Help with cornering. New trike owner. 2015 Triglide.

[DK Custom Products]

In our discussion about trike handling I forgot to mention that I swapped out the stock shield for a Klock Werks 8.5" at the beginning of this summer. There was a noticeable improvement is steering ease and feel, I understand because of the increase in downforce created.

I intend on installing the DK Comfort Lifts mostly because I load regularly in my toyhauler. I am curious, will the steering improvements with the lifts still be noticeable? I hope not too much, as I really like the KW shield.

The slightly easier steering because of the lift kit is just that, slight...it is not a night and day difference. Most folks notice it, some do not. It will be in addition to what you have now with the windshield.

On my '11 I had the stealth recurve, and those wings do seem to provide some downward force on the front tire...and it also was good for a 2 mpg increase over the stock windshield. I also had a Lift Kit on that and did not think the steering was "too easy".

I would have a Stealth from LRS on my 14 if they made one.

Here's a picture of the windshield I'm referencing...you can see on the side where the shield flattens out, that is where the air pushes down on the shield.




Kevin

[clint44]

Can anyone show some kind of documentation that a batwing windshield can create significant (5-10lbs+) downforce? I'm skeptical but keeping an open mind here. At 150mph maybe but at highway speeds,,,

FWIW,I removed an 8.5" KW windshield like that one off our SG for two reasons,(1) it was too tall (2) the turbulence behind it was really bad. So bad,it would knock my glasses off. Choosing the correct shield is more an art than it is science,it seems.

[pcombe]

There is a natural learning curve when first riding a trike and you will get used to it after a while.


When cornering learn to shift your butt on the seat to give yourself a more solid footing on the peg and hug the tank with the other knee, makes cornering easier. Less tendency to feel like your being thrown off.

A trike is an exercise in push pull the way to overcome allot of this is to lock the elbow your pushing with. Less fatigue= more turning power because your using your shoulder and upper body to compensate for arm strength.

DO NOT LUG YOUR TRIKE, KEEP IT IN A GEAR WHERE ITS ALWAYS PULLING AND YOUR CONTROL WILL GREATLY IMPROVE! ALSO CUTS DOWN ON HEADSHAKE.

[msocko3]

Can anyone show some kind of documentation that a batwing windshield can create significant (5-10lbs+) downforce? I'm skeptical but keeping an open mind here. At 150mph maybe but at highway speeds,,,

IMO, I think if it indeed put that kind of down force on the fairing it would stress the fairing mounts and in time crack them, or work the inserts which hold the outer fairing on out of their holes. I installed a KW shield on my 2012 Hannigan wing, its shaped just like the ones for Harley's. Aside from it being shorter in the full up position and looking pretty, I can't tell the difference between it and the stock shield as far as handling and fuel mileage.

[Trikenewby]

Would anyone know how much rear tire pressure, how much air in the shocks was being used on the triglide that is filmed going through tail of the dragon?

[missedem]

Did you ever find out if anything was wrong with your trike. I had some handling problems with my new trike when I got it. Its a freewheeler but none the less a trike. Pulled like crazy to the right and almost pulled me into the guard rails a few times. I took it back to a different dealer and they checked it over from front to rear. Was not set up properly at the purchasing dealer . (BTW the only reason I went to a different dealer was because there was one 4 hours closer. There was a slight trust issue at the purchasing dealer for me as well after the trouble.) Once I got it back it handled like a completely different trike. Don't be afraid to take it back for a look see if it keeps giving you trouble. Welcome to the three wheeled world. Trikes are a blast (once you get used to them).

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Would anyone know how much rear tire pressure, how much air in the shocks was being used on the triglide that is filmed going through tail of the dragon?

contact Kevin at DK customs. He was the one who made the video.. really nice guy , knowledgeable and has some cool trike parts too.

[DK Custom Products]

I have no documentation on the windshield I posted a pic of above. I only have my own experience.

For me, it Absolutely provided a significantly more stable ride at higher speeds (70 mph & up, and was VERY noticeable at 80-95 mph). This was NOT a little difference, it was Very different.

With the stock windshield or the Flat Top I run during the winter, at those higher speeds the front end gets a little light, especially when accelerating. Not dangerously light, but definitely not planted like at lower speeds.

With the Stealth, pictured above, at anything above 45 mph I could feel the front end was more planted, and at 80-95 mph there was no light front end feeling at all. This was not a one or two time thing, this was experienced over 10's of thousands of miles over a couple of years.

I assumed it was because it was putting some downward force, but perhaps it was just a lack of upwards force that the taller windshields have. I don't know. I do know that if LRS ever makes that windshield for the new style fairing I will get it.

I have tried other shorty recurves and they do NOT have the same benefit the Stealth does.

M3 may very well be right about the inserts working their way out because of the downward pressure...I had to replace two of them...at the time I thought it was because they had been over-tightened, but perhaps it was because of too much downward force...AND, they may be why LRS is not making them for the new style fairings. Again, I do not know. I do know that I would get one again if I could...even if I knew I would have to replace some more inserts. The benefits are that good, that to me it would be worth it.



Regarding air pressure on the Dragon video-

I have a MacAir installed, so I can change the PSI with the touch of a button to suit riding conditions. I think I had it somewhere in the 40 PSI range during that run. We were 2 up and the trunk, tour-pak and tour-pak rack were fully loaded.


Kevin

[woody]

Would anyone know how much rear tire pressure, how much air in the shocks was being used on the triglide that is filmed going through tail of the dragon?

I may have missed something, but what trike are you refering too? we were there in August and had lots of fun.

[Sloride]

Purchased new trike on the 3rd of Sept. Never ridden one before. Been riding Harley two wheelers for fifteen years. 69 years old, great shape and still working. Ride just fine except at highway speeds of 50 mph plus. If I go into a corner(especially right turns) at speed in a long curve trike seems to want to bind up in the front and act like it is going to flip. Scares the hell out of me. I have had this happen about four times now. Always steer to the left and hit brakes, and thank god no one is in the next lane. Have only ridden it about 450 miles.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated. I love the triglide, just can't keep up with my friends any more on their two wheels. One of my friends I ride with has his second triglide and keeps up fine. He says I just need to practice. Could there possibly be something wrong with my trike. I do fine if I slow down to say 45mph in a curve my friends are taking at 55 and 65 mph. Would a lift kit help, and does tire pressure make that much difference. Running 40 psi in shocks and 23 psi in rear tires, 36 in front. Sure could use some good advise.

GOSH...I can really relate to your experience. I drove 225 miles to buy my trike and then drove it home. I had never ridden a trike before and I felt like I was going to die a couple of times on the way home. I did not have room yet in my toy box so I had to store it for a couple of months. I started learning to trust the trike by running up and down the storage buildings rows and making the 180 deg turns to go back down the next row. I started making these 180 deg turns faster and faster and finally it started coming natural and I realized these trikes will far and away out corner a HD 2 wheeler.

Go to a large parking lot and practice slow tight turns 90's, 180's, 360's, figure 8's. As you get more comfortable bring up your speed. Your trust factor will come with practice

[DK Custom Products]

Regarding air pressure on the Dragon video-

I have a MacAir installed, so I can change the PSI with the touch of a button to suit riding conditions. I think I had it somewhere in the 40 PSI range during that run. We were 2 up and the trunk, tour-pak and tour-pak rack were fully loaded.


Kevin

Sorry, I missed the question about rear tire pressure, I keep them at 21-22 psi.

Kevin

- - - Updated - - -

I may have missed something, but what trike are you refering too? we were there in August and had lots of fun.

I think he is referring to the video in post #10 of this thread.

GOSH...I can really relate to your experience. I drove 225 miles to buy my trike and then drove it home. I had never ridden a trike before and I felt like I was going to die a couple of times on the way home. I did not have room yet in my toy box so I had to store it for a couple of months. I started learning to trust the trike by running up and down the storage buildings rows and making the 180 deg turns to go back down the next row. I started making these 180 deg turns faster and faster and finally it started coming natural and I realized these trikes will far and away out corner a HD 2 wheeler.

Go to a large parking lot and practice slow tight turns 90's, 180's, 360's, figure 8's. As you get more comfortable bring up your speed. Your trust factor will come with practice

Great advice!


Kevin

[Thor]

<snipped>
As you already know, they are very different than a 2 wheel bike. They feel funny..but the nice thing is, HD really did a great job on making them stable.

My advice, once it is checked out, is to spend some time in an empty parking lot getting to know its limits. Do lots of curves, figure 8's, emergency stops, etc. Getting used to it, getting comfortable with what it can do will go a long way.

The other thing I do in higher speed curves is lean/shift my body weight to the inside of the corner, this will counter the feeling that it is going to tip/lift that inside rear tire. It will settle more weight onto the light side of the trike in a fast corner/curve, holding it better to the ground. Is this needed? Probably not, unless you are going close to twice the posted speed limit for that corner. However, it definitely gives the rider a better sense of security, and is an extra safety measure in case the curve is being hit too hot.

It may seem far-fetched now, but once you make sure the TG is in good order, and once you get some comfort with its' different characteristics, you will be able to go faster in the curves than most 2 wheel HD's.
<snipped>

Kevin

GOSH...I can really relate to your experience. I drove 225 miles to buy my trike and then drove it home. I had never ridden a trike before and I felt like I was going to die a couple of times on the way home. I did not have room yet in my toy box so I had to store it for a couple of months. I started learning to trust the trike by running up and down the storage buildings rows and making the 180 deg turns to go back down the next row. I started making these 180 deg turns faster and faster and finally it started coming natural and I realized these trikes will far and away out corner a HD 2 wheeler.

Go to a large parking lot and practice slow tight turns 90's, 180's, 360's, figure 8's. As you get more comfortable bring up your speed. Your trust factor will come with practice

Both excellent ideas...I've never been a "hard" rider, especially after my 05 accident (broke neck in racing crash, have rods in neck, plus other issues), but when time came to move to a trike, I did what DK and Slo suggested, and I kid you not...the handling on a trike is much better than 2 wheels.
My buddy & I do a trip upstate to a friend a few times a year, and the road gets quite twisty once we near his area. I used to fall a ways back from my buddy on his Dyna (we'd catch up at a certain gas station). This last trip, I was on his tail the entire way up...enough that when we reached the gas station he mentioned a few times about how shocked he was each time he looked in mirrors and saw me right there.

[DK Custom Products]

Both excellent ideas...I've never been a "hard" rider, especially after my 05 accident (broke neck in racing crash, have rods in neck, plus other issues), but when time came to move to a trike, I did what DK and Slo suggested, and I kid you not...the handling on a trike is much better than 2 wheels.
My buddy & I do a trip upstate to a friend a few times a year, and the road gets quite twisty once we near his area. I used to fall a ways back from my buddy on his Dyna (we'd catch up at a certain gas station). This last trip, I was on his tail the entire way up...enough that when we reached the gas station he mentioned a few times about how shocked he was each time he looked in mirrors and saw me right there.

It almost always shocks 2 wheelers when they see what a Tri-Glide can do in the twistys!


Kevin

[Thor]

It almost always shocks 2 wheelers when they see what a Tri-Glide can do in the twistys!


Kevin

My belief is too many people equate our trikes with the 3-wheeled ATV death machines and think they'll tip just as easy (never taking into account the weight , the high center of gravity of the ATV's compared to the low slung weight of the trikes (with a better width to height ratio as well). I've considered explaining that to the friends who are shocked at how fast these thing will take corners, but it's more fun seeing their expressions LOL

[Trikenewby]

Sure do appreciate everyone's help with my cornering challenges on my new Triglide. Really appreciate the support. Last weekend I installed a DK comfort lift and really noticed a difference. Trike corners better, rides smoother and is a little easier to steer. I am running 26 psi in rear tires, 40 in front and 30psi in the shocks. I did much better the last time out but still am timid at 50 to 60 mph on the long sweepers. I hope to improve with time. riding for 47 years on two wheels and leaning and now, well it is really different.

Thanks again..................Mick

[msocko3]

My belief is too many people equate our trikes with the 3-wheeled ATV death machines and think they'll tip just as easy (never taking into account the weight , the high center of gravity of the ATV's compared to the low slung weight of the trikes (with a better width to height ratio as well). I've considered explaining that to the friends who are shocked at how fast these thing will take corners, but it's more fun seeing their expressions LOL

They don't realize, any well setup trike will eat most 2 wheelers lunches. My 2012 Hannigan Wing is much quicker in and out of the corners than the 2010 Triglide I had. I can climb up most 2 wheelers back sides in the corners.

[Zroy]

Remember to look through the turn, not at it. Look where you are going, not where you are. It will become more natural.
Regards...Hobbs

[5x40]

check w/your local dealers and see if and when they are offering the MSF Three Wheeler course...taking the class and riding the closed course may be beneficial to you.
it's designed for those coming over from two wheels. it's a good learning tool.

[Fearless]

It's a push pull game on steering, locking the out side turn arm and it will give you more leverage. If you have ridden a 4 wheeler is comes fast. I changed my bars to wider and higher, it now is easy to steer more leverage. Miles, miles, miles, more smiles you will have. Practice is what you need you will do great. ride safely fearless

[DK Custom Products]

Sure do appreciate everyone's help with my cornering challenges on my new Triglide. Really appreciate the support. Last weekend I installed a DK comfort lift and really noticed a difference. Trike corners better, rides smoother and is a little easier to steer. I am running 26 psi in rear tires, 40 in front and 30psi in the shocks. I did much better the last time out but still am timid at 50 to 60 mph on the long sweepers. I hope to improve with time. riding for 47 years on two wheels and leaning and now, well it is really different.

Thanks again..................Mick

Good to hear it's coming a little more natural for you. I'd drop the rear tires to 24 psi, or even better, down to 22 psi. It will feel smoother in the faster curves.

I've been running mine at 20-21 psi for 30k miles, but it took me a long time to get that "brave", was concerned I would pop a bead that low.

I think the best thing to get comfortable is an empty parking lot and do figure 8's. Slow at first, then faster as you get more comfortable. You will learn how the bike responds, and learn the limits.

Have fun, and watch out for all those texters!

Kevin

[pcombe]

Would anyone know how much rear tire pressure, how much air in the shocks was being used on the triglide that is filmed going through tail of the dragon?

here is the truth. Start with 24 lbs rear tire and around 25 lbs shock air.

all of this depends on what your bike does. More or less air in tires?

your tires are part of your suspension on a trike. Too hard= hard ride. too soft = front head shake.

Look at how your bike levels out , to much in rear tires shifts weight to the front and may cause headshake?

.

try running your front tire at max inflation and your rear at 26 lbs and see what happens? not satisfied reduce back tires at 24 lbs. Etc.

Your mind can over engineer what you experience?