Roadsmith Trike Conversion 2018 Gold Wing

[Burnerboy]

For years we used u-joints with grease zerks. We switched to sealed joints several years ago because of the difficulty in greasing the front joint. You are on the right maintenance schedule - at least once a year or before a big trip will suffice for most trikes.

What are the grease zirks (2 of them) just before the universal joint?

I just grease them yesterday, BUT Didn't SEE ANY GREASE COME OUT

Ronnie

[Burnerboy]

I did see two (2) grease zirks just before the universal joint, that I shot in a couple of squirts of grease the other day.....I figured it can't hurt for sure..(I didn't force any grease up there) cause I didn't want to blow a seal, just squeezed the grease gun handle enough to know that something shot in there..

Ronnie

[bikerbillone]

Think you did the right thing, I do the same, a once a year maintenance on my 2005, light hand on the grease gun trigger. We don't know the exact year that Road Smith began the sealed the universal joints, so use the zerks

if they are there.

[Tricycleman]

GT = Goldwing Trike - by Honda.

It's coming.

Per my second cousin who is design engineer for Honda Motorcycle division.

Supposedly the drivetrain and rear end is going to be of a new type technology that has never been seen or being used by present trike kit companies.

Stay tuned after the next family reunion and a six pack of beer in cuz might get him to spill some more info.

And yes nothing re-used from previous year 1800. They re-tooled everything from the wheels to the handle bars.

[Tricycleman]

Yes, that's how I read it as well. So it's gonna be a while before the 2018 gets triked. With all the resales that will be available, there's plenty of material to trike out. Looks like Mother Honda did not improve access to that air filter. Grrrr!

Yeah but hopefully they got rid of that noisy damn alternator when they went to the generator starter combo.

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Jim,

Could a person order the newer drive shaft and retro-fit their RS conversion if they wanted a no maintanance drive shaft?

Yes, they could. Or merely change the joints on the existing shaft to non greasable. Certainly less expensive to change them.

[bikerbillone]

Yes, they could. Or merely change the joints on the existing shaft to non greasable. Certainly less expensive to change them.

That's interesting, does that mean I can quit lubing my 2005 Roadsmith drive shaft? Hope I get a definitive reply to this one, I've been chasing that question since 2005 and I get conflicting answers.

[tparker]

I am very interested in converting a 2018 Goldwing. Roadsmith, do you have any information on when your kit will be available? Are you taking deposits?

[Roadsmith Trikes]

That's interesting, does that mean I can quit lubing my 2005 Roadsmith drive shaft? Hope I get a definitive reply to this one, I've been chasing that question since 2005 and I get conflicting answers.

Hey Bikerbillone - bottom line, if you have grease zerks on your u-joints, they need to be serviced annually (or just prior to any big trips). If you do not have grease zerks, then an annual inspection of the joints should be performed to look for wear, looseness, etc.

Any grease zerks on the shaft itself are for the slip-joint, which doesn't come into play on our drive line configuration. Greasing those zerks not necessary.

Hope this helps! If not, reply and I'll respond. Have a Merry Christmas!!

Jim

[Roadsmith Trikes]

I am very interested in converting a 2018 Goldwing. Roadsmith, do you have any information on when your kit will be available? Are you taking deposits?

Hello TParker - I wish (really I do) that we could merely click our heels together three times and our new trike design would be completed. Unfortunately, that doesn't work .

We got a real close up look at the bike during the annual IMS Motorcycle Show here in Minneapolis. Nothing of what we saw is too much of a concern or issue for us in making a new trike. Once we are in receipt of a bike (or two), we will be underway. It will probably take anywhere from 3-6 months until we are in full production (after our design and comprehensive testing).

It is hard to overstate how excited we are!! It's been too many years without a new design from Honda. We will do everything we can to expedite this process, without compromising the Roadsmith reputation for quality and reliability. PM your contact information and we will keep you updated.

Jim

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Guess what's showing up today? And it's plural, not singular.......

[bikerbillone]

Wow Jim, tells us it's the 2018 GW, right? OK, you'll be getting everyone in the shop looking at it for all the right reasons. I wonder how well the DCT will perform with your conversion?

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Wow Jim, tells us it's the 2018 GW, right? OK, you'll be getting everyone in the shop looking at it for all the right reasons. I wonder how well the DCT will perform with your conversion?

Yes, you are right. Just hoping the weather holds for a couple days so we can get a couple test rides in before the engineers take over! We can handle the cold, it's the snow that causes problems riding 2-wheelers

Couldn't be more excited for the DCT - everything we have read, and viewed, points to it being a "game-changer"!

[bikerbillone]

Good report, keep us good folks on Trike talk informed, I know you will. By the way, keep those costs over runs under control.

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Good report, keep us good folks on Trike talk informed, I know you will. By the way, keep those costs over runs under control.

[Papa Zook]

Yes, you are right. Just hoping the weather holds for a couple days so we can get a couple test rides in before the engineers take over! We can handle the cold, it's the snow that causes problems riding 2-wheelers

Couldn't be more excited for the DCT - everything we have read, and viewed, points to it being a "game-changer"!

Jim, did you get a DCT and a a 6 speed manual? What colors? We need to know these things...

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Jim, did you get a DCT and a a 6 speed manual? What colors? We need to know these things...

Manual in WHITE

DCT in RED (airbag)

Gotta cover all bases!

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Hey guys - we'll have more updates soon on the progress of our 2018 conversion design. We have made some significant strides, to say the least. Stay tuned for updates. Most of our design work has taken place on the manual bike, leaving the DCT daring us to take it out for a ride.

I did get a chance to ride the DCT the other day. It was cold, but at least the roads were dry. First impression? Really weird. No clutch lever, no shifter, just roll and go. I must say that I was SUPER impressed! Under normal to even slightly aggressive throttle, the shifting was almost imperceptible. Super quick and smooth.

Unfortunately we were unable to do more than a couple runs up and down the street as there is just too much sand and ice to tackle the twisties. Overall this bike will be a game-changer, especially as a trike!

[mgwtrike]

The good people at Roadsmith have to approach this new conversion redesign with caution

and leave nothing to guess to be able to uphold the quality product of the past.

Especially when the cost, plus installation, is roughly 1/2 cost of a Goldwing.

[Roadsmith Trikes]

The good people at Roadsmith have to approach this new conversion redesign with caution

and leave nothing to guess to be able to uphold the quality product of the past.

Especially when the cost, plus installation, is roughly 1/2 cost of a Goldwing.

You are so right. There definitely needs to be a proper balance of "speed to market" and "quality of design and manufacture". We have a pretty good reputation to uphold and we will do the 2018 right.