[KA7W]

[No message]

 

[beastie]

Tom,

You have ridden one of my all time favorite roads. But I have never ridden it on my trike. I can ride my CSC faster in the curves than I could on 2 wheels but it took me a while to get used to it. Trikes are really different and to get where you can ride agressively takes a lot of practice. I didn't really feel like I was one with the trike until I had about 7000+ miles on it.

As Bigchief found on his trip, it takes a while to learn proper techinque. In hard cornering you need to straight-arm and push more than pulling. And you need to lean into the turn. The more the turn, the more the lean. And you have to learn when to brake and when to accelerate. Trikes have much different handling characteristics than bikes and it takes a while.

I now have over 12,000 miles on my trike and I think I am getting the hang of it.

 

[SMSgtE8]

Also, experimenting with the brakes in corners, felt like if I used to much front brake it might tilt over to the out side, and with the rear brake it felt pretty good and pulled it down well.

Tom in Aztec 8)

Tom, you have to remember that the brakes are NOT integrated on some trikes like they are on a 2 wheeler. When you pull in the handle on a trike, you are using BOTH calipers and rotors on the front wheel, not just one. Therefore you get much more braking with less effort in the front. Plus you now have two rotors in the back versus just one like the 2 wheeler. Most of my braking is done with the rear brakes with front brakes providing the fine control. IMHO.

 

[David523]

In some of the corners, It required a lot of pressure on the handle bars to hold it in the turn, and it almost felt like the inside rear was lifting a bit and the front tire was sliding outside a bit.

Tom in Aztec 8)

Sounds like the EZ Steer rake kit was not installed when converted. You should not have to exert a lot of pressure in a sharp curve or a turn. I had the 4 1/2° kit installed on my Champion conversion and have not experienced any of the above. Also, tire pressure is critical when riding the twisties. 38-40 psi in the front and 23-24 in the rear.

I do ride very aggressive in the twisties.

 

[KA7W]

[No message]

 

[WhiskeryGoofy]

David523

The bike DOES have the EZ steer, 4.5 deg kit. But I was going around a very tight curve at about 1.7 times the recommended speed. (I go twice recommended on that curve on two wheels)... It just required a lot of force, maybe 40 pounds or so of push to get around it. Had both knees smashing up against the bike and leaned forward and into the curve.

That bike really wants to go straight down the road, and it takes very little pressure to make small movements, but the really fast twisties it does take a LOT of pressure to make it stick to the road.

Boy, you are right when you say it takes very little pressure to move it going straight. First time out, I leaned forward to take a sip outta my Butler Cup, which changed my weight distribution on the handlebars, and darn near shot all the way across the hwy b/4 I knew it. But that has corrected itself. WHEREVER you point that front tire, that unit is coming after you. A little unsettling at first. I think the trike is more responsive than 2 wheels. I think also, that's what gives you the feeling of being on a rail when you take the curves. The wheelbase is so short, the rear end comes right on around.

 

[pmsteve]

I rode a friend's Champion 1800 several weeks ago at a rally. He told me that weight distribution in the curves, especially at speed is critical. One tip he gave me was to place my weight on the footpegs rather than gripping the bike with my knees in the curves. This allows you to shift your weight quicker and places your weight down lower than when you have your butt glued to the seat. Leaning forward and into the corners really helped while placing more weight on the inside peg. This allowed me to corner much faster than when I was sitting static on the saddle. It seemed much more secure, too.

 

[BlueWing]

Holly's GL1800 Champion will corner like a slot car. You can carve a corner so hard you really fell like if you were not hanging on tight it could throw you off the trike with the G forces.

 

[Mad Mowers]

Good advice above! Something to bear in mind is to look at the curve set up as soon as you see it. If the curve is flat and sharp you will have to slow down. If the curve is banked in any way, as soon as the rear tires hit the banked section you can scoot on thru rolling on the power. One large problem to watch for is curves that drop sharply to the left or right and then bring you back up onto a flat surface. These must be taken with a bit of caution as you will "pitch" toward the center line upon hitting the flat. Some of the best/worst curves of this type are located on the "Draggon "Or as we call it the "11 mile road". 318 curves :lol: including double switch backs :shock: in 11 miles Hyw. 129 in east TN. and western NC.
Practice Practice!

 

[dozerman]

You all sound like a bunch 14 year kids trying to out run the other one on a ATV.In the last 32 years my wife and I have rode every road in a 500 mile radius.we never got our trike to see how fast we could go around a curve.wedid that when we were young on a motorcycle. we rode home from a GWRRA meeting last night 65 miles the moon was shining bright we could see the stars. the cattle. in the field. not a single deer really was enjoyable. that trike ridding.

 

[beastie]

... we did that when we were young...

Hey dozerman, you may be old, but some of us like to think we are still young and the trike lets us ride like it. BTW, we'll be riding the Dragon again this week. This will be out 5th time to the Smokies this year to ride all those scenic curves. Don't get in our way 'cause we are coming thru... :yes:

P.S. Are there any curves in Kansas?

 

[WhiskeryGoofy]

You all sound like a bunch 14 year kids trying to out run the other one on a ATV.In the last 32 years my wife and I have rode every road in a 500 mile radius.we never got our trike to see how fast we could go around a curve.wedid that when we were young on a motorcycle. we rode home from a GWRRA meeting last night 65 miles the moon was shining bright we could see the stars. the cattle. in the field. not a single deer really was enjoyable. that trike ridding.

"..14 year old kid".. Dozer that is the best compliment I have had since I discovered Viagra. Wait til I tell my wife :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[beastie]

"..14 year old kid".. Dozer that is the best compliment I have had since I discovered Viagra. Wait til I tell my wife :lol: :lol: :lol:

Here is a picture of Ken on my trike. Look at that grin. Kinda looks like a kid, doesn't he??? He has a gray trike and unfortunately I don't have a picture of him burning rubber leaving my driveway. Don't call Ken an old man.

AND - don't try to keep up with him in the twisties either. Not that you could!!!

You guys are like a bunch of kids on those trikes.

:yes: :yes: :yes:

 

[dozerman]

Lots of people think kansas is flat as a table. we live in eastern part 30 miles from Oklahoma.yes we do have hills and curves.and lot of wind. my wife said I am just like you all but don"twant to admit it. we have a ten miles stretch with about 7 - 35 to 45 miles curve on it when I fist got my trike I rode every day untill I could go around them the same speed as I could on my motorcycle. I got go to Wichita be back on to night.

 

[Ken L.]

Here is a picture of Ken on my trike. Look at that grin. Kinda looks like a kid, doesn't he??? He has a gray trike and unfortunately I don't have a picture of him burning rubber leaving my driveway. Don't call Ken an old man.

AND - don't try to keep up with him in the twisties either. Not that you could!!!

Thanks Don,that sure is a good picture of me.

 

[cjmitch]

One tip he gave me was to place my weight on the footpegs rather than gripping the bike with my knees in the curves. This allows you to shift your weight quicker and places your weight down lower than when you have your butt glued to the seat. Leaning forward and into the corners really helped while placing more weight on the inside peg. This allowed me to corner much faster than when I was sitting static on the saddle. It seemed much more secure, too.

I tries the "stand on the pegs method....and I got to endorse it....
I wasnt having a problem with cornering, but I tried it and there was a significant difference in the cornering security...
thanks!!!!