New RoadSmith-First trike for me

[Moonrunner]

I joined this forum because my wife had a Harley trike, but now I've bought a trike for myself as well.

 

[Stephen]

Your looking purty fancy with that 2012 RS.

 

[mhgoldwing]

Beautiful! I'm sure you'll find the RS a sweet ride.

 

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard and congrats. nice trike

 

[ladyff1481]

Welcome fellow Roadsmither!

 

[bikerbillone]

Way cool, Captain. Looking to get my RS 2005 Wing done soon.

 

[rmrc51]

Welcome to Trike Talk from Central VA! :wave4:

You're gonna love that Roadsmith! :10:

 

[Rod69]

Thats the color I would want. Welcome.

 

[Lucky]

Great looking ride.Sure you will enjoy it.RIDE SAFE

 

[jtilmon]

Wow, that's a beauty, you will enjoy the Roadsmith. Been riding a GW/Roadsmith for two years now and we enjoy it. You made a good choice. Enjoy and ride often when the weather is good. I live in the south, but have been to Great Falls twice hunt some years back, pretty country there.

 

[Mgammon]

Welcome aboard .. Glad to have you with us .. Beautiful Trike .. I know you
are going to love it ...

 

[hbrogan57]

WELCOME!!!!! And now you'll never ride two again...well...maybe sometimes......ENJOY the new ride!!!!!

I joined this forum because my wife had a Harley trike, but now I've bought a trike for myself as well.

 

[OlManRivh]

I'd like your opinion about comparing the Harley Trikes to the Honda Trike.

 

[bikerbillone]

Good question, Rivh. Hope ya get some good responses and not get slammed. Although I'm committed to the Wing/RoadSmith install, I'd like to read some opinions as well. Will follow

 

[Moonrunner]

Took a 200 mile ride Friday and another 100 Saturday. I really like the ride of the independent suspension and the RoadSmith 5 1/2 degree rake makes it like power steering. I have ridden the wife's triglide and a friend's GL1800 Lehman trike (3 1/2 degree rake and MLB risers) for a reasonable number of miles. The RS definitely gives the smoothest ride and lightest steering. All my riding on trikes have been solo and I weight 250 lbs so with passenger results likely differ. The triglide and Lehman have a similar ride in that the straight axle rocks the bike from side to side with a bump hit from either side. The side to side rock is harsh on both bikes compared to the light disturbance transmitted by the RS suspension. The side to side rock of the Harley is transmitted to the handlebars a little more than the GL Lehman but neither is an issue. Crossing a lane wide bump (RR Tracks) at other than a 90 degree angle does result in the handlebars attempting to steer themselves a bit from side to side. Any bump happening to the rear suspension on the RoadSmith is hardly noticable in the steering at all compared with the others.

The Gold Wing obviously displays more power. However, I have added mufflers, a cat free headpipe, Injection Enhancement Device and a free flowing air cleaner to the Harley so the wife (who is of course lighter weight than me) has no trouble keeping up with me. And she gets 40-42 MPG running 70-75 mph and this is mountains and foothills mostly 3500 feet and up. So far on my RS I got 30.4 mpg. And yes I spent 1600 dollars and a few hours making that Harley run right, but I enjoyed doing the work myself, got the satisfaction of the end result, and it is not LOUD, but sounds darned good! Also had to add a lift kit ($125) so the Harley didn't drag tailpipes at every rain gutter. But her trike was still 5000 dollars cheaper than the RoadSmith. Remember hers is a FLHXXX not the FLHTGCU. Also mine is a 2012 hers is a 2010.

Our last vacation I rode a Harley Ultra Classic 110 and the wife rode her XXX towing a Motorvation trailer. 6300 miles in 15 days. We road with friends on the GL1800 Lehman, and another couple on a Ultra Classic Triglide, both towing trailers. The Lehman two-up and towing avaraged 35-36 mpg. The two-up Triglide towing a heavier trailer than anyone averaged 36-37 mpg while the wife's xxx towing the lightest trailer (230 fully loaded) and solo rider averaged a solid 40 mpg. No one in our group are thin people by the way. We run with moving traffic which is usually a bit above the speed limits.

 

[rmrc51]

Great report Moonrunner! ThumbUp

 

[bikerbillone]

Thanks, Runner. A good and fair assessment. Wishing the RS got better mpg, but can't have it all.

 

[Moonrunner]

I'd like your opinion about comparing the Harley Trikes to the Honda Trike.

Just came back to this post to figure out how to subscribe. Got it. But also if you have any specific comparisons/questions of Harley vs Honda just ask. I like them both. I have owned 10 Harleys and three wings (81, 2006, and the 12 Roadsmith). I've also had BMWs, Yamaha and Suzuki. I have enjoyed riding bikes to the tune of over 1/2 million miles.

I have always said that if I were to ever to trike a bike that it would be a Gold Wing. The water cooled opposed 6 just seemed to be the platform for it. And even the 4 cylinder prior. But nothing quite matches the traditional look and feel of a Harley. Then they came out with a FACTORY trike with a full warranty and competitive pricing. Compare that with buying another brand then paying to convert coupled with a pretty much instant loss of warranty and wow. HD had something that seems to have boomed.

As I said I like them both. My opinion.
If you are heavier folks riding two-up and or towing a trailer two-up I would go with the wing for the following reasons: 1. Water cooled less heat. 2. Less shifting gears. Six speed on the HD is good for flatland fuel mileage but very little else. HD motorcycles love to run at 3000 RPM to make power. 250 less than that and you really should be shifting in most cases under any kind of load. 3. Triglide rear brakes are poor at best. My RS has easily twice the braking power at the rear (a real plus for two-up and a trailer). 4. I really like the independent suspension!!!! 5. My RoadSith seems less affected by strong crosswinds than the Lehman GL or the HD trike. Probably because of the 5.5 degree rake. I feel the HD trike was less effected than the GL Lehman as well. Probably because the more open frame catches less wind.

I enjoy riding the Triglide solo or even with my light trailer. My wife loves it. When she rode it through the colorado rockies she made the following observance and I agree. 1. Riding the big twin is interactive fun. You don't just sit. You have to use the gears. 2. The engine braking of a big twin is unmatched and if used properly will make up for what HD trikes lack in rear braking power. Perhaps not in extreme emergency situations but that usually boils down to reaction time anyway. 3. I and the wife like the HD seating position much better. Feet more forward and not under my butt. The 2012 Wing does allow me to sit farther back than the 2006 version did. The seat is noticably better for me than in 06. 4. I and the wife use highway pegs on the open road. Very comfortable on the HDs but the GL is so wide that you feel uncomfortably spread eagle to get both feet on the forward pegs for any amount of time. And I am 6'2" with a 34" inseam. On my RS I lowered the HWY pegs to below the heads which is an improvement for me that could not be accomplished on the two wheeler as the dragged way too soon. The lower positioning is not bad for me now. 5. HD stereo and CB were both 150% better quality than on my 2006 GW. My 2012 RS does seem to be a much better sounding stereo unit than the 06 GW had but HD comes with a CD player, Honda does not. HD comes with a CB. Honda gives you one for only 900 more dollars with the antenna. The CB on my 06 wing worked fine but did not have the range that the Harleys have. Don't know if the 2012 models are any different.

The absolute best thing about HD that is especially the winning combo for someone like my spouse is that they are readily and infinitely customizable for the perfect look, FIT, and comfort level of the individual. There are so many different seats, windshields, heated accessories, footpegs, handlebars and you name it. My wife could ride my wing but it would never fit her with the comfort and style that she loves about the XXX.

 

[bikerbillone]

I'm pretty much satisfied with my new RS, not having any experience on any other trike, can't compare one to another. The only comment I would have on the RS, is the mpg as I read compared to other brand trikes. I also feel the rear brakes could be more responsive, not that I've stood on the brake pedal yet. Checking out those humongous disc brakes on the rear, should stop a 18 wheeler.

 

[Hoghead]

I bought new Harley 2012 Tri-Glide and rode it for 2400 miles and traded it for a new 2012 GL1800 with Roadsmith kit. No need to comment on what I thought of the Harley.......