Reverse a lil squirreley By hobbles (Read 550 times)

[hobbles]

Is it normal for a trike to be a lil squirreley when backing up? The handle bars try to go left and right.
The reason I'm asking is I heard this trike has been in a ditch and the handlebars are turned a little to the right. It does seem to ride ok, even at 61 MPH. I want to make sure it is safe for the Wife to go into town and back, it's just 35 miles round trip, altho she has mentioned she likes riding on the back.   

[davec]

I would say that that is a normal condition due to the rear wheels now being the front wheels and the front wheel now being pulled (vs pushed) and if it isn't exactly in line the front tire will be pulled from side to side.
(or something like that)

I never go fast or far enuf on mine to notice the flip flop.
My problem with reverse is it doesnt engage till the rpms are higher and jerks/rapid engagement at take off.

But, yea, sounds normal for the nature of a trike

[hobbles]

Thanks davec, I have never drove a trike before, I didn't know.

[richardv]

It's like when you get a shopping cart with a bad front wheel. The caster angle is wrong when backing. On a two wheeler your usually leaning or turning a bit which stabilizes the wheel.

If had motorcycles do that to if the front brake isn't being applied and backing straight. But you may want to check the fork bears to be sure they are snug. There should be a slight resistance when you turn the bars with the wheel off the ground.

[hobbles]

Thanks richardv, I'll check it. I have to jack it off the ground anyway, the rear hubs have a lil sideways play in both. I think I can fix that by tightening the bearing nuts.

[royldoc]

Yup, they can be. My magnum has plenty of power and if I goose the throttle to much it gets a little hairy scary, especially if the handlebars are turned a little bit. It takes a little getting used to. Be careful with the throttle and it shouldn't be a problem. Check to make sure nothing is bent or broken.

Roy

[hobbles]

Thanks for the feed back royldoc. I'm still getting use to the trike. Back in the early 80ies I had a Honda 125 ATV and it had three wheels, but it felt/handled different. I've rode street bikes back in the 60 and 70ies and dirt bikes in the 70ies, but they were two wheelers, and I have a Polaris atv four wheeler now. The Polaris is a farm tool, it's for hunting, fishing and getting firewood. This trike will be nice to take the Wife into town in the summer time for hamburgers and such. The poor lil Wife is scared of horses so I need to get the trike fixed up for her and us to ride. Now, if I can just leave it mostly stock, it MIGHT be an inexpensive hobby. (is there such a thing??)

[rapidjim]

Dec 29, 2014 6:16:34 GMT -6 hobbles said:

Is it normal for a trike to be a lil squirreley when backing up? The handle bars try to go left and right.
The reason I'm asking is I heard this trike has been in a ditch and the handlebars are turned a little to the right. It does seem to ride ok, even at 61 MPH. I want to make sure it is safe for the Wife to go into town and back, it's just 35 miles round trip, altho she has mentioned she likes riding on the back.   

To answer your original question. Yes trikes feel a bit squirrely in reverse if you are giving a bit to much throttle because of the geometry of the machine. You need to back up slow. It is also not as easy to control going backwards because you are looking back and have a tendency to to pull on the handlebars in the direction that your head is turned. You also have to remember you have 3 wheels and 2 for power and only one for steering. Since you don't have an issue going forward, esp at high speeds, I really doubt there is an issue with the front end. Even a Goldwing trike will have a squirrely feeling going backwards to fast.

I have noticed some trikes that seem to have the handlebars turned to the right a bit. The forks may be a bit out of align, but doesn't seem to effect the ride or steering.

[hobbles]