Should I trike a Honda VT750?

[Shadowrider]

What are your, if any, opinions on doing this? I am looking for some honest
feedback. Promise, any feedback, good or bad, will not hurt my feelings.

Also, I have a HD Dyna Low Rider EVO 1340 engine, 1997. What about triking that one? Has 13,000 miles on it, and in excellent condition. Or, should I forget about both and go with something else. I sure want to get this right the first time. TIA

 

[ridgerunner]

Your best bet would be to sell both ,theb look for a goodused 1500 or 1800 Goldwing already triked. Lf a 1500 make sure it has a reverse, some don't.Just my opion for what it is worth.

 

[Gold Rush]

I agree with Ridgerunner... ThumbUp

Based on how much power loss My GL1800 suffered with the conversion, I just could not ever see a lesser starting point. I guess if you are willing to crawl along and really slow down going up hills then smaller might be OK. I sure wish I had the old zip back...

 

[Shadowrider]

Ridgerunner, thanks. Hey, I value your opinion. Makes good sense to me. Also want to
get a reverse. Don't want to get stranded somewhere without help.

Gold Rush, did not think about the power loss with the conversion. Good point. Don't
think I would like to go that slow. My husband would be irritated for sure!

 

[skuuter]

Ridgerunner, thanks. Hey, I value your opinion. Makes good sense to me. Also want to
get a reverse. Don't want to get stranded somewhere without help.

Gold Rush, did not think about the power loss with the conversion. Good point. Don't
think I would like to go that slow. My husband would be irritated for sure!

I put You some "750 Info" in Your New Member Post.....the 750 isn't all that bad on Power....we've 2-up cruised it at 70 all day. The 3.9 gallon gas tank was the worst part about it. I've owned 2 Gold Wing 1800 2-wheelers (2005 and a 2008 model), and my 2010 Gold Wing 1800 Motor Trike IRS runs very, very little different power wise than the 2-wheel versions did. Trike Gear Ratios, Brands/Style, etc. have a lot of bearing on this....Good Luck on Your Decision.....ThumbUp

 

[Memnoch451]

your best bet would be to sell both ,theb look for a goodused 1500 or 1800 goldwing already triked. Lf a 1500 make sure it has a reverse, some don't.just my opion for what it is worth.

i concur!!!

 

[Shadowrider]

Skuuter thanks for your insight. I will be only riding the trike for now. I will not be
carrying any passengers, nor be riding two-up with my husband (he has his own bike).
Maybe in the future we will go with the goldwing for more comfort and two-up riding.
I was hoping just to trike the Honda Aero for me if it could be done.

ridgerunner, thanks again.

 

[John Luciano]

The $$$$ to covert is the same for the 750 or the Low rider. If you sold the 2 you could fing a nice 1500 wing 1999' 2000. Most are with reverse. I don't know how much power you need , but my 1500 scares me. Heck the guys on Harley's have trouble keeping up when I am running 2up with the trailer. Front wheel comes off the ground no problem and I can burn rubber through 1st gear. How fast do you want to go..?

 

[Gorilla]

You could always sell both and but a Honda VTX1300. Used they go for 11k to 14k.

 

[Shadowrider]

Gorilla, thanks for your reply. I believe that is what I really need to do. I will sell both
bikes and look for a good used trike. That should satisfy me more in the long run.

Thanks to everyone for helping me make this decision. I appreciate everyone for
taking the time to help me. I will be lurking, reading, and enjoying your adventures
along with you.

 

[Nana]

A 750 actually will do very well as a trike (see examples like the one Skuuter's wife rides). But, by all accounts, you will soon be wishing for something a little more powerful if you are regularly riding at speed with your husband on his big bike.

Like Gorilla, I'd suggest you consider either triking your Low Rider (if it is low miles and in good shape) or selling both and looking for something like a bit newer VTX trike. Juju has a 1300 with a trike kit that she has ridden all over the Eastern US with great comfort and easily keeping pace with her husband on his Road King!

I have ridden a Triglide and also a Goldwing trike. They are not difficult to ride, and there is no doubt you would handle either one very easily with a bit of practice. Several women riders here have one of those big trikes and love them. For myself, being just 5' tall and petite, I just prefer something powerful that feels more comfortable to my small size. I rode a triked 2000 Fat Boy for several years and just sold it and am now on a V-rod with a Hannigan trike kit (pictures of both are in the GARAGE; click on the link just above my post). Without the fairings, tour packs, and all the touring accessories I have felt very at ease on both of those. They just "fit" me right!

Based on your intro, it sounds as though you have been most comfortable on the smaller of the 2-wheelers available to you. Realizing that as a trike you don't have to worry about balance and lifting it off the kick stand, I think a kit on something like a Softtail, Low Rider, or a Honda VTX would probably work very well for you too.

Whatever you decide, I know you will LOVE the freedom, security, and comfort of a trike!

 

[Shadowrider]

Nana, thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it very much. After
reading your encouraging words, I may have to rethink this. I just hate to have to sell something. Buy high and sell low, that is us. I too am petite, 5'4".
Yes, I can imagine that I would be lost in something really big. I have ridden the Low Rider a little on grass. Afraid of it's weight, but with it triked, no problems, right?
I want something to use until we get to the stage that we would like a bigger trike
just for the two of us. Dependability is also an issue with me, as I hope that I will
be going places without him along. He is my mechanic of sortsl Thanks again, will check out your pics and also the trike kit that you have. I do want to "fit" too. Thanks again.

 

[Scott1]

I have 2 women friends that drive Honda 1500's with MotorTrike kits. I would say they are in there late 70's. These 2 women ride all over with there husbands on there own bikes. Both are about 120 Lbs. and about 5'-2" tall. I have never seen them have a problem when riding also 1 pulls a trailer and they are proud to show that they can ride there trikes.

 

[Shadowrider]

Scott, thanks for the reply. Wish they lived down here! I would have some Ladies to
ride with. They make my confidence level rise as they are still riding and enjoying it.
I would love to pull a trailer too, more room to bring home stuff from trips that I would
want to take. Went out looking today just for fun. Even had a ride on a Honda GW 1800 trike. It so much fun. I know what it feels like to get up to 70 mph on it--wonderful. Did not have any luck on finding one, hope the right one comes along eventually. I am looking mainly for a Honda 1500 to trike or already triked. I think
that would be more my speed.

 

[Scott1]

Scott, thanks for the reply. Wish they lived down here! I would have some Ladies to
ride with. They make my confidence level rise as they are still riding and enjoying it.
I would love to pull a trailer too, more room to bring home stuff from trips that I would
want to take. Went out looking today just for fun. Even had a ride on a Honda GW 1800 trike. It so much fun. I know what it feels like to get up to 70 mph on it--wonderful. Did not have any luck on finding one, hope the right one comes along eventually. I am looking mainly for a Honda 1500 to trike or already triked. I think
that would be more my speed.

We have a motorcycle group for women called (Motor Maids). My be they have a chapter where you live. You can also check out the GWRRA in your area. I would keep looking on Craig's List, EBay, and gl1800riders.com for a used trike. You can find some good deals on these sites. I would look for a used Gl1500 trike either a 1999 or 2000 model year. These model years have what you want as a bike and you can get one for a good price. I would also buy it already triked and not convert one this old. If you look real hard you can find a older triked Gl1800 but I think the best deal is a used Gl1500 trike. Remember a GL1500 is already 12+ years old.

 

[Calman]

I love my 2009 Shadow 750 trike. It has over 40K miles and has been halfway across the US and back and on another trip I rode it to California and back. I pulled a 12 CF Lil' Clipper cargo trailer on the latter trip and still averaged 39 MPG. A lot of those miles were while cruising 70+MPH so you can keep up with the "big boys". Only draw back with the 750 is that if you decide you want to tow a pop-up camper you'll find your transmission will be straining mightily going up some of the hiils unless you get one of those ultra-light single sleeper campers.

If you're thinking about plopping $10K into a trike conversion then I seriously recommend getting good used 1500 trike. It will easiy satisfy your needs and the $10K you'd have spend on the 750 conversion will easily offset most of the cost.

Thing you have to remember most about trikes is that you get a sensation of loss of power. You really don't lose any power in a conversion - it's just that you'll now have two "air dams "(fenders) sticking out the side that cause you to pull more air and thus the need to use more throttle (and gas) than with a standard 2 wheeler.

I also have a 1982 1100 GW which easily pulls my camper. But I'm keeping the 750 trike. It's great for PGR runs and local running around.

Good luck with your decison.

 

[Shadowrider]

Calman, Thanks for the info about your riding experience with the 750 trike. This info
has helped me a great deal in making my decision. I think that I might go ahead and
trike the 750. I already have my husband thinking about a big Trike for our future.
Only 1, as I will be a passenger. He is into small aircraft, (private planes). He rides
a HD Softail, riding motorcycles all of his life. I was pillion for almost 40 years! I really
would get a lot, lot more enjoyment and riding with triking this 750. I would be on it
almost everyday, out doing my things. I have a 1998 HD low rider to sell, which would
help with the cost. I do not think that I would, personally, be moving up to a bigger trike just for me to ride mostly around town and within a couple hundred miles of home.

Thanks to all who have read, ones that have taken their time to reply with suggestions,
experiences, ect. No, I do not make decisions so easily, that is why this forum has been great. So glad that I found it. Everyone is just so nice and helpful, means so much to me. You have given me so much to think about. I bet you are saying "What
will she decide to do tomorrow?" LOL
I have read all of them

 

[John Luciano]

Keep in touch . Interested on you make out.

 

[Shadowrider]

I will, thanks John.

 

[Shadowrider]

Well, here I am almost 24 hours later and hope I am not getting on your nerves. LOL

I must say that all of your advice was taken seriously, and I admit that I
did not know much about trikes at all, conversion kits, handling, stability, etc.
(you get the idea). I have learned a great deal on this site in just a short
few days. Most of my time, actually. My choice is a Honda Gold Wing.

I am talking to my husband about my desire to go bigger. I talked with
dealers, some will do trades on my motorcycles, and some will not.

Just wanted you to know again how much you have helped to educate me!
I appreciated you all. I am going forward to see what is out there and
hopefully, I will be reporting some good news one of these days. I will still be reading and learning from this great site.

Thanks again.