Champion trikes

[meredog]

I do not want to "blast" Champion trikes as i think overall that it is a pretty good product. However if service after purchase is a deciding factor in your choice of trikes ,do your homework. The most important thing is to have a good reliable installer in your immediate area as their repair facilities are far and few between. I have twice found myself in areas where their were no repair facilities to service my Champion trike. Being in this situation i have called Champion directly only to be chastised for not having all the info they needed to help me, exact problem--part numbers--ect. (things a dealer or repair facility could have provided them with.)

My last problem was diagnosed by a non-Champion motorcycle shop. They determined that a previous repair (pinion seal) by an approved Champion service shop had been done incorrectly. The rear end crush nut was reused and was loose. This shop called Champion and was told they would pay for repair and would send a crush nut right away. Again i am down (nut has came loose again ) I have emailed Champion numerous times and have NEVER HAD A response from an email---i have called them and have been transfered to their warrenty tech dept only to be rudely chastised and lied too.

I founded a family business in 1974 and we are still florishing---had we treated our customers like Champion has me I am sure we would not still be in business. I predict that if Champion does not learn that service after the sale is as important as their product is they will soon find themselves on the outside looking in.

[mtn rider]

I see a pattern here. I to have emailed them only to be ignored by no response. This is my first trike and you can bet it will be my last Champion. I've learned you poll the trike community for there opinion on trike kits and installers before making a decision.
MTN RIDER
2003 VTX 1800 C

[meredog]

I sent an email to their sales dept today-- curious to see if i get a response if they think i am interested in buying.


I get in excess of 5000 hits on my webpage everyday---I have the ability on my website to help "promote" the quality of their service .

[meredog]

are other trike manufactures guilty of this type of behavior ? What trike manufacturer offers the best after purchase service

[Doorman]

Hi Meredog sorry to hear about the trike again. I have a Motor Trike kit on my Goldwing and have been very happy with my dealer who has a shop just west of Greenville,Mi. I have only had a couple of small problems with everything covered thanks to the dealer and MT. You might be able to find out what rear end Champion uses and pick that part up at local auto parts. MT uses a Ford and maybe someone on here knows what Champion uses. Good luck on getting it fixed again.

[jim peacock]

I have a 06 lehman kit on a 96 1500 gold wing,in twent five thousand miles not one bit of trouble.

[Spur]

I have had a Champion Kit on my HD for years and no problem. When I have contacted the factory with technical questions they have responded and have been supportive. You are right aboutthe lack of local dealers, but that seems to be a problem with all the kit manufacturers.

[meredog]

Did you have a specific person / dept you dealt with ?

[Memnoch451]

I love my champion product. ( 07 GL 1800 ) The service I have had has been outstanding. Perhaps it's where you take your trike that is the issue! I have worked with the same dealer here in San Diego ( So cal Trike Center ) from start to finish and when ever I had an issue they handled it and I didn't have to make any phone calls to the factory. I think it's moronic to use a non factory dealer for your warranty repairs. It's like going to Honda for a warranty repair on my Ford. Take it to a dealer that works with Champion. I'll bet you wouldn't have any of the issues that you might incur with a non Champion dealership.

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I have a 06 Goldwing Champion Solid Axle that I bought brand new.
30,000+ trouble free miles on it.
I drove to his dealership twice a year for service on it.
The only problem I have is that my terrific dealer has gone out of business.
This was due to 6 other Honda dealers around him.
Price, price, price and then if he didn't get the wing sale, they still came to him for the trike kit.
Finally said enough of it.

It was asked what rear end is used.
Regarding the solid axle-
Up to 07 the Toyota was used and then they switched to Suzuki.
I had heard that they have now gone back to Toyota, but I'm not sure.

[meredog]

I love my champion product. ( 07 GL 1800 ) The service I have had has been outstanding. Perhaps it's where you take your trike that is the issue! I have worked with the same dealer here in San Diego ( So cal Trike Center ) from start to finish and when ever I had an issue they handled it and I didn't have to make any phone calls to the factory. I think it's moronic to use a non factory dealer for your warranty repairs. It's like going to Honda for a warranty repair on my Ford. Take it to a dealer that works with Champion. I'll bet you wouldn't have any of the issues that you might incur with a non Champion dealership.

you highlighted the issue -"take to dealer"---we travel a lot and spend winters in the RGV in Tx. Unfortunatly there are no dealers available in the immediate area. The issue I am having presently was caused because of the work that was performed in Michigan this summer at an "authorized" Champion repair facility
I did receive a call this AM from Champion this AM so hopefully there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Again , i repeat , my issue is not with the product , rather the service after the sale

[Memnoch451]

I have a 06 Goldwing Champion Solid Axle that I bought brand new.
30,000+ trouble free miles on it.
I drove to his dealership twice a year for service on it.
The only problem I have is that my terrific dealer has gone out of business.
This was due to 6 other Honda dealers around him.
Price, price, price and then if he didn't get the wing sale, they still came to him for the trike kit.
Finally said enough of it.

It was asked what rear end is used.
Regarding the solid axle-
Up to 07 the Toyota was used and then they switched to Suzuki.
I had heard that they have now gone back to Toyota, but I'm not sure.

No, they will never go back to Toyota. All GL's are Suzuki.

If the Pinion flange is not threaded or if the breather is metal it's a Toyota - if the pinion flange is threaded and the breather cap is made of rubber it's a Suzuki. That's all i know!

[meredog]

Received a pdf from champion last nite stating they sent me new seals and crush nut. Guess the right person at Champion was alerted to my issue---

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

Not to start a "he said she said"

All I know is what my dealer told me-
That Suzuki was used because Toyota couldn't give then enough product. The Suzuki's were then discontinued when the Toyota's came through.

Your right in that the best way is to check to see what you're buying.
I'm sure happy and glad I did get the Toyota!

[Memnoch451]

Not to start a "he said she said"

All I know is what my dealer told me-
That Suzuki was used because Toyota couldn't give then enough product. The Suzuki's were then discontinued when the Toyota's came through.

Your right in that the best way is to check to see what you're buying.
I'm sure happy and glad I did get the Toyota!

LOL @ He said she said!!!


But..... All rear ends from here on out are Suzi's and that's a fact! And yes they ran out of Toyota's they were 1986-87 5spd dif's which are not the same as the auto tranny difs'

FYI there really is not difference in the quality of the rear end as most internal parts I.E. Axles, seals and brakes remain the same on either rear.

[JG122]

I do not want to "blast" Champion trikes as i think overall that it is a pretty good product. However if service after purchase is a deciding factor in your choice of trikes ,do your homework.
The most important thing is to have a good reliable installer in your immediate area as their repair facilities are far and few between.
I have twice found myself in areas where their were no repair facilities to service my Champion trike. Being in this situation i have called Champion directly only to be chastised for not having all the info they needed to help me, exact problem--part numbers--ect. (things a dealer or repair facility could have provided them with.)
My last problem was diagnosed by a non-Champion motorcycle shop. They determined that a previous repair (pinion seal) by an approved Champion service shop had been done incorrectly . The rear end crush nut was reused and was loose.
This shop called Champion and was told they would pay for repair and would send a crush nut right away.Again i am down (nut has came loose again )
I have emailed Champion numerous times and have NEVER HAD A response from an email---i have called them and have been transfered to their warrenty tech dept only to be rudely chastised and lied too.
I founded a family business in 1974 and we are still florishing---had we treated our customers like Champion has me I am sure we would not still be in business. I predict that if Champion does not learn that service after the sale is as important as their product is they will soon find themselves on the outside looking in.

that sucks, I know how you're feeling...

this sort of thing needs to be brought to light, in forums like these.

buying a trike (or kit) is often an emotionally charged decision, and in that state it's easy to overlook key criteria when choosing a product/service.

[Shimpy]

LOL @ He said she said!!!


But..... All rear ends from here on out are Suzi's and that's a fact! And yes they ran out of Toyota's they were 1986-87 5spd dif's which are not the same as the auto tranny difs'

FYI there really is not difference in the quality of the rear end as most internal parts I.E. Axles, seals and brakes remain the same on either rear.

Had my conversion done in Nov. and was told by the installer that my rear end was Nisson. It has the rubber breather tube. I'm wondering??