New Honda 750 Motor Trike Owner with Questions

[dennisgb]

Hi,

I bought a nice used Motor Trike Honda 750. I just started riding it and find that is is very sensitive to slow speeds (wheel wobble), and it seems like I have to use every muscle in my upper body to keep it going even at speed.

The bike has no rake kit (Motor Trike does not offer one). It has 4000 miles on it and is in like new condition. Has stock front tire. This is a straight axel bike.

I've read a lot about changing the front tire, and about rake kits.

Looking for comments on what might be the best way to improve the steering and control. It's a bit scary because the bars have been pulled from my hands when it hits an imperfection in the road. It just seems like this is way too much wobble and requires too much to hold it steady. I'm not weak, and I have ridden bikes and ATV's (ride my Kawi 650 ATV all the time).

Thanks.

 

[driver10]

I just bought an 2006 model for my wife she hasn't had this problem. you might try checking tire pressure in your tires. go to motor trike web sight and download their maintance guide it will give you the tire pressures and air bag pressures that what I did. and if you fill trike pulling to the right lower tire pressure in left tire a couple a pounds, this worked for us

 

[Chumbly]

Might want to check the steering head bearing as well... I know alot of vtx 1300s had this problem as well. If not, then likely need some more rake.

 

[Woolie]

My guess would be tightening the steering stem nut on top of the fork will help some. That really helped my Kawasaki when i had it, also Progressive Fork Springs helped some. You probably won't get rid of all the wobble but as bad as it sounds, tightening the steering should help quite a bit. There is a place that modifies your existing triple tree to create some rake, I forget the name of the place but I will see if I can find it again. Bazooka may know of a kit for your bike, i would ask him.

 

[Woolie]

Check out this link Triple Trees

 

[dennisgb]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I talked numerous times to Motor Trike and they were nice but really didn't have any answers. I have the little bit of maintenance info from their website on tire pressures and have checked them.

I will check the tightness on the steering nut. Thinking about buying tapered roller bearings because they say you can run them a little tighter and they are better than the OEM ball bearings.

Also thinking about the progressive spring kit and maybe a little thicker oil to stiffen the front suspension.

Looking at also changing the front tire to a bias ply...maybe wider. The Gold Wing Trike guys run Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 sport rear in reversed direction with improvement to wobble and tire life. The existing front tire is OEM.

Not sure about raked triple tree...only can find one for the Aero and it's spendy. Anyone with rake kit that can comment on difference from stock?

 

[Lucky]

You might want to PM ZOOK. He can give you good advice and maybe save you some $$$$$$$. RIDE SAFE

 

[Gold Rush]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>dennisgb</strong>
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<div class="message">Thanks everyone for the comments.<br />
<br />
I talked numerous times to Motor Trike and they were nice but really didn't have any answers. I have the little bit of maintenance info from their website on tire pressures and have checked them. <br />
<br />
I will check the tightness on the steering nut. Thinking about buying tapered roller bearings because they say you can run them a little tighter and they are better than the OEM ball bearings.<br />
<br />
Also thinking about the progressive spring kit and maybe a little thicker oil to stiffen the front suspension.<br />
<br />
Looking at also changing the front tire to a bias ply...maybe wider. The Gold Wing Trike guys run Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 sport rear in reversed direction with improvement to wobble and tire life. The existing front tire is OEM.<br />
<br />
Not sure about raked triple tree...only can find one for the Aero and it's spendy. Anyone with rake kit that can comment on difference from stock?</div>

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</div>Denny, all of those steps will most likely improve your handling some. <br />
<br />
See what Zook says about the rake. I don't know much about you bike. I do know it makes a world of difference on the GL1800.

Someone told me "it was like adding power steering to a dump truck" I now believe every word of it.

 

[Chumbly]

"Thinking about buying tapered roller bearings because they say you can run them a little tighter and they are better than the OEM ball bearings."
Definitely something I'd do... as proved out by the problems alot of VTX1300 owners had, versus the tapered bearings in the VTX 1800 steering heads.

 

[bongobobny]

Yes, excellent suggestions! Trikes in general can be prone to front end wobble, and the most common causes are front suspension, and poor front tire. There are other causes but those two are the biggies. You will probably benefit from the progressive springs and make sure the two shocks have the same amount of oil. Making the left and right shocks as identical as possible will eliminate some of the primary cause of oscillation.<br />
<br />
The tightness and condition of triple tree and bearings is indeed very significant! Too tight is just as bad as too loose, and you have to play with the torque as stock may or may not be best for the triked version of the bike. The rake, on the other hand is more significant to ease of steering as opposed to oscillation, but can have an effect as well.<br />
<br />
OK front tire. You can still have plenty of tread but if there is any cupping at all evident it can promote wobble. Unfortunately motorcycle tires are designed to be rode at angles and not flat! You may luck out and find a sidecar tire, which is flat, that will fit your rim.

Other than that, try to find a rear MC tirei your size of the front and mount it backwards for rotation on your front. The reason for mounting backwards is due to ply design. The rear is designed for torque in driving mode whereas fronts are designed for torque with braking. You will also find your tire will last a lot longer. My choice for longevity is the Dunlop E-3...

 

[skuuter]

I put a 6 degree Rake Kit on Mitzie's 750 Motor Trike that was manufactured by one of the "Chopper Product Companies"...I had to drill, tap, and make some brackets and spacers to install Her windshield and front brake hose, so be forewarned. Choppers are supposed to be "clean", so no places for Your "stock clutter" sometimes....ThumbUp

Now, YES, the added Rake definetly made the Trike handle better, got rid of 90% of the low speed head shake, and steered with one third the effort...it was well worth the work to install it.....GOOD LUCK.....ThumbUp