Am I making a mistake returning my trike?

frocco · Aug 7, 2012

I was all set to return my 2012 TriGlide and buy a new Goldwing.
Later maybe have it triked.

Needless to say, I would take a beating.
Wife says it hurts her spline, I think it runs too hot.

But I worry I may not be able to handle the GW as I am only 5'6" and 26 1/2 inseam, and 59 years old.

pettifogger1 · Aug 7, 2012

The GW's are big and they are heavy. But they do have a reverse and who do you see riding them? Mostly old retired pharts. If you like it, go for it. You only live once. I lost a ton of money when I traded my Electra Glide for the trike I have.

frocco · Aug 7, 2012

Do you have a TriGlide?

felixpirozzi · Aug 7, 2012

I traded in my Ultra Clasic for a Gold Wing a few years ago. Now that I have a bad knee that they won't repair I went to a Gold Wing Trike. No comparison in bikes. No problems with power-heat-or comfort right out of the crate. The Gold Wing doesn't weigh much more than the Ultra Clasic.
They do make a lowering kit for the Wing. It lowers it about 3" I think you can look it up.

oldtimer · Aug 7, 2012

frocco said:
I was all set to return my 2012 TriGlide and buy a new Goldwing.
Later maybe have it triked.

Needless to say, I would take a beating.
Wife says it hurts her spline, I think it runs too hot.

But I worry I may not be able to handle the GW as I am only 5'6" and 26 1/2 inseam, and 59 years old.

I need help understanding how you can "return" your Triglide.

Did you have a 30 day return agreement with your dealer or something?

If so, please let me know who your dealer is-I'm willing to travel!

Bikerbozo · Aug 7, 2012

Have you tried playing with shock air pressure for a ride your wife is comfortable with? Maybe an adjustable air seat. HD makes a Zeppelin seat. Had it on my last 2-wheeler and loved it. The only reason I haven't gotten one for my TG is my wife, being 5 ft nothing thought it was too wide.
There might be some used GW trikes out there also you might want to consider.

frocco · Aug 7, 2012

oldtimer said:
I need help understanding how you can "return" your Triglide.

Did you have a 30 day return agreement with your dealer or something?

If so, please let me know who your dealer is-I'm willing to travel!

I did state I would take a beating.

oldtimer · Aug 7, 2012

frocco said:
I did state I would take a beating.

Frank, I'm not sure a beating would even describe it especially now with the 2013s almost out. Obviously that would be your call.

I owned one GW a long time back briefly, a 4 cylinder job. My recollection is that it got pretty hot at times itself. I'd do some reading up but I've heard several people say the new ones can get hot too.

Unless you just don't like the TG or are at the point where you're just over it, I'd bet you could get it cooled down enough to suit you and comfortable enough for your wife for a lot less than the cost of selling it back to the dealer. There's a lot of help and advice to be had here.

That's just one guy's opinion though, and it does take a fair amount of time, work and of course money. I think it's worth it but then again that's just me and admittedly I'm a Harley loyalist.

Best of luck to you whatever you decide!

rhino 2 · Aug 7, 2012

I tried different air pressures in the tires and shocks, On local roads, Manhole covers, construction joints, and just the crappy pot hole streets in the Metro area the T/G Just plain beats me up, Now on a highway [rt 80, 287, Parkways etc] It rides great. But i do most of my riding on local roads.
If Honda made a Goldwing Trike in their own factory My T/G [11] would be gone!

oldtimer · Aug 7, 2012

rhino 2 said:
I tried different air pressures in the tires and shocks, On local roads, Manhole covers, construction joints, and just the crappy pot hole streets in the Metro area the T/G Just plain beats me up, Now on a highway [rt 80, 287, Parkways etc] It rides great. But i do most of my riding on local roads.
If Honda made a Goldwing Trike in their own factory My T/G [11] would be gone!

I agree that's a big deal.

I wonder why they don't? You see a lot of them on the road.

bumlbe · Aug 7, 2012

rhino 2 said:
I tried different air pressures in the tires and shocks, On local roads, Manhole covers, construction joints, and just the crappy pot hole streets in the Metro area the T/G Just plain beats me up, Now on a highway [rt 80, 287, Parkways etc] It rides great. But i do most of my riding on local roads.
If Honda made a Goldwing Trike in their own factory My T/G [11] would be gone!

I own a GW/Motor Trike. I have often thought that Honda should build their own trike, if they did, they sure would put a lot of companies out of business here in the USA which I wouldn't like to see.

As far as heat, mine will get pretty warm with a passenger and at speeds less than 20mph. Fortunately that doesn't happen very often. My buddy burned a hole in his jeans riding his Harley. Again, I am very fortunate, my pants haven't caught on fire yet.

jcolson · Aug 7, 2012

You have a really nice looking trike there. I would keep it until you can expreiment on it to get to ride alittle softer. You may try & find a new or used GW trike just to try out at a dealer. I've seen some around here in the Auto/Rv books. We have a trike conversion place in Indiana, I know they have some to try out. Just a thought. we are getting to the age that 3 is better than 2 . A lot safer anyway.

John Luciano · Aug 7, 2012

Heat from a Goldwing is really only felt when the fan comes on. I rode last week in 99 deg temp . Any movement above 30 you don't feel much heat. If you find a GW with ind rear as apposed to the solid in your Triglide you will feel a difference. To improve the Triglide to get power, ride, and heat issues is going to cost you maybe as much as how much you will loose making the switch to the wing. My suggestion is either a Champion IR. or the Roadsmith. Don't forget you never have to put your feet on the ground. Taught my friend ( 70 year old woman 5'.1" 130 # woman to ride a 2002 Gold wing, that by the way is now for sale.

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screwball · Aug 7, 2012

You are never going to be happy, dump that piece of crap, buy that Honda and see what happens. Go over to the Ride Central, one of the ladies husbands rides a wing. There is a picture with the wing on the side of the road where it overheated (radiator) pulling a trailer. If you think maintenance is expensive on the Harley, wait and see how much labor they charge you taking off all that plastic fairings and cowling's around your engine.

Maryland Triker · Aug 7, 2012

I have found that with my back against the backrest when I hit bumps I feel them a lot more so I've learned to lean forward slightly when I see bumps coming. Harley's are hot because they have to lean them out so much for the EPA & the ethenal doesn't help either. I put a tune kit on mine enriched it a little to take some of the heat out of it. I run 20 lbs in rear tires 36 in front & 40 psi in shocks 50 when the Warden rides with me. She is about 150 & I weigh 300? But I've always ridden Harley's tried Goldwings a bunch of times but they just aren't for me

msocko3 · Aug 8, 2012

screwball said:
You are never going to be happy, dump that piece of crap, buy that Honda and see what happens. Go over to the Ride Central, one of the ladies husbands rides a wing. There is a picture with the wing on the side of the road where it overheated (radiator) pulling a trailer. If you think maintenance is expensive on the Harley, wait and see how much labor they charge you taking off all that plastic fairings and cowling's around your engine.

Fortunately the fairing doesn't have to come apart very often, the 1st service where the top shelter has to come off is at 25,000 miles which is when the air filter gets changed. Pretty much change oil at 5,000 miles which is easier and cleaner than changing oil on a Twin Cam.

I've worked on both HD's and Wing's, the Wing is actually pretty simple to work on. As for overheating, pretty much any bike can overheat given the right set of circumstances.

If I was the OP and was considering a Wing I'd rent one which is what I did. I rented one for 2 days and put over 500 miles on it so I could form my own opinion whether it was something for me or not. Yesterday I ordered a 2012 Level 1 Wing, the rented Wing proved to me it was worthy of garage space. In my case the wind buffeting for the passenger is much less which equates to less wind noise. My wife is deaf in her left ear so protecting what hearing she has is at the top of my list. The 1st thing she noticed it her hearing wasn't being impacted by wind buffeting like she gets on the back of a HD. She can't use ear plugs, the doctor told her it was a no no, so the Wing was pretty much a no brainer for me.

Copasetic · Aug 8, 2012

I feel that I improved the ride of my TG immensely with Legend Air Suspension. Really helps with the lousy roads in my neck of the woods.

Memnoch451 · Aug 8, 2012

I really don't see how in the world anyone can compare a Goldwing and an Ultra Classic??? These two bike are so wildly on the opposite in so many ways it's not even funny.

First off let's look at it from a purely Engineering point of view...

Harley's use very old engineering as a basis for their bikes. A few points are Swing arm ( double sided ), Engine, Structure of the frames( were as many Metric bikes use the engine as part of the structure.. harley does not) and Don't get me started on the springer...

Harley's run hot... and you can feel the heat when you're riding it.... Live with it will never go away.. sure you can get it down a bit..but there will always be more heat than a GW. On cool day there really isn't any heat issues.. but in the summer... OUCH!

I think everyone in here knows the true differences between a Harley and a Honda... regardless of the engineering and heat and ride.. most harley people are harley people and that's that.

I like Harley and I like Honda and Suzuki and Ducati and Kawi and just about anything that has two wheels or three in the case with trikes.

Bottom line is buy what makes you happy.. if it stops making you happy and you can afford it get something else. ThumbUp

msocko3 · Aug 8, 2012

Memnoch451 said:
I really don't see how in the world anyone can compare a Goldwing and an Ultra Classic??? These two bike are so wildly on the opposite in so many ways it's not even funny.

First off let's look at it from a purely Engineering point of view...

Harley's use very old engineering as a basis for their bikes. A few points are Swing arm ( double sided ), Engine, Structure of the frames( were as many Metric bikes use the engine as part of the structure.. harley does not) and Don't get me started on the springer...

Harley's run hot... and you can feel the heat when you're riding it.... Live with it will never go away.. sure you can get it down a bit..but there will always be more heat than a GW. On cool day there really isn't any heat issues.. but in the summer... OUCH!

I think everyone in here knows the true differences between a Harley and a Honda... regardless of the engineering and heat and ride.. most harley people are harley people and that's that.

I like Harley and I like Honda and Suzuki and Ducati and Kawi and just about anything that has two wheels or three in the case with trikes.

Bottom line is buy what makes you happy.. if it stops making you happy and you can afford it get something else. ThumbUp

Very well put, I'm on the same side of the fence as you are. I like all bikes and trikes, I don't care what a person rides as long as they are happy with it.