New Guy on the block

[RatRodMan]

I've been lurkin awhile and decided to join up. I have been lookin for a trike for some time because the old knees are gone. I sold my last scooter a few years back and would like to get back in the wind. I have run across a 2001 Heritage Springer that has been triked with a motor trike kit. It was done (according to the owner by a HD Dealer in Tn.) The bike has 21,000 miles on it and is in excellent shape. I looked it over and of course had a million questions.

The only trike I have ever driven was an old 45. One thing that concerns me is that when I asked him if he ever had any problems with wobble he replied "yeah a little on stopping and starting but not at speed unless you let go of the bars. But thats normal". Like I said I'm new to all of this so I have nothing to go by in which to compare. But I wouldn't think that that would be normal handling. I also asked had it ever been wrecked and of course the answer was no. I couldn't find any evidence of that. Do you think that a stock springer is built well enough to handle a trike? You guys on this forum have a ton of experience. What are your thoughts on the subject?

I would really like to have this one but I don't want to buy someone elses problems either. I want it to ride not to set and look at it but safety is at the top of the list because I won't be riding alone and I don't heal up very fast these days.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[bdn56]

Can you take it to a local shop and have them look it over? It may cost an hour or so labor but could be well worth it.

Mine only wobbles a little if I am going to fast in reverse? Many shake some on big bumps or rail road tracks.

If it checks out ok, I would have no problem riding it.

Good luck and let know how it turns out.

[ROAD DOG]

With a springer front end you can not put easy steer on this bike [ raked triple trees ] With out changing the complete front end . the easy steer would eliminate 98 percent of the shake & wobble. Also i would be alittle scared if your going down the road say at 60 MPH & you let go of the bars & you get front end shake. I myself would not buy a trike with a springer front end, because your not able to put easy steer on a springer front end & the lower rockers just do not seem beefy enough to handle the xtra stress. THATS MY THOUGHT

[Mr.Wizard]

Webbles Wobble but they don't fall down.

Welcome to the site Rat.

Could you find a nice trike you may like that is at a builders shop near you for sale? Ask to ride it in the parking lot or down the street.

I was more or less handed the keys to many and was told to have fun. Only issue is.. Trikes are addictive. :yes:

[Ozarkryder]

Our trike, a 1995 GW1500 had a slight wobble as you discribed until we had the rake kit installed. Dead steady now, even when I take my hands off the bars. (not a recommended practice) Now my 2 wheeler, a 1990 FLHs has a slight weave at speed if I ride no handed. Only happens when running Dunlops. Had a buddy that converted a late 90's Springer to a trike, he didn't really have many problems except with the bearings/bushings down at the rockers. The MoFoCo advised changing the nylon bushings every 10,000 miles, due to the different loading with a trike he got about 1/2 that and the front end would get sloppy. He eventually replaced the springer with a raked 6" over girder. Looked way kewl, and he said the ride felt the same.

[RatRodMan]

Thank all of you for the info and the welcome. Looks like I have some decisions to make.

Thanks again
RRM

[john]

i just had a 09 champion trike put on my 08 wing. so far i have road only 108 miles due to weather here in PA but i don't have any wobbles at any speed.

[John Luciano]

My 1997 DFT Goldwing trike has no wobble at any speed and it is not raked.
My old 1100 had a wobble at between 35 and 40 only if you let go of the bars. I could move it closer or farther from that point by adjusting the air pressure in the front tire .
I too would be afraid of the springer even tho it is the prettiest looking front end.

[katfish16]

Welcome to the board.. I agree on getting the trike checked out,, I would find someone and have the trike and motor checked out--like U said u don't need to buy anyone's elses problems.. chances are there is nothing wrong with it but if ur luck is like mine I would get the only one that has that problem.... Good luck on ur search.... U might also check with Bazooka he is a dealer and see what he might have in stock, and he is one dealer U can trust. Whatever U get post some pictures and don't be in a hurry U will find what U want.....

[Nana]

The HD dealer that triked my FatBoy for me mentioned in the course of a conversation that the Springer front end was not an ideal one for trikes --- too much movement that could make the steering "squirrelly" (if I recall his words correctly). He said that is easily fixed by changing the forks and front end to a different set, but that most people who wanted a springer did so for that specific look, so he rarely triked them. As I wasn't looking for a springer, I really didn't pay attention to the details of what he said. Sorry! I do agree you should contact Bazooka. He will be able to answer far more technically than this. Another who could probably help you with information on it is Ultraboy.

I can tell you that with my FatBoy I have no wobble. I have a champion kit and the EZ steer and I love it!

[Juju]

I have no advice to offer, just want to say Welcome Aboard! Looking forward to hearing what you decide.

[RatRodMan]

Hey everyone,

I got the pictures posted thanks to Nana. Check them out and let me know what you think. They are in my album.

RRM

[Nana]

It sure is purty, RRM! Very purty!

[Hawkeye]

RatRodMan -

I've had personal experience with triking a Springer and would recommend against going that route.

My wife triked her '04 Springer Softail with a Lehman Bandit kit back in late '04. It worked fine for the first couple of years but slowly developed a lack of front end stability as time went on. Eventually, she had two occasions, very close together, where that instability resulted in a "tank slapper". If you're not familiar with the term a "tank slapper" is uncontrollable, lock to lock, oscillation of the handlebars. A real "interesting" event. :eek:

We've since replaced the entire front end with an '09 Heritage Softail front end and it handles like a dream. :yes:

We called the technical folks at Lehman when we were first thinking of doing this swap and were told they recommend strongly against triking Springers. They also said swapping the front end for the Heritage was probably the best thing we could ever do to improve the handling of that particular bike. They also mentioned we were not the first they had heard of with this problem.

[RatRodMan]

RatRodMan -

I've had personal experience with triking a Springer and would recommend against going that route.

My wife triked her '04 Springer Softail with a Lehman Bandit kit back in late '04. It worked fine for the first couple of years but slowly developed a lack of front end stability as time went on. Eventually, she had two occasions, very close together, where that instability resulted in a "tank slapper". If you're not familiar with the term a "tank slapper" is uncontrollable, lock to lock, oscillation of the handlebars. A real "interesting" event. :eek:

We've since replaced the entire front end with an '09 Heritage Softail front end and it handles like a dream. :yes:

We called the technical folks at Lehman when we were first thinking of doing this swap and were told they recommend strongly against triking Springers. They also said swapping the front end for the Heritage was probably the best thing we could ever do to improve the handling of that particular bike. They also mentioned we were not the first they had heard of with this problem.

Thanks for the info Hawkeye. That's what I was afraid of. I sure don't need any "tank slappers". I guess I can keep looking, buy something new, or get him down enough on price to cover changing out the front end. Choices Choices Choices----- What to do???? :banghead:

[ultraboy]

RatRod... First of all, welcome! I'll have to agree that springers (although I love 'em) just don't make good front ends for trikes. As has been mentioned above, a new hydraulic front end would take care of any fears I would have, and they are cheap too. Depending on the price of the trike, I would shop around for a front end (trees, sliders, tubes) and go from there. You'll need new bars too, but really no biggie, maybe a grand total. Beautiful looking trike tho!


Good Luck!

[Gorilla]

Very pretty trike. I would suggest like ultraboy states get it at a price that you can afford to change out the forks. Ted

[RatRodMan]

Thanks everyone for all your help. I don't think the guy will come down enough for me to justify all the extra work and expense. Still is a great looking bike though. That being said I went to HD's site and was checking out the Tri Glide and read all the posts on here that I could find. Biggest issue I could find was the trunk gasket and that should be able to be corrected. Showed it all to the better half and she likes it more. She wanted an intercom system (had one before and she liked it) plus all of the other gadgets and gizmos. So looks like we are going to go and check one out and try to get a demo ride. Anybody have any good or bad info on the Tri Glide please let me know. When you think about it just seems like a better way to go being I don't have a bike to trike. Plus out of the 20 plus bikes I have owned through the years only one was bought new. Be pretty cool to buy a new one. Are there any dealers on here that has one for sale? If so PM me.

RRM

[John Luciano]

Good decision ..if you were going to just look at it the Springer is a beauty. Type my Brother in law would buy. ( he rode his 2 wheel Road King 1,500 miles so far and has it 4 years ) The Tri Glide is a hard bike to get around here . Most dealers have you on awaiting list, and jack the price so it is like a bidding war. My only draw back is color selection. NONE! Unless they changed that this year.

[ROAD DOG]

John If your looking for a TRI GLIDE, Up here in MASS. TIBBYS HD SPRING FIELD HAS ONE, ALDOS HD BERNARSTON HAS ONE , TSI in Ellington, SOUTHAMPTON HD IN SOUTHAMPTON. That was about two weeks ago & all were selling for MSRP, If your a good negotiator I would think you could get one below MSRP ?? CHECK EM OUT