I have a 2010 with the Motor Trike conversion and the aqua shields and I can yes, you have
to be careful as they can rub sometimes. I have not seen any damage under the bike
the few times it has rubbed, but I am very careful and try to go over things like that at an angle
to avoid rubbing.

Duane

 

I was told to take the caps off the springs and put some washers on top. This will preload the springs and raise the front a little. Mine only has 4.5 inch. His has 5 inches. I am going to be avoiding speed bumps till I do the washer thing. (left name out as I'm sure he does not want it on here) I measured several trikes must 2012 at the dealer some had 5 some had 4.5 that's not much. :coffee1:

 

Motor Trike Fastback w/4 1/2 deg rake with 2 inch risers. I've been over some good sized speed bumps in parking lots. Haven't scraped anything yet. Usually triking one causes the front end to be an inch or so low. Putting on 2" risers will also level out the trike. Mine were made by I.R. Harry but they aren't available from him any longer but can be found easily enough.

 

What you scrape is the support tube frame under the aquashields not the fiberglass. I scraped mine one time when I did a U-turn and my front tire drop off the asphalt. Got my attention real fast but no damage and I hit pretty hard. I haven't had any problems with speed bumps but I don't have a rake kit installed. I did have to extend the ramp to my motorcycle lift to get the trike over the top edge of the lift. I added about 18" of 3/4" plywood on top of a 2"X3" and this fixed the problem. The lift is 8" tall and now the ramp is about 40" long so no sharp peek to go over.

 

I've had aqua shields on my 98' GL 1500 for 2 years. I can only remember scraping the aqua shield tubing mounts on bottom 3 times and each time was because I forgot to take a bump at an angle. You may scratch the tubing mounts but you won't hurt it. You get used to slowing down for speed bumps to prevent them from scraping and don't even think about it.

 

I understand an engine bolt is removed and then put back in when attaching the front of them. Has anyone had trouble with that bolt after rubbing the bottom of the acqua shields? Thanks in advance for whatever info you can give me.

My Hannigan foot fairings mount with a bracket to the front tip-over bars(mistakenly referred to as "Crash bars" by many).
Not sure what engine bolt MT would use:?:

 

Ive got a Lehman with the aquashields and to me its a personal choice like oil. But what sold me was 2 years while doing maintenance after a 5200 mile trip I found a big chunk taken out of the lower front of the left aquashield. I dont know what hit it but I know if I didnt have the aquashield it probably would've hit the Missus or the fenders also. That sold me on them that day. Like others you occassionally rub the supports on speedbumps and such especially if you're loaded down on a trip.

 

I would encourage you to give more weight to responses from those with MT running boards as all are not alike. One other question you might ask is, "Knowing what you know now [after riding at least 1000 miles including 500 in ther rain], would you opt for running boards again?"

 

I am considering having acqua shields on my 2008 gold wing with a motor trike kit and have 2 questions.
1. Has anyone had issues rubbing the bottom of them on speed bumps or rubing when going into drivways?
2. I understand an engine bolt is removed and then put back in when attaching the front of them. Has anyone had trouble with that bolt after rubbing the bottom of the acqua shields? Thanks in advance for whatever info you can give me.

I have just over 10,000 miles on my '06 with MT Adventure conversion. I had the old style Aqua Shields installed and I don't know if they are even available any longer. Seems like my installer told me MT was dropping them completely. Anyway, I suspect the new ones mount the same as mine and I've had no issues at all. I have scraped a couple times on real high speed bumps but it was at about 2 mph.

When I had my conversion done the front end of the trike was really low to the ground. I installed a 4.5 degree rake kit myself and rebuilt the forks at the same time. While apart I put progressive springs in to pick the front end up a bit. Now it sets level. I don't think it prevents the speed bump drag problem but it's not a huge issue. It's really the bolts sticking through the fram that drag.

The engine bolt concern is really not a worry at all. The bold MT used is plenty strong and I don't expect to ever have a problem there.

I haven't had an opportunity to ride in the rain (West Texas) but I can tell you there is far less wind on my legs. When it's 105 degrees that is not necessarily a good thing but when it's 30 degrees it sure is!!

Sorry to be rambling. Hope all that helps.

 

The engine bolt concern is really not a worry at all. The bold MT used is plenty strong and I don't expect to ever have a problem there.


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I agree. As I recall there are 2 (12mm I think) bolts on the front bottom of the engine you remove and mount the front aqua shield frame there. I put some blue loctite on the threads and no problems.

 

Sledder,

I did get your email on this finelly.... I have not heard or seen any real problem with the bolt that is used on the front of the MT Aqua Shields. The way they are installed does lower the ground clearance considerably like almost an inch to as much as an inch and a half. There should have been fork caps installed with the rake kit that would compensate for a large portion of the lowering. A good set of fork springs will take care of the rest of the lowering, and even raise the clearance to above normal. I have Traxxion springs in my 02 and the clearance is at 5.75 +- . I have craped several speed bumps in parking lots, and some rather briskly. With no apparent damage to either the tubes or shields. I have developed the habit of approaching bumps at an angle and slowing down also I have paint scraped off the bottom of the tubes, but that is about it. They are pretty stout.

 

I would encourage you to give more weight to responses from those with MT running boards as all are not alike. One other question you might ask is, "Knowing what you know now [after riding at least 1000 miles including 500 in ther rain], would you opt for running boards again?"

:agree: Follow us owners with the motortrikes, all trikes are different. The aquashields keep the rain water from coming forward off the tires and soaking you. I have the 2 piece aquashields so I don't know how well the 1 piece shields work. I would also recommend you put on mudflaps so the rain water does not soak the riders behind you. Mine motortrike kicks up a lot of water with out the mudflaps. My girlfriend has to keep pretty far back so she can see in the rain when she is following me on her bike.