Originally Posted by
Tazman11
I pick up my trike next week and I’m excited as heck. I have been reading Trike Talk posts back 20 pages learning as much as I can and planning for all the necessary maintenance and upgrades desired.
The trike is a dream come true, original owner, always garaged, well maintained, not hard ridden, mint condition, and affordable. The only negative is it is 400 miles away. I am torn between trailering it home (using a friends trailer) requiring 800 miles of driving, or flying into a nearby city and riding it home. Having not seen it yet, I am concerned that there could be a mechanical problem during the ride home. The owner had the local Honda shop rebuild the carbs, change all the fluids, and do the preventative maintenance. That being said, I hate the thought of a 800 mile drive in a one day trip. I’m hoping for some Devine inspiration to help me with this decision. Any thoughts or inspiration?
ONE QUESTION FOR THE GROUP: It does have the original tires but only 10,000 miles. No cracking and always garaged but I am going to replace the front tire at a minimum. I will probably replace them all as I do not want to chance a problem and will probably own it forever. I have read as many posts as I could find and still have not been able to make a decision on the front tire or mounting configuration. I love the idea of the Avon Cobra Chrome Trike tire but they do not make it in the size I need. The Valkyrie Interstate front rim takes a 150/80r/17 and Avon only offers two sizes 130/70r/18 and a mt/90b/16. It would be great to put a front tire engineered for a trike. Also, I’m concerned using a front motorcycle tire because, as you all know, a trike front tire needs are different than a motorcycle. THERFORE I’m leaning to using a rear motorcycle tire, mounted reverse (I do understand the forces involved and the way tires are manufactured), but what size. Should I stay with the same size 150/80/17 or change to something more appropriate? Wider would make sense but I would like to keep the diameter the same for speedometer. Radial or biased ply? Also, should I have it balanced or use the beads. Beads seem to be a new technology or at least new to me. Thoughts and suggestions desired please.
I was planning to spend the winter replacing seals, rebuilding carbs, changing fluids, and checking everything, bringing things up to spec but the owner laughed because everything has been maintained or recently repaired. I’m kind of disappointed that the trike has no immediate mechanical issues but I will get over it. I will replace the timing belts just to know that I will not have a problem in the future.
I am really excited to complete this delivery process so I can start learning how to ride a trike and start turning this into a high mileage adventure trike. I will post pictures as soon as I can and share more with the group.
Thanks in advance. Please chime in with suggestions. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experience.
Tazman