Do you ride a trike differently...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
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.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 555
Likes: 9
From: Billings, Montana
I find that usually I can go thru a corner either direction 5 to 10 miles faster than it is marked and my wife isn't hiting me in the back for going too fast. Learn the pul-push part of stering and lots of practice. I hardly ever use the front brake as I love being able to ster the trike no mater what is hapening and use the front brake for emergency stops if I ned it. I run 22 pounds in the rear and 29 in the front, advice I got from a salesperson at the Lehman trike factory and I like the way the trike rides and handles. I have over 100,000 miles between the two trikes I have had so far. Good luck to you.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 79
Likes: 43
From: GA
Sure there is a difference, but one that I adapted to quickly. My wife and I love our TG and she feels so much more secure on it. I am loving the TG in the curves and really do not miss the "leaning" aspect that 2 wheels gave me. I have never had my TG tip or rise up around curves or turns and I am more aggressive on the Three wheels that I ever could be on two.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I came from a side car rig which requires significantly more knowledge and skill. The transition to a trike was easy. I have the freewheeler which has a lower center of gravity than the TriGlide and less weight. I was concerned about cornering which is critical in a side car rig. However I soon learned that I could corner as fast as on my bikes.
I must add one qualification and that is I am not that aggressive on any bike.
I lean my body slightly into the turn while my arm on the outside of the turn stiff arms and does all the work of turning force. The opposite arm is relaxed. I do the curves the same as my bike and have done so for a life time. I start at the outside, go to the inside then to the outside. That makes a bigger ark and lessens the centrifugal force a tad.
That has gotten me through 20K of touring since I got it late 14. I don't even think much that I am on a trike anymore except going into a gas station or parking lot. It could be easy to forget how wide your butt is.
I must add one qualification and that is I am not that aggressive on any bike.
I lean my body slightly into the turn while my arm on the outside of the turn stiff arms and does all the work of turning force. The opposite arm is relaxed. I do the curves the same as my bike and have done so for a life time. I start at the outside, go to the inside then to the outside. That makes a bigger ark and lessens the centrifugal force a tad.
That has gotten me through 20K of touring since I got it late 14. I don't even think much that I am on a trike anymore except going into a gas station or parking lot. It could be easy to forget how wide your butt is.
Last edited by lh4x4; Jan 30, 2017 at 12:30 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 265
Likes: 56
From: US
I've never experienced this, maybe I'm a loose nut but I normally have to let off so I don't run the car in front of me over. I used to have a 2010 Triglide, it was a pretty simple setup. Tglidestuff rear lift kit, 24 psi in the rear tires, 38 in the front, 35 in the shocks and not a care in the world. I was riding the Needles in South Dakota and spent most of my time slowing down for the cars in front of me. The needles is loaded with different types of corners and switch backs, a pretty fun road if you're looking for a good upper body work out on a trike.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 482
Likes: 30
From: Michigan/Florida
All great comments - a couple of things..
1: 2014 - 2017 TriGlides have linked brakes, unlike older ones, so front/back usage dynamics are different than non-linked. Some experimentation on loose surfaces recommended.
2: When making turns from a stop, hard acceleration can lift the front end enough to push - you'll go straight until you let off a bit.
3: This might sound obvious, but on big, fast sweeping turns, keep your eyes on the road all the time..... there is a difference from a two wheel bike, the trike will want to go straight and on decreasing radius turns, the need for steering change is all input to the handle bars, unlike a bike with counter steering, lean angle changes. I've just flicked my eyes down to look at the speedo in the middle of a sweeper and felt I was not tracking the curve when refocused on the road ahead....
I have about 10 grand on the trike now, but find I'm learning more every time I ride...
1: 2014 - 2017 TriGlides have linked brakes, unlike older ones, so front/back usage dynamics are different than non-linked. Some experimentation on loose surfaces recommended.
2: When making turns from a stop, hard acceleration can lift the front end enough to push - you'll go straight until you let off a bit.
3: This might sound obvious, but on big, fast sweeping turns, keep your eyes on the road all the time..... there is a difference from a two wheel bike, the trike will want to go straight and on decreasing radius turns, the need for steering change is all input to the handle bars, unlike a bike with counter steering, lean angle changes. I've just flicked my eyes down to look at the speedo in the middle of a sweeper and felt I was not tracking the curve when refocused on the road ahead....
I have about 10 grand on the trike now, but find I'm learning more every time I ride...
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 133
From: Upstate NY
Great point here...almost cost me a fender when I first started riding TG
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 133
From: Upstate NY
All great comments - a couple of things..
1: 2014 - 2017 TriGlides have linked brakes, unlike older ones, so front/back usage dynamics are different than non-linked. Some experimentation on loose surfaces recommended.
2: When making turns from a stop, hard acceleration can lift the front end enough to push - you'll go straight until you let off a bit.
3: This might sound obvious, but on big, fast sweeping turns, keep your eyes on the road all the time..... there is a difference from a two wheel bike, the trike will want to go straight and on decreasing radius turns, the need for steering change is all input to the handle bars, unlike a bike with counter steering, lean angle changes. I've just flicked my eyes down to look at the speedo in the middle of a sweeper and felt I was not tracking the curve when refocused on the road ahead....
I have about 10 grand on the trike now, but find I'm learning more every time I ride...
1: 2014 - 2017 TriGlides have linked brakes, unlike older ones, so front/back usage dynamics are different than non-linked. Some experimentation on loose surfaces recommended.
2: When making turns from a stop, hard acceleration can lift the front end enough to push - you'll go straight until you let off a bit.
3: This might sound obvious, but on big, fast sweeping turns, keep your eyes on the road all the time..... there is a difference from a two wheel bike, the trike will want to go straight and on decreasing radius turns, the need for steering change is all input to the handle bars, unlike a bike with counter steering, lean angle changes. I've just flicked my eyes down to look at the speedo in the middle of a sweeper and felt I was not tracking the curve when refocused on the road ahead....
I have about 10 grand on the trike now, but find I'm learning more every time I ride...