Re: Triking my 2006 883 Custom Sports
Trikes per se are not dodgy but there are a lot of badly built ones out there (even from shops). Ive ridden, not owned, two harley trikes. One was good to ride and handled well, the other was a dangerously handling beast which never felt safe - both were built by specialist shops. I have also owned a Fiat X19 trike for around 5 years and a V-Dub. Both were built by the owners and were excellent vehicles. Leading link front ends were fitted to both which helps tremendously. Drawbacks? None really = contrary to popular opinion its not often you get stuck in jams in my experience as the cars shifting for the bikes you were with generally left enough room to get a trike thru. You may have to travel a bit further for the MoT. See if you can have a ride on one as they are not for everyone. Hth.
Yes there are some badly built ones.
I too went to a trike - because of a dodgy back and left leg.
If you're getting it built then many of your problems will be sorted. Like fork rake angle (important for stability), re registering etc.
The bike you've got can have either a bolt on / weld on frame which can have independent rear suspension or a swing arm conversion and an axle ( various types). Not going into any of that as it's not your question.
I would recommend changing over to chain drive during the modification. Makes life easier than trying to change a belt inside an axle / frame configuration.
Riding isn't dodgy it's just different.
On roads with heavy cambers then then it sits on the camber and you have to lean a bit to sit upright.
On bends of course it sits upright and you lean so as not to fall off (ha ha) and if there is a camber on the bend then it's a mixture of leaning.
As you only use a portion of the front tyre ( if bike tyre retained ) then if you go into a bend and you hit an anomaly in the road - pothole / drain cover, over banding etc. you can sometimes feel the front tyre 'hop' ? but, I've only felt it when I've cocked it up and gone in too hot really. It didn't feel unsafe ? just strange and if it been on a 2 wheeler then maybe I'd have been off any way ? who knows.
Man holes. Trying to fit deep manholes between the wheels takes practice.
Speed. Dependent on what setup you have it may make a difference to how you ride and overall mph. Until you get used to it.
Took me a while to stop putting my feet down at junctions!!
Have to rethink some oil level checks.The ones that are done with bike on side stand.
Pros.
Don't need to wear helmet. Takes your choice on that ? I do on long fast runs but may not if going roundthe block.
Can rack it to death and carry tonnes of stuff. Trailers are easier.
Can't fall over when parking because your leg just gave out or on soft ground etc. as not on a side stand.
Cons.
Perhaps no filtering in traffic - but then again you can relax with out the thing falling over, take a break in the fresh air, have a drink and some cake with the kids in the adjacent car pulling faces at you. Or scaring them with your beard and tattoos (if you have them).
Insurance tends to be dearer.
