Newbie with a Question

[Rebel]

Hello from Central Virginia!

I bought a 2011 Aero 6 weeks ago and the trike is in process (Motor Trike). It is supposed to be ready next week.

I've never ridden a trike before and am a little nervous about riding it home from the dealership. I've only been riding 2-wheels for a little over a year. The dealership is about an hour and a half away from home, in a city I am not familiar with.

Should I trailer the trike home? Or would it be enough to practice for a while in the parking lot and then get out on the road?

[Nana]

Welcome to TrikeTalk! and congratulations on the new trike
At minimum, you should spend some time in the dealership parking lot getting the feel of the steering and a sense of where those wide fenders are as you corner and maneuver. Then you should move out into the dealer's neighborhood and drive some quiet streets for a while. Only after that, start the longer ride if you decide to ride it home.

However, you might want to trailer it home (if you have that option) and practice in your area's quiet streets for a few days, otherwise that hour and a half may leave your shoulders and back tense. Most of us transitioning from two to three wheels found it took about 400 - 500 miles of riding before we suddenly realized we were no longer tense and feeling awkward.

I promise you will love the trike once you get used to it, and it won't be long before you are saying you will likely never return to 2 wheels on a regular basis as you pick the bugs out of your happy grin!

[Lucky]

Welcome REbel glad you joined us.WHAT NANA SAID.If possible do a lot of figure 8'S it will help a lot.RIDE SAFE

[John Luciano]

I found that the more of a veteran 2 wheeler you are the harder it is to convert. I taught my ?? year OLD/young friend how to drive a trike and she took to it like a duck to water. She NEVER rode a 2 wheeler (not even a bicycle ) what Nana said . Try it in the parking lot. Try riding with one hand in your pocket. It is a push pull action NO LEANING.

[jfingalls]

Hello Rebel, Welcome to the Forum where you will find the friendship and knowledge to be the best on the internet. Nana, Lucky and John gave you some good advice. My advice (I was in your situation about 3 years ago) is to trailer it back to your neighborhood and drive it around there for a few hours. You know the roads in your neighborhood well and don't have to deal with any unknowns. Also, take a look at some of our threads that give advice for that very subject. My additonal advice is to be very careful of those fenders sticking out because, as you know, two wheelers don't have them. Good luck with the new Trike and enjoy...

[10rhrk]

I found that the more of a veteran 2 wheeler you are the harder it is to convert. I taught my ?? year OLD/young friend how to drive a trike and she took to it like a duck to water. She NEVER rode a 2 wheeler (not even a bicycle ) what Nana said . Try it in the parking lot. Try riding with one hand in your pocket. It is a push pull action NO LEANING.

I think this is true. The longer you ride two wheels, the more you fight the non-counter steering on a Trike. I believe this is why my wife (TNTriker) took to the Trike so quickly. She had only started learning on two wheels before switching to a Trike. I on the other hand took longer to adjust. I still put my foot down when I stop occasionally...lol. I also had to adjust to the fenders sticking out at gas pumps and such. Welcome, enjoy your new Trike!

[Ozarkryder]

Welcome to the best trike forum on the interwebs! Or probably just the plain best forum, period.

Would most likely be a good idea to check out the Experienced Riders Forum: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/gener...post-here.html
Lots of good info and advice from experienced trikers.

Hang on - you're in for a great ride! (Yeah, pun intended)

[Applejack]

Welcome to the forum!! I just joined about 3 days ago and have found many interesting threads and interesting people throughout. Been riding for about 50 years and only 1 year on a trike so I had a lot of unlearning to do, but I sure am glad that I am old enough to ride a trike again!!!! Good luck with the new ride...

[CCrider]

Hello Rebel and welcome to the best trike forum on the net. I was in your exact situation a few yrs ago and I chose to trailer it back home. Then i rode by myself for the first 500 miles to get used to it, before letting anyone ride with me. And FYI I had been riding two wheels since 1958. Its better to be safe then sorry.

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard glad you joined us. you all ready have goos advise.

[Bob Witte]

Hello from Central Virginia!

I bought a 2011 Aero 6 weeks ago and the trike is in process (Motor Trike). It is supposed to be ready next week.

I've never ridden a trike before and am a little nervous about riding it home from the dealership. I've only been riding 2-wheels for a little over a year. The dealership is about an hour and a half away from home, in a city I am not familiar with.

Should I trailer the trike home? Or would it be enough to practice for a while in the parking lot and then get out on the road?

I'll weigh in on the side of those suggesting the trailer. And pop over and grab a copy of my "How To Ride A Motorcycle Trike" -- it's a free download and should be helpful regardless.

How To Ride A Motorcycle Trike

Bob Witte
The Trinity Trike

[rmrc51]

Welcome to a great forum Rebel. As so many have mentioned, you'll get a wealth of information here.

I also agree about trailering your new trike home. I also happen to live right in your neighborhood. Palmyra to be exact. I'm not sure where you're having your trike prepared, (I'm assuming Harrisonberg possibly) but traveling on any major roads, as Interstate 64 for an example can be quite humbling for your first ride!

Once you get your feet wet, send a message and maybe we can meet up. These days, I rarely ride so maybe another triker in the area might get me off my duff! lol

[Yogisan]

Option # 3 - unless you already have a trailer or live a few hundred miles from the dealership, you could ask the dealer to drive it to your home and then you take the driver back to the dealership. It's called customer service.

[Rebel]

Bob Witte - thanks for the link. I actually ran across that a few days ago and want to question one comment in it:

"Watch where you are going (not where you want to go!). If you were trained properly for motorcycle riding, you were taught that looking where you want go is half of getting there upright (again because of leaning & counter steering). This is something you will need to “unlearn” or at least not count on happening the same way. What is true for two wheeling in that regard is no longer true for triking. Where you are steering is where you are going regardless of where you are looking! The cage advice is sage advice – “Keep your eyes on the road!!”

I've actually read several threads that state the opposite, so now I'm baffled!!!

[Rebel]

I'm not sure where you're having your trike prepared, (I'm assuming Harrisonberg possibly) but traveling on any major roads, as Interstate 64 for an example can be quite humbling for your first ride!

Once you get your feet wet, send a message and maybe we can meet up. These days, I rarely ride so maybe another triker in the area might get me off my duff! lol

Yes, Harrisonburg at Blue Ridge Power Sports. I-64 doesn't bother me nearly as much as the 10 or so miles I'd have to ride it on I-81!! Trailering it sounds like the way to go. Glad to know you are in my area. I lived in Fluvanna most of my life.

[Nana]

Bob Witte - thanks for the link. I actually ran across that a few days ago and want to question one comment in it:

"Watch where you are going (not where you want to go!). If you were trained properly for motorcycle riding, you were taught that looking where you want go is half of getting there upright (again because of leaning & counter steering). This is something you will need to “unlearn” or at least not count on happening the same way. What is true for two wheeling in that regard is no longer true for triking. Where you are steering is where you are going regardless of where you are looking! The cage advice is sage advice – “Keep your eyes on the road!!”

I've actually read several threads that state the opposite, so now I'm baffled!!!

Yes there is a lot of difference in the steering when you move from two to three wheels. But for me, I still very much use the principle of looking ahead to where I want to go, particularly in twisties! It obviously does not work exactly the same way as I am no longer counter steering, but it still works and makes control of my steering much easier and more effective.

[rmrc51]

Yes, Harrisonburg at Blue Ridge Power Sports. I-64 doesn't bother me nearly as much as the 10 or so miles I'd have to ride it on I-81!! Trailering it sounds like the way to go. Glad to know you are in my area. I lived in Fluvanna most of my life.

Blue Ridge Power Sports is a top rated shop! Their service department and personnel really know their craft! That's where I have my trike serviced all of the time.

Yes, I really do feel trailering your trike home is the best course of action. Once at home, take her out around your local roads and find a large parking lot to really get the feel of maneuvering her around. I've heard that Blue Ridge might know where some Trike safety courses are being offered.

As I had mentioned, when you have the time and feel more confident, send a message and we'll try and meet up.

Enjoy your new ride!

[trikerslave]

Welcome...................................

[Rebel]

Thanks for all the great advice folks! I trailered it home on Saturday and put about 90 miles on it yesterday. Rode it to work this morning. It is definitely different, but such a blast to ride!

[Gorilla]

CONGRATS. It will be about 4 to 5 hundred miles till the dis-comfort goes away and you learn to trike.