Finally home

[jackt]

Picked up our 1996 1500 Motor Trike Saturday.
I'm really surprised how rough it rides, just bounces all over the road.
The dealer told me 1500s really didn't need the rake kit.
I've ridden since I was 12 years old (58 years riding) and now own this conversion we have had and driven lots of miles as a 2 wheeler, also have a 1985 GW 1200, 2008 VTX 1300 custom and a Yamaha Virago.
This thing really steers and echoes every little rock or bump to handlebars.
I guess to use the saying worse than a truck.

I have tried different air pressure in bags, with or without passenger no difference.
Any suggestions?
Thank
Jack

06/01/2011
After looking at all the good suggestions and help on here, and trying everything that I could.
Took back to installer and told him it was impossible to ride.
That I had let the tires down to 20 lbs and had tried different air bag pressures but it still rode worse than OLD truck.
Also told him the air bags were bottoming out (banging down on bag) and I didn’t think they were both the same.
He assured me he had checked it all over and everything was right.
So at this point I ask him to raise shock springs up 1 notch, he had one of the mechanics crawl under it with spanner and in a very loud voice he said (WHOA THIS DON’T LOOK GOOD) these bags are not welded on correctly.
So now wait and they are supposed to cut off and re-weld at correct angle.
I may never get to ride again, the wife and I had planned doing the run to the wall but it wasn’t ready in time, 2 weeks late.

[Nana]

Start by checking the rear tire pressure..... it should be much lower than spec for the car tires on there. Begin about 20 psi and adjust up and down for your comfort and ride.
I'm not an expert on 1500s, but I would question the rake kit thing. No trike HAS TO have a rake kit, but it sure does make the steering easier and smoother with one!
I'd suggest you PM Bazooka for input. He can give you specific advice about it, and also has rake kits at a significantly reduced rate for members if you decide to add one.

[Papa Zook]

Jack,
First order of business would be to set your rear tire pressures at 20-24 lbs per tire. Too much air will cause a rough ride. Next, set your rear air bag pressures to 18-24 lbs. If the air is leaking down to zero it will ride like a covered wagon! Next, set your front tire pressure to max per the tire specs (38-41 lbs). Next, make sure you can bounce either side of the rear of the trike and each side moves up and down freely. If it doesn't, you will need to jack up the rear from the center rear end chunk, place jack stands under either side and check the bolts at the front of the right and left side ladder bars where they go through the heim joints. If these are too tight or the heim joints are not periodically sprayed with silicone spray (as factory maint calls for) they can bind and hinder the movement of that side of the trike.

Lastly, yes you could definitely benefit from an EZSteer rake kit. I have them in stock and can ship you one at a major discount. If you cant install it we will help line up someone to do it for you.

Also click and print out this PDF file manual for the best Motor Trike GL1500 maintenance manual ever published. Its written by one of our trike guru staff members, kj5ix who is also a trike installer in Texas. Great work with many pictures.

Motor Trike Service Manual


Hope this helps. Also if you have any other questions feel free to call me. Ive installed many, many MotorTrike kits over the last six years and will be glad to assist you.
Zook

[Lucky]

I do not know how I can reasonably disagree with your installer strong enough and not get in trouble.Two things could be going on either he don't know what he is talking about or he don't know what he is talking about.INMO he is WRONG.If you were close enough I would prove it by letting you ride PEARL.90/wing/motortrike/raked.If I were you and have some mechanical abilites I would PM ZOOK and get him to ship me a rake kit and FIX IT.RIDE SAFE

[jim peacock]

96se with a 06 lehman kit,20lbs of air in rear tires,40lbs in front tire.
One up 20 lbs in shocks,two up 35 lbs in air shocks,four and a half degree rake kit.
I f you have progressive springs in front forks,take them out and put stock springs in.

[Rowdy]

I rode a 1500 MT for several yrs. I agree with everything Bazooka stated. The rear tire pressure has a major impact on the ride. I always ran 18=20 lbs. in the air bags riding single and added about 5lbs when the wife went along.
I have read many times that the dealer made the statement that a raked triple tree is not needed on the MT. This is BS. I had a 6deg. CSC tree on my MT and it was great. I have several friends that had the MT without the rake and I can tell you that there is all the difference in the world. If you get the steering kit you will not be disappointed.
One last thing I will add. My trike had the spring over shocks with the air bags. Some had air shocks. I am not familiar with what pressures to ride with the air shocks. If yours has the spring over shocks, they are adjustable. You might want to check them to see where they are set.