Basic Trike Questions

[Jolie]

This is my first trike and first bike I'm responsible for. Previously my exs took care of the bikes and I just rode. I don't plan on getting a bf just to take care of my trike LOL and want to be as independent as I can.

It's a Suzuki Boulevard C50 Lehman Tramp. I know before each ride I should check the tires and tire pressures, check the oil, check to make sure all the lights and signals are working. I'm sure this is posted somewhere here but if anyone can give me a little help I'd truly appreciate it. What pressure should my tires be? I have a digital gauge. I'm sure the oil has a mark line like a car and I should ask the dealer what type of oil. Any basic knowledge you can send my way please do. I know you guys are giggling but I do catch on quickly and I don't want to be a PITA (pain in the xxx) to experienced riders. I have my parking lots scoped out already for practice on the trike and I'm sticking very close to home very small town and will branch out after I feel more comfortable. I've been reading reading reading everything and watching videos until its warm and I know its much different than 2 wheels. Definitely doing the trike safety course this year.

Thanks for any info you can pass my way.

 

[Lucky]

Welcome glad you joined us. I run 41 front/22 rear,but that is a wing/roadsmith. Hope someone with experience with your bike will have more info. Parking lot doing figure 8's is great practice. Start big and get smaller as you go. RIDE SAFE

 

[jackthemachinist]

I run 40# in the front tire and 26# in the rears.

I run Delo 15-40 oil in my Japanese bikes and Valvoline 20-50 Racing oil in my Harleys. But you can't go too far wrong using whatever the dealer recommends.

To me, the biggest difference in riding a trike, other than not putting your feet down, is that if you go into a corner too fast on a bike, you can lean it over further. With a trike, it will just "push" or slide to the outside (into the opposing lane or off the shoulder). Start by going with the speed warning signs until you get the feel.

And practice, practice, practice.

Riding a trike is certainly different than riding a bike, but the aroma of wind in your face on a fresh spring day is exactly the same.

 

[cavie]

Your C-50 doesn't have a dip stick. It has a sight glass on the lower right side about the size of a quarter. Just make sure it's between the lines. 10-30, 20-40 will do.

 

[pcombe]

Don't sweat asking questions on this forum, we want you to be knowledgeable ,safe and happy!


(See the post im impressed in the Suzuki/ Kawasaki thread ok?)



To the best of my remembrance there is a sight glass at the bottom of the motor to show oil level?

(Always, ALWAYS) run your trike in a gear where it is constantly pulling) to help hold down on head shake on the front end. If you get into a situation where you experience head shake a little throttle will bring it out of it. ( a little breaking action will do it also) It will also increase control when cornering because you have the power to accelerate and the gear ratio to help slow you down if you miss judge your speed going into a corner or if you find a corner with a decreasing radius as you will find in mountain riding.

The trike is an exercise in ( push/ pull) steering, when cornering learn to keep the elbow stiff on the side your pushing on and hug the tank with your opposite knee, this will cut down on fatigue. and keep you from feeling your being thrown off the seat. Also learn to shift your bum on the seat when cornering to help in that effect ok? I will help you plant your foot more solidly on the floor board/peg etc.

40lbs of air in the front tire will hold down on side flex in the tire and help your steering, it will also do allot to prevent wind from messing with you.

A normal front tire wont last very long on a trike so the next time you buy a front tire look at the tire size (on the side of the tire) and purchase a ( rear tire) the exact same size as your current front.
have it mounted opposite rotation than what the arrow on the tire indicates and you will get an incredible amount of mileage out of it.
Consider this? A normal rear tire is made of allot harder rubber than a normal front motorcycle tire and since you no longer lean into a corner you wont need side tire flex anymore. Make sense?
It may make your front end feel like it hits a bump a little harder but the trade if is worth it! It handles rain etc. just as well so don't let anyone B.S. you about that all right?

I run 26 lbs. in my rear car type tires. Understand that running the rear tires at a lower pressure than what it says on the tire sidewall is actually a part of your suspension system and make your trike ride better. I wouldn't go any lower than 22 lbs. myself for fear of the tire breaking the bead and go flat?
Always make sure the rear lug nuts are set at 100 lbs. torque. This really is important so make SURE.

The c-50 with a leman tramp is a great little scooter, very responsive, corners well and has a pretty good ride. It keeps up with my 80" inch. Harley engine just fine.
If I were to get a trike for my wife I would defiantly put this one in my garage.

The one I rode belongs to my friends wife and it has been the most maintenance friendly bike over the course of years I have seen in some time.
Your trike is only as good as the integrity of the one who built it so have it checked by a (trike competent mechanic) if you purchased it used ok?

 

[Jolie]

Thank you for all the info! I appreciate it. As you can see I'm so bored waiting for warm weather I'm wondering/learning about every little thing about the trike.

 

[03VolusiaTrike]

Welcome to TrikeTalk Jolie from south of Chicago. My wife and I have a 2003 C50 Lehman Trike. I have made some mods to it for extra safety and comfort. We love this trike. As for tire pressure I have found that 40 front and a mix of 23 left and 25 right in rear. This helps compensate for the crown of our roads. Check out my pics in my albums. Ride safe and enjoy the view.

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome, I'm really new to trikes too ... Dec 6th 2014 ... but we've been blessed with a very mild winter ... I've got 2000 miles on my 2015 Tri Glide .. Lots of info here ... you will Love the trike.