Champion Trike Kit - Solid Axle or IRS Rear End?

[WingMan71]

Looking into putting a trike kit on my 2006 GL1800 this spring and I see that Champion offers both a solid rear axle kit and an IRS rear end kit. The IRS kit is just $1K more.

Would appreciate advice from those with experience regarding which kit to go with, solid or IRS.

What are the pros and cons of each?

BTW, I ride in the Smokey Mountains a lot.

Thanks.

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

The IRS will give you a better ride ... the solid axle is supposed to assist with the handling (jury is still out on that with me ... I rode an IRS and is handled really well).

In any event, if you do twists a lot, get a rake kit ... your shoulders will thank you.

 

[nucseal]

IRS and Rake Kit is the way to go!

 

[mtn rider]

Champion solid with rake kit

I live in the smokys and i rode a champion solid axle for the last 10 years. I also have a n 8 degree rake kit and it handles well. I ride the dragon a lot and just got back from newfoundland(6000miles)with no problems.

 

[Bush Hog]

I installed a Champion IRS kit on my 2009 Harley FLHTCU about a year and one-half ago. I'm very pleased with the ride quality and haven't noticed any handling issues. Wife is happy with the ride too. If I was doing another conversion, I'd go with the IRS again. The folks at Champion were good to work with.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Looking into putting a trike kit on my 2006 GL1800 this spring and I see that Champion offers both a solid rear axle kit and an IRS rear end kit. The IRS kit is just $1K more.

Would appreciate advice from those with experience regarding which kit to go with, solid or IRS.

What are the pros and cons of each?

BTW, I ride in the Smokey Mountains a lot.

Thanks.

Robert,

You might want to look at another manufacturer other than Champion.

Champion has discontinued trike conversion sales as of December 2019.:Shrug:

 

[WingMan71]

Robert,

You might want to look at another manufacturer other than Champion.

Champion has discontinued trike conversion sales as of December 2019.:Shrug:

Lee, I had heard rumors of that, but I see that they have a relatively new web site up with information that they have moved to Garden Grove, CA. They also have tons of info on their site about their trike kits.

So, I'm not so sure they're gone. I guess I'll call them Monday and see what's up.

***

 

[Rmitchell55]

Champion has always been in Garden Grove. Sometime ago they moved a few blocks away from their previous location on Monarch Street to a new location. I might have to ride up there and see what they are doing.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Whatever the manufacturer I vote …

… SA for mountains, curves, like here …

… IRS for US Highway 90 from Del Rio to El Paso.

IRS is great for 4 or more wheel contact, it lets forces equal out better, but these are three wheeled vehicles, and like my tricycle I had as a brat, one that had no suspension, all three wheels will remain in contact with roadway unless I turn it over.

 

[Burnerboy]

I vote IRS

 

[ol' school]

I like my IRS and rake kit on my CSC trike. It is a three wheeled "sports car" in the twisties. Even my two wheeled riding buddies can't keep up.

 

[WingMan71]

Campion out of Trike Business

I called Champion to verify.

Their representative on the phone told me that they are phasing out of the trike kit building business. They will still build side cars and reverse gears but after they sell the last in-stock trike kit they are done.

Too bad. They made a good product.

 

[ol' school]

Robert, check out CSC trikes. They make a nice trike!

 

[brianl]

Whatever the manufacturer I vote …

… SA for mountains, curves, like here …

… IRS for US Highway 90 from Del Rio to El Paso.

IRS is great for 4 or more wheel contact, it lets forces equal out better, but these are three wheeled vehicles, and like my tricycle I had as a brat, one that had no suspension, all three wheels will remain in contact with roadway unless I turn it over.

I have a Roadsmith with IRS on my GL1800. Can't say that I've ever felt that one wheel came off the ground. I'm also a very conservative driver so I've never tried to go around a corner as fast as I can. This is my second Roadsmith and my wife absolutely loves the ride for the passenger and I never feel any bumps when the back wheel hits a manhole cover or pothole. I would recommend the heavy duty sway bar on a Roadsmith as I felt like I was being thrown off the bike on my GL1500 in the corners before I had it upgraded from the stock sway bar. I'm definitely no expert on trikes but the dealers I've spoken to weren't big Champion fans. They were a little cheaper than Roadsmith or CSC but I doubt it's worth the trade off. Please if you own a Champion and like it, don't take offense. As I said, I'm no expert. If Champion is no longer making trikes it will be hard to get repair parts before long. Something to consider for such an expensive toy.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Can't say that I've ever felt that one wheel came off the ground. I'm also a very conservative driver so I've never tried to go around a corner as fast as I can.

Neither do I (try to go as fast as I can)… and you shouldn't feel wheels lifting (I haven't yet on my GL trike), and likely as not the front will slip (I have felt this) before you turn it over from just going just too fast. To turn it over likely requires that you either hit something, something hit you, or you run off the road & down a bank, then maybe hit a tree or big love stone. My comment about lifting a wheel was more from memories of my tricycle, my first trike of sorts … as I turned it over a few times (often trying to go as fast as I could … but a high center of gravity bit me a few times).

This is my second Roadsmith and my wife absolutely loves the ride for the passenger …

Oh yes, best to keep her happy. My wife likes riding the trike better than riding a bike too. Roadsmiths are nice trikes, I like them.

… and I never feel any bumps when the back wheel hits a manhole cover or pothole.

Oh, how would you know you hit them then?

I would recommend the heavy duty sway bar on a Roadsmith as I felt like I was being thrown off the bike on my GL1500 in the corners before I had it upgraded from the stock sway bar.

That feeling you felt is the trike leaning outwards, a trait of softly sprung IRS trikes. Tying the IRS's rear wheels together with fatter sway or "anti-roll" bars just makes the rear IRS behave more like SA as it reduces or eliminates lean ... but it does transmit more road feel to the seat of your britches.

If Champion is no longer making trikes it will be hard to get repair parts before long.

And then there is that … but really … most wear & service parts will not be too hard to come by. Like I did, owners will be well served to find out part numbers for brake & axle parts like bearings, seals, pads or shoes, wheel cylinders or calipers soon before the information sources dry up.

 

[Inventions2k]

Solid axle vs IRS

I am fortunate to have both and honestly I can say the ride is exactly the same. Only thing that is stuck in your head is that the IRS is suppose to ride softer, which to me is not true. The biggest advantage over the solid axle is the maintenance cost is far less than the IRS. You keep your existing shock and that can be adjusted with ease where as with the IRS ,it takes a lot of mechanical effort.

Also the CV joints on the IRS very difficult to maintain and requires much attention where as the solid axle is virtually maintenance free and easy accessible and cheap. The solid axle rear wheel sit solid on the road as with the IRS it sometimes looks like a VW beetle. The bushes needs regular replacement. The camber can also not be adjusted.

I have heard more failures on the IRS as with the solid axle kits.