Ok Need Some Advice from you Guys! Purchase!

[seabiz]

I need some advice from you guys! here's my dilemma.
I was going to trike a 2006 Road King. But, my husband wants to keep it intact as it is set up very nicely from the previous owner (his brother who decided he wants a 2013 Ultra). Looking at the prices to trike the RK, its cheaper to buy one already triked!

That said, choices are:
2009 2 owner TriGlide w/ reverse & Top of the line HD Radio (XM, CB, etc.H.
w/ 17K (Vivid Black w/ custom air brush)
asking $21,500 with
warranty til 3/13.
service has been done. no issues. Except he added a trailer hitch recently (warranty-void possibly)
ship to RI from OR.
Custom paint, bumpers, larger front rotors, but otherwise stock. Dino oil.
vs.
2007 UGC w/ MotorTrike conversion & ABS/Security, No reverse, No P-Brake
14K on the clock, (Vivid Black)
Asking $21K.
no warranty
meticulously maintained-asked dealer for service records, no issues.
stock....older couple purchased new from Ft. Meyers Harley and had it triked new thru Ft. Meyers Harley at Haus of Trikes in Ft. Meyers.
I have relatives in Fl that can ride it up to RI.

My Harley dealers here in RI will not service conversions. There is a MotorTrike dealer near me in Ct.(New England Cycleworks-Honda/Kawasaki) who will service the Motortrike.

I will not be able to view either before purchase. I will not have access to locally ride any conversions or TriGlides prior to purchase or any time soon.

That said, what would you do? MotorTrike (96ci) or TriGlide (103ci) or pass? Which will be easier to maintain/reliable. I ride solo, so IRS vs. SRA probably not an issue. How are they value wise? I am looking to stay around $20k for trike.

Thanks very much in advance for your advice and help.

[ladyff1481]

I personally would not buy a used bike without a demo 1st.
Are you keeping the RK for your husband or can you use it as a trade in for a new TG?
Both Trikes sound nice but if it were me knowing that the Trike may be garaged until spring, I would look for a Trike that is being sold closer to me so at least I could check it out.
Don't forget to factor in the shipping costs for the Trike to get to you.

[saab9k]

me if the price is right, have no problem buying like that.
Family can ride it, have it checked with local shop. Buy in a new your second.

[trikermutha]

if its loaded and the price it right with a warranty you cant go wrong..

[rhino 2]

Just me ; But i would pass, And wait till you can find one closer to you then you can check it out for yourself. Me i won't buy a Trike if it doesn't have a reverse and a warranty.

[ZanyCrazyGuy]

I would try to find a HD dealer that might have a TG in their rental fleet...
They will usually apply your rental $$$ towards a purchase...
I also would not even consider a used bike/trike without a demo ride either...

More important to me would be who is going to service the bike down the road

[Mr.Wizard]

I need some advice from you guys! here's my dilemma.
I was going to trike a 2006 Road King. But, my husband wants to keep it intact as it is set up very nicely from the previous owner (his brother who decided he wants a 2013 Ultra). Looking at the prices to trike the RK, its cheaper to buy one already triked!

That said, choices are:
2009 2 owner TriGlide w/ reverse & Top of the line HD Radio (XM, CB, etc.H.
w/ 17K (Vivid Black w/ custom air brush)
asking $21,500 with
warranty til 3/13.
service has been done. no issues. Except he added a trailer hitch recently (warranty-void possibly)
ship to RI from OR.
Custom paint, bumpers, larger front rotors, but otherwise stock. Dino oil.
vs.
2007 UGC w/ MotorTrike conversion & ABS/Security, No reverse, No P-Brake
14K on the clock, (Vivid Black)
Asking $21K.
no warranty
meticulously maintained-asked dealer for service records, no issues.
stock....older couple purchased new from Ft. Meyers Harley and had it triked new thru Ft. Meyers Harley at Haus of Trikes in Ft. Meyers.
I have relatives in Fl that can ride it up to RI.

My Harley dealers here in RI will not service conversions. There is a MotorTrike dealer near me in Ct.(New England Cycleworks-Honda/Kawasaki) who will service the Motortrike.

I will not be able to view either before purchase. I will not have access to locally ride any conversions or TriGlides prior to purchase or any time soon.

That said, what would you do? MotorTrike (96ci) or TriGlide (103ci) or pass? Which will be easier to maintain/reliable. I ride solo, so IRS vs. SRA probably not an issue. How are they value wise? I am looking to stay around $20k for trike.

Thanks very much in advance for your advice and help.

21 for an 09 TG isn't bad but you must ask yourself why it is that cheap... I believe an 09 is valued about 25??

O7 Conversion has a 96" motor, surely there are modifications done to that motor or at least a tune? Oh, How did they get ABS on an 07 UC? Didn't think ABS came out til 2008?? 21 isn't a bad price for the conversion either.

Tough choice....

[DakotaTG]

I would be a little concerned about the 2009 TG with two owners already? Have you seen the air brush art work to know you would like it or not. You say it is "otherwise stock" so I would assume that no work has been done on the motor such as a/c updates, different slipons or tuner. Has it been updated with the 32 vs. 30 sprocket as there is a performance difference with the change. It sounds like a good price but as a couple others have mentioned it would be nice to see in person and test ride. Can the seller give you references such as the dealership where it is serviced and what they have to say about it and the service history. Who the first owner was and why it was sold at that time. Cost to ship across country?

Might be worth a shot but I would do a bit more checking before pulling the trigger.

2011 Merlot and Black TG, lift kit, deflectors, LED headlight and taillights, cat removed, Stage 1 A/C, CVO slipons, PCV. LRS Flattop windshield and of course some bling.

[TNTriker]

Your local dealer can give you all the service info about the HD trike if it was serviced by an HD Dealer. They can also tell you if there have been any issues with the trike. All you need is the vin number! On the other conversions, I don't know what to tell you. I would for sure get the vin number and have your local HD dealership fill you in. Ron and I have bought only one used bike, and our local guys told us what we needed to know. The seller was glad to forward us the vin.

[Skeet7373]

Just an fyi, Granite State Harley Davidson in Lebanon, NH is showing two in their inventory on their site, a Big Blue Pearl/Black and Red/Merlot.

[Copasetic]

will be easier to maintain/reliable. I ride solo, so IRS vs. SRA probably not an issue.

I know many people (if not most) on this forum believe there isn't a lot of difference between IRS and a straight axel suspension. I couldn't disagree more.
I just sold an '09 TriGlide. On the crappy roads where I live the IRS is significantly better (IMHO). For example, my new trike has IRS. I rode recently with the person who bought my TG. We ended up on about a 2 mile stretch of a bumpy and twisty road. I was going along no problem and he was dropping further and further back. When we stopped, he said he had to slow down because the handle bars were shaking so bad on the TG that he couldn't hold them.
I can also tell you from experience that I would strongly recommend the sprocket change, Dennis's lifts and a stage one kit if you get the TG.
Are you sure the MT is IRS? I'm not sure, but I think they also made a straight axle kit as well.
And, does the Motor Trike have the rake kit? That's really important (I personally think the TG really needs one as well).
Just some things to think about.

[screwball]

No brainer for me. Price is about the same. Tri has reverse and a warranty. WARRANTY. Conversion is 2 years older, smaller engine and the local dealer won't touch it. Hmmmmmm

Multiple owners on an 09 isn't that unusual. First year of the Tri. We have had 3 or 4 members here buy one, really dislike the way the trikes handle and sold them with no mileage. Lots of us 'oldsters' buying trikes after 40 or 50 years on 2 wheels. Hell of a transition for me! ALMOST gave up.

Happy hunting

Oh, listen to the good stuff you hear on these boards. You will hear bitching for everything from bad fuel mileage to hard steering. Remember it isn't a 2 wheeler, weighs more, steers differently.

[ZanyCrazyGuy]

Oh, listen to the good stuff you hear on these boards. You will hear bitching for everything from bad fuel mileage to hard steering. Remember it isn't a 2 wheeler, weighs more, steers differently.

Couldn't agree more...

[Chazzman]

I was told by my local dealer there was a $2500 rebate on the 2013's. If it was me I would stretch that budget a little and buy a 2013, man that blue ans silver is awesome and I am not a blue person.

[BladeRunner]

Just my personal opinion; I would NEVER make a purchase this important without seeing the bike in person, pictures can make anything look good! That's a fair chunk of money to be spending without seeing / riding what you want to buy....just M.H.O.

[Dragonrider]

An '09 with 17K I'd make absolutely sure the rear brake pads, rotors, and calipers were in damn good shape.

[Skeet7373]

don't know if still available but on this forum is Trikermutha, he is selling a family's 2010 Tri Glide? Look in the "for sale & wanted" section.

[mrplumr1]

Just bought a 2012 Road Glide Ultra with a Roadsmith Kit on ebay. Bought it from Dream Machines in Dallas. They always have several trikes for sale. Good people to deal with. Also own a 2002RoadKing with a Motor trike kit, let me tell you the Roadsmith kit with IRS and longer wheelbase is a much better ride.