Motor Trike Air Suspension Air Bag Replacement

[bayoudave]

Mine are on the way

I ordered a set from Airbagit yesterday. Hope to get them in by first of next week and get them put on.

Can't wait to see the difference. Wife complains that the ride is a little too rough.

I will post when I get results.

 

[bassfisher]

Well, I screwed up on my airbags - had a hole rubbed on the side of one of the new ones that I installed (I suspect that it was from the raised letters on the tire - previous owner had them installed with the raised letters on the inside of the tire). Now, I'll have to order two new ones (the other old one will now become a spare) its cheaper to order two than just one because of the shipping.

As there is no room to increase the distance from the tire, I will have the raised letters moved to the outside of the rim. I will also make a a protective sleeve (sheet alum.) around the new bags.

Overall I was very satisified with the new air shocks.

 

[3W-lonerider]

Well, I screwed up on my airbags - had a hole rubbed on the side of one of the new ones that I installed (I suspect that it was from the raised letters on the tire - previous owner had them installed with the raised letters on the inside of the tire). Now, I'll have to order two new ones (the other old one will now become a spare) its cheaper to order two than just one because of the shipping.

As there is no room to increase the distance from the tire, I will have the raised letters moved to the outside of the rim. I will also make a a protective sleeve (sheet alum.) around the new bags.

Overall I was very satisified with the new air shocks.

if your tires are close to needing replaced you could go down a width. like from a 215 to a 205 or from a 225 to a 215.
or you could always grind those raised letters down with a file. I'd check and see if you have the same clearance on both sides if not your rear may be slightly off center. and that can be adjusted with the centering rod in behind the trunk.

when I first had mine built it was way off center by about an inch. I had to center it then shift the body to match it then. which isn't as hard as it sounds.

 

[bayoudave]

Install Today

I got the new airbags and will finally get to install them today. Since my last post I had to have foot surgery and am just now able to walk enough to get to the shop to do the install and ride (took my first ride yesterday since April). I Can't wait to see the difference. I will post this afternoon when the job is finished and I have had a few miles on it.

 

[cjmitch]

I got the new airbags and will finally get to install them today. Since my last post I had to have foot surgery and am just now able to walk enough to get to the shop to do the install and ride (took my first ride yesterday since April). I Can't wait to see the difference. I will post this afternoon when the job is finished and I have had a few miles on it.

We stand ready and waiting!!!!

 

[bayoudave]

Results

Ok, got the new air bags put on. A lot easier than I expected. Remove the wheels, unhook the air line one bolt on the bottom and one nut on the top. Biggest problem was the nut on the top. The nut has rounded shoulders (not sure why anyone would make a nut like that) so my socket kept slipping. Not that tight so I got on it with a pair of pliers and turned the whole air bag with my hand and removed them both. Put the new bags on and hooked up the air and then replace the wheels. Made a big difference in the ride.

I had a small leak before the change (I had hopes that it was a bag) but it is still there so I will order new line and fittings and replace them and stop the leaks. Oh, I ordered a set of air bags and they never came (never got an email conformation or shipping notice and they never charged my account so I figured something happened to the order) so I called and ordered over the phone.

They sent them right on.

A couple of days later I was moving my trailer and saw a box on the fender. Opened it up and it was a set of air bags.

Seems they were shipped with no indication from the company. Not sure why the UPS guy would leave a box on a trailer instead of putting it on the porch like usual. So, now I have an extra set. Don't know what I will do with them but I have them. I guess they will go on the shelf with the rest of the bike stuff I don't know what I will ever do with. Anyway, if you haven't changed air bags you need to do it. Easy change that will make a world of difference in the way your trike rides.

 

[bassfisher]

Well, the good and bad news Air bags are working great, but I have carved up the inside sidewalls of my rear tires, so now have to go buy some new rears. Im running a 235/60R15. What would the next tire size down be to stop the rubbing/carving up? Luckly, I/m still able to ride my 07 VTX1300 (just two wheels) lol


Thanks

 

[Gold Rush]

Well, the good and bad news Air bags are working great, but I have carved up the inside sidewalls of my rear tires, so now have to go buy some new rears. Im running a 235/60R15. What would the next tire size down be to stop the rubbing/carving up? Luckly, I/m still able to ride my 07 VTX1300 (just two wheels) lol Thanks

You could go to a 215/65/R15. That would give you a tire about 3/4 inch narrower..

 

[Ol' Man Jeb]

A couple of days later I was moving my trailer and saw a box on the fender. Opened it up and it was a set of air bags.

Seems they were shipped with no indication from the company. Not sure why the UPS guy would leave a box on a trailer instead of putting it on the porch like usual.

Only The Shadow knows what lurks in the minds of UPS men. I had been waiting for parts to arrive for what seemed like forever. Then one day, I happened to be out mowing and noticed there was a package by the door of an empty house next door and when I investigated, there was MY package all rain soaked with barely legible address label. Fortunately, contents were unharmed.

 

[cjmitch]

You could go to a 215/65/R15. That would give you a tire about 3/4 inch narrower..

When you get those narrower tires its going to seem like a new vehicle

 

[Trikindan]

When you get those narrower tires its going to seem like a new vehicle

Does a narrow tire affect stability or handling in any negative manner?

If a Trike rides better and handles better with a narrow tire, why doesn't the Manufactures put them on as Standard?

Inquiring minds need to know.

 

[Gold Rush]

Does a narrow tire affect stability or handling in any negative manner?

If a Trike rides better and handles better with a narrow tire, why doesn't the Manufactures put them on as Standard?

Inquiring minds need to know.

To be honest Dan I did not notice any difference in handling between the OEM and 215/65R15 tires.

My '06 Motor Trike Adventure was fantastic in the twisties and on the interstate with both tires. The two reasons I did not go with Motor Trike with the 2015 was I wanted to have a little smoother ride and the design of Roadsmith's HTS 1800 kit is PERFECT for the GL1800 40th Anniversary two-tone paint scheme.

 

[cjmitch]

Does a narrow tire affect stability or handling in any negative manner?
If a Trike rides better and handles better with a narrow tire, why doesn't the Manufactures put them on as Standard?

they have.....
MOST manufacturers HAVE switched to 215, or 205 tires.
they did it quietly about a year ago.
I walked around wing ding and quietly measured tires, and most I saw on Gl1800 conversions had switched

I asked one of the manufacturers, and the reason he gave (without actually saying) was that the narrower tires stay on the ground better in water. Less hydroplaning, and better gas mileage.

 

[Trikindan]

they have.....
MOST manufacturers HAVE switched to 215, or 205 tires.
they did it quietly about a year ago.
I walked around wing ding and quietly measured tires, and most I saw on Gl1800 conversions had switched

I asked one of the manufacturers, and the reason he gave (without actually saying) was that the narrower tires stay on the ground better in water. Less hydroplaning, and better gas mileage.

That makes sense.:Agree:

 

[bassfisher]

Update to my problem - I put new rubber on the Big Blue girl - 215/60-R15s So far, so good. Plenty of clearance. Ride is about the same. Being the cheap guy I am, i went to Wally World and got Douglas' for $58 each. Brought the tires and wheels in and got an oil change for my car at the same time. AS for gas milage, cant tell you yet. I figure two-three tanks of gas will tell me. My last set of tires had over 40K miles on them and still had lots of rubber - Im hoping that these wil lgo as far or farther. Now to play with the air pressure in them, currently they are running at 32 psi.

 

[Gold Rush]

Update to my problem - I put new rubber on the Big Blue girl - 215/60-R15s So far, so good. Plenty of clearance. Ride is about the same. Being the cheap guy I am, i went to Wally World and got Douglas' for $58 each. Brought the tires and wheels in and got an oil change for my car at the same time. AS for gas milage, cant tell you yet. I figure two-three tanks of gas will tell me. My last set of tires had over 40K miles on them and still had lots of rubber - Im hoping that these wil lgo as far or farther. Now to play with the air pressure in them, currently they are running at 32 psi.

Did you really put 60 series tires back on or was that a typo? The 215/60-R15 has considerable smaller diameter then the OEM tire. The 215/65-R15 is very close to the original diameter. Will make a big difference in indicated speed and actual RPM at true speed..

235/60 (OEM) is 26.1" 215/60 is 25.16" 215/65 is 26" :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[bassfisher]

Yes, I put on 215/60-R15s. So far no bad points at all to see or feel on the ride. As far as a change in the indicated sped, I see no difference. My speedo and GPS are in synch. RPM is staying the same as before at speed. If anything, MPG is improving a little.

 

[Gold Rush]

Yes, I put on 215/60-R15s. So far no bad points at all to see or feel on the ride. As far as a change in the indicated sped, I see no difference. My speedo and GPS are in synch. RPM is staying the same as before at speed. If anything, MPG is improving a little.

Interesting.... Hey, if it is working for you and you are happy - all is good. Please let us know how things are in a couple months. I have a friend needing new air bags so that will be a winter project I'm sure..

Ride Safe.... :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[3W-lonerider]

progress report on new air bags after over 10,000 miles on them. when i installed these new air bags i left the shock settings the way they were, on the middle setting. figuring they had to be there for support. a couple of weeks ago i got the idea why not let the bags do what they are supposed to do and let the shocks do what they were meant to do. which couldn’t happen with the old bags because i don't think the old bags were big enough to handle the varying road conditions.

so a couple of weeks ago i set my shocks on the lowest setting.with the shocks at mid setting i was running 18 psi 2-up and 13 psi 1-up. now with the shocks on the lowest setting I’m running 22 psi 2-up and 15 psi 1 up. what a huge difference in ride. the bags are handling the road conditions while the shocks are only there to dampen the bumps and ridges.

i'm very happy with the new set up.
one thing i did find though and i think another member found it before me. is the new bags slightly rub the rear end housing. what i done to cure this was take a die grinder with a metal cutting bit and egg the mounting hole out 1/4 inch towards the rear of the trike. when i remounted the bag it no longer makes contact with the rear housing.

i'm very satisfied with this set-up. and I’ll defiantly be keeping it this way. plus a couple of days ago i installed the new style drive shaft. heres my opinion on it. motortrike deffinatly nailed it on this one. for the last year everytime iv'e hit a hump in the road. especially on the interstate my back end would wiggle. i could never find anything loose as far as heim joints or locknuts.

i did however find some play in the drive shaft where the shaft splines go into the front u-joint. replaced the drive shaft. no play whatsoever. everything feels tight in the rear end again and no more wiggle.

i would've never thought the drive shaft woulda made it wiggle like it was. even shifting threw the gears seems so much smoother and different now since there is no more play in the drive shaft.

 

[bassfisher]

Finally a little more update on the new tires. I have run two tanks thru the bike (finally) Riding two up, I am now averaging 33 mpg. I know doesnt sound like a lot, but previously with the larger tires, I was getting 30 mpg riding two up.

The reason it has taken me so long to finally run two tanks of fuel thru the trike is that I tend to ride my VTX1300 most of my riding days (little more nimble for city riding).

So far very happy - keeping fingers crossed