Ongoing 2019 Tri Glide Build-Out w/ lots of photos, videos and observations

[DK Custom Products]

Here's a video showing the coating process on the Tri Glide-



Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

I have not exactly been piling the miles on...but I have a few hundred now and have a couple of observations regarding the brakes.

-As mentioned before, both the front brakes and rear brakes have more stopping power than either of the previous Tri Glides I've owned. Never felt like I had inadequate braking previously (and still don't), but it is nice to have it with less effort needed, and seems like better feedback too.

-When using front brakes by themselves the lever moves about 1.25" with a nice progressive feel. HOWEVER, when the rear brakes are applied moderately hard, and the front brake lever is applied, the front brake lever barely moves at all and feels like it has hit a stop. 95% of the progressive feel is gone.

Not saying this is good, or bad, but it is very different, and with some time I will form a good or poor opinion of it.

-When using front and rear brakes together there is a very definitive pulsing (NOT the ABS being activated) in the front brake lever. While it is not the ABS being activated, that is very much what it feels like in the lever. I will research this more, but it appears to be the proportioning of the linked brakes. I cannot think of a single good benefit of this pulsing be there, and it obviously is compromising the braking feedback to the rider.

-This next strange thing appears to be some misguided function of the TCS or DSCS. I will be doing much more research on this. Here is what "This" is, will describe it the best I can.

....When riding straight and doing a sharp maneuver (turning into a driveway, or avoiding something in the road) AND there is no braking involved, everything is as normal.

....When riding straight and doing a sharp maneuver (turning into a driveway, or avoiding something in the road) AND applying front brakes only, everything is as normal.

....When riding straight and doing a sharp maneuver (turning into a driveway, or avoiding something in the road) AND applying rear brakes (with or without front brakes), some strange things happen-

-It starts turning, as normal, then all of a sudden the front tire feels like it is "plowing" a little and the trike attempts to straighten out, overriding (to some degree) the input from the rider to turn.

I am not talking about stunt maneuvers...just turning into a driveway or avoiding a pothole, while using the rear brakes.

I am familiar with*some of this strange behavior from driving Mary's truck. In the truck, when going into a sharp turn, the stability control will apply more brake to one of the rear tires than the other one...and sometimes modulate the throttle a bit. BUT, on the truck it never makes one feel like the steering input is being taken away.

With the trike, my initial thought is that having only one front wheel, the trike behaves differently, and/or the proportioning is not working ideally with TCS or DSCS. But, for all I know, that is how HD wants it to behave. I will be doing much more research on this. I do not like the computer overriding my input to turn. btw, I tested this dozens of times at 10-20 mph, no brakes, front brakes, rear brakes & front and rear brakes together.

One final note- Since adjusting the shocks, AND reducing the rear tire PSI from an overfilled 30 psi, down to 22 psi, I have had no more surprise lifting of the rear tire (that I mentioned in a previous post). Now, lifting the rear tire is predictable and "normal", the same as it was on previous year models.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Now, lifting the rear tire is predictable and "normal", the same as it was on previous year models.

Kevin

Might be "Normal" for Kevin ... LOL .. Alan wants all three on the ground ...

[DK Custom Products]

Might be "Normal" for Kevin ... LOL .. Alan wants all three on the ground ...

hahahaha

I'm riding much more conservatively these days.

I didn't mean to say I normally lift a rear tire...I meant to communicate that lifting the rear tire is now predictable, and lifts as it normally would on previous year models....IF one chooses to do so.

Although yesterday I was doing circles in a big empty parking lot to make sure that the rear tire only lifted when I wanted it to, and never too much.

But daily riding, for some reason I do not feel "compelled" to lift the tires as much, do burn-out as much, or wheelies either. Now, drifting a bit on a wet road in a long curve...that is still hard to resist.

We gotta ride together again! Don't think I'll be out there this year, but maybe 2020.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

We gotta ride together again! Don't think I'll be out there this year, but maybe 2020.

Kevin

I figured as much ... I'm thinking about a trip to see the Ark ... that's not far from you .. like 600 miles or so ...

[consitter]

I figured as much ... I'm thinking about a trip to see the Ark ... that's not far from you .. like 600 miles or so ...

That's in Covington, KY, right? We're only a couple of hours from there. If you'd like to meet up when you go, let me know. We haven't seen the ark either.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

That's in Covington, KY, right? We're only a couple of hours from there. If you'd like to meet up when you go, let me know. We haven't seen the ark either.

I was thinking Williamstown, Ky. If I go, we can definitely meet up. This is not a definite yet, still in the early stages. My little pooch would have to go as well. be a long ride for him, so ... I'd need to get him used to the pet palace ... on the trike ... and ... I'd have to build up my ride stamina. Need to do some meandering rides before. Been awhile since my old b$tt has sat on a bike seat for longer than 4-6 hours at a time.

Anyway, if it doesn't happen this summer, it will next.

[MDO]

Kevin, do the linked brakes work when you apply the front brake only? I thought I read of that change.

On my 2017 FW, it's only linked while using the rear brake pedal .

Also, if the pulsing is not ABS, it would have to be the TCS. Can you turn the TCS off, via switch or fuse, then test to see if the pulsing goes away?

[Trampas]

Kevin that trike is taking shape and it really shines with the coating or it sure looks like in the pics after the coating, the first page shows it in stock form and looks good but after the coating and the pics you have on here it just pops.

All for now Trampas

[JohnnyB]

Congrats Kevin on the new ride

Judy and I also bought a 2019 trike -silver and black

already installed the tour pack relocation kit and floorboard extensions

got to put some miles on before adding anything else

[ShapeShifter]

Congrats Kevin on the new ride

Judy and I also bought a 2019 trike -silver and black

already installed the tour pack relocation kit and floorboard extensions

got to put some miles on before adding anything else

John......Congrats to both of you!

[ShapeShifter]

Kevin, you and Mary are certainly making this one your own too. Thanks for allowing us to take the journey with you.

[BILLIJAK]

A few more photos of the work done this last weekend...but first-

Photo from yesterday morning on the first ride into the shop on it. Also took the long way home yesterday, and rode it in again today!



Installing the custom backrest Mary made for herself on the '14.



This is an easy swap out. 3 nuts removed and the factory backrest comes out. The custom one uses the same holes, so it's just a matter of sliding it in and tightening down the three nuts.

The backrest she made works in conjunction with the lower factory pad. In the photo below the Tour-Pak is relocated back 3", and between the pads and the sheepskin, there is no need for a filler pad.



Passenger Drink Cup Holder installed.



TP Lid Safety Tether installed. It is some lightweight paracord with a washer on the top end and a ring on the bottom end. The washer goes on the center back rest stud and the ring goes on one of the screws holding the factory tether to the TP bottom.

We've never had a factory tether fail, but have seen more than a few broken TP's after a factory tether failed...so it is inexpensive insurance to have a safety tether.



I ran a 20 amp fused wire all the back to the Tour-Pak and installed a power point for charging while riding.

In the past I've run the wires thru the factory grommet that the factory wires feed into the Tour-Pak thru. On the '19 the grommet was much tighter than previous years, so rather than fight it I ran the wires through the speaker cut-out (which I had off to install the passenger drink cup holder anyway).

The wires are between the Tour-Pak and the liner right up to the mounting point of the Power Point.

There are small holes drilled in the liner for the wires and the fasteners that hold the Power Point to the liner.

We ran this same Power Point in the '14 for years and tens of thousands of miles...the position works perfectly for being out of the way, but having easy access to using it when the TP is full.



Here's a pic of an almost full TP with the power point in use-



More observations and updates coming soon.

Kevin

Kevin...can you tell us what passenger cupholder Mary uses?

Thanks, Billijak

[rhino 2]

Kevin...can you tell us what passenger cupholder Mary uses?

Thanks, Billijak

Hey, Bill Welcome to Trike-talk...........

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin, do the linked brakes work when you apply the front brake only? I thought I read of that change.

On my 2017 FW, it's only linked while using the rear brake pedal .

Also, if the pulsing is not ABS, it would have to be the TCS. Can you turn the TCS off, via switch or fuse, then test to see if the pulsing goes away?

The manual says, and I do believe I feel it also, that when using just the front brake lever, rear brakes are also applied.

Also, I found the following in the manual regarding the "Reflex Linked" system & the pulsing-

"When applying both brakes, the rider may detect slight feedback in the front brake lever or rear brake pedal while the dynamic balancing occurs."

This is what I've been feeling in the lever, have not felt it in the pedal yet.

Kevin that trike is taking shape and it really shines with the coating or it sure looks like in the pics after the coating, the first page shows it in stock form and looks good but after the coating and the pics you have on here it just pops.

All for now Trampas

Thank you! Still a lot to go, but steady headway is being made.

Congrats Kevin on the new ride

Judy and I also bought a 2019 trike -silver and black

already installed the tour pack relocation kit and floorboard extensions

got to put some miles on before adding anything else

Congratulations! Wishing you many miles of smiles!!!

Kevin, you and Mary are certainly making this one your own too. Thanks for allowing us to take the journey with you.

Yep, we have some big trips planned, and need to have it in comfortable, reliable running condition, well before leaving.

Glad you're enjoying!

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin...can you tell us what passenger cupholder Mary uses?

Thanks, Billijak

Yes, it is the one at this LINK.

Below is a better photo.



It has held up well, over some pretty grueling conditions, and it works really well...as it should for how much it costs!

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

It has held up well, over some pretty grueling conditions, and it works really well...as it should for how much it costs!

Kevin

My FBG came with one of those ... so I didn't have to put mine on ... I tried to figure out how to make "the spare" work on the other side ... thought I could keep water for Harley in one and food for Harley in the other ... but it would have been upside down ....

[bikerbillone]

Now I'm missing those Fuzzy "Honda Threads". RIP Fuzzy Honda Threads.

[DK Custom Products]

Rode it four of the five days to work last week.

Our parking lot is gravel/dirt, both at the house and work, plus the pollen is flying! Then, on Friday there was a light rain on the way home. Not enough to wash anything off, just enough to turn it into a bit of slime on the paint. lol

This weekend I tried out a new waterless wash and detail spray that was recommended to me by a professional detailer. Worked very nicely.

Before-



The nice things about this is that I did not have to "wash" the bike with a hose and bucket. Went super quick, left a nice shine, and really important, it was very slick when done. This means less dirt and bugs to stick to it. Of course, it also encapsulates the grit so as not to scratch the finish.

After-



I'm really liking the things I'm learning to keep the paint looking good with a minimum amount of time spent on it. I did the entire trike in about 20 minutes, and it looked better than if I had spent 1 hour on it the old way. Oh, and I used it on the aluminum wheels...YEAH, the ceramic I put on the wheels have sealed them and the brake dust and road grime did not stain the wheels. Literally 30 seconds to wipe them clean and shiny as new with this spray.

I did the wiring on the LED Tour-Pak Filler.



The light this puppy puts out is comforting...it really gets the attention of those behind me, day or night.

Left blinker on in this pic-



While I was working on the wiring I figured I'd hook up the battery tender to the pigtail that came installed on the Trike. Whelp...no workee. Will be getting that fixed when I have it at the Dealership this next week.

I installed my Extended ISO Shift Pegs of the '14. For me these are much more comfortable.



While doing that I also wanted to raise the front shift lever just a bit to give me more room for my boot to get under it to upshift.

While doing that I discovered the HD has made a change to the shift levers that some of us have been waiting decades for. lol

Instead of threading the shift lever, where it pinches onto the shaft, they are using a self-locking nut that fits in a keeper channel on the bottom of the shift lever. WOW, this little improvement makes things MUCH better. Kudo's to HD for this, a very welcome change!



That's all for now.

Kevin

[MDO]

I agree with the shifter comment. When the M8 came out, they defiantly improved the entire mechanism & it was needed.

I adjusted my heel shifter down a bit & it made it much more comfortable to use. They way they had it from the factory, I had to pick my foot up way to high to use it.

I have been looking at an extended shift pegs for the front.

I like the linked brakes on my 17 FW, but I'm glad they linked the front brake also. I know a right leg amputee that had to have the dealer fix it so the front brake lever activated the system. That's a definite improvement.

Thanks for the pics & thread on your new 19. Are you gonna wait a while for the external breather mod, along with the air cleaner?