Heli-Bar revelation
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Stage III
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Kerhonkson, NY
Heli-Bar revelation
I am 74, have torn the ligaments in my left thumb twice, and have osteo-arthritis in both hands. Last May I traded my Electra-Glide in for a Harley Trike, swapping the joy of leaning turns for stationarystability. Those weren’t the onlychanges.
When leaning into a turn on two wheels centrifugal force directs the body’s weight down into the seat, and as long as forces stay balanced and traction holds, one feels as steady as a rock when turning. On a trike there is no lean and centrifugal force on the body is directed to the outside of the turn. Also, one must use muscle to TURN the handle bars. There is considerable under-steer, maybe designed in by HD to discourage adrenalin junkies from fast turns. So, when I got my trike, I found that a trip to get gas was exciting.
My first impression of the seating/handlebar ergonomics was favorable except that the clutch hurt my left thumb, and both hands ached after a long ride. Seating was fine and I enjoyed the ride except for the centrifugal force in turns and the under-steer.
I am preparing for extensive touring. Had I been young with good hands, or had bought the trike for local riding I would have accepted these problems. But,considering my plans, I searched for handlebars of the correct geometry to save my hands and happened upon Heli-Bars, which allow individual adjustment for each hand with several degrees of freedom. I ordered the bars from O’TooIe’s HD in Wurtsboro, and they installed them and adjusted them to fit me.
I would like to say that my left thumb and hands are now pain free. They’re not and never can be,but they hurt so much less that it is acceptable.
The biggest, and unforeseen, benefit has been the improvement in seating ergonomics. The adjustable bars have had the effect of reducing felt centrifugal force and of reducing the impression of under-steer in turns. The Heli-Bars have increased the ride-ability and utility of my trike and hence my enjoyment. The bars are expensive, but they are worth every Franklin.
Fred Orman (Kerhonkson)
When leaning into a turn on two wheels centrifugal force directs the body’s weight down into the seat, and as long as forces stay balanced and traction holds, one feels as steady as a rock when turning. On a trike there is no lean and centrifugal force on the body is directed to the outside of the turn. Also, one must use muscle to TURN the handle bars. There is considerable under-steer, maybe designed in by HD to discourage adrenalin junkies from fast turns. So, when I got my trike, I found that a trip to get gas was exciting.
My first impression of the seating/handlebar ergonomics was favorable except that the clutch hurt my left thumb, and both hands ached after a long ride. Seating was fine and I enjoyed the ride except for the centrifugal force in turns and the under-steer.
I am preparing for extensive touring. Had I been young with good hands, or had bought the trike for local riding I would have accepted these problems. But,considering my plans, I searched for handlebars of the correct geometry to save my hands and happened upon Heli-Bars, which allow individual adjustment for each hand with several degrees of freedom. I ordered the bars from O’TooIe’s HD in Wurtsboro, and they installed them and adjusted them to fit me.
I would like to say that my left thumb and hands are now pain free. They’re not and never can be,but they hurt so much less that it is acceptable.
The biggest, and unforeseen, benefit has been the improvement in seating ergonomics. The adjustable bars have had the effect of reducing felt centrifugal force and of reducing the impression of under-steer in turns. The Heli-Bars have increased the ride-ability and utility of my trike and hence my enjoyment. The bars are expensive, but they are worth every Franklin.
Fred Orman (Kerhonkson)
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