Training wheels
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,024
Likes: 6,915
From: NC
As my wife's illnesses progress, I will not have the ability to ride the trips I like to do now. 2-3 a year for now. If I could get 6-7 weeks to ride the states I have not ridden in, I'd probably sell all the motorcycle stuff and just join the local golf club.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 13
From: Aurora, CO
We see people on trikes frequently and don't think much about it. I tried a 3 wheeled ATV awhile back and discovered I just couldn't turn due to brain conditioning. Have been on motorized 2 wheelers since 14, 80 now, and if I can't lean into a turn, my brain knows it is going to die. For me, the landing gear would seem to be the only option.
I believe gravel is problem when using our feet. Unconsciously, we push outward, along with pushing down, to keep vertical when stopped. The gravel acts like ball bearings under our feet and they slide outward, thus losing our ability to stay upright. With experience we can anticipate that and try not to push outward when on gravel and stay upright. I believe the training wheels can't move outward once they are down so they support the bike with a rigid triangle. Pot holes and uneven pavement would be the traps for disaster.
I know that I can no longer pick up my bike alone, if I drop it and hope that someone will be willing to lend a hand should that happen. I still ride when the mission and weather permit. I am also fine with a car or truck in cold or wet weather or when I need to carry something too big for the bike to handle. My time to quit or for training wheels may be closer than I would like to believe, but so far, so good.
I believe gravel is problem when using our feet. Unconsciously, we push outward, along with pushing down, to keep vertical when stopped. The gravel acts like ball bearings under our feet and they slide outward, thus losing our ability to stay upright. With experience we can anticipate that and try not to push outward when on gravel and stay upright. I believe the training wheels can't move outward once they are down so they support the bike with a rigid triangle. Pot holes and uneven pavement would be the traps for disaster.
I know that I can no longer pick up my bike alone, if I drop it and hope that someone will be willing to lend a hand should that happen. I still ride when the mission and weather permit. I am also fine with a car or truck in cold or wet weather or when I need to carry something too big for the bike to handle. My time to quit or for training wheels may be closer than I would like to believe, but so far, so good.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 114
From: Nevada
I'm a couple of years short of 70 but with a hip replacement, a knee that's been arthroscoped 3 times and looking at a 4th or replacement I looked at the retractable "landing gear" and the thought of deploying it on an uneven surface made me think twice. I really looked hard at the Tilting Motor Works but was just in time to see them sold off and shut down - too bad, I thought that would be a good solution.
My solution, at least for the time being, turned out to be twofold: First, trading in my Street Glide for a Road King to get a lower center of gravity (no fairing/electronics, no tour pak). Second, what prompted that deal was that the Road King came with air suspension. Being able to lower the bike all the way down makes it easier to get on and off; lowering the bike at a stop if needed to get firm footing on an uneven surface (which helps even with gravel to an extent) and finally, allows me to stand up and use my weight to pull the bike backwards if needed. It takes a little more time taking off as I prefer to raise the suspension before I get moving but it works.
That being said I don't take the spousal unit on the Road King, we have a trike that she's a lot more comfortable on and I don't have to worry about dropping her... dropping myself on the RK is my issue, but if I drop her not only will I never eat well again but she knows where I sleep...
I figure when I can't hold up the RK at all, it can go to a new owner, I'll sell the Can-Am and switch to a Tri-Glide. When I can't throw a leg over that, maybe it'll finally be time to buy the Corvette I've been wanting for years... either that or a handicap scooter with enough motor to rip the tiles off the floor at the retirement home and terrorize the staff.
My solution, at least for the time being, turned out to be twofold: First, trading in my Street Glide for a Road King to get a lower center of gravity (no fairing/electronics, no tour pak). Second, what prompted that deal was that the Road King came with air suspension. Being able to lower the bike all the way down makes it easier to get on and off; lowering the bike at a stop if needed to get firm footing on an uneven surface (which helps even with gravel to an extent) and finally, allows me to stand up and use my weight to pull the bike backwards if needed. It takes a little more time taking off as I prefer to raise the suspension before I get moving but it works.
That being said I don't take the spousal unit on the Road King, we have a trike that she's a lot more comfortable on and I don't have to worry about dropping her... dropping myself on the RK is my issue, but if I drop her not only will I never eat well again but she knows where I sleep...
I figure when I can't hold up the RK at all, it can go to a new owner, I'll sell the Can-Am and switch to a Tri-Glide. When I can't throw a leg over that, maybe it'll finally be time to buy the Corvette I've been wanting for years... either that or a handicap scooter with enough motor to rip the tiles off the floor at the retirement home and terrorize the staff.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 964
From: Lincolnshire, IL
Going back to the original Landing Gear specs, they say they deploy at 6mph and slower. IF I HAD THEM.....I picture myself stopped at a traffic light preparing to make a right turn when the light changes. Since I'm stopped the Landing Gear is deployed. But then when the light changes and I proceed to make the right turn, since I'm probably NOT traveling above 6mph while making the turn from 0mph the Landing Gear would still be down BUT MIGHT suddenly raise up before the turn is complete if my speed reaches 6mph! I can see how suddenly "destabilizing" that could be, especially with a passenger.......!
Anyway...an old thread that thank goodness I hopefully will never need.
Anyway...an old thread that thank goodness I hopefully will never need.
Last edited by Rob175; Jun 6, 2026 at 10:28 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 2,193
From: West Coast
Can the landing gear handle when you stop on an off camber road with a large side to side delta and adjust leg lengths and pressure to compensate?
Or... will it just comically slowly throw you on the ground and be impossible to stand back up with the outriggers fully extended out like a dead cow with rigamortus?
Or... will it just comically slowly throw you on the ground and be impossible to stand back up with the outriggers fully extended out like a dead cow with rigamortus?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 3,054
From: St.Louis Mo.
Plenty of low mile used trikes out there to buy. I bought mine in 2015, gotta do what it takes to stay riding.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 1,978
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,919
Likes: 3,899
From: Cape Cod
It doesn't really attempt to cover that subject in the website, BUT does say to use your best judgement on when and where to deploy the gear.
Stage I
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Yorkshire
I had the Landing Gear on my Road Glide for a couple of years.
I never ever allowed them to auto-deploy. I always put them down manually and raised them manually.
I fiited them to keep her happy on the back. They were also very useful for moving the bike around.
The air doesn't leak (probably won't leak!) so you can leave the bike vertical using the Landing Gear to hold it up. ALWAYS put the sidestand out!
If the air leaks out the bike will lean over onto the sidestand thus averting disaster!
They hold the bike parallel to the road surface so on a steep camber the bike is going to lean over more than you might like!
That was my main reason for never allowing them to deploy automatically.
Her knees means she can't get on the back easily anymore so our touring days are over.
Nobody will buy the bike because it is 26 years old and has done 73,000 miles so I am turning it into a Bobber!
I never ever allowed them to auto-deploy. I always put them down manually and raised them manually.
I fiited them to keep her happy on the back. They were also very useful for moving the bike around.
The air doesn't leak (probably won't leak!) so you can leave the bike vertical using the Landing Gear to hold it up. ALWAYS put the sidestand out!
If the air leaks out the bike will lean over onto the sidestand thus averting disaster!
They hold the bike parallel to the road surface so on a steep camber the bike is going to lean over more than you might like!
That was my main reason for never allowing them to deploy automatically.
Her knees means she can't get on the back easily anymore so our touring days are over.
Nobody will buy the bike because it is 26 years old and has done 73,000 miles so I am turning it into a Bobber!
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