Insta Trike

[Badrocks]

Well after my balance challenged wife dropped the bike 3 times by 10am the first day of the MSF class, I decided to get her some training wheels. To her credit she still really seems to want to learn to ride and I want to do what I can to encourage that. I bought my wife an '02 650 VStar Classic two weeks ago and ordered the Insta Trike kit to go on it. Does anybody have any experience installing these? Any tips or quirks on the installation or riding?

[rldowns3]

I've never done it myself but I just watched the video on their webiste (tow-pac's insta trike kit) and it's pretty strait foward. Bolt on the reciever hitch to the bike frame, and the trike kit attaches via a hitch reciever and two other bolts. Looks pretty easy. Probably the hardest part is mounting the reciever looks like some bikes may require removal of a few body parts to get it bolted on, but once on that's it, it's on.

[rldowns3]

The only thing I find sad about the whole thing is that they offer trike kits for scooters, LOL!

[alstensby]

Originally Posted by rldowns3

The only thing I find sad about the whole thing is that they offer trike kits for scooters, LOL!

That's funny!

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by rldowns3

The only thing I find sad about the whole thing is that they offer trike kits for scooters, LOL!

I saw one of those over the weekend! To the guy's credit, he had a handycap plate on his scooter. it was a big one. at least a 400 if not a 650.

[Badrocks]

Oh man! I coulda gotten her a scooter with training wheels. Kinda like the short bus for bikers!

[Badrocks]

Originally Posted by rldowns3

Probably the hardest part is mounting the reciever looks like some bikes may require removal of a few body parts to get it bolted on, but once on that's it, it's on.

I'm debating whether to put the stock exhaust back on so if that needs to come off during the install that'll make up my mind on that one. The truck dropped it off on the loading dock today. Glad I had the forklift. Still hoping somebody here has installed one so I can get a warm fuzzy before I start. Tricks, tips, pitfalls? Anybody?

[rldowns3]

Originally Posted by NCDave

I saw one of those over the weekend! To the guy's credit, he had a handycap plate on his scooter. it was a big one. at least a 400 if not a 650.

I could see that, but my only problem is buying training wheels that cost $3,000 for a scooter. Hehehe. But, hey, ride what you are able to ride, it's all good.

[Obsidian16825]

One of the ladies in our Goldwing group rides a triked Silver Wing, a 500cc scooter with training wheels.

[Gatogonow]

I do not have one, but spent quite a bit of time researching. It seems that it is somewhat easier to install on a bike with a centerstand. They do supply the little supports that you put under the bike to get it ready and level to start the install.

The first key seems to be the adjustment in height to have enough (proper) weight on the motorcycles rear tire. Too much weight and it handles poorly, too little weight and the tire spins.

The second key seems to be the alignment. Meaning that all three tires end up pretty close to the same. You can imagine how it would handle if the tires on the tryke kit were 3 to 4 degrees right or left of the bikes drivewheel.

The third thing, not on installation but on riding is that a tryke handles differently than a bike, primarily on curves and in turns. If she has not ridden a bike much before, she should be able to develope her skills as fast and maybe faster than an experienced biker that has habits to break.

Side note: The tape and instructions I looked at said that you may need to remove part of the rubber or plastic structure under the fender on certain bikes for the hitch to clear. I do not know if this applies to your bike.

Good luck and let us know what you think, I am very interested!!!!!!!!!!

[Badrocks]

Thanks for that response. This is one of those cases where a center stand would be really helpful. I can see how those stands they provide would support the bike but not how they would raise it enough to preload it. I guess we'll see. I'm hoping that once it's installed my wife will be able to tuen it easily at low speeds. I may wind up putting some longer bars on the bike to give her more leverage. The kit came yesterday and it looks to be really well made. I won't have a chance to do the install for a couple weeks but I'll be sure to record it all for posterity and post it here. The good news is that it's becoming a neighborhood project so I'll have plenty of help.

[ninjaDUDE24]

I have seen those instant bolt on trikes for honda gold wing and suzuki boulevards. They remove the center stand and use those bolt holes for the subframe of the new wheels. I have never seen them put it on though

[Gatogonow]

I seem to remember a You Tube video, they actually got around the preload issue by having the bikes rear tire on a small piece of wood then level with the provided stands. After you attach the trike, the preload ends up being the proper adjustment.

I think that is what I saw, but then again, I am getting old and fuzzy, what did you just say, Oh, never mind I would not remember anyway. What was the question again?