Trike Motorcycle Riding Tips
Three-wheeled motorcycles offer a fun, stable, and unique riding experience. The extra wheel offers a different kind of handling, so it’s important to have some trike riding strategies prepared. At Motorcycle Maxx, we’ve got you covered! We created the following guide with some helpful tips for riding a trike. If you still have questions, reach out to our team at our Lewis Center, Ohio location. We also proudly serve Columbus and Cincinnati!
Starting the Trike
The first step is to start up your motorcycle:
- Ensure that the brakes are engaged
- Engage the clutch
- Shift into first gear
- Release the brakes
- Release the clutch as you increase the throttle
Shifting Gears
Next, it’s time to shift gears. This process is similar to the one you use in manual transmission cars.
- Drop the throttle
- Engage the clutch
- Shift gears
- Let the clutch out
You should always be careful when you shift gears, because it’s easy to lose control of the trike. Only shift when you’re driving in a straight line. As long as you shift properly, there shouldn’t be a stalled engine.
Turning
Nobody wants to ride their trike in a straight line the whole time! It’s important to have some turning strategies at the ready.
Turning on a Motorcycle vs a Trike
A standard two-wheeled motorcycle has the rider use counter steering to turn. The rider has to learn to counter centrifugal forces. This prevents the rider from tipping over when turning.
On a trike, the rider uses direct steering instead. This process is similar to how you steer a car. Instead of moving as a steering wheel though, all you need to do is tilt the trike’s handlebars. This type of steering makes it easier to control the vehicle.
Time to Turn
Once you approach an upcoming turn:
- Start to slow down
- Maintain your speed as you approach the turn
- Turn the handlebars the appropriate direction
- Wait until you exit the corner before you hit the throttle again
Focus on executing a nice, smooth turn. A jerky turn can cause you to lose control of your trike. Don’t forget to account for your motorcycle’s width, since it’s wider than a two-wheeled model. This will affect the angle that you take the turn.
Stopping
Trikes are big, heavy machines. They need plenty of space to come to a complete stop. Make sure you have enough time to start braking when you come to a stop sign or stop light. Avoid slamming on the brakes since this can lock up the wheels and cause you to lose control.
Are you ready to have a fun ride on your three-wheeled motorcycle? We hope these tips help you stay safe on your trike. If you still have questions or you want to see some models for sale, give us a call at Motorcycle Maxx in Lewis Center, Ohio. We are proud to serve Columbus and Cincinnati too. We look forward to helping you find the motorcycle of your dreams!
