Thinking it is time

[robinsondd]

Hi all,

I have a 2015 Road Glide Special I bought new. I had a 2005 Ultra Glide that I bought new but crashed it near Gallup New Mexico in June 2014. My rear tire exploded and came of the rim. Broke some ribs and my left collarbone. Some serious road rash. I started thinking about trikes after that. Harley would not deal on their Tri-Glide and frankly I wanted a new style i.e., frame mounted fairing. So I stayed with two wheels. I'll be 62 soon and my knees have both been scoped'. The weight of the Road Glide is starting to concern me some too. My local indie mechanic is an authorized Champion dealer. He recommends the solid axle. My wife may ride with me more than she does now once I trike it. I have been riding since I was 14 and have owned 8 motorcycles. I am very aware of the difference in steering will go easy at first to get the hang of it. I live in Southern Maryland so our riding season from March to November. Three wheels may extend that some if it is not too cold.

Now all I have to do is pull the trigger.

[bikerbillone]

Similar problem, now have a 2012 RoadSmith conversion.

[trike lady]

Go for the conversion, you won't be sorry and you'll wonder why you haven't done it sooner.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I gotta tell ya, the Road Glide makes a stunning trike. If you can find a conversion dealer *builder" and do a test ride, I think that would seal the deal for you.

[roadking2]

You would be hard pressed to find someone that converted and regretted it. Out of curiosity, why did he recommend a solid axle? Some guys prefer solid but for the life of me I don't know why someone would get solid when you can get IRS. I can kind of understand if a person is set on getting a triglide, but if you are converting, why go solid?

[bikerbillone]

That's a very good question, I'll be subscribed to read the answer. Maybe this installer only does the solid axle?

[roadking2]

That's a very good question, I'll be subscribed to read the answer. Maybe this installer only does the solid axle?

I don't know, he said the guy was a authorized Champion dealer and I would think any authorized dealer could do IRS since Champion has it. They say solid corners better, but from my experience it doesn't unless you are consistently riding at the limits of your trikes ability. The overall improvement in ride quality of IRS makes it well worth it in my opinion. IRS definitely handles the bumps, pot holes, and road irregularities better. Solid gives you a much harsher ride, but that's my opinion and some do not share my opinion. To each his own but I'll stick with IRS.

[bikerbillone]

Sounds like a good decision, forking out the big bucks, do your homework, get what you think will work for you.

[1dn5up]

I don't know, he said the guy was a authorized Champion dealer and I would think any authorized dealer could do IRS since Champion has it. They say solid corners better, but from my experience it doesn't unless you are consistently riding at the limits of your trikes ability. The overall improvement in ride quality of IRS makes it well worth it in my opinion. IRS definitely handles the bumps, pot holes, and road irregularities better. Solid gives you a much harsher ride, but that's my opinion and some do not share my opinion. To each his own but I'll stick with IRS.

+1 on my next one, if it ever happens 📞

[trike lady]

Are there any other installers? I don't understand why you're only getting one choice? Test ride both and then make a decision. Could be something he has in inventory and wants to sell off. Best time to do the conversion process is fall/winter when the manufacturers slow down and you don't have to deal with delays when they ramp up production in spring/summer.

[roadking2]

Are there any other installers? I don't understand why you're only getting one choice? Test ride both and then make a decision. Could be something he has in inventory and wants to sell off. Best time to do the conversion process is fall/winter when the manufacturers slow down and you don't have to deal with delays when they ramp up production in spring/summer.

I live in Ohio and I did my conversion in late November. I planned it that way so I wouldn't lose much riding time. Sucked a lot a few weeks later when it was done and it was time for a test ride though. I froze my rear off on that ride! It was well worth it in the end. After the maiden ride was done, we had a weather break about a week later and it warmed up enough to take another ride in less harsh and much more enjoyable temperatures. It was still pretty darned cold though. All in all it made for a merry Christmas.

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Hi all,

I have a 2015 Road Glide Special I bought new. I had a 2005 Ultra Glide that I bought new but crashed it near Gallup New Mexico in June 2014. My rear tire exploded and came of the rim. Broke some ribs and my left collarbone. Some serious road rash. I started thinking about trikes after that. Harley would not deal on their Tri-Glide and frankly I wanted a new style i.e., frame mounted fairing. So I stayed with two wheels. I'll be 62 soon and my knees have both been scoped'. The weight of the Road Glide is starting to concern me some too. My local indie mechanic is an authorized Champion dealer. He recommends the solid axle. My wife may ride with me more than she does now once I trike it. I have been riding since I was 14 and have owned 8 motorcycles. I am very aware of the difference in steering will go easy at first to get the hang of it. I live in Southern Maryland so our riding season from March to November. Three wheels may extend that some if it is not too cold.

Now all I have to do is pull the trigger.

Robinsondd - you are in a place all bikers will find themselves eventually, if they ride long enough. It's certainly a natural transition nowadays to move from 2 to 3-wheels, and thankfully there are some great options out there available to you. Please do yourself a favor, as many other posters have done on this thread, and take a little time to check out different trike kits. Trust me, there are worthwhile differences in ride and manufacturing quality. Give our dealer Jim Purdy at Lucky Cycles a ring. His dealership is located in Ownings, MD. 410-286-7557. http://www.luckycycles.us

[robinsondd]

Hi all

Thanks for your responses. My local "indie" said that he likes the solid axle because he thinks they corner better. I have to keep in mind that these guys build some really powerful sporty machines and probably ride them pretty hard. I think that influences him some. He did offer to have his father in law bring his Champion Trike by for me to test ride. They have been doing work on my 15' Road Glide since new. They put my hitch and wiring in and it works flawlessly. I'm very happy with their work. Here is a link to his shop:

http://www.smcitymotorsports.biz/

But, do I want a Champion Trike?

[robinsondd]

Hi all,

Good news! My significant other said go ahead and trike your bike! I think her guiding principle is safety.

Quick story:

I crashed my 05' Ultra in May 2014 because my rear tire exploded and came off it's rim. They were new tires my other Indie had installed before I started on my trip. I was towing a Roll-A-Home camper too. So last April I went camping on the 15' Road Glide with my new Time Out camper at Big Bend Campground WVA. I told my wife that I would probably be back the next day, Saturday, since they were calling for afternoon showers Saturday afternoon. But I also said that since I have reservations for two nights I might stay until Sunday. Of course the showers showed up a day early at midnight Friday.

I don't like packing in the rain or with wet gear, who does? The camp host said that the Sunday forecast is calling for no rain. So I spent a rainy Saturday in the camper reading, napping, and hiking around the South Potomac River. I actually enjoyed it. It was very peaceful. I had no phone connection so I could not tell my wife of my decision to stay another night. So after packing up and hitting the road Sunday morning I called her first chance I could. She was very upset. I was "supposed" to be home Saturday evening and since I didn't show up she imagined all kinds of scenarios including my back tire exploding again.

So lets trike it!

[robinsondd]

Robinsondd - you are in a place all bikers will find themselves eventually, if they ride long enough. It's certainly a natural transition nowadays to move from 2 to 3-wheels, and thankfully there are some great options out there available to you. Please do yourself a favor, as many other posters have done on this thread, and take a little time to check out different trike kits. Trust me, there are worthwhile differences in ride and manufacturing quality. Give our dealer Jim Purdy at Lucky Cycles a ring. His dealership is located in Ownings, MD. 410-286-7557. http://www.luckycycles.us

Nice to hear from a manufacturing rep. Thanks for the tip! I am going to Jim Purdy's shop tomorrow to discuss pricing and options. Doesn't mean I will buy because I'm going to give my local indie who installs the Champion brand a chance to convince me to go with him. However, I do like the extra fuel tank option!!!

[bikerbillone]

I have 'heard' of past problems with the Champion solid axles, maybe the problems have been solved. I'm no expert and your builder should be. Keep an open mind and do your homework. Google trike solid axles and see if you come up with anything. I certainly don't want to discourage you from the solid axle concept, so I'll not say anymore about that. Just be as comfortable as you can with your decision.

[robinsondd]

I have 'heard' of past problems with the Champion solid axles, maybe the problems have been solved. I'm no expert and your builder should be. Keep an open mind and do your homework. Google trike solid axles and see if you come up with anything. I certainly don't want to discourage you from the solid axle concept, so I'll not say anymore about that. Just be as comfortable as you can with your decision.

Thank you,

I have decided that I will go with an independent suspension.

[bikerbillone]

Thank you,

I have decided that I will go with an independent suspension.

Yes sir, hope I helped in some small way to make a reasonable decision. Happy and safe trails.

[trike lady]

Thank you,

I have decided that I will go with an independent suspension.

Good choice, did you also get the extra fuel cell?

[bikerbillone]

I like my auxiliary fuel tank, not that I use it all the time, but on the long rides, it's a good addition.