EZ Steer etc.

[Pittsburgh Biker]

There have been quite a few discussions concerning ez steer and raked front ends. I know that Nana, for one, says can't live without it. My trike does not have it. 2005 Roadking. It is fine until curve gets sharp and then requires some effort to turn. A friend of mine bought a GW with EZ steer. He says that it steers easier going slow but at highway speeds the front end still "feels very heavy" . I know that the trike will never steer as easy as a two wheeler leaning but shouldn't ez steer make steering easier all the time?<br />
I'm also wonderring how a Can Am steers if we have any of those members here. Thanks.

 

[skuuter]

My Gold Wing 1800/Motor Trike IRS definetly steers easier regardless of moving speed. I rode it several days without it also (dismal), so I can make a very good comparison of both. Even sitting still, my Trike is easier to move the Fork. Actually the largest gain I got was in "Transitioning Corners". Much quicker to go from left to right to left again on super twisty roads without having to get down to a "crawl" because of the easier effort required...:wtg:

 

[sandrooney]

My wife has an 05 RK and rode for a while with out EZ steer. I installed the EZ steer and man what a difference. It cured the wobble's and made it like power steering at all speeds. You will love it.
SR

 

[curley03]

I test drove several trikes before deciding to trike my bike. No decision. without EZ steer or raked front end a real hard job steering. period. you have to do a comparision yourself. maybe you like the heavy hard steering if so don't change the rake

 

[trikes4ever]

I have the equivalent of 'EZ Steer' on my Frankenstein triked Deuce - 5 deg Pro One trees. They were on it when I purchased the Deuce. 5 deg is really more than they recommend on a stock rake frame, but I got used to it. Today was my maiden voyage on the trike - picked her up yesterday. I have no pre-rake trike experience with the Deuce, but was very pleasantly surprised at the ease of steering, cornering ability, and straight line stability. For me, 5 deg is perfect. My last trike was a VW chopper that I built with 55 deg rake in the frame only. It was long & low and great on the highway, but I really had to take it very easy in the turns. I love the ease of handling with the triked Deuce with 5 deg trees and will most likely abandon any alterations to the front end now that I've experienced how well a trike can handle. Ran the numbers and I'm very close to 2" of trail now.

 

[Nana]

You are going to fall ever deeper in love the more you ride that trike, you know. You may never go back to anything else! <img src="images/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Wink" class="inlineimg" />

 

[Gorilla]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>FREDG</strong>
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<div class="message">There have been quite a few discussions concerning ez steer and raked front ends. I know that Nana, for one, says can't live without it. My trike does not have it. 2005 Roadking. It is fine until curve gets sharp and then requires some effort to turn. A friend of mine bought a GW with EZ steer. He says that it steers easier going slow but at highway speeds the front end still "feels very heavy" . I know that the trike will never steer as easy as a two wheeler leaning but shouldn't ez steer make steering easier all the time?<br />
I'm also wonderring how a Can Am steers if we have any of those members here. Thanks.</div>

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</div>Fred the Can Am has power steering.

 

[trikes4ever]

You may never go back to anything else!

I don't see me ever going back to two - unless it's temporarily while I wait for the Frankenstein shipment on my next project. The conversion has enhanced my riding experience immensely :wtg:.

 

[ThreeAces7]

I agree with comments favoring EZ Steer. When I ordered my Motor Trike conversion for my HD FLXTC the EZ Steer was back-ordered. Of course I could not wait and took position of the trike without EZ Steer and rode it that way for about a month. The steering was a little heavy, but I thought it was OK. I began to wonder if the money I spent on EZ Steer was going to be a good value. Well, within minutes of the very first ride on the trike with EZ Steer I was sold. The steering experience became very ‘fluid’ and much more enjoyable at all speeds. As for me I would not want a trike without it.

 

[Shriner Jim]

I have a 5 degree EZ Steer on my '08 Ultra Classic/Roadsmith....wouldn't ride without it.

 

[Pittsburgh Biker]

I am convinced. When DFT became a site sponsor, I went through their list of dealers and found one close to me. He offered me a decent price on the ez steer kit so I am getting it. I'll let everyone know what I think of it. And how the dealer did with install. I like to patronize those that support us. On another note, recently I met an old friend that I hadn't seen in more than a few years. Turns out her father, another friend, and two other people I know also have trikes. New riding buddies close to me.

 

[1550vt]

Maybe too late now, but you could have went the way many of us have on the Harley kitted baggers....the Ultraboy Tri Glide tree conversion. Around $400 in parts and it's practically a direct bolt on.

Either way you go, it will be like climbing out from under the steering wheel of a dump-truck and under the steering wheel of a limo. I fought handling problems for 2-years before I raked mine and the TG tree conversion eliminated just about every handling problem I thought I had.

It's already been mentioned, but the Can Am has some sort of electronic assist. I don't know enough about it to explain it, but I do have a friend that has one.

 

[dwiht]

I had an 08 Ultra with a Lehman conversion and the standard steering. I didn't think it was that hard to steer and really liked the feel for the road. People were amazed how I could turn center of the highway to center of the highway going the other way. I bought a 2011 TriGlide and was totally amazed at how much easier it was to steer. It does take a little more road, outside road edge to outside road edge. The difference between my 08 and the 11 are night and day. The 11 is finally geared right so all the gears are usable. The new frame, raked front end, and better gearing have made the 11 Triglide an exceptional trike.

 

[billh]

When going with the tri-glide triple tree conversion, how much does it increase the total length of the bike? In my case, an '05 Ultra Classic?

 

[1550vt]

TG legs are 1-3/4 inch longer, if you want to spend the extra $ for that. I chose not too, but have forgotten the overall gain in length with stock legs. I can tell you that it is noticeable when parked side-by-side with an un-raked Ultra, but nothing more than an inch-and-a-half or so. If Ultraboy sees this....he will know and possibly respond. With the stock forks and the TG trees, I lost around 1/4 inch-or-so in frame clearance (ride height) from the flat part on the underside of the frame gusset to the floor. Not even noticeable. You will also be able to use your stock brake lines if you choose not to add the TG legs. Adding the TG legs may give you some small degree of handling improvement, but I remember doing the rake-and-trail math and the figures are very, very close in comparison. I don't think any ride height, or overall length will be noticeable between a TG and the TG raked Ultra unless you look very closely.

 

[Boscoporp]

I rode my 2003 GW Trike without EZ steer for almost a year. I decided to put a EZ steer on and I like it a lot better with it than without it. I had a EZ steer on my 1500 and it was a lot better with it than without it.

The only good reason NOT to have EZ steer is if you don't want to spend the money for it!

 

[1550vt]

Bosco, the good news is with a Harley bagger....you don't have to. All you have to do is steal a set of TG trees and bolt 'em on.

 

[1550vt]

billh...I went back and turned-up the notes I had made when I performed my conversion.

I gained 2-inches in overall wheelbase and lost 3/16-inch ride height at the very front of the frame as mentioned above. This was with stock trees. This is a pretty negligible loss in ride height and could vary that much anyway with front tire pressure.

Published Ultra 2-wheeler overall rake is 29.25. TG published rake is 32.

 

[Pittsburgh Biker]

Even though the temperature is below 30 degrees, I delivered my trike to a DFT dealer yesterday to have the e z steer installed. I'm hoping to take the trike to Daytona for bike week. I'll report back after it is installed to tell all if it made much of a difference in steering. Actually, a snowmobile suit, boots and a full faced helmet made riding fun in this weather. Hardest part was getting it out of the shed due to snow.

 

[billh]

Even though the temperature is below 30 degrees, I delivered my trike to a DFT dealer yesterday to have the e z steer installed. I'm hoping to take the trike to Daytona for bike week. I'll report back after it is installed to tell all if it made much of a difference in steering. Actually, a snowmobile suit, boots and a full faced helmet made riding fun in this weather. Hardest part was getting it out of the shed due to snow.

I will anxiously be waiting what you think of the ez steer after you have a chance to put a few miles on the bike. Right now my '05 Ultra is in having the tri glide triple tree installed, but likely will not have weather to ride in much before the end of April.

billh