Picking up my trike tomorrow!

[bcop31]

The wait is over!!!! I will be picking up my 2007 Goldwing with the Champion IRS trike kit tomorrow. Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. did the conversion for me and have really been great to work with. Thank you Mario, Dan and John! I am a little nervous about the ride home but I am sure it will work out. I have been on motorcycles for 20 years but the addition of the extra wheel might be a little tricky at first. I have read all the advise given on the forum regarding new riders so I feel pretty confident about the new style of riding. No sleep tonight. :0)

[DblTrbl]

The wait is over!!!! I will be picking up my 2007 Goldwing with the Champion IRS trike kit tomorrow. Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. did the conversion for me and have really been great to work with. Thank you Mario, Dan and John! I am a little nervous about the ride home but I am sure it will work out. I have been on motorcycles for 20 years but the addition of the extra wheel might be a little tricky at first. I have read all the advise given on the forum regarding new riders so I feel pretty confident about the new style of riding. No sleep tonight. :0)

Congrats!!! You will love it. I got the hang of the trike in less then an hour. The main thing I keep in mind at all times is how wide the rear end is........I always turn wide giving me extra room when parking or getting fuel........Enjoy!!

[Fabricater]

The wait is over!!!! I will be picking up my 2007 Goldwing with the Champion IRS trike kit tomorrow. Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. did the conversion for me and have really been great to work with. Thank you Mario, Dan and John! I am a little nervous about the ride home but I am sure it will work out. I have been on motorcycles for 20 years but the addition of the extra wheel might be a little tricky at first. I have read all the advise given on the forum regarding new riders so I feel pretty confident about the new style of riding. No sleep tonight. :0)

I have read that it takes about a month of riding to get to where we really like it.I have only 300 miles on mine since the conversion,but am liking it.I will be making some changes or should say adjustments to get it just right,but it will get there.

[Jimmer]

I picked mine up in W. Palm Beach, FL and rode it back to Oklahoma in 2 1/2 days. 1300 miles. It was a good way to really get to know it. You shouldn't have any problems. Just remember to watch the rear end when you are close to gas pumps, barricades, etc. Also remember that it is not a 2 wheeler. You can't ride close to the white line or shoulder as you are a lot wider now. ENJOY!!! Jimmer

[Solidbob]

The wait is over!!!! I will be picking up my 2007 Goldwing with the Champion IRS trike kit tomorrow. Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. did the conversion for me and have really been great to work with. Thank you Mario, Dan and John! I am a little nervous about the ride home but I am sure it will work out. I have been on motorcycles for 20 years but the addition of the extra wheel might be a little tricky at first. I have read all the advise given on the forum regarding new riders so I feel pretty confident about the new style of riding. No sleep tonight. :0)

Just remember you steer not lean / keep your feet up / take a long test ride prior to leaving the dealer to make sure they have adjusted everything correctly, shouldn't have excessive or hardly any body roll, should be smooth and not twitchy ( some twitchyness comes from your death grip at first, so lighten up the grip and let the front move some) just make sure it feels good to you as its a long drive back to the dealer.... Don't be overly nervous and drive some circles in a big parking lot prior to leaving and your first turns will seem a little strange as you still want to lean but it will go away soon, I found that applying pressure to the opposite floorboard with your foot ( Pushing down ) also helps by making you feel supported... if you need to stop and take a break great.... every stop and start gets better so don't rush...enjoy and loosen up some... you ride tight, the front end is twitchy... Enjoy your new trike and those miles of smiles....

[bcop31]

Just remember you steer not lean / keep your feet up / take a long test ride prior to leaving the dealer to make sure they have adjusted everything correctly, shouldn't have excessive or hardly any body roll, should be smooth and not twitchy ( some twitchyness comes from your death grip at first, so lighten up the grip and let the front move some) just make sure it feels good to you as its a long drive back to the dealer.... Don't be overly nurveous and drive some cirles in a big parking lot prior to leaving and you first turns will seem a little strange as you still want to lean but it will go away soon, I found that applying pressure to the opposite floorboard with your foot also helps by making you feel supported... if you need to stop and take a break great.... every stop and start gets better so don't rush...enjoy and loosen up some... you ride tight the front end is twitchy... Enjoy your new trike and those miles of smiles....

Thanks for the info. I will do as you all have suggested in the different postings. :0) Looking forward to a nice ride home. Only have to travel about 35 miles so it won't be a long ride but I do plan on taking it nice and easy. Thanks again. Whahoooo! I am 65 yrs young, can I say Whahoooo or is that reserved for the younger crowd? Maybe a simple yippee fits me better. :0)

[Gorilla]

Congrats and let us know how it went.

[ArkyBubba]

The wait is over!!!! I will be picking up my 2007 Goldwing with the Champion IRS trike kit tomorrow. Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. did the conversion for me and have really been great to work with. Thank you Mario, Dan and John! I am a little nervous about the ride home but I am sure it will work out. I have been on motorcycles for 20 years but the addition of the extra wheel might be a little tricky at first. I have read all the advise given on the forum regarding new riders so I feel pretty confident about the new style of riding. No sleep tonight. :0)

It took me about 500 miles before I was really comfortable with my trike, but it had been over 30 years since I had ridden a bike. I just recently had a 6 degree rake kit installed and what a difference that makes. It's like power steering compared to before. You are going to enjoy the trike once you get used to it. Good luck and safe riding!!

[Shimpy]

Big thing is don't panic if it leans left or right.......it won't fall over and above all don't try to steer to correct it or you'll go the wrong way.....I talk from experience.
I nearly crashed trying to correct a lean and found myself heading into oncoming traffic. Just remember to steer like a car and you'll be OK. Always be aware that the rear is much wider than the front while riding and especially pulling up to a gas pump.

[Jnielsen89]

Thank you for the kind words! We hope it's everything that you ever dreamed of. Now get out there and ride like you mean it!

[bcop31]

Well, I picked up the trike today and it looks great! Thanks to Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. for all their assistance in making this happen. Had a good ride home, once I was able to get it out of the parking lot! Wow! Even after reading all the good post from all of you and swearing I was not going to be caught off guard by the steering of the trike......I was wrong. I just about ran it into a wall behind the shop as I was leaving. That would not have been good. :0( Anyway, I practiced in a parking lot for a few minutes and then felt OK to head home. After about 10 miles I started to relax and enjoy the ride. Made it home fine but it took awhile to uncurl my white knuckles from the throttle. Ha. I had Dan, the mechanic who put it together, make stiffen the suspension a little bit sturdier than just for one up as I ride two up and pull a trailer a few times a year. The ride was a bit bouncy, but I knew it would be, compared to the Wing before the conversion. Will try riding with the wife in awhile and see how it rides with her on. If it is still to stiff, Dan will back it off a bit. All in All, I am one happy rider. Ride Safe

[mgwtrike]

Don't be like me and drive like a drunken sailor out of the trike conversion lot, talk about embarrassing.

I kept putting my feet down, (I don't have the floor boards), drove down the driveway on to the grass, back on the driveway, drove through a shallow ditch, bounced out on the road, missed a mail box by inches and finely got it going in the right direction...........
I talked to my trike conversion guy that night and he said he almost called 911 after witnessing that.

[bcop31]

Don't be like me and drive like a drunken sailor out of the trike conversion lot, talk about embarrassing.

I kept putting my feet down, (I don't have the floor boards), drove down the driveway on to the grass, back on the driveway, drove through a shallow ditch, bounced out on the road, missed a mail box by inches and finely got it going in the right direction...........
I talked to my trike conversion guy that night and he said he almost called 911 after witnessing that.

Ha Ha! Yep, I just about had a replay of that myself. The mechanic ran over to me and reminded me to keep my feet up (they were down at the time) and to steer, not lean. :0) He was more nervous than me at that time. I think he figured I wouldn't get out of the driveway after almost kissing the fence. He drove it for me to the parking area around the corner from the shop. I rode it around the lot, almost drove over the curb, a few times and took off. Your post made me feel a little bit better about my cluster. :0) I got a chuckle from your post as I am sure the salesman and mechanic did as I drove away from their shop. I did let them know I made it home without incident and I think they were pleasantly surprised.

Look out......Here I come and if you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk. Ha!

[mgwtrike]

Ha Ha! Yep, I just about had a replay of that myself. The mechanic ran over to me and reminded me to keep my feet up (they were down at the time) and to steer, not lean. :0) He was more nervous than me at that time. I think he figured I wouldn't get out of the driveway after almost kissing the fence. He drove it for me to the parking area around the corner from the shop. I rode it around the lot, almost drove over the curb, a few times and took off. Your post made me feel a little bit better about my cluster. :0) I got a chuckle from your post as I am sure the salesman and mechanic did as I drove away from their shop. I did let them know I made it home without incident and I think they were pleasantly surprised.

Look out......Here I come and if you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk. Ha!

Yeah, If we can't laugh at ourselves, it wouldn't be funny, Thanks for Sharing.

Also, I think all the work those guys did to get our bikes converted, the last thing they want to see is one wreck in a matter of minutes.

[clint44]

Look out......Here I come and if you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk. Ha!

That's the spirit!

[Jnielsen89]

Ha Ha! Yep, I just about had a replay of that myself. The mechanic ran over to me and reminded me to keep my feet up (they were down at the time) and to steer, not lean. :0) He was more nervous than me at that time. I think he figured I wouldn't get out of the driveway after almost kissing the fence. He drove it for me to the parking area around the corner from the shop. I rode it around the lot, almost drove over the curb, a few times and took off. Your post made me feel a little bit better about my cluster. :0) I got a chuckle from your post as I am sure the salesman and mechanic did as I drove away from their shop. I did let them know I made it home without incident and I think they were pleasantly surprised.

Look out......Here I come and if you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk. Ha!

Once you were out in the parking lot we figured you would be alright. When you first took off on the other hand... Lol.

[Peter A.]

Way to go - so glad your home safe/sound.....it's all downhill now........evey time you ride you'll gain more confidence and SMILES, congrats.

[schiel1]

When I picked up mine (4 hours away) I rode it on the back roads for a few hours and glad I did.

Also I would suggest at least your first few days riding is to always keep both hands on the bars. My first ride home I tried to get a drink with one hand and steer with the other and my mind took over and I counter steered right into the other lane. Scared the living Crap out of me. Luck there was no car there.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, I picked up the trike today and it looks great! Thanks to Freedom Rides in Lincoln, Ca. for all their assistance in making this happen. Had a good ride home, once I was able to get it out of the parking lot! Wow! Even after reading all the good post from all of you and swearing I was not going to be caught off guard by the steering of the trike......I was wrong. I just about ran it into a wall behind the shop as I was leaving. That would not have been good. :0( Anyway, I practiced in a parking lot for a few minutes and then felt OK to head home. After about 10 miles I started to relax and enjoy the ride. Made it home fine but it took awhile to uncurl my white knuckles from the throttle. Ha. I had Dan, the mechanic who put it together, make stiffen the suspension a little bit sturdier than just for one up as I ride two up and pull a trailer a few times a year. The ride was a bit bouncy, but I knew it would be, compared to the Wing before the conversion. Will try riding with the wife in awhile and see how it rides with her on. If it is still to stiff, Dan will back it off a bit. All in All, I am one happy rider. Ride Safe

I found this on their web site in the PDF for instructions on doing the actual conversion. Looks very simple to do and if you do it yourself you could try a few different load settings. Also you may want to adjust on the fly sometime.

To adjust the preload, turn by hand the black
collar located on the bottom of the spring just as
you would with a fastener with right handed
thread.
NOTE:
Both Shock Absorbers must be adjusted equally resulting in the equal spring preload. Not having equal adjustments will affect handling that could to lead to potential harm.
Recommended spring preload as follows:
+ 1/4” up to 200 lbs.
+ 1/2” up to 400 lbs.
+ 5/8” with trailer

It also states that you an cut a 1/4 wide screwdriver which looks to about 1" long to fit into the holes to assist in turning the shock adjustment.