had never seen or heard of them. All I can say is that up to 70 mph (as fast as I choose to go) I've experienced absolutely no vibration, and there are no weights either front or rear. You can put them in through the valve stems, so no need to remove the tires - but DO remove the existing weights should you decide to give them a try.

Have to agree.......work like a charm.

[grimm]

Hi guys,
I'm new to the forum, but I've been riding my Harley trike for 3 years now. I am a disabled vet so I have to take my wheelchair with me on the trike. My wife loads the wheelchair on the trike. What I'm looking for, I saw on E-Bay once, but lost it. It is a master cyclinder that controls front and rear brakes from one master cyclinder with two levers attached to the master cyclinder. The master cyclinder is taller than your average master cyclinder. I have a picture of it, but my scanner is broken. Any help in finding this master cyclinder would be appreciated. Thanks

hey bootz,

thought i'd chime in here on this one. i know what you are referring to and i almost went that route.

i have both my brakes linked off of my rear brake master cylinder, but i just used a banjo bolt to link them up. i'm running a braided cable in the front and a standard rubber cable in the back. the reason for this is that the rubber brake line in the rear acts as my antilock brakes. while the front line hits and hits hard, the rear brake line expands just enough to keep the rear from locking up. i've been running this setup since feb '07 and have yet to have any issues with brake failure or lockup.

good luck

grimm

[bullet 10]

hey guys I've been riding a trike for years because of lose of left leg. got shifter converted mechanical to right side behind brake. I am new to forum so you will be hearing me chime in now and then.:yes:

[Loner]

Bootzy,

I suspect that the master cylinder control package that you are wanting to adapt is a dune buggy brake control such as Dune Buggy Dual Straight Handle Cutting Brake, 5/8 Drum Brakes Chirco Performance & Restoration. Those types are made for handle control of the left and right side rear brakes on a dune buggy so you can have additional steering power for quick turns offroad. But seems to me that one would adpat perfectly for your needs to control front and back brakes.

Chirco would be one of the most price competitive suppliers, although many other VW and dune buggy supply houses online should have them as well. I think those are available in different bore sizes (5/8", 3/4", etc.) so that may be something to think about. Although 5/8" is likely going to cover 90% of applications, but if you go with some exotic large calipers on the rear you might need 3/4".

Hope this helps.

[Lucky]

Welcome MT99.You have come to the rite place great folks here.RIDE SAFE

[rdking647]

had a trike for 10 years. first time i rode it home I learned rule #1

Im riding it home and my wife is following me. I get to a turn and start to lean and of course I go straight. My wife was behind me laughing hysterically.

Rule #1 Steer not Lean

[Jenkinsrawhide]

quite a bit of great info. When I was a newbie, I put the bike in neutral while intending to just sit on it and had my left foot on the ground. Ground not being level, bike rolls forward OVER MY FOOT! yOU WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE TWICE. Always look out for the gas pump posts. There have been just a few times I have had to help my Reverse by pushing backwards with my feet, but seldom. Of course it was backing up hill. Should have just turned the bike around and backed down the hill so that I could have taken off easier. A great investment for me was the Walmart cushion. Believe me it sure makes a difference and it was the best twenty bucks I ever spent.

Other things that I have added, whether needed or not, 1. convex mirrors to my regular mirrors. 2. Dyna Beads in all my tires. 3. A cheap GPS that I have yet to use (Ben's Outlet, aprox. 60 bucks). 4. Two of the stainless steel water bottles that I carry in the trunk (on sale at CVS drug stores).5. Air compressor and tire repair plugs.

Just keeping things simple.

[oldchile]

hi.. on my motor trike i pulled left. i leveled the trike and drove straight .

[Maryland Triker]

The mechanic that installed the motortrike kit on my 04 HD ultra gave me my best advice, I told him i had been riding 2 wheelers for about 50 years. He said it would take 3000-5000 miles before i was as comfortable on a trike as was was on 2 and to be aware of the extra width, luckily a full touring bike is kinda wide anyway. I told my riding buddies and they said we've been wanting to go to San Fransico lets do it. Seven of us 4 bikes and 3 trikes took off the week after i picked up my new conversion and headed for SF by way of New Orleans and just as we were getting into California about 3000 miles i realized i felt as comfortable on the trike as on the 2 wheels. You can ride the trike in a hundred miles or so and be used to it but to really be comfortable on it will take a few thousand miles, I've heard 2-wheelers say i rode a trike and did'nt like them. It takes time to get used to a trike think about how long it took to get used to two wheels. After 47000 miles i traded my 04 in for a 2011 HD Tri Glide. <a href="http://md1trikers.org/" target="_blank">Welcome to www.md1trikers.org</a>

[Maryland Triker]

I found that for a more comfortable ride with the boss i would lower the rear tires air pressure to 18 and when touring i put 25psi in for better gas milage on my 04 with motortrike kit. I haven't played with the psi on the Tri Glide yet.

[Rev Ray]

My two cents,Be sure you continue to wear your helmet,
We made trip this past july tru mountains & a rock fell
hitting top of my helmet knocking a chunk out of it,also
felt like I had whiplash for about two weeks after.You would
not believe the sound it makes,as your eyes cross & your wife
sitting behind you panics.

[bdsnooks]

I got tired (and sore) of falling over and triked my bike in 2008.
First time out was a little hair raising 'till I got the hang of it---
Been riding since 1961 and getting just too puny now!

Colin AKA "bdsnooks"

[oldman]

The best way to learn to ride your trike is get out and ride. The more you ride the more you learn

[DanDolfn]

Thanks for this topic! I've got a trike on order and I've been searching the internet for suggestions on trike riding.

When I first got my bike, I found all kinds of stuff on countersteering, braking, etc, that was helpful, but there doesn't seem to be much out there at all in the way of instructions/tips on riding trikes.

[model28a]

I don't know if anyone has posted this before but it has some good info.in it.
I hope the link comes up.If not you can copy and past the add..
http://thetrinitytrike.com/downloads...cycleTrike.pdf

[macmike100]

I'm a new rider also. These tips are great. Keep'em coming! I especially like the improvised parking brake that doesn't rely on the gears. I tried one of those little bungies with the ball on it on the front brake lever. It works like gangbusters. I now keep a few in my glove box for the parking situations that need it. I also keep one plastic wheel chock in the trunk. I just reach over and bungie the brake...then open the trunk and chock a wheel. Like I said, keep these trike tips coming.

I'm all ears. You cats have much to teach us beginners.<br />
2008 GL1800 Honda CSC Trike.

[dirty ike]

If your a new trike rider and nervous about the trike handeling and your riding in a group with bikes just ride at the back of the pack because the bikes will dictate the speed in the curves and you won't have a problem at there speed--just don't run them over. The best part about the back of the pack is the sound of all those v-twins piped to the nuts throttling up out of the corners , and at the first stop you can tell all the peg dragers your pegs never even got close to the asphalt. Oh yeah this is old but true don't honk at that cow on the side of the road---unless you like your beef really rare.<br />
Ride safe