There are a limited number of suspension systems used on trikes today. They can be placed into two general categories - conventional suspension and independent suspension.

Conventional suspension refers to the wheel hubs being bolted to separate axles on either side of a differential, which uses a swingarm suspension system. Independent suspension means that each wheel is bolted to separate axles utilizing individual suspension components. Trikes built with less rigid swingarms will perform much like those with independent suspension.

Trikes perform best when there is no flex within the swingarm or suspension components. Flex is undesirable because it translates into what the rider feels as body roll or sway. When this occurs, the trikes ability to corner is affected, as it tends to lean outward in the corner. As the body rolls, the trike becomes unstable in the corners and forces the rider to counteract these effects.

Trikes manufactured with independent suspensions and those with more flexible swingarms all suffer from this problem. For example if cornering to the left, centrifugal forces and momentum cause the trike to lean to the right. When it leans to the right, the trike wants to travel to the right, therefore making it more difficult to corner to the left. This is manageable at low speeds but gets progressively more difficult as cornering becomes more aggressive. In most cases, the riders' speed must decrease when cornering on a trike with independent or less rigid suspension. Cars with independent suspension also lean outward in corners but are stabilized by the outside front wheel.

Some manufacturers have tried to obtain a medium between conventional and independent suspensions, with little or no success. The addition of sway bars and/or air bags to trikes with more flexible suspensions does not eliminate the dangers listed above. The only solutions are to build an extremely long and wide trike, or one with an inflexible swingarm. or these reasons, Lehman Trikes, Inc. has patented the "No Lean" suspension.