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Correct a Honda Gold Wing 1800 flat 6 Trike, taken with my M7 on the waterfront at Sarasota Christmas 2003, just before I swapped it for a Contax G2. After I had had my Yamaha Raptor 700R sports ATV stolen and when I was also at my lowest ebb with my Morgan Three Wheeler last summer, which after a year being repaired and a lot of money, had fallen to bits within two weeks, I started to look at alternatives that might replace both. The Polaris Slingshot is probably the best but there is no longer an importer or service network in France. In theory a Grinnall Scorpion III Trike which uses the horizontal in line BMW R40 1300 engine (185 BHP) can be serviced at a BMW M/C dealer but my local one said they wouldn't, so all that was left was a Honda GW1800 Trike. Now these may be suitable for cruising down billiard table flat freeways but they are very definitely not suited to heavily cambered narrow bumpy French roads with loads of hairpin bends on them. I think other than a Honda NR750 RC40 (the V4 one with oval pistons), I have never scared myself quite so quickly on any bike. It gave a new meaning to terminal understeer. 

Ronald's turn again. 

 

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Edited by wlaidlaw
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3 minutes ago, IkarusJohn said:

Makes me feel terrified just looking at it.

Not as terrified as I was riding it on damp greasy roads. I have to admit though, they could definitely give BMW lessons on how to make a smooth gearchange on a shaft driven bike. 

Wilson

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I could never get used to the torque lean on the shaft driven BMWs.  However, the surprising cost of a new chain and front and rear cogs on my Multistrada put that into a new perspective!

I know you're supposed to oil chains, and the bike did come with a little gauge for measuring chain tension - it was an expensive lesson.  The Ducati gear change is also renowned for being a little ... notchy, but much like setting your revs or blipping the throttle on down changes, it's something you get used to.  Balancing a three wheeler is not a skill I wish to learn - there are considerable benefits in two wheels, and the satisfaction of getting it right brings a smile every time!

A bit like lens aberrations, the rewards of riding challenging bikes like the V-twins can overcome the boring efficiency of riding well made Gold Wings and BMW adventure tourers.  The Multistrada is very tame compared to some Ducatis, but far more exciting than most of the alternatives (KTM excepted).  I liked Hunter S Thompson's summary of the Ducati 900 SS - "This motorcycle is simply too goddamn fast to ride at speed in any kind of normal road traffic unless you're ready to go straight down the centerline with your nuts on fire and a silent scream in your throat."

All I can think about when I see a Gold Wing, let alone a three wheeler, is what do you do when it rains?  I met a friend at the lights the other day.  We were following him on his Harley.  Not knowing it was him, I asked my partner why he did not have tassels on the back of his jacket to match those on the ends of his handle bars.  When we stopped to say hello, he had to turn down the music playing through his speakers ... 🙄 

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Sorry folks, here comes the next one.

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Wow, that was quick.

 

 

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The make is easy here, but what is the model? I can roll back the crop, but does anyone know what it is straight away?

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William

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7 minutes ago, wlaidlaw said:

I think the answer is 0.31622 (the end result of its maths equation)  but I have nothing to post so I will leave it to others. 

Wilson

My maths make it a slightly different number. There is also a name attached as well as numbers. I would like to get all elements, if possible.

William

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