Do you ride a trike differently...
#21
01-10-2017, 04:03 PM
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On a 2 wheeler, I rarely if ever use the rear brake.
On a Trike, attempts at sudden (panic) stops using front brake only, will result in the front tire locking up, and sliding. Learn to use the rear brakes.
Ride it like a 4 wheeler. Lean to the inside and be careful your front wheel doesn't loose traction taking turns at high speed.
On a Trike, attempts at sudden (panic) stops using front brake only, will result in the front tire locking up, and sliding. Learn to use the rear brakes.
Ride it like a 4 wheeler. Lean to the inside and be careful your front wheel doesn't loose traction taking turns at high speed.
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BADBONES (01-10-2017)
#23
01-10-2017, 05:53 PM
Road Master
Nice to see we are still doing the right things
Welcome to the three wheel world you have been given great advise. Don't ride faster than your skill level and go by yourself back roads big empty parking lots etc. In no time you will be just fine especially have ridden a quad for a period of time. Just pay close attention to fuel Islands and such. Other than that ride the dickens out of that thing and enjoy post a few pictures of it we like pictures.
ride safely fearless
#24
01-10-2017, 06:05 PM
In addition to the great advice, I'll add the following. Whenever you can safely change lanes prior to a curve in the road, especially a tight one, take the inside lane. Doesn't matter if the road curves right or left, you want to be on the inside lane.
If you are not in the inside lane and you try to keep up with traffic, the forces want to throw you off the trike so you must slow down and/or hang on for dear life.
If you are not in the inside lane and you try to keep up with traffic, the forces want to throw you off the trike so you must slow down and/or hang on for dear life.
#25
01-10-2017, 06:08 PM
Road Master
In addition to the great advice, I'll add the following. Whenever you can safely change lanes prior to a curve in the road, especially a tight one, take the inside lane. Doesn't matter if the road curves right or left, you want to be on the inside lane.
If you are not in the inside lane and you try to keep up with traffic, the forces want to throw you off the trike so you must slow down and/or hang on for dear life.
If you are not in the inside lane and you try to keep up with traffic, the forces want to throw you off the trike so you must slow down and/or hang on for dear life.
Ride safely fearless
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#26
01-10-2017, 06:14 PM
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thanks to all of you, i am in the process of converting my 97 flstc into a trike now with a dna kit i purchased from art in motion in florida with a few hurdles to jump over due to a miscommunication. I did have a voyager training wheel kit on there before which i felt was a death trap having kept the center wheel, but i do feel that the centrifugal force in the turns is very similar with the exception that the center wheel sometimes comes off the asphalt too and when in gravel the drive wheel could dig in leaving you stranded like in my driveway so that thing is gone! My only concern here is a solid axle not independent suspension which i would have loved to afford
You can get a pretty good ride...close to IRS quality...out of a solid axle if you use some good rear shocks, and front suspension. Check out these articles-
Front Suspension LINK
Rear Suspension LINK
On a 2 wheeler, I rarely if ever use the rear brake.
On a Trike, attempts at sudden (panic) stops using front brake only, will result in the front tire locking up, and sliding. Learn to use the rear brakes.
Ride it like a 4 wheeler. Lean to the inside and be careful your front wheel doesn't loose traction taking turns at high speed.
On a Trike, attempts at sudden (panic) stops using front brake only, will result in the front tire locking up, and sliding. Learn to use the rear brakes.
Ride it like a 4 wheeler. Lean to the inside and be careful your front wheel doesn't loose traction taking turns at high speed.
#27
01-10-2017, 06:21 PM
Whatever is in the manual. If I'm approaching a tight turn and the signs says 35 mph, I can comfortably do 45-50 if I'm in the inside lane. If I'm in the outside lane, I'm probably 35 or slower.
#28
01-10-2017, 08:52 PM
Road Master
side safely fearless
#29
01-11-2017, 06:07 AM
I'm convinced it's the physics of the cycle. For example, while a vinyl album spins at 33 1/3 rpm, the center area of the record (or CD/DVD) spins slower than at the edge which spins faster. Clothes in a washing machine are thrown outward while the tub spins. There are forces governing bodies in motion but I'm concerned about higher end handling of the trike.
If I take a hi-speed right curve, I am pulled outward. Much less so if I'm in the right lane. Tire pressure will affect traction but not how the body is thrown about.
Moderate turns are not noticeably different but higher speed turns are, especially if the turn is sharp. Unless I want a car riding my butt, I safely try to change lanes.
If I take a hi-speed right curve, I am pulled outward. Much less so if I'm in the right lane. Tire pressure will affect traction but not how the body is thrown about.
Moderate turns are not noticeably different but higher speed turns are, especially if the turn is sharp. Unless I want a car riding my butt, I safely try to change lanes.
Last edited by jeff53404; 01-11-2017 at 06:51 AM.
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Fearless (old nickname) (01-11-2017)
#30
01-11-2017, 09:10 AM
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I'm convinced it's the physics of the cycle. For example, while a vinyl album spins at 33 1/3 rpm, the center area of the record (or CD/DVD) spins slower than at the edge which spins faster. Clothes in a washing machine are thrown outward while the tub spins. There are forces governing bodies in motion but I'm concerned about higher end handling of the trike.
If I take a hi-speed right curve, I am pulled outward. Much less so if I'm in the right lane. Tire pressure will affect traction but not how the body is thrown about.
Moderate turns are not noticeably different but higher speed turns are, especially if the turn is sharp. Unless I want a car riding my butt, I safely try to change lanes.
If I take a hi-speed right curve, I am pulled outward. Much less so if I'm in the right lane. Tire pressure will affect traction but not how the body is thrown about.
Moderate turns are not noticeably different but higher speed turns are, especially if the turn is sharp. Unless I want a car riding my butt, I safely try to change lanes.
Lower tire pressure
Lower PSI in the shocks
Leaning/shifting body weight to the inside of the curve
Using trail-braking
But I think it all comes down to reducing the roll of the Trike...by this I mean the flatter the Trike goes thru the curve, the less it feels like it the rider/passenger body will be pushed to the outside of the curve.
Near our home we have a very sharp right angle curve (hardly banked at all) that is on a 55 mph road. Before the curve the speed limit is marked 55 mph, as you come into the curve the speed is posted 15 mph, once thru the curve it is 55 mph again.
I normally go thru it at about 20-25. After we upgraded the suspension on our TG I found I can go thru it at 30-35 and feel Less outward pull. This is because the TG is staying flatter (less body roll) as it goes thru the curve.
More info on suspension testing at these links-
Front
Rear
All that said, another factor is apexing the curves...of course, that can make for "excessive" lane changes on multi-lane roads, but it definitely reduces the lateral outward pull. You can see a lot of apexing in the following video.
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Fearless (old nickname) (01-12-2017)