Introduction and HELP!

[Konrad]

I'm an 80 year old ex-LEO and retired prosecutor who recently had a quad bypass. For the past year I've been riding a 2006 Goldwing and am seriously trying to decide between a Hannigan or a RoadSmith trike kit - probably because I'm only 5-7 and the distance from the saddle to the asphalt is a tad too long for comfort. I'm planning on doing some long distance riding from Kentucky to California and a trike seems to be the relaxed way to go - if I can handle the beast. I did the Dragon a couple of years ago on a Boulevard C50 with no problems. I admit I'm a little scared of steering the trike and wonder about the desireability of the rake kit. Any advice appreciated! (I HAVE NEVER PILOTED A TRIKE BEFORE!)

 

[Nana]

Hi Konrad. A big welcome to TrikeTalk! I can't wait to hear about your cross-country riding adventures!

Both the Hannigan and Roadsmith kits are excellent! You can't go wrong with either one, so it really depends on your personal preferences of features and appearances. As for the rake kit...... DEFINITELY get one! Without it your shoulders and back potentially will get very tired and sore; with it, the trike steers like it has power steering!

 

[katfish16]

Welcome to trike talk.. I hope at 80 I am riding something other than a wheel chair.
both trike kits are great kits u just have to figure out which one will suit u the best.. with the long distance riding u want to do u might consider the x-tra gas tank.

Best of luck and keep us informed... We love pictures...

 

[trikeleader]

Welcome to Trike Talk, I comend you for being able to ride. The distance from the saddle to the asphalt is no problem on a trike. I agree with Nana that the rake (easy steer) is a must. The steering is no problem, just get on it and ride it around a parking lot and then on a low traffic street. You will get used to it in about one day. Hannigan is a little wider than the Roadsmith, but it boils down to what looks good to you and how it feels to you. Test ride each brand before buying. The dealers should have a demo unit for you to ride. Good luck on the trike conversion and show us some photos of the trike.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Welcome to TT! Lots of good info can be found on the Experienced Riders thread, will answer a bunch of questions.

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/general-forum/242-experianced-trike-riders-please-post-here.html

As mentioned, a rake kit is a must in many peoples opinion, and another is the seat,especially if you are going to pile up the miles. We had a Corbin that the previous owner put on. I liked it but my wife hated it. Went to a stock seat, was just OK, at about 100 miles I would start to fidget. We finally broke down and got a custom made seat that was built for our weight and measurements. 600 mile days are no problem. Gloria says it is the best money we ever spent on the trike.

 

[kj5ix]

Hi Konrad. A big welcome to TrikeTalk! I can't wait to hear about your cross-country riding adventures!

Both the Hannigan and Roadsmith kits are excellent! You can't go wrong with either one, so it really depends on your personal preferences of features and appearances. As for the rake kit...... DEFINITELY get one! Without it your shoulders and back potentially will get very tired and sore; with it, the trike steers like it has power steering!

I ditto that 100%, and if you don't get any other option get the rake.....

 

[Gorilla]

I'm an 80 year old ex-LEO and retired prosecutor who recently had a quad bypass. For the past year I've been riding a 2006 Goldwing and am seriously trying to decide between a Hannigan or a RoadSmith trike kit - probably because I'm only 5-7 and the distance from the saddle to the asphalt is a tad too long for comfort. I'm planning on doing some long distance riding from Kentucky to California and a trike seems to be the relaxed way to go - if I can handle the beast. I did the Dragon a couple of years ago on a Boulevard C50 with no problems. I admit I'm a little scared of steering the trike and wonder about the desireability of the rake kit. Any advice appreciated! (I HAVE NEVER PILOTED A TRIKE BEFORE!)

Welcome aboard Konrad. I can not say any more than whats been said. GO FOR IT. You will be glad you did.

 

[ricle41]

Welcome Konrad, you are going to love your decision to trike! I can't suggest more than those above other than agree with them, except add encouragement.
Last year, after a serious two wheel wreck where I broke nearly 1/2 my bones above the waist including the C2 vertabrae, I purchased a '95 wing with a CSC conversion. Smartest move I ever made. It is solid, comfortable and much safer with some of my age and condition limitations. Getting comfortable with the steering and ride, is simply a matter of learning easy techniques and spending time in the saddle. I went with the empty parking lot theory and in a matter of hours was feeling good about how it worked and how I felt. I then took short rides on many different roads, and within 500 miles, I was one happy camper.
Ask for advice on this forum, approach it with an open mind, and practice, and you'll find the most difficult part is removing the silly grin. Good Luck

 

[jim peacock]

Konard I have a 96 1500 with a 06lehman kit which I really like,but I have had a chance to ride a couple of 1800s with the hannagan kits,much smother ride and handles just as good as my trike.
Like others said be sure to get a rake kit,I have a four and a half degree kit and I am well pleased with it have drove a couple of trikes with the six degree rakes and they were just way to sesitive for me.
Another thing you should consider is floor boards.
Lots of luck with what ever you go with.

 

[jim peacock]

Konrad you will never regret going to a trike,you will be wondering why you did not do it sooner.
ThumbUpThumbUpThumbUp

 

[Konrad]

Thanks to all! Jim Peacock mentioned floor boards and I need to know why. I already have the Kuryakin boards with the heel/toe shifter and highway pegs. Also mentioned was the aux. gas tank. That sounds interesting, except for the price. How about a Walmart gas can in the trunk?

I have the stock seat on the 'Wing and a couple of months ago rode the entire Blue Ridge Pkwy, averaging 402 miles per day for four days. 1608 miles total. The two days on the Pkwy I only did about 200 a day. Point is - for me - the stock seat was just fine.

I'm convinced on the rake kit!

Konrad

 

[katfish16]

The aux gas tank runs around $500 or so if installed when building the trike. The gas can in the trunk is way to dangerous... there is a thread on here about some containers that U can put gas in and carry it...
Good luck.

 

[Chumbly]

From what I have observed, when you begin to ride a trike, you are going to want to do two things that you will have to change:
1) You are going to want to turn into the low side... because you are now riding on three points to the ground the trike at times does not ride level (as on two wheelers). The back of the trike will roll according to the level of the ground. The natural inclination is to turn into the low side... I don't know why that is... you will have to get past doing this in your head. You will also need to get over wanting to countersteer in the corners at speed. Believe me, the desire to do this is strong, and you have to at times conciously make the mental choice to steer it where you want it to go. This is why getting used to riding it slowly at first is recommended.
2) You will need to get over the desire, (in your head again), to put your feet down when coming to a stop, (or worse yet), slowing down, while riding the trike. It sounds silly I know, but believe me, it is a desire because of past habits while riding on two wheels. Keep doing so can result in running yourself over... not something you'd want to do I 'm sure.
Some poeple here may think mentioning this is just silly, and elimentary but I think it is still worth mentioning. Chumbly-:yes:

 

[Konrad]

>>1) You are going to want to turn into the low side... because you are now riding on three points to the ground the trike at times does not ride level (as on two wheelers). The back of the trike will roll according to the level of the ground. The natural inclination is to turn into the low side... I don't know why that is... you will have to get past doing this in your head. <<

Color me dense! You need to explain that to me in newbie terms: Low side vs. High side??

Good point about the feet. But I never put them down until the bike is stopped and about to tip over. Kind of pride myself on balance - foolishly, no doubt.:Trike1:

 

[Chumbly]

Color me dense! You need to explain that to me in newbie terms: Low side vs. High side

Low side as in "down hill". Usually ground is not level,... it has low spots and high spots, as in "depressions" or "rises". If for example, one of your back wheels travels into a depression, the trike will lean low on that side, (unlike riding on two wheels), and your natural inclination is to turn in that direction,... the urge to do that can be almost overpowering if the lean is far enough. This example is usually found off-pavement as in a parking lot, etc., where the ground can be uneven, but you can also find this situation on a highway, that has two lanes going in the same direction through a turn (usually divided from the opposing traffic by a ditch or whatever). There will be a crown in the road that results in one lane sloping to one side of the roadbed, and the other lane slopes in the opposite direction. If you happen to be riding in the lane on the outside of the curve, with the slope of the road opposite to the turn, the inclination is to steer straight or into the ditch... obviously not what one wants to do. Clear as mud, right? Once you start riding, you'll understand better what I'm talking about. I just wanted you to be aware that this can happen and you need to wrap your head around "steering where you want to go" rather than by instinct as your used to doing on two wheels, I'm sure. Chumbly-

 

[skuuter]

WELCOME to TRIKE TALK......."RAKE KIT" for sure...and since You are still actively ridin' at 80, I have no doubts that you will be fine, and seriously enjoy a Trike...:wtg:

 

[Boscoporp]

Welcome to Trike Talk! Either kit will serve you well! Rake kit is a must!

 

[Konrad]

Thanks to Chumbly for the "heads up" and explanatioon of low side - high side. I took my very first trike drive today in the empty parking lot of a trikes-only conversion shop. The owner rode pillion for a few minutes and then turned my loose. Going straight in second gear and all's well. Got to the turning point and leaned. Bike went straight. Noticed my mistake when I hit the wall. Well, not really, I noticed it in plenty of time to steer rather than lean, but there was a scary second or two there! I'm going to have to UNlearn a lot of what I know - and that includes muscle memory.

But I did remember not to put my feet down at a stop.

And I was amazed at how sharp I could turn and how easy it was to steer, even with the front wheel locked either left or right against the stop! I wouldn't try THAT on a two-wheeler!

The bike was an '02 GL1800 with a Hannigan kit.

 

[REOFL]

Had my Honda VTX triked by Trikes of Daytona- Roadsmith, and did not have the rake kit, big mistake! Once I installed the rake kit it was like Power Steering! No more wrestling and wobbling, cut down on the vibration as well. Not sure the Roadsmith kit is worth the price ($900) but great quality and polish. I have since seen other kits at half the price, but have no experience with them.

I installed my own kit in about six hours with no help, easy to do yourself, only needed hand tools and spent most of the time grinding a custom lower tree cover from a chromed 1/16" stainless sheet, love my chrome.

REOFL

 

[Jenkinsrawhide]

Konrad you are going to love your trike. I seldom hear from older riders but consider myself one at 74. Definitely have EZ steer put on. It will cost an extra thousand dollars but well worth it. My Champion conversion is raked at 4.5 and I am happy with it. I have the stock seat but I spent $20 for the Walmart cushion. After several hundred miles I will toss it in the trunk just to get a different feel for a while and then go back to it. Whole lot cheaper and a great investment.