Motor Trike FAQ's
Q. What differences will I notice when I ride a trike rather than a cycle?
A. 1.You can make better time on a trike. There is a certain inertia point on a 2 wheeler where you have to slow at turns or you go down. On a trike, you can take the turns 10-20 mph faster because you do not have to watch that your wheels stay under you.
2. Another difference that many of my customers comment on is that they can enjoy their ride more. They do not have to have their eyes on the road every minute to watch what is directly in front of the wheels. They can look around and enjoy the scenery.
3. Possibly the biggest difference people have to adjust to is countersteering. When riding a bicycle or motorcycle, countersteering is the name given to the counter-intuitive technique used by cyclists and motorcyclists to turn corners. When riding a bicycle or motorcycle, countersteering is a method of initiating a turn by a small, momentary turn of the front wheel, via the handlebars, in the opposite (counter) direction. This process usually requires little physical effort, because the geometry of the steering system of most bikes is designed in such a way that the front wheel has a strong tendency to steer in the direction of a lean. Now, with a trike, you steer like you do a car, and do not lean. This means if you drop your left hand in your lap, and pull back the right handlebar with your right hand, you will turn right.
Q. How will a trike affect my gas mileage?
A. A trike will knock about 10% off your fuel mileage. You are adding about 250 lbs and you are pulling fenders against the wind.
Q. How do I maintain my trike now that I have it?
A. After you have ridden your first 1,000 miles, bring in your trike so we can check the heim joints and grease them if necessary. We want to make sure everything is working correctly for you. This first visit is free as a courtesy for our customers. If you ride in rain, grease the heim joint on the non-independent suspension trikes sometime in the week following the ride. This is very important to remember because the rainwater tends to wash out the grease. The fender bras need to be removed when you are done riding if they are wet. They snap off easily to dry out. If they are left wet on the fender, they can damage the paint. We use any good spray grease for the heim joints, Honda Polish to clean and wax the trike, and Amsoil for the oil changes. For more detailed information, see owner’s manuals under “Getting Started”. And, of course, there’s the yearly inspection needed, just like a motorcycle. No appointment is needed for the inspection. We keep our inspection cost low as a courtesy to our customers.
Q. What can you tell me about the difference between Motortrike & other trike Conversions?
A. The most obvious, of course, is the looks. And that depends on what you like. From a technical standpoint, the biggest difference is in the suspension. Motortrike has a coil over shock suspension and an airbag along with our independent suspension axles. The shocks have 4 adjustment settings, and the air bag pressure can be adjusted also. We usually set the shocks on the second position up, and this can be adjusted up or down depending on the rider’s preference for a softer or firmer ride. Straight axles with the airbag and coil over shock suspension are also available.
Q. I am buying a motorcycle to have a conversion done by you. What would you advise me to get?
A. It depends what you want. The new independent suspension makes a comparably smooth ride on the Harley Davidson and Honda trikes. On Motortrike kits, ABS brakes are not disconnected in the triking process. While some companies disconnect the ABS brakes, Leola Motortrikes and More does not recommend it. Reverse can be added to the Harley Davidson trikes. You also do not need to be particular about color if you see a cycle at a price you like. We do our own painting here, and we can either paint the conversion to match the cycle, or we can paint the whole cycle to be whatever color you desire. It does not cost that much more to paint the rest of the cycle when it is done during the conversion process. If you are converting to Motortrike from another type of trike, I can tell you the basic handling is the same, whether you are driving a Champion, Leaman or Motortrike. However, caveat emptor, they all ride differently as the suspensions are different. Do ride all the conversions before making your decision.
Q. What is EZ steer?
A. We take the whole tree out of the front and put another one in. The simple physics behind it is that it rakes the front end and makes it steer easier by transferring some of the weight off of the front wheel and onto the back wheels. It does not noticeably alter the appearance of the trike, and it does work with ABS and air bag models.
Q. Do I need EZ steer?
A. I tell people to take the trike and drive it without the EZ steer and see how they feel. The new independent suspension is designed to transfer some of the weight to the rear wheels so most people do not need it. It is really a matter of personal choice and preference. It doesn’t cost any more to have the EZ steer installed after the conversion is done so if you later decide you want it, it only takes about 4 hours to install and is something we can easily and quickly fit into our schedule. About 10% of our customers purchase EZ steer, and generally they are ones who have medical needs subsequent to surgery such as open heart surgery, or rotator cuff surgery.
Q. Can I order a trike kit and install myself?
A. Motortrike requires all Authorized Dealers to be trained at the manufacturing facility in Troup, TX., as they want to ensure that all of kits are installed properly for your riding safety. Therefore, Motortrike does not allow individuals to purchase conversion kits. All trike kits must be purchased and installed through an Authorized Dealer.
Q. What is the warranty on a Motor Trike kit?
A. The manufacturer’s warranty period for Motortrike kits is 3 years or 60,000 miles (normal wear items are not covered under the Motor Trike warranty). Leola Motortrikes and More matches this warranty with a 3 year warranty on the workmanship of our build if the trike is brought back to Leola Motortrikes and More for the service if issues arise. Additionally, with each kit we build here at Leola Motortrikes and More, we give the new owner a certificate for a FREE 1,000 mile checkup.
Q. Where is the rear end number located on my trike?
A. On solid axle shaft driven bikes, the rear end number is stamped into the TOP side of the pinion snout (above the driveshaft attachment point). On solid axle belt drive bikes, it is on the back side of the main carrier housing. Honda IRS the number is stamped into the differential support just below the rear cover. Belt driven IRS kits, the number is stamped into a plate that is attached to the center of the aluminum carrier. (This number is required for any repairs done and replacement parts.)
Q. Does the Motor Trike trailer hitch come with wiring harness for the motorcycle?
A. No, the wiring harness for the motorcycle is a separate item. Many bikes being converted already have a harness on their unit which is why this is a separate item. We offer full customization to meet your riding needs.
Q. Can I get different wheels other than the ones shown in the brochure?
A. Yes, we offer a line of "custom" wheels we can order as well for an additional cost. Please contact your local dealer for a listing of the wheels we offer.
Q. Are the Aqua shields and Trog Trax load bearing?
A. Yes, we include steel framework so they will support the weight as you get on and off of your trike.
Q. What is the bolt pattern on the wheels?
A. We use a 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern on our conversions.
Q. If my trike is out of warranty how do I get parts for my unit?
A. We offer replacement parts and installation information, whether or not your unit was purchased from us.
Q. Can I get a different gear ratio on my trike kit from the factory?
A. No, each kit is designed with a specific gear ratio to maximize performance, economy, and rideability.
Q. Does the Motor Trike kit affect my speedometer?
A. Each kit is designed with a specific gear ratio. In the event the gear ratio is altered from the OEM, we provide a speedometer calibration unit to correct the speedometer (SH750 and VTX1300).
Q. Is my trike body factory painted by Motor Trike, or Leola Motortrikes and More?
A. We offer our kits both ways. Leola Motortrikes and More has the unique privilege of it’s own paint booth, so generally our kits are painted at our shop. This offers the advantage that we can custom color match the paint to your bike in the event the original color has faded.
Q. Does a trike conversion void my motorcycle warranty?
A. Yes, any modification to the frame of a motorcycle voids the manufacturer warranty. However, many dealerships are trike friendly and will continue to honor the factory warranty as long as they deem the need for repair was not caused by the addition of a trike kit.
Q. Does Motor Trike change the exhaust system on their conversions?
A. There are some makes and models of bikes that require us to change the exhaust system to accommodate our conversions. This cost is not included in the kit price as some customers already have an aftermarket system we can utilize. We also have options to purchase specialized exhaust systems through other sources as well.
Q. How much experience do you have to draw on to advise me with problems?
A. The first trike was built in 1992, and currently Leola Motortrikes and More has built almost 600 trikes in the last 25 years in addition to handling motorcycle state inspection, repair and servicing, customization, motorcycle body repair and painting. Since 2005, Motortrike has named Leola Motortrikes and More as one of the top 10 dealers in America.
