Tri Glide – Why I should/shouldn’t get one

[Beercan321]

Hi,
I’m in the market for a trike. I haven’t decided if I should get a Tri Glide or a metric conversion. Every bike I have ever owned has been a Harley Davidson. My current bike is a HD Road King. My wife has severe rheumatoid arthritis and also has complications from a botched back surgery. She can no longer ride on the back of my Road King because it causes her too much back pain. I am hoping that a trike will be a smoother ride which will allow her to ride with me again.

I have heard some bad things about the Tri Glide which makes me a little hesitant to get one. Some of the things I’ve heard is that the Tri Glide has excessive heat problems, brake issues, the trunk leaks, under-powered, reverse problems, lifter issues etc. Granted every manufacturer has problems. Since the posters here own Tri Glides I’m curious if the things I mentioned are valid problems or if they are issues with a small number of trikes?

My biggest concern is with the ride. Does the Tri Glide ride a lot smoother than a regular motorcycle? How does it handle the bumps? Does anyone here have (or has a passenger that has) severe back problems and is able to ride the Tri Glide without any issues?

Why did you buy the Tri Glide over another model of trike? Are you happy with it? Would you buy another one?

Any comments on the ride would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys, I greatly appreciate any comments (and so does my wife)!

Mark

[rgc]

The ride may or may not be smoother. A small hole or bumb you hit with the front tire may be missed by having the rear tires straddle the bump. I would try a Hammock or other brand seat of your choice that is a more comfortable ride. Also, having the rear lift kit can help with by missing draging the rear end on some bumps. Also adjusting the rear shock pressure may help.

Go to a Harley dealer with a rental program and see if you can rent a trike for a day and see what you think.

Glenn

[americanbadass]

I don't have a Tri-Glide, but have always ridden HD. If HD is what you like-you might have a hard time wrappin your mind around a metric. Another practical thought I might impose here, is that what ever you get-make sure it has the independant suspension (Tr--Glide has a straight axle suspension). This being stated, you could even get your road king converted with a CSC or Motortike IRS kit and it would be softer and less stiff of a ride for both of you. Hope this gives you some decison making ideas.

[Bikerbozo]

My wife also has severe rheumatoid arthritis (among millions of other issues). So far, she has been on hundreds miles long trips with no problems on our TG. Usually I have to stop at least once an hour for her to stretch out. On cross-country trips in the past, I am usually restricted to 350 miles in a day for her. I just plan days needed accordingly. As someone else stated, a different seat could make a big difference. I had the H-D Zeppelin air adjust seat on my last 2-wheeler, but due to frame changes, couldn't move it to TG.
The heat doesn't bother me. A recent ECM flash update has helped power in 6th gear. Reverse motor has been replaced, Radio replaced. Couple other issues. In 35,000 miles my '10 TG has never stranded me. Gearing and other issues have been fixed in newer models, I hear.

[jtilmon]

Always partial metric bikes, mainly because when I starting riding HD was having real problems with quality. However, I believe HD has a quality product today. When it came time for a Trike, we chose a 08 Goldwing with a Roadsmith conversion. Roadsmith has a longer wheel base than most Trike conversions, therefore I believe it rides a bit smoother than some of the others. Have been extremely happy with the quality and smooth ride.

just sayin

[Nana]

Welcome to TrikeTalk! As was mentioned above, adding a trike kit with independent suspension can make the passenger's ride more smooth (it makes more of a difference for the passenger than the driver). There are some kits with wider and longer wheel base that also makes a difference in smoothing the ride such as Hannigan and Roadsmith. I believe CSC also has a larger wheel base. The Triglide is a wonderful vehicle, but it doesn't offer either of those things. If you have a Road King you love that has many miles left on it, I think I would suggest you look into a conversion and get one of the plusher seats recommended above.

[iaff84]

Hi,
I’m in the market for a trike. I haven’t decided if I should get a Tri Glide or a metric conversion. Every bike I have ever owned has been a Harley Davidson. My current bike is a HD Road King. My wife has severe rheumatoid arthritis and also has complications from a botched back surgery. She can no longer ride on the back of my Road King because it causes her too much back pain. I am hoping that a trike will be a smoother ride which will allow her to ride with me again.

I have heard some bad things about the Tri Glide which makes me a little hesitant to get one. Some of the things I’ve heard is that the Tri Glide has excessive heat problems, brake issues, the trunk leaks, under-powered, reverse problems, lifter issues etc. Granted every manufacturer has problems. Since the posters here own Tri Glides I’m curious if the things I mentioned are valid problems or if they are issues with a small number of trikes?

My biggest concern is with the ride. Does the Tri Glide ride a lot smoother than a regular motorcycle? How does it handle the bumps? Does anyone here have (or has a passenger that has) severe back problems and is able to ride the Tri Glide without any issues?

Why did you buy the Tri Glide over another model of trike? Are you happy with it? Would you buy another one?

Any comments on the ride would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys, I greatly appreciate any comments (and so does my wife)!

Mark

Would I buy another one? Hands down / YES
Call me one way, old school or whatever, I am and have always been a one brand person as far as my scooters, HD.
I have never ridden any other trike make or brand, so I can not answer your other questions on ride quality to other brands.
So what ever it takes, go for some type of trike to keep you and your bride out on the road and in the wind.
None of us can ride like we did 40 years ago, but we are still riding and smiling!
Dennis

[TNTriker]

Mark, the only person that can make up your mind is you and the only way to know for sure is to test ride different bikes. I have never owned anything but a HD. But it appears you have some medical issues to address that may require more than an opinion poll. No matter what you do, it will take some sizable amount of money and unless you are rich, I think your decision would hopefully be a final one and not have to turn around and re-do everything. I hope you can find someone that has converted their HD, I know you can find the HD trike to test drive and maybe find some of the metric bikes that have conversions on them. Good luck! Welcome to our forum!

[trikermutha]

I too have arthritis problems and have owned a trike for several years now along with a Tri Glide...I will tell you that a independent suspension is the way to go..I have a DFT trike conversion on my 96 Harley and have noticed a big change in the ride. The Tri Glide has a straight axle which I found more of a chore to ride since I live in a big city. On the open rode it is a perfect ride. But my opinion would be if you plan on city and hwy riding get the DFT or Independent rear suspension.

I found out that DFT has a kit now that they sell will convert the TRI Glide to a independent suspension too now...My Dad test rode the Tri Glide DFT conversion and was real happy with the ride versus stock..

Just my thought on the subject..

[WalterM817]

Can't point you in either direction as the Triglide is the only trike I have any real experience with. That said the wife will only ride on the trike because of back issues. She will not get on anything else.

[corvette]

i road a 2009 tri glide did not like no power hard riding with two up i an 60 and my wife is 68 i can leave ct. and drive the boss trike to bike week in fl.in two days and still walk when we get off the trike.

[Gorilla]

Mark, Try to find a HD dealer that will let you demo a TRI-Glide. Everyone is hitting the nail on the head. When talking about the passenegr ride. IRS and a longer wheel base is the answer to make the passenger more comfortable. See what can be done to that rode king.

[msocko3]

Lots of good advice here, the best advice is finding dealers who will allow you to rent one. I'd rent one for a day and ride the snot out of it. When people ask me if I'd buy another Triglide I have to think hard about the answer, I still have an ax to grind with Harley from the crummy customer service I received early on. In the past phone calls to customer service where dealt with promptly, with the Triglide they didn't seem interested in dealing with the issues at hand. I had complaints about heat and lack of power, their response to me was it is operating within design parameters. Funny thing is once they started getting more complaints they released a dealer download for the Triglide to cool it down, plus they changed the gearing for 2011. When I ask if Harley would offer a dealer download to compensate for the new transmission sprocket they said no. The people with the 09-10 models seemed to be the beta testers who paved the way for the improvements in the 2011 and later models.

My wife did have issues with the tour-pak location, it was causing her back pain on long rides. I bought the tour-pak rails from tGlidestuff.com which leveled the tour-pak which solved her back troubles.

[GARYD]

I have owned many UJM's and Harleys. I just bought a Tri Glide 2 months ago so I can't comment on the heat issue, but I have done a few things to reduce the heat and hopefully I will be OK with it. Last summer I went to a HD dealer that was have a trike show with DFT trike conversions and took a test ride and then a TG right afterwards. Yes the IRS is a lot smoother on washboard roads and a little better on a regular road. Since I'm still quite healthy and because the Harley IRS conversion was waaaaay too much money, I decided the stock Tri Glide was for me because I wanted a factory built and warrenteed bike.
As was said earlier riding on the highway or normal roads the IRS doesn't make any difference. I don't know how soon you want to get something, but Harley dealers have yearly demo rides at each dealer and at some of the bigger bike rallys.
I haven't had any of the problems that was mentioned, but I'm sure they either have been addressed or can be fixed.
So the very best advise is test drive as many versions as you can because nobody can tell you which is best FOR YOU.

Have you looked into those bolt on conversions like Voyager, Tow-Pac or Ghost Wheels, etc??

Bikerbozo, I brought my Road Zepplin seat from my last bike to the Tri Glide.
The first version won't fit, but the newer version will fit just fine.

[Memnoch451]

Would I buy another one? Hands down / YES
Call me one way, old school or whatever, I am and have always been a one brand person as far as my scooters, HD.
I have never ridden any other trike make or brand, so I can not answer your other questions on ride quality to other brands.
So what ever it takes, go for some type of trike to keep you and your bride out on the road and in the wind.
None of us can ride like we did 40 years ago, but we are still riding and smiling!
Dennis

NOT FOR THIS GUY!!!!

I don't care what anyone says... If you are truly looking for the best ride and the best bang for you buck get a Honda Goldwing 1800 as a trike.

Here's why... The Honda has much more power.. make that usable power than a HD and in the summer months there is no doubt that the heat off a Harley can fry you and you not so happy passenger. Cost of owner ship is lower with a Honda and while HD has come a long, long way in dependability if I had to drive around the world on one bike it would not be HD.

The TRI-Glide does not ride as nice as a Honda or any of the major Trike kits. And to be honest.. it's not as good looking..to me! If you have a Harley now I would TRIKE that out before I would buy any thing else. If you can get a Independent rear end that's the way to go.

Bottom line... Trike what you like and enjoy! But, I am seeing more and more people with Harley Tattoos on GL 1800's then ever before!

I put about 17,000 mile per year on a gl1800 trike and about 8,000 on a Ultra Classic with Independent rear axle. That's what I am basing this rant on!

[trikermutha]

Everyone has various interests in bikes..I for one have owned a goldwing and a Harley..I liked the Harley so much more but not to say Honda was bad at all..Just my feelings on the matter.

Liked some have said test ride different trikes and what is in your budget. Then make the decision. If you decide to by a conversion buy one thats already been done and has all the upgrades done to it. (rake tree etc)

I do really like the tri glide but no bike is perfect..they all have some type of flaw or design issues. Same thing on cars..

Just my 2 cents worth..

[mark mccallum]

The ride over bumps,tracks,etc is jolting and severe.the bike has some flaws,runs hot,early models had multiple reverse issues,defective radios,bad starter switches.most if not all of these problems can be remedied .but not the ride over bumps.

[Memnoch451]

The ride over bumps,tracks,etc is jolting and severe.the bike has some flaws,runs hot,early models had multiple reverse issues,defective radios,bad starter switches.most if not all of these problems can be remedied .but not the ride over bumps.

Good points!

[rhino 2]

The ride over bumps,tracks,etc is jolting and severe.the bike has some flaws,runs hot,early models had multiple reverse issues,defective radios,bad starter switches.most if not all of these problems can be remedied .but not the ride over bumps.

I have to agree ; Jolting and Severe,

[GARYD]

I don't know of any bike 3 wheels or 2 wheels that riding over bad RR tracks or bumps isn't jarring. The trike just has more of a chance of hitting a bump because it has more wheels. The harshness of the bump isn't any different. I have hit some pretty bad speed bumps on a Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Harley (I've owned all of those at one time or another) and have bottomed out bad. So far not on the Tri Glide, but I've only been riding it for 3 months give me time, I'm sure I'll hit some doozies.
If you don't want to have any jarring bumps - drive a car. Just saying. As anyone who has ever riden a motorcycle knows they are not the cushiest vehicles. So you have to compramise a bit. Replace shocks or seat to suit your conditions. If it ain't enjoyable it ain't worth having.