The Beginners’ Guide to Riding a Trike

Trikes, or three-wheeled motorcycles, offer you a unique riding experience that’s somewhat similar to riding a motorcycle, but with more stability. However, there is a learning curve when it comes to riding a trike, especially when you’re accustomed to two wheels. The additional wheel on trikes changes the way that they handle, so it’s important to get some practice and know what you’re getting into before you zoom off into the sunset.

Taboo Harley-Davidson is your Louisiana trike dealer in Alexandria. Below, you’ll find some helpful information on how to safely ride a trike.

1. Start the Trike

Obviously, the first thing we need to do is start that engine. Check that your brakes are engaged, then engage your clutch and shift into first gear. Release the brakes first, then release the clutch gently as you increase the throttle.

2. Shift Gears

If you’ve driven a manual-transmission car before, this step will be easy, but for everyone used to automatic transmission, it’ll take a bit of time to get the hang of this. First, drop the throttle and engage the clutch, then shift to the gear you want before you let the clutch out. Shift gears with care and only while you’re going in a straight line for best results.

3. Turn the Trike

When you turn on a standard motorcycle, you need to countersteer in order to counteract centrifugal force and prevent the bike from falling over. On a trike, you’re going to use what’s called “direct steering” to turn, which is more like how you’d turn a car. Instead of a steering wheel, though, you’ll just tilt your handlebars in the direction you want to go.

As you approach a turn, slow down your trike somewhat, then maintain a constant speed as you turn the handlebars left or right. Completely exit the corner and straighten out before you engage the throttle again. Try not to take turns too sharply, as this can cause one of your rear wheels to come off the road!

4. Braking the Trike

Stopping your trike will take a little effort and a lot of space, because trikes are much heavier than standard bikes. Make sure you have a lot of room ahead of you so you can slow down gradually. Do not slam your brakes, as this can lock the wheels and cause you to lose control.

There is typically a brake for the front and the back of your trike. If you choose to only use one, go with the rear brake. You’ll get more stopping power if you use both at the same time, though.

Once you put in some practice riding your trike, you’ll soon become an experienced rider. Seeking trikes for sale in Louisiana? Stop by to see us at our Alexandria, LA, dealership to view our current stock of new and used trikes for sale. Taboo Harley-Davidson proudly serves the cities of Lafayette and Natchitoches, LA, in addition to Natchez, MS.