John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15209
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« on: May 18, 2022, 07:40:56 AM » |
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First the trikes...mine rides a couple dozen levels harsher & harder than an empty dump truck. It's a Roadsmith conversion and has adjustable coil over shocks on the second lowest setting, plus coil springs separate from the shocks. It also has what I believe they refer to as a "performance" sway. The new rear tires just mounted have only 30 psi, I'm using that level as an experiment to see if it softens the ride even a little bit. Haven't had much chance to ride yet but the one short ride I took didn't show much promise. I'd like to take my new lady friend for a ride but unless she wears a tight sports bra she'll end up with two black eyes. The trike holds the road really good, especially in turns & curves. It remains pretty flat throughout so probably due to the sway bar stiffness...which may also be part of the problem. I've tried calling the factory for advice...no help there.
As for the I/S trunk, going over rough roads the lid rattles like a pair of dice in a tin can. I've tried different thicknesses of foam in the area where the hinges come together which works for a little while. Then eventually the foam compresses and I'm back to square one. Any suggestions?
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Serk
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« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2022, 07:46:29 AM » |
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As for the I/S trunk, going over rough roads the lid rattles like a pair of dice in a tin can. I've tried different thicknesses of foam in the area where the hinges come together which works for a little while. Then eventually the foam compresses and I'm back to square one. Any suggestions?
The stock gasket was hollow, I got some vinyl hose, slobbered wire lubricant on it, and snaked it into the cavity of the gasket. This provided enough extra oomph to the gasket that it stopped the rattle, and also gave the trunk a little bounce open when I turned the key to open it... Edit to add - https://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,114241.0.html |
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« Last Edit: May 18, 2022, 07:51:14 AM by Serk »
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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old2soon
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« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2022, 08:36:49 AM » |
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Try the lowest shock setting. Is there a good suspension shop anywhere near you. Maybe pull the springs and have the Actual spring rate checked. Anything underneath rusted up like it's lived there fer years? Good luck there John!  RIDE SAFE. |
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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csj
Member
Posts: 992
I used to be a wolfboy, but I'm alright NOOOOOWWWW
Peterborough Ontario Canada
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« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2022, 01:48:41 PM » |
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I've recently been through this harsh ride on my girl's trike. Others on this board advised to drop rear tires pressure to 20 psi, or lower. I've been as low as 10 psi, but going hard around a corner feels like the bike leans too much, or so I have found.
Lower rear pressure also makes steering a bit better, if it was ever difficult.
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A guy called me a Ba$tard, I said in my case it's an accident
of birth, in your case you're a self made man.
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signart
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« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2022, 03:19:57 PM » |
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Sounds like to much spring., or to much sway bar/spring combination. Make sure sway bar is not over tightened and not allowing the bushings to work. Maybe take a ride without the sway bar.
I would rather have a softer spring rate and let the sway bar do its job in the turns. A sway bar does nothing on the straights. As mentioned lower TP
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15209
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2022, 03:45:02 PM » |
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Sounds like to much spring., or to much sway bar/spring combination. Make sure sway bar is not over tightened and not allowing the bushings to work. Maybe take a ride without the sway bar.
I would rather have a softer spring rate and let the sway bar do its job in the turns. A sway bar does nothing on the straights. As mentioned lower TP
How would you over tighten the sway bar, it has specific attachment points the best I can tell. You bolt it in and that's it. Don't how I'd be able to take a ride without the sway bar, it's mounted up under the body in back and not really accessible. |
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Skinhead
Member
Posts: 8726
J. A. B. O. A.
Troy, MI
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« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2022, 04:56:28 PM » |
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As far as the trunk rattle goes, I bought some self adhesive hollow rubber weather stripping and put it all around the OEM gasket on the lower trunk (On the flat surface). It makes the trunk a little harder to close, but no more rattles. I did it on the saddle bags as well.
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 Troy, MI |
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3W-lonerider
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« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2022, 05:09:27 PM » |
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way too much air pressure in those rear tires. drop that pressure down to no higher than 24 psi. as far as the trunk rattle. go to the hardware store and get some little sticky furniture leg thingies that go on the bottoms of the legs and install them where the hinges are. also that sway bar is some of your cause for a rough ride. when i got my new California sidecar trike i had a choice of putting a swaybar on it. but was told it would definitely make the rear ride harsher. if you want that trike to not lean outward in turns then the swaybar is a must. i have never ridden a trike that didn't lean outward in the turns. you get used to it after awhile.
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« Last Edit: May 18, 2022, 05:20:18 PM by 3W-lonerider »
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Rams
Member
Posts: 16190
So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out
Covington, TN
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« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2022, 06:51:44 PM » |
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Drop that shock air pressure to 20 lbs or put on the lowest setting and the tires to 24 lbs tire. Start there and go up or down from that point. I'm only run, 20 lbs in my air shocks and 22 lbs in my tires. Your results may vary but, if you want a softer ride, that's the way to get it.
Rams
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« Last Edit: May 18, 2022, 07:44:48 PM by Rams »
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.
Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
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Avanti
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« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2022, 08:23:01 PM » |
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The trunk hinges can be drilled out to fight a lower clearance pin. Thread both ends of the pin and use a washer and acorn nut on each end.
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15209
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2022, 08:47:33 PM » |
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Rams, the shocks aren't air shocks, only adjustable like those on the 2-wheelers. They're on the 2nd from lowest setting now so maybe I'll drop the tire pressure a bit, currently at 30 I believe. Not much I can do about the sway bar, plus I can't get to it anyway without doing some dismantling which ain't happening.
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Mike in AR
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« Reply #11 on: May 19, 2022, 10:01:58 AM » |
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I run between 21-24 PSI in my rear tires. I have a Motortrike kit on my 2000 I/S. It has air bags, and shocks. I mostly ride 2-up, but on the occasions when I do ride solo, I notice that the ride is harder, than when I have my wife on the back. I just always assumed that the ride was rougher because the back end was lighter, and spread out as opposed to 2 wheels, where the rear end is in line with the rider and the front wheel. Don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but that was just my observation.
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 Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. |
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signart
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« Reply #12 on: May 19, 2022, 02:10:35 PM » |
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Sounds like to much spring., or to much sway bar/spring combination. Make sure sway bar is not over tightened and not allowing the bushings to work. Maybe take a ride without the sway bar.
I would rather have a softer spring rate and let the sway bar do its job in the turns. A sway bar does nothing on the straights. As mentioned lower TP
How would you over tighten the sway bar, it has specific attachment points the best I can tell. You bolt it in and that's it. Don't how I'd be able to take a ride without the sway bar, it's mounted up under the body in back and not really accessible. Just referring to sway bars in general. They can be overtightened under certain circumstances with a bolt that's too short, improper washer thickness etc... they just need to pivot on their bushings freely. I hope you hit on softer ride solution, if not, there are sunglasses that are not all that pricey.  |
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