Ground affects

[dawingrider]

Do you guy's feel that the Ground Effects kit restricts air flow, thus more heat on your feet?

Jim

The Motor Trike Aqua Shields installed on mine have vents that can be adjusted from open to closed, and can be turned to direct air depending on your comfort level. I have never had a heat issue. In fact, I believe the boards protect your feet from the heat emanating from the road.

[JaysGone]

I have the load bearing running boards from Motor Trike. I use them rather then pegs.

But

Keep in mind any ground effects added lowers your ability to go over some of even the smallest speed bumps.

I get tired of painting black all the yellow paint marks on the frame of my trike.

[3W-lonerider]

Yep ground clearance was another consideration. Seems around here they love speed bumps. And some are quite high.

[Jimer]

Here’s something else to consider about a Ground Effects Kit!

I’m shopping for a 2018 GL1800 - CSC and Ground Effects Kit is on my must have list. I like the looks, they keep your feet dry, deflects small debris and reduces (my opinion) highway heat.

I found a trike I liked, but it didn’t have a Ground Effects Kit, so I call CSC to get an Idea how difficult it would be to install. I spoke to Will at CSC and although there is quite a bit of removal before you can begin installation, the 3-4 hour job doesn’t seem extremely difficult.

But it’s what Will said next that surprised me: he recommended that I order the Ground Effect kit unpainted, rather than Color Matched; stating that he could almost guarantee that the large box would NOT survive the VA to AZ trip without sustaining some damage. A damaged Color Matched kit would be a major job to repair; whereas an unpainted kit could be body filled, sanded out and painted.

The next surprise he laid on me is: the factory is seven (7) weeks behind before production would even begin, add one (1) week for production and another ten (10) days for shipping.

Armed with that bit of information, I quickly decided that any trike I buy would already have the Color Matched Ground Effects kit installed. However, after further consideration, I’m now rethinking if Ground Effects is such a great idea after all, considering the hassle to get them replace should they become damaged?

This just some food for thought and will most likely be a coin toss decision for me.

Happy New Year,

Jim

[JaysGone]

Taken into account everything said about the boards added afterwards or as part of a finished trike.

If they get damaged. A lot more of the trike will suffer some sort of needed repairs as well.

Just another part as far as any insurance company will care.

So dont let that consideration even come into the decision. If getting a new or used bike that has the boards already.

If the boards get busted something else will too as in more then likely the front end. Or side covers something else will need repairs too.

Lets just hope you needing repairs isn't part of the equation.

[CrystalPistol]

If they get damaged. A lot more of the trike will suffer some sort of needed repairs as well.

Well, good chance of that, but maybe not. I was leading a group on the BRP a few years ago, crossing dark shadows, front tire clipped a piece of shale rock I think, tipped it up, busted lower front cowl and wrinkled the left exhaust header shield and put one hell of a dent in the left muffler. I found the two body pieces on Ebay that night, even the right color. Muffler is still under trike. I think it stood the rock up and it was caught between the trike & road to do the damage.

Later, I found tire was bruised too, but it never lost any air. I had another at home.

I know they look great usually, they do offer some pluses, if you like them, go for them.