Trident/Honda trike

[Papagino]

Hi all, new to the forum. Picked this up about a month ago, I've learned a bit about it through other forums. It's a1981 gl500 with a Trident conversion, formerly used as a police trike. It runs fairly well, but has a bad shimmy going down the road. Tires and rims look OK, so I'm starting to think it's a bad u-joint. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Papagino

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome to Trike talk

Do the handlebars

shake?

Or do you feel the shaking in the seat or floorboards?

[trike lady]

Hello & to Trike Talk.

[rhino 2]

Hi all, new to the forum. Picked this up about a month ago, I've learned a bit about it through other forums. It's a1981 gl500 with a Trident conversion, formerly used as a police trike. It runs fairly well, but has a bad shimmy going down the road. Tires and rims look OK, so I'm starting to think it's a bad u-joint. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Papagino

Welcome to Trike Talk👍 check your steering head, bearing it could be worn, and with that Windjammer fairing on it, that would make it more pronounced,!

[Papagino]

Welcome to Trike talk

Do the handlebars

shake?

Or do you feel the shaking in the seat or floorboards?

pretty much the whole trike

[Papagino]

Welcome to Trike Talk👍 check your steering head, bearing it could be worn, and with that Windjammer fairing on it, that would make it more pronounced,!

thanks, I'll do that

[trike lady]

It is a short wheel base trike and its not designed to go very fast, I think according to what little history I could find it was stated 80mph was top speed. https://tnmot.org/collection/honda-cx500-police-trike/ A number of members here own them and may be able to tell you where they get parts and what axle was used to build them years ago https://www.cx500forum.com/ I'm going to say worn bearings are the issue.

[Papagino]

It is a short wheel base trike and its not designed to go very fast, I think according to what little history I could find it was stated 80mph was top speed. https://tnmot.org/collection/honda-cx500-police-trike/ A number of members here own them and may be able to tell you where they get parts and what axle was used to build them years ago https://www.cx500forum.com/ I'm going to say worn bearings are the issue.

thanks, I've never had it over 30 mph, the shimmy is that bad

[trike lady]

I've only seen pictures of these trikes and my guess is they are made like any other trike conversion and that the swing arm assembly may have a part worn or if rubber it is dry rotted where it assembles to the host bike frame. I had to locate a parts break down of a CX500 to see how it is put together. https://www.hondapartsnation.com/oem...b88f4/swingarm

[hardwickbv]

Welcome from Indiana!!!

Bob

[Marc H]

Welcome to Trike Talk Papagino!!!

[Papa Zook]

Hi all, new to the forum. Picked this up about a month ago, I've learned a bit about it through other forums. It's a1981 gl500 with a Trident conversion, formerly used as a police trike. It runs fairly well, but has a bad shimmy going down the road. Tires and rims look OK, so I'm starting to think it's a bad u-joint. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Papagino

I like it..got that Craig Vetter fairing goin' on...cool!

[ol' school]

Welcome to Trike Talk!

[Burnerboy]

Does your model trike have a rake'd front forks???

My Roadsmith has a 5.5% rake on it.

Ronnie

2/17/24

[Pooch]

How old are the tires, what's the date code on them?

[KirkDT]

That's a cool Honda trike!