Making The Switch - Bike to Trike - Great Info!

[SCHDTRIKE]

Will do.

[Ozarkryder]

Again for new trikers - something I never noticed that my wife brought to my attention. She was getting thrown around on a very uneven road, I didn't notice it near as much.

On a 2 wheeler you may get some pitch - a see-saw action along the direction of travel. If you watch motorcross it is very obvious. On a trike there is also a lateral axis we deal with when one wheel hits a bump different from the one on the other side. This causes the trike to roll side to side. If you ride against a backrest (as Gloria was doing) you also can be tossed side to side, and to a lesser extent, fore and aft. The trick is to let the trike move under you while your body stays upright. The trike piviots under you with the "hinge point" at the seat to sadde interface. She was keeping her back hard against the rest and that was tossing her sideways. She now (and I seem to always have - didn't think about this until she brought it up) sits lightly against the backrest on rough roads and lets the trike move around under her. Hope that makes sense.

[John Luciano]

Good point also keep a looser arm tension on the bars or you will feel it in your arms as the front wheel tosses side to side. Pot holes in New England can really get you moving and shaking. With the 2 wheeler it was easier to miss them

[Goldwingtrike]

Not to argue with everyone - but........

-Keep that front wheel in the middle of your lane.
Really, right in all that oil, grease and dirt?

If I am the second bike, I ride with my front tire to the right of the center of my lane. That puts my right rear tire just about 4 to six inches from the right side line. And gives the appearance of riding in a staggered format. Most two wheelers still have enough room to get around me if they need to.

If I am the Odd number bike I ride with front tire to the left of the center of the lane.

Also, I know the aqua-shields on my Motor-Trike will catch on speed bumps, medium rocks ect.

My TriKing and Lehman had this problem, but the Roadsmith has not encountered that.

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

Good idea on any vehicle you drive

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

Read the article in the May 2009 issue of Wing World concerning this. On the Goldwing the reverse is not part of the tranny, it is electrical – not a problem until you go out and you battery is dead.

SLOW DOWN BEFORE the curve and POWER IN the curve.

This all depends on the curve, most 35 mph curve I hit at 37-40, come out running 45-50

This what I am trying to explain - AND... If you follow a line through the apex, (Like we were all taught in MSF classes) you will barely have to move the handlebars

Or slow down

After you become more familiar with the trike and are riding with a group of 2 wheelers in the twisties take care that you do not run over them in the turns.

On Planned Rides, I have started to have my Road Captain put the two wheelers to the rear thru the twistees. At first they were offended until they got tired of seeing us trikeys in their rear view mirrors. Now the Tailgunner likes all the trikes up front so that he can see us. For some unknown reason he thinks we block his view of the two wheelers.

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Has anyone found a slight vibration in the front end at high speeds only if you have a passenger aboard with you. I notice that yesterday doing about 70 to 75mph with the wife on the bike for the first time.

I just thought it was a vibration – it was wifey humming.

Most noticable for me, was the tire wear.You gotta pay attention to your tire pressures,mostly the front.

I have Bridgestone BT 45 rear tire on the front, mounted so that it rolls in reverse rotation, it has approx 17,500 miles on it, and is just starting to cup. I am going to try to squeeze another 5k out of it. I run 41 lbs of air pressure in it all times.

________________________________________
I joined as a charter member Of TRI back in 2000 I think. Got the patch and everything . Dropped out when the Mag got so small and uninformative.

Me too

Again for new trikers - something I never noticed that my wife brought to my attention. She was getting thrown around on a very uneven road, I didn't notice it near as much.

On a 2 wheeler you may get some pitch - a see-saw action along the direction of travel. If you watch motorcross it is very obvious. On a trike there is also a lateral axis we deal with when one wheel hits a bump different from the one on the other side. This causes the trike to roll side to side. If you ride against a backrest (as Gloria was doing) you also can be tossed side to side, and to a lesser extent, fore and aft. The trick is to let the trike move under you while your body stays upright. The trike piviots under you with the "hinge point" at the seat to sadde interface. She was keeping her back hard against the rest and that was tossing her sideways. She now (and I seem to always have - didn't think about this until she brought it up) sits lightly against the backrest on rough roads and lets the trike move around under her. Hope that makes sense.

Good advice, we did not have to “unlearn” since we never rode a two wheeler.


If you got this far reading my longwinded and copied post, thanks. My wife and I have never ridden a two wheeler together (she owned a Honda PC for about two years, put a little over 2k miles on it). All of my experience (all 145,000 miles of it) has been on a Trike. I really can not believe it can be anymore fun on a two wheeler, but then again, I have no way of comparing.

Garland

[John Luciano]

Great I enjoyed reading that. Newbies should get a lot out of it. THANKS

[Juju]

-Keep that front wheel in the middle of your lane.
Really, right in all that oil, grease and dirt?
If I am the second bike, I ride with my front tire to the right of the center of my lane. That puts my right rear tire just about 4 to six inches from the right side line. And gives the appearance of riding in a staggered format. Most two wheelers still have enough room to get around me if they need to.
If I am the Odd number bike I ride with front tire to the left of the center of the lane.

First addition - the one inch convex mirrors so I can see the fenders.
Good idea on any vehicle you drive

After you become more familiar with the trike and are riding with a group of 2 wheelers in the twisties take care that you do not run over them in the turns.

Garland

Some VERY useful info there--thanks GWT!
I had been thinking about some of these things myself, like not wanting to ride with my front wheel right in that greasy patch at mid-lane and thinking about a way to keep an eye on rear fenders. I'll check into the little convex mirrors.

Also, now that the Chief and I are riding together--he on his 2-wheeler, me on my trike--I HAVE noticed that I have to watch that I don't come around and out of the curves faster than he does. Of course, I'm still learning, and it's fortunate during this learning period that we live in Florida. As they say, Tail of the Dragon: 11 miles, 318 curves; Florida: 318 miles, 11 turns.

Thanks to all for all the helpful info posted on this thread!

[grey_ghost]

I would like to solicit the help of you veteran trike owners who don't mind sharing your experiences and knowledge with novice trikers. Please share your stories and advice with those making the switch from bike to trike. Safety, group riding protocol, touring are a few suggested threads.

Thanks!

for an old man like me (68) it is the only way to go.
grey-ghost

[Ironhorsepilot]

For all you experienced Trike Riders....I have a hard time with the left curve in the road. Mainly because I am still a little intimidated with getting too close to the outside (shoulder) side of the road upon entering the curve. And that is because the crown in the road makes me feel like I am going into the ditch. Hubby fusses at me all the time about this! Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Goldwingtrike]

quote from Ironhorsepilot:

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For all you experienced Trike Riders....I have a hard time with the left curve in the road. Mainly because I am still a little intimidated with getting too close to the outside (shoulder) side of the road upon entering the curve. And that is because the crown in the road makes me feel like I am going into the ditch. Hubby fusses at me all the time about this! Any suggestions? Thanks!

Just let him fuss. Like I have posted before, I had never ever even been on a motorcycle let alone ride one. When I first started riding I rode in a group of two wheelers, there weren't many trikes around. Any way I was soon ready to get rid of that shoulder killer!!!! The first trike a Tri-King DID NOT have a rake on it at all!!!!!!! Well, I got to thinking (wifey says that's a dangerous thing) if I was driving a car how would I handle the curves??? After watching a Formula One race one Sunday afternoon I had my answer - the only problem.... and you figured out real quick what that is - it feels and looks like you are going to run straight off the road before you hit the apex of the curve. But guess what my fair lady, you won't. For the first few hundred or so curves, take them slow and easy, but take them as if you were running a 100 mph - get the feel of the trike as she bites into the curve, you will feel her rear end kinda squat as the force pushes her to the outside, then you take over and master or in your case mistress it through the apex. In no time you will be honking her horn at Hubby and his slow poke highway peg dragging two wheeler to either pullover or get out of a real bikes way!!!!

Garland

[Ozarkryder]

Goldwingtrike comments:
Not to argue with everyone - but........

-Keep that front wheel in the middle of your lane.
Really, right in all that oil, grease and dirt?

Seeing as I wrote it, I'll stand by it. As long as the statement immediatly before is included:
For new trikers, especially those coming from a 2 wheeler, a few tips:

For someone used to straightening out the corners on a 2 wheeler, and to a slightly lesser extent to a brand new triker, it is better to keep the front wheel in the middle of the lane. The finesse will come quickly, a few hundred miles or so, but while the learning curve is still steep, keep it simple, front wheel down the middle. Truth be told, a raw newbie will most likely wander around enough that the wheel isn't right in the center of the lane much at all.

Garland also says:

On Planned Rides, I have started to have my Road Captain put the two wheelers to the rear thru the twistees. (Snip some out)

This is common practice everywhere I have been on group rides. The most heard reason is the one about not being able to see oncoming traffic around a trike, of traffic not seeing bikes behind trikes.(Doesn't hold water - can't see around a car or truck either) The reason that made the most sense to me is that trikes can stop quicker because they have more braking surface and more rubber on the road, so it's safer the have them in the rear.

Ironhorsepilot writes:
For all you experienced Trike Riders....I have a hard time with the left curve in the road. Mainly because I am still a little intimidated with getting too close to the outside (shoulder) side of the road upon entering the curve. (Snip) Any suggestions? Thanks!

Pretty natural at first - it's called "Edge Fear". The cure is experience. Here is the prescription: Get out and ride as much as possible. :yes: That may be a bitter pill to swallow, but it must be done. I'm sure you can handle it.

[BlueTrinity]

Joan,

Beyond all the correct technical answers here, remember what hubby learned long ago and you've seen him do for ages. "Look where you want to go, not where you are".

Nothing is more intimidating that looking at the edge of the edge of the road you're worrying about. Unfortunately, it's just human nature, but our neuro-sensors assume you want to go toward what you are concentrating on, even though your brain is screaming “don’t go there”.

I teach motivation techniques and an illustration that I frequently use works here too.

It’s sort of like a coach telling his pitcher “Now you can this guy out, just pitch him low and inside. He’s a sucker for that pitch and even if he connects, the best he can do is pop it up.” So the pitcher concentrates, does just that and strikes out the batter.

But, if the coach tells the pitcher “whatever you do, don’t give him a high outside pitch or he’ll hit it out of the park”; guess what the pitcher is concentrating on, where he’s most likely to pitch the ball what the batter does with it.

As Yogi Berra once said “90% of this game is mental…the other half is physical.”

Good Luck and Happy Trikin'

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I bought our Trike in 06 and we just love it.
I have bad knees from years of working and it's the answer to my problem.

[Ironhorsepilot]

Ozark....That is what I do...keep my wheel in the center. That is where I like it. Now when I am going into a right curve, not a problem, I ride the apex with no problem.

Dave, you are right....I do look at that shoulder. BAD.....

[Mr.Wizard]

First is to get on the trike so you can ride so... For me it was how to get on and off without kicking the fenders.

I can't remember who told me this but it was someone from this site and I've been asked why I mount that way even by dealer salesmen. Now they are teaching the new owners of the Tri Glide this way. It's funny how a good suggestion goes a very long way.

So, thank you to whom ever you are! :yes:


To Mount a Trike:

1. Put down the passenger floor boards.

2. From the left side of your trike step on your front floor board or peg with your right foot.

3. Hold on to your left grip with your left hand.

4. Stand up on your right foot and step back with your left foot placing it on the passenger floor board.

5. Place your right hand on the right grip.

6.

With the weight on your left foot, lift your right foot up and over the tank/seat.

7. Place your right foot on the right front floor board and take your seat.


To dismount:

1. Reverse your process above but the first move is to put your left heal/foot on the passenger floor board.

2. Stand up holding on to both grips.

3. Lift your right foot over the tank/seat and walk off the trike.


For the Passenger:

1. The Passenger gets on first and off last.

2. Follow the same rules for mounting the trike except the passenger holds on to the sissy bar or tour pack instead of the grips.

3. Passenger places right foot on right passenger floor board and takes a seat. Passenger will adjust for the riders backrest by stepping over it or laying it forward.

4. Passenger dismounts in a similar fashion and walks off the trike.


Again, thank you for this lesson.

It has saved many hours of buffing and scratch repair since I have metal tips toe tips on my riding boots!

-dave

[Ozarkryder]

reksul writes:
First is to get on the trike so you can ride so... For me it was how to get on and off without kicking the fenders.
I can't remember who told me this but it was someone from this site and I've been asked why I mount that way even by dealer salesmen. Now they are teaching the new owners of the Tri Glide this way. It's funny how a good suggestion goes a very long way.
So, thank you to whom ever you are!

I taught my wife how to mount up that way. You broke it down better than I did, and others contrubuted too. In fact, Dave, you started the thread -

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harle...-not-rest.html

And you are right, other people see the method and understand it is an easy way to get on and off, and avoid nasty fender scuffs.

[Mr.Wizard]

Well, there ya go.. mystery solved.

Thanks Don.. it may travel the world a couple of times.

[Mutton & Sweetie]

Hello

Personally I step over my seat with my right leg then sit down.

I tooK the BRC in May of 2004 to get my license. We got our trike back at then end of May. A friend had loaned us his trike for the month of May so we would know how to ride a trike when we got ours. Great friend huh? We did get him a gift certificate to the Harley shop, as he was riding his harley and not the trike at that time.

Anyway, later that year(Sept.) we went to a Motorcycle rally at Opryland in Nashville. We took our first trike course then. One of the best things I have done. We took our second course in 2006 in Murfreesboro.

If you get a chance take a trike course.. You practice curves, breaking etc.
one of the things they made us do was drive in a circle and accelerate until we lifted one wheel off the ground. What you find out is that all power to the rear is lost while a wheel is off the ground, you therefore slow down and the trike returns to the ground.

Hopes this helps

[John Luciano]

1 video is worth a 1,000,000 words
YouTube - Getting onto a TRIKE motorcycle

[ben721364]

1 video is worth a 1,000,000 words
YouTube - Getting onto a TRIKE motorcycle

This is the way I do it. However, as someone pointed out, it isn't necessary with a cruiser based trike (low seat) especially if not equipped with running boards.

[Mr.Wizard]

1 video is worth a 1,000,000 words
YouTube - Getting onto a TRIKE motorcycle

Bingo.. now that's what I'm talking about!