Outside looking in - thoughts

[T and S]

I have been lurking here for awhile, mainly because when I retire I plan on buying a TG. I have been looking through the treads in this forum, and the HD forum for any info, tips I can find.<br />
If you read my info in the new member thread, you know that right now I own a jeep. What I find interesting is how people are opionated about his/her hobby ie, problems with dealers. trike, (my case jeep) power, "harley tax" heat etc etc.<br />
<br />
In my world, if you want to "run with the big dogs" you have to spend thousands of $$'s to get your rig "trail ready" (jeep tax)<br />
lift - any where from $500 up to $5000, depending on model year.<br />
tires - $1000 up to $3000 depending on size<br />
axles, gearing, lockers - usually around $5000 an axle.<br />
not to mention motor, seats, fuel sell. wiring, bumpers winch etc etc<br />
I have seen those who buy new jeeps have $50,000 to $60,000 tied up in their rig.<br />
<br />
Thats why I find it enteresting about what problems you guys have with your new trikes - low power, heat, dealer etc<br />
<br />
HD, like any motor company, has to follow the rules (read EPA) and like any company, they build a generic product, that, each individual will build to his or her taste.<br />
<br />
Most people on these sites have been on 2 wheels a number of years and are "hard core" bikers - they know all the ins and outs of their bikes, and they build them for their own personal taste, like we do for jeeps.<br />
<br />
I guess I am just making a comparison between two different hobbies, but both lead to the same outcome, spending thousands of dollars to make it yours. <br />
<br />
Just my .02 from what I see <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" />

[Boom]

Well said and welcome!!

[Casper]

Trikes ( motorcycles) are like jeeps, racing cars etc...how fast ya want to go? how much ya want to spend....:yes:

I have a 2010 TG, had a 07 Wing with a CSC kit...apples and oranges.

If you want a trike and just want to ride and not have do a lot to it, just ride, get a wing..I love my HD...comfortable for me...but it will take a little massaging to make it right...and I'm OK with that...

The wing, I have to admit, makes the best platform for a trike...Harley's have a little extra special something about them...your choice, your money.

All this being said, you could buy a TG and ride the wheels off it without doing anything to it...stock Harley's aren't as fast as stock Wings to start with..so comparing them is apples and oranges...each has their good points and each has their warts...

Ride as many as you can, check out your local HD dealer for a demo ride event...a lot of rallies have demo rides...

As for the HD warranty, leave it alone and you have a 2 year factory warranty, with the option of buying more...trike a wing and your local dealer may take care of you at home, but on the road you take your chances...

They're all good, just which one fit you and your fanny...and of course your pocket...

[1550vt]

Most of us Harley guys have known this for years. We have always taken the bikes as they were and made them our own. I have owned a couple of Jeeps myself, but in their stock show-room form they are expected to function as intended and if they didn't, I had the option to take it back, or resort to the legal means (lemon law) to make them take it back. If I wanted to make a mountain-goat out of it, I knew that in it's stock form it was never intended for that, so I knew I had to pay-the-price.

Many of these new Harley owners expect a brand new bike/trike to function as intended right off the showroom floor and do not expect to have to spend another few thousand dollars to make them highway-ready, or at least in their opinion highway-ready.

I realize that beauty (or functionality) is in the eye of the beholder. Harley is producing and marketing a product that in their opinion is highway ready and there are certainly many TG owners out here that are thrilled with them the way they are. Only time and the buying public will determine if the TG in it's stock showroom configuration is a viable and marketable product or not.

[Doc]

I can understand what you're saying about the Jeep and a Buyers desire to make it something it wasn't sold as...in a small way most Bikers do the same thing...but I think at the very least everyone deserves what they "Paid For"...I don't subscribe to the Mentality that "there are inherent problems with all things manufactured" so just live with it...I got that from my Trike Builder when I picked up my Motor Trike Conversion and refuse to accept his "that's the way it is" mentality and am currently holding MT's feet to the fire to correct deficiencies in their design and answer questions the any consumer should have answers to...I'll continue to buy the "extras" I want and and suspect all owners will do the same. I think 1550vt hit the nail on the head!

[redneckray]

I am amazed as to hear what you guys are saying about the hd and goldwings, but at the same time i admire those of you that ride them and spend the extra bucks to make them better for the open road,<br />
i have always wanted a hd till i rode one that a friend had and all the bs that went with it, true not all them have the same problems,<br />
i guess that is why i ride a vw trike, some people come up to me and say, 'hey man you ride that piece of crab, lol, 'yes sir i do and love it, i carry a couple of tools with me to repair it when i have too , while on the road and that consist of duct tape[200mph tape] flat tip screwdriver, flashlite[for them dark nites] and an extra set of points, that is it oh wait i forgot the wrigleys chewing gum, speremint flavor, that is to persude the folks in town to help when i need it,<br />
but seriously, vw trikes can be a pain at times, but it is fun to ride something that is 40 yrs old and still running, gets great gas mileage and i don't have $30,000.00 plus in my trike,<br />
i hope all you people that have them high dollar trikes go out and enjoy your trike as i do, be safe on them dar roads,<br />
take care,<br />
ray[neck]

[Lonerbtw]

Hi Tand S We bought a 2000 Valk over 4 years ago. I had a friend that had a Leman kit on his and I thought that I would go that way untill I seen the price. So I looked at his , did some drawings and built the frame work myself, bought a body from US Trikes and WA LA had a $18.000 trike for less than10. My wife had never driven any bike befor this one. I tought her how to ride and work everything. Took 2 weeks of after work in parking lots. So to get to the point she did not know anytning except what I set up for her. and she was happy with it, by not knowing any better. I asked for a set of bar riesers for my Valk and when she set on mine she said that she really liked the feel. So I got a set for hers and she said that she felt alot more comfortable.

Sometimes change is good. So whatever you get you have to make it fit your riding stile. <br />
Loner

[1550vt]

Ray....you should not ever have any problems. You are on something that has functioned as a car since 1939 when Hitler had the first ones built. It's easy to make a car look like a trike, but not so easy to make a trike act like a car. Have a little sympathy for us...would you! (LOL)

[redneckray]

1550,<br />
lollllllllllllllllllll i do, was just funning with you guys, i really admire what you guys ride and are trying to do what you can to ride them,<br />
if i could afford one, i'd be right along side with you out doing what we all do best, lol<br />
have a good one,<br />
ray[neck]

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard T and S. Glad you found us and hope you get your trike soon.

[msocko3]

Many of these new Harley owners expect a brand new bike/trike to function as intended right off the showroom floor and do not expect to have to spend another few thousand dollars to make them highway-ready, or at least in their opinion highway-ready.

I realize that beauty (or functionality) is in the eye of the beholder. Harley is producing and marketing a product that in their opinion is highway ready and there are certainly many TG owners out here that are thrilled with them the way they are. Only time and the buying public will determine if the TG in it's stock showroom configuration is a viable and marketable product or not.

You have to look at a Harley as a kit, you buy a really expensive base and then have to modify and make changes to make it right. For many years HD has been able to pull this off, just don't know how much longer they'll get away with it. One thing is the crowd their marketing the Triglide towards is a more mature crowd that does expect something for its money. Some are going to be folks who have ridden HD and know they have all kinds of rough edges to smooth out. Others will not care to smooth out the rough edges or care to be beta testers for the MoCo. The young crowd who is stepping into the bikes are coming off crotch rockets and expect some kind of performance. They may not care to spend thousands of dollars on engine work to make their new toy go like their metric cousins.

[oldnewby]

the one thing I can add, from looking at a lot of second hand 2 and/or 3 wheelers is that most everyone wants you to pay for all the mods they add on to make their ride their own. I am not a big chrome fan, more interested in comfort than speed, and not interested in paying for someone else's custom add ons. but that's just me, am sure that once i get able to buy i will be adding on all the bells and whistles i want. I hope i can keep the mind set that add on costs are going to be lost if i decide to sell.

[T and S]

Thanks for all of the replys.
From reading all of the post about TG's, and from my experience from other forums that I frequent, I have developed my own "plan of attack" for when I do make my purchase.

A) Just ride - do a through break in period, follow all manufacturers suggestions for that period.

B) evaluate what I think I need, want during that period also.

C) as for as the heat problem - I more than likely will work from my gut feel, start with heat wrap, and evaluate, then move on to other remedys if needed.

Does the motor actually run hot at highway speeds, or just show accessive heat when idling? (after a long run)
I ask this, because of this - the percieved heat problem seems to occur when the ammbient air temp is above 90 - 95 degs. (from my reading of threads) when idling after riding a while. This is tipical of an air cooled engine. I know that my JD riding mower has a marked increase in heat radiation when the temp gets above 90 deg., to the point of being uncomfortable on my legs.

[subeetrikerdon]

I am amazed as to hear what you guys are saying about the hd and goldwings, but at the same time i admire those of you that ride them and spend the extra bucks to make them better for the open road,
i have always wanted a hd till i rode one that a friend had and all the bs that went with it, true not all them have the same problems,
i guess that is why i ride a vw trike, some people come up to me and say, 'hey man you ride that piece of crab, lol, 'yes sir i do and love it, i carry a couple of tools with me to repair it when i have too , while on the road and that consist of duct tape[200mph tape] flat tip screwdriver, flashlite[for them dark nites] and an extra set of points, that is it oh wait i forgot the wrigleys chewing gum, speremint flavor, that is to persude the folks in town to help when i need it,
but seriously, vw trikes can be a pain at times, but it is fun to ride something that is 40 yrs old and still running, gets great gas mileage and i don't have $30,000.00 plus in my trike,
i hope all you people that have them high dollar trikes go out and enjoy your trike as i do, be safe on them dar roads,
take care,
ray[neck]

I agree with Ray, VW's can be a pain in the A.. That is why I switched over to a Subaru engine in mine. No problems, No oil leaks and don't have to carry my shop tool chest with me where ever I go......:beerchug:

[Gorilla]

T and S it still runs hot when moving just you cont feel it as much because of the air movement. Not a bad plan of action. React to what you find to be a problem for you.