Editor’s Note: As of this posting, Motor Trike just released its conversion of the 2012 Gold Wing, a newly redesigned Gold Wing. Motor Trike’s current Gold Wing conversion, the Adventure, is based on the 2010 model, the current Gold Wing model up to this point. This what is tested here. Look for a review on the 2012 Gold Wing conversion in the near future.
Last year, I planned an adventure for my inbound trip to Daytona Bike Week. I didn’t want to start in the frigid temps of New England, and I didn’t have enough time in my schedule for a complete cross-country journey from one of the motorcycle manufacturer’s home bases on the West Coast. A start point halfway across the country would do just fine. I placed a call to Motor Trike. The company’s location in a town called Troup in eastern Texas seemed the perfect place to set out from. And because Motor Trike had just released a new line of independent rear suspension trikes based on a Gold Wing chassis, it had the right equipment for the journey. The new model is aptly named the Adventure. Motor Trike Owners Jeff and Diane Vey were more than happy to outfit me with a demo unit for my trip.
Steve rides the 2010 Adventure, Motor Trike’s conversion of a Honda Gold Wing.
Just released! The 2012 model of the Motor Trike Adventure, a conversion of the newly designed 2012 Honda Gold Wing.
During the planning stages, my commitment to ride a trike over this long distance left me a bit apprehensive. Though I’d ridden several professionally built trikes in the past, some did not strike me as all-day friendly. Because some trikes exhibit heavy steering and an uncooperative steering head wiggle, I was not sure what to expect from the Motor Trike Adventure. I had just signed up for a 1,000-mile drive. While preparing for my trip, I thought, “What have I done?” Little did I know that I’d probably made the best decision of my life.
The Adventure proved to be a luxury limo for Steve’s trip, as it’s equipped with the usual array of Honda Gold Wing accoutrements plus the powerful standard flat 6 power plant. Steve says, “I didn’t give up the trike easily once I arrived in Daytona. I rode it most of the week.”
The Adventure allowed me to relax a bit and take in the ride without having to put a foot down. The Adventure kit adds approximately 300 pounds to the motorcycle—not much considering all the extra hardware. And trust me, the 1800cc base mill is more than up to the task. I had a blast gunning the throttle down highway on-ramps only to find I was traveling faster than traffic and would have to decelerate to blend in. The Motor Trike Adventure cruises fast and smooth. The wheelbase is 68.5 inches, longer than the standard Gold Wing wheelbase of 66.5 inches. Ride quality is luxurious. Granted, I was riding solo with a trunk and topcase full of gear, but I have no doubt that the air-adjustable rear suspension (tunable with onboard air compressor) could have easily accommodated a passenger and added cargo.
An inside view of the independent rear suspension.
The Adventure will accommodate large load variances (much like a truck). All Motor Trike kits use air ride suspension with a separate shock absorber. Air bags adjust the spring rate and ride height, and the shocks control and dampen sudden jolts. After riding the machine, I can attest to the plush ride with no wavering in the steering head. I felt no evidence of steering headshake. And my trike didn’t even have the optional 4-degree raked front end.
The Adventure shown with the optional fender bra.
The rear differential is mounted with rubber bushings, as are all the suspension components, including the anti-roll bar, shocks and suspension arms. Roll stiffness comes into play in a trike rear end. Too stiff a setting ruins ride quality but makes the trike corner flat. Too soft, and the trike feels like it wants to tip over. The Adventure offers stability during cornering with little roll. A low roll center height (RCH) makes the trike feel safer, too. The anti-roll bar of the Adventure is designed to work with the trike’s RCH. Motor Trike has built the rear with all the heaviest components as low as possible, which reduces load transfer to the outside tire on cornering and helps keep the inside tire on the ground.
All of Motor Trike’s trike kits have the same three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.
The differential housing (center section) of the rear is specifically designed and manufactured for the Adventure. However, it does use Ford’s 7.5-inch differential parts, which are used in a number of Ford vehicles, including the Ford Ranger. New gears, bearings, seals and brakes are used. Motor Trike has the half shafts and CV joints manufactured by a supplier that specializes in building drivetrain components. The rear brakes are specifically designed for the Adventure. The trike uses a three-piston caliper on each wheel, which retains the linked braking system found on the GL1800 Gold Wing. The brake rotors are 12 inches in diameter.
 The Adventure’s fiberglass body is hand-laid for weight savings and strength. The 4.6-foot trunk’s door opening is larger than on previous models. |
 One minor nitpick Steve had with the Aqua Shield running boards was that his toe sometimes pushed down on the fiberglass running board before pushing down on the shifter and brake pedal. Proper foot positioning is a must. |
