Newbie and a question

[Bulldogparts]

Hello all. Newbie to trikes and need some opinions......and I’m sure they’re scarce....

Im looking at an 06 Heritage Softtail for my wife. It’s had a Motor Trike kit installed, but no rake kit. When I test rode it, I said HE!! NO! I’m not buying this for you. It rode like the old Honda Big Red 3-wheelers, and I didn’t think she’d enjoy it at all—we ride 700-1500 miles fairly regularly on trips through the year. Then, a friend let us ride his Tri-Glide which is raked. It was like night and day.

My question is this.... Will raking the Heritage give a great long distance ride, or was it the bigger and heavier bike that made the difference? I don’t want to buy the trike, rake it, and then it still isn’t comfortable on longer rides. Other than handling, the Motor Trike air suspension felt good.

Also, we don’t ride a lot on interstates, but like everyone else, we do have to use them sometimes. Will it handle good at 70-80 mph?

Thanks, Bulldog

[rhino 2]

Randy........Welcome to Trike-Talk...............

And you might want to give Papa Zook a shout....About the rake kit question...

[LadyonaMission]

Randy, welcome to Trike Talk. I was going to make the same suggestion Bob just made.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.

A rake kit will help with the steering.

[paws]

Hi Randy! Welcome to TrikeTalk!

Can’t answer for the Softail but I do know the rake kit GREATLY improved the steering and handling comfort on both the Honda GL1800 trikes I have owned.

[Zammy]

Hi Randy, I can't help with your question but welcome to the forums.

[Bulldogparts]

Thanks everyone. I sent Zook a pm.

[radismukes]

To the Trike Talk Family! FROM SOUTH Angleton, TX

Howdy Randy and your Lady!

[trikeman]

[Gorilla]

Randy yes a rake kit will make a big difference in the handling. Maybe even better then the TRI you rode. If you go down that road check in with PAPA ZOOK owner of this forum. He sells a top line rake kit for a very reasonable price. You can also call him at his shop CUT-N-SHOOT CUSTOMS see ad on the home forum page.

And yes it should go down the road nicely at highway speeds with the rake. Good luck. and welcome aboard

[bdtmd1]

Welcome to the forums from Middle Georgia Randy!

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome to Trike Talk

A rake kit will make the steering way better

http://www.cutnshootcustoms.com/rake-kits-1.html

Look here and contact Randy for more info

[Bulldogparts]

Well.......it looks like my questions have been answered. There is one more thing that will make a trike handle like a BIG RED. Anyone care to guess what that 1 thing is? Think about it, those “dirt and swamp” rigs had one good thing going for them, that will wreak havoc on any street machine. Give up??????

LOW AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES!!!

We went ahead and bought the trike tonight, and trailered it home. I wanted to ride it around the block when we got here......I live in the country, so that was about a 15 mile ride. Before I left I checked the air pressures, and out of 3 tires, NONE registered on the gauge. I pumped the front to 40 psi, and the rears to 28, and VOILA!!! My “power steering” was there all the time!! 80 mph and no wobble or shimmy, slow speed turns are great. We cannot believe the difference!

Also, since this is my...HER...first trike, I’m not sure that it hasn’t already been raked. Seriously, it handles as well as my buddy’s TriGlide. We’re very satisfied with it now. I did find one of the rear air bags has a hole in it, and will need replacing, and all three tires must have been put on it when it was originally triked in 07. The date codes are 05 on the front Harley Davidson Dunlop, and 07 on the rears. It’s a 2006 with 6800 miles on the clock.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed me, and to those who shared their opinions.

My wife LOVES HER “NEW”TRIKE!!!

[paws]

YA-HOO!!

Thanks for the update Randy! Now you two get on the road and enjoy!