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Did I mention it was a trike?

 

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Yes, I caught that and fixed the thread title for you.

 

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It would be a good idea! the reason I think so is because as you rake the bike, you are adjusting a weight transfer towards the front which rests on your suspension. Also, your bike will weigh more now & while braking, more weight will be transferred to the front.

 

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It is a matter of individual taste. the average kit adds 300+ pounds to a Wing. The front suspension of 1500 Wing(if I remember right) has air assist w/an on board compressor??
If so equipped, I would think that would be sufficient.
However, another thought, exactly how old is the bikes suspension? Fork springs wear out! If it's time to replace, Progressive is one choice, Traxxion is another, I would also give 5wt. fork oil consideration if using springs rated heavier than stock.
My rule of thumb-If you are not "bottoming out" then fork oil changes on schedule is all that is needed.

 

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I have no knowledge on the trikes but I stumbled on an interesting post on another board. Normally I would post the link but you have to be a member to read or post there. I hope that this isn't an issue as it looks like he is posting to share his findings with others. This was posted by CrystalPistol. Here it is:



[align=left]Progressive # 11-1112 is for Kawasaki KZ1200/1300 (in my 1500 trike)
20.75 " L <>1.19" OD <> 45/70 Lbs/In.<> near 0.210 wire <> 54 winds

Progressive # 11-1122 is for GL-1200 GoldWings
20.00 " L <>1.34" OD <> 45/70 Lbs/In. <> near 0.230 wire <> 50 winds

Progressive # 11-1152 is for GL-1500 GoldWings
20.50 " L <>1.35" OD <> 35/80 Lbs/In.

Things happen for reasons.


In 2004 I puirchased my already triked 97 GL1500 SE / Lehman trike, I knew this bike since purchased new in Oct '96, it was first '97 delivered in H-burg. Original owner triked it in '97. He was a Lehman installer, they rode it for years as he built others for folks.

It already had Progressive # 11-1152 as indicated by the reciepts they kept in a book of all items for it. Complete with records and a trailer!

I had it a month before I ordered a Champion EZ Steer in 6 degree flavor, got one of the last before they stopped making the 6 degree one he said. Near $900 shipped, I installed Oct '04, reused the Progressive # 11-1152 springs as all I had on hand.

Rough ride and front end sdagged. Look at spring rates above, see why? I do.

Couple years ago, tired of the beeting, being a procrastinator too, I looked arouind and found a set of springs listed for a 1200 on Ebay, I ordered them, as number sounded familiar to what I was looking for 11-1122. Got them, slipped them in in place, WOW!, it was wonderful. They fit a little loose in the bore, squeaked at first, but oh ... What a Ride they gave! Looking later on box, see they were really Progressive # 11-1112 springs, not the 11-1122 springs I thought I ordered.

The squeak went away first ride.

Speed forward, I keep eyes open on Ebay, one day picked up a set of the 11-1122 springs for a GL-1200 cheap, new in box. I get them and put on a shelf.

March 20th, we take a ride over to the Maple Festival, great trip, fun ride. That evening or the next, while cleaning the trike I decided to slip the recently aquired 11-1122 springs in place and removed the 11-1112 springs. I made up 5/8 spacers and that with the shorter 11-1122 springs held the front up near top of stroke at rest. These are the springs Progressive sells for the GL-1200 and the OD is very nearly the same as stock 1500 springs.

Took several rides since, still a comfortable ride, 10X better than those 11-1152 springs originally in it, and front set up ... but memory told me the "wrong" 11-1112 springs rode better, swallowed bumps better, and held the front up as well as the 11-1122 springs with spacers ... even without spacers.

Saturday we had a near 250 mile ride planned, we went.

Saturday night as cleaned it up from what was a dusty ride, I decided to slip the "wrong" 11-1112 springs back in. It's really easy now, can do it in 30 minutes.

Jack under front of motor and set on wooden blocks.

Remove schrader valve and drop 5" long smooth 1/4 bolt in hole to keep it all together when loosened, just loosen top clamp and bring out cap & tube extension as one unit (I have fork tubes mounted so about 3/8" of top extension protrudes above top clamp so that top of original fork tube is inside bottom ... so now the top clamp helps allign the cap & tube extension with fork tube as I stand over with speed wrench and chest board I made up). Remove springs one at a time, I wipe new springs with fork oil and insert, put back together.

Sunday, we take another 268 mile trip.

Yep. memory was right, these Progressive # 11-1112 for Kawasaki KZ1200/1300 will now remain in my GL1500's 6 degree raked front fork tubes from here on out.

I might play with fork oil weights, have a 50/50 mix of 7 and 10 wgt Belray Fork Oil in it now, about 8.5 weight, 350 CC each. 325 CC is enough though though.

The 1122s were good, and if not for a mistake I'ld be using them and not know any better ... but for a mistake in reading a number on my part and the shippers (the listing showed 11-1122, the numbers on the box so simular upon reciept that I just didn't notice, and the length looked right!). These 1112s work bumps and bridge joints and ripples and etc ... even better.
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good info, thanks for that one, bookmarked it

 

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Thanks to all who shared their thoughts and information about adding Progressive Springs to the front of my GL1500SE trike when I add the 4.5 rake to it.
I especially want to thank PWHOEVER for that very interesting bit of information re: progressive suspension.
I have bit the bullet and ordered the Progressive # 11-1112
as suggested in pwhoever's post.
This really is a great forum with tons of knowledge.
I will update you all after i get the rake kit and new springs installed and have had a chance to try them out.

 

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I added the 4.5 degree rake kit to my wife's 1988 trike and WOW what a difference in steering. It took two hands and lots of upper body strength to steer it before the modification, but now she can steer it easily. The trike already had progressive springs, but the forks seals were shot. After getting it back together, it rides very smooth.

 

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Iput my trikein the shop today andthey aregoing to install the 4.5 degree rake kit and progressive front springs tomorrow.

I can't wait to see the difference.

I have to ride about 25 miles home on a combination of fourlane and backroads.

So I will know by the time i get back home if the money was well spent.

I really do appreciate everyones input.

 

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CC_Rider wrote:

Iput my trikein the shop today andthey aregoing to install the 4.5 degree rake kit and progressive front springs tomorrow.

I can't wait to see the difference.

I have to ride about 25 miles home on a combination of fourlane and backroads.

So I will know by the time i get back home if the money was well spent.

I really do appreciate everyones input.

well, how about it, are you happy with the different springs? give us your opinion, trying to decide which way to go with ny hack'd rig. thanks

 

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I could tell a difference before i was at the end of the driveway where i had the rake kit and progressive suspenstion installed. It was like adding power steering to a dumptruck. I think a easysteer kit should be mandatory with every trike kit.

 

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CC_Rider wrote:

I could tell a difference before i was at the end of the driveway where i had the rake kit and progressive suspenstion installed. It was like adding power steering to a dumptruck. I think a easysteer kit should be mandatory with every trike kit.

what i am mainly interested in is the fork springs, which ones did you use? have you ridden it enough yet to determine if the springs you put in make a big difference? the easier steering is the results of changing the trail with the raked triple trees, what i want to know is, does it ride better? thanks

 

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Through my own experience YES, every trike should have the extended rake added and YES, progressive springs DO make one heck of a difference. I went just a tad further with mine by cutting the neck and raking that 1.5 degrees (it lowers the front end) and then putting the 4.5 in. I originally had a 6 degree rake, making it 7.5 total. The 6 is just right for me. I'm assuming that they added the extension to the tubes as well, right?

 

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rate wrote:

what i am mainly interested in is the fork springs, which ones did you use? have you ridden it enough yet to determine if the springs you put in make a big difference? the easier steering is the results of changing the trail with the raked triple trees, what i want to know is, does it ride better? thanks

I followed "pwhoever"instructions in post #8 above and used Progressive # 11-1112 springs.

Yes the trike does ride and handle much better.

 

rate wrote:

I followed "pwhoever"instructions in post #8 above and used Progressive # 11-1112 springs.

Yes the trike does ride and handle much better.

Just found this ..... Glad you liked the 11-1112s!

That was a quote of a post I made someplace .... still liking mine! :waving:

 

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SpiderBob wrote:

Through my own experience YES, every trike should have the extended rake added and YES, progressive springs DO make one heck of a difference. I went just a tad further with mine by cutting the neck and raking that 1.5 degrees (it lowers the front end) and then putting the 4.5 in. I originally had a 6 degree rake, making it 7.5 total. The 6 is just right for me. I'm assuming that they added the extension to the tubes as well, right?

Yes tube extensions came with the rake kit. Otherwise the trike would be riding lower in the front.

 

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CC_Rider wrote:


Yes tube extensions came with the rake kit. Otherwise the trike would be riding lower in the front.

Affirmative, it would indeed be too much. But a little is not bad. Before I cut the neck on my trike I used to raise the tubes about a 1/2" higher than the top of the triple tree. It also made for a better ride. You just need to find the right combination for you. Many don't go through the process of finding the right ride and accept the given. In itself that is not bad either. You have lots of good suggestions here. This is a great thread.:applause:


The only funny thing I have to do now is ride the front tire up on a small platform to get it even high enough to get my low floor jack under the engine before I can even change the oil.

 

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SpiderBob wrote:

CC_Rider wrote:


Yes tube extensions came with the rake kit. Otherwise the trike would be riding lower in the front.

Affirmative, it would indeed be too much. But a little is not bad. Before I cut the neck on my trike I used to raise the tubes about a 1/2" higher than the top of the triple tree. It also made for a better ride. You just need to find the right combination for you. Many don't go through the process of finding the right ride and accept the given. In itself that is not bad either. You have lots of good suggestions here. This is a great thread.:applause:


The only funny thing I have to do now is ride the front tire up on a small platform to get it even high enough to get my low floor jack under the engine before I can even change the oil.

YES i AGREE WITH OUT THE TUBE EXTENSION IT BECOMES A PLOUGH