Trike Riding Tips
While they might not be the most popular motorcycles on the road, trikes are certainly unique vehicles. Believe it or not, trikes offer plenty of perks, such as improved comfort and better stability. These three-wheeled motorcycles provide a superior level of power, speed, and easy handling that riders expect from a bike. Keep reading to learn more about trikes and when you’re ready to check them out in person, visit Loewer Powersports & Equipment in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Turning
A trike is designed for long-distance riding, which means rider comfort is a priority. After all, no one wants to cut their ride short due to aching muscles and joints. Trikes are created to be easy on the body in order to promote enjoyable, comfortable endurance trips. These models don't require the same physical exertion to control and steer as two-wheeled bikes do.
Your typical motorcycle requires riders to use their body to lean and stay in control, which is more difficult to learn and harder on the body. With trikes, there is no leaning required. These vehicles use the same steering style as a car. All you need to do is just tilt the handlebars in the direction you want to go.
Before you get to the turn, you'll want to slow down. As you approach the turn, you'll want to maintain your speed. Once you are through the corner, you'll hit the throttle again. This gives you the extra power to get out of the turn and return to your routine driving. Shoot for turning smooth and steady. An abrupt turn can cause you to lose control, so be careful.
Remember to account for the width of your trike as these machines are wider than a typical two-wheeled motorcycle. This affects the angle you'll need to use when approaching a turn. Turning too sharply risks one of your wheels losing contact with the ground.
Starting and Shifting
Bikes and trikes use different steering methods, but they both use manual transmissions. In order to start a three-wheel motorcycle, you’ll need to engage the brakes. Next, engage the clutch, shift into first gear, release the brakes, and release the clutch as you increase the throttle.
When you want to shift gears, you’ll need to start by dropping the throttle. Then, you’ll engage the clutch, shift gears, and let the clutch out. The process is fairly similar to shifting gears in a manual transmission car. If you complete the process correctly, you won’t experience any issues or engine stalling. Remember to shift gears carefully because it’s all too easy to lose control. You’ll be in good shape if you shift while traveling in a straight line.
How to Stop
Eventually, you will need to bring your trike to a stop. Trikes are beasts of a machine, which means they run pretty heavy. It will take a fair amount of distance and time for them to come to a full stop. Begin braking far in advance. Avoid slamming on your brakes as much as possible (doing so can cause the wheels on trike motorcycles to lock up).
Most trike motorcycles have a separate system for the front wheel and the back wheels. You can choose to use one or both to stop. But if you only use one, make sure it’s the back wheel brake. You'll get the best braking power, though, if you use both. Just make sure to do them at the same time.
We hope that this trike riding guide has been useful. If you are looking for some quality trikes for sale, feel free to give us a call or visit Loewer Powersports & Equipment in Alexandria, LA. Our friendly staff will be happy to help you find a model that suits your needs and budget. We proudly serve all those in the rest of Rapides Parish and Lafayette, so get in touch with us today!
