Anyone have this issue? I was reading a Facebook thread and a few of the guys where saying the TriGlide is easy to hydroplane and then likes to go sideways. 25K and never had that happen....anyone?
Thanks - jc
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Hydro-plane
Anyone have this issue? I was reading a Facebook thread and a few of the guys where saying the TriGlide is easy to hydroplane and then likes to go sideways. 25K and never had that happen....anyone?
Thanks - jc
Never had that happened on my Two T/G's.....Total of about 55 thousand miles...Originally Posted by jc1300
And i ride in snow and rain....
BUT.....Like my Old Man [God rest his soul] Would always say...;
The inability to see or have a problem is not proof that a problem doesn't exist...
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
Have not had it happen to me. Been in some real toad stranglers of rain too. As with driving anything, you adjust your riding to fit the conditions and all should be good.
2015 Tri Glide Vivid Black. Customization work in progress to make it mine-when not riding it.
I promise to use that term from now on! And never once give you any credit....lol
I have hydroplaned a few times.
A couple of times on deep puddles near the house...not all three wheels at the same time.
Once, and it skeered me, was at the bottom of a hill, and all three were hydroplaning simultaneously for a second or two. We were going straight and we continued going straight...but it was still scary. If it had been in a curve...dunno what would have happened...but I don't think it would have been good. I was going to fast for how deep the water was.
Once in a curve, just the two rear wheels hydroplaned, the front wheel was on the crown of the road. The rear wheels did go a bit sideways (a few inches). When it "caught" it was not a big jerk or problem at all. I was aware it may hydroplane and that is why I had the front wheel on the crown and was going about 1/2 the speed limit.
All that said-
1. My experience is they do not hydroplane easily...it only has happened a few times out of thousands and thousands of miles of riding in the rain. And those times it happened, I am sure I would have hydroplaned in a car or truck. In fact, that road near the house where I did on the TG, I also do more easily in the F150.
2. If there is heavy/deep water on the road, it's gonna hydroplane if you're going fast enough, same as it would with a cage or a 2 wheel bike.
3. Worn tires don't channel the water as well, making hydroplaning easier.
Be safe out there!
Kevin
Had it happen to me this past Sunday riding back from KY in a flat out monsoon water standing in the roads,scared the snickers out of me,didnt lose control just felt it kick a little bit sideways.Was riding below the posted speed limit.I have used the term frog strangler before.
I had a real scary ride thru Georgia during a tropical storm a couple years ago
My own fault, I was in a hurry to get home
The standing water on the road pulled and sucked the front wheel in
I finally slowed down and tucked in close behind a semi, he diverted most of the water off the road
Can a Harley trike hydroplane YUP
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
It has happened to me at least two times. Both were during rains (and I believe a large factor) was using cruise control. Now, the cruise control gets cancelled the second I hit rain. Best thing to do is get off the road and under cover until the rain passes and the roads dry a bit.
Have any of you {when it was time for new tires} gone to a better "Rain" tire? If not....why? Thanks
SOP......Its in all the manuals .....Do not use cruise control in the rain....
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
Nope never had it happen.
2012 Triglide Piaggio MP3 500 to get groceries 1991 FLHS as back up
"Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it !"
Tiffany, Olive, Daisy, “The Three Musketeers” together again.
While we're stating the obvious, Jim Croce said don't tug on Supermans cape, don't spit into the wind
2017 Harley Davidson Freewheeler (107 cu.in. vivid black).
So.....Back to the question {and let's assume by now we all should have a pretty good grasp on our riding skills and limitations} It seems that in this group - The general feeling is that it's not anymore twitchy than it should be? My question was posted because I've not had any indication that it is.....at least the way I drive in the rain.
Yep, done that, slipped there. I would say in conditions that TG hydroplaned, a car would have also. FYI don’t use front brake in the snow or certain rainy conditions. It loves to lock up way too easy.
ABS vs Non ABS...
Isn't it weird that in AMERICA, our flag and our culture offend so many people...but our benefits don't???
I've gotten some unpleasant reactions from the trike while riding in downpours and unexpectedly hit those uneven patches of pavement, and the rear gets squiggly. This really increases the pucker factor and I have to not over react with sterring, brakes or throttle. Just gradually ease off throttle, no brakes or sudden steering inputs, and she regains grip.....and a mile or two later, my composure returns.
2016 Tri Glide Billet Silver w/Pinstripes ["Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!"]
• "There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find fault with the rest of us." ..... James Truslow Adams
• 2nd BN 33rd Armor "The Tiger Battalion" "1972 - 1974"
I have not found the TG to be the least bit twitchy. When there is deep standing water (or a chance of it) gotta slow down, just like you would in a cage.
The one advantage a cage may have in those type situations over the TG is that the 4 tires are further away from each other than the TG's 3 tires are, so a smaller pool of standing water may get all 3 of the TG tires hydroplaning, whereas on the cage only 2 or 3 of them may hydroplane simultaneously.
Conversely, a 2 wheel bike is going to be more at risk for hydroplaning, with only 2 tires, and they are in the same track, whereas the TG has THREE tracks.
Yep! When there is standing water (or a chance of it), snow or ice. Gotta ride far slower and more carefully...and NO front brake (which is one of the reasons that linked brakes suck).
btw, riding in the rain...wet roads, the TG is fine, very sure-footed, so don't let rain/wet roads get you nervous. Would MUCH rather be on three wheels than two wheels on a wet road.
It is the Standing (pools) water that presents the possibility of hydroplaning.
I have ridden many thousands of miles on wet roads on the TG, and it is very stable, and reassuring to know that in a curve, if there is some oil or dirt that has mixed with the rain, that on the TG the most you will get is a little slip, whereas on a 2 wheel bike the probability of low siding is high.
They were designed to "slip, not flip" and the HD Trikes have that nailed down.
Kevin
Riding in the rain has never bothered me more than the inconvenience part. Now that the butt is sitting on the trike, it's even less an issue. I've never had a hydroplane problem, but then, I don't drive like a putz in the rain either. I am getting close to a rear tire change - Probably go here:
Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus
Extremely high rated tire in both rain and quiet. I'll let ya know when I make the change - jc
I've had my 2011 TG hydroplane on me once and it did give me a little bit of a pucker moment. It was the first week of June and the wife and I were on our way back from Idaho to North Dakota and had already ridden most of the previous day in the rain with no problems. We were on I94 about 40 miles west of Miles City, MT and had been riding in rain all morning and early afternoon. It was pouring out and water was pooling up in the ditches and fields along interstate, we hit an area where the wheel tracks were worn in the roadway and water had collected in them which caused the rear tires to do a little hydroplane dance. It was only a second or so but enough to kind of make you set up and notice. We were only doing about 60 and so I slowed down to about 55. We ended up pulling into Miles City about 2:30 p.m. and calling it a day. Wanted to dry out and warm up. Also saw on the TV that night that that area of Montana was getting record amounts of rain and rivers were flooding. We ended up riding in rain the next day all the way until about 20 miles east of Bismarck, ND and about 75 miles from home. Haven't had any other instances of hydroplaning since and have ridden many miles in rain.
Another tire to take a look at is the Goodyear Comfortred. I have about 10K miles on some and am very happy with them. Much better than the stock tires in sidewall flex, which gives a better ride, and just as good, or better in road grip, dry, wet or snow.
Kevin
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