need some advise

[WEB]

I posted this question on the harley threads but no response so I will try again.We are getting ready to order our kit for our ultra,I had my mind made up on a champion but now I am looking at the motor trike kits.I have ridden the champion but have not had the chance to ride the other.I know there are some wings on the site with the motor trike and I think I saw that Dwight used to install them on harleys.How does the ride and handling compare between the 2,what are the other plus and minus between them.We are just trying to make the right decision the first time so any help or advise would be much appreciated.Thanks in advance.

 

[msrvpeig]

I've got a Goldwing 1800 w/Motor Trike. It just so happens I was in Las Vegas over the weekend and rented a Champion Goldwing trike from Eagle Riders. They also had a Harley Champion trike. I was talking to the owner, who did the conversions, about the two. He commented that they both handled the same but that the Harley was "severely under powered". He said they had tried different gear ratios to help, but with little luck. I'm sorry, I don't know Harleys, so I don't know what model it was. You could probably get some feedback from him via email or the phone. It's Eagle Rider Rentals, the Las Vegas location. Hope this helps.

Terry

 

[Trikerjim]

Web, if you can catch Bazooka on here, he owns a Motor-Trike dealership here in Alabama. They do great work on Hondas, Harleys.. I'm sure if you need info about the M/T kit, he can answer your questions..Good luck-Ride safe.

 

[WEB]

Thanks guys for the answers.I see both of you have motor trikes,that says a lot.How did the champion kit feel to you compared to yours? We have done some motor work to help the power issue,we definetly helped the issue but time will tell.Thanks again.

 

[CCRR]

I did a lot of asking around and went with the Champion it has disk brakes & the Motor trike I looked at had drum brakes. I don't know about the ride I am still putting mine together.

 

[Papa Zook]

I posted this question on the harley threads but no response so I will try again.We are getting ready to order our kit for our ultra,I had my mind made up on a champion but now I am looking at the motor trike kits.I have ridden the champion but have not had the chance to ride the other.I know there are some wings on the site with the motor trike and I think I saw that Dwight used to install them on harleys. How does the ride and handling compare between the 2,what are the other plus and minus between them.We are just trying to make the right decision the first time so any help or advise would be much appreciated.Thanks in advance.

Web,

I do both Motor Trike and Champion conversions. Those two conversions probably ride and handle as close as any two conversions you could pick. Both are solid axle and the handling characteristics are very similar. They are both very well built and I don't think you would have any disappointments with either. On all Champion conversions, they utilizes disc brakes. Motor Trike gives you the option of upgrading to disc on the Harleys, (standard now on the Gold Wings) though you do get the "air ride" suspension with two progressive shocks & two Goodyear air bags as standard equipment on the Motor Trike. They both have their own advantages. I tell my customers that it pretty much boils down to personal preference. The styling is markedly different on the two.

The Champion has hidden hinges and a narrower, but longer trunk and longer fenders than the Motor Trike. Take a close look at the two of them and pick the one you like best. You wont go wrong with either trike.

bazooka AKA - Adventure Trikes

 

[WEB]

Thanks guys!I hope your build goes well CCRR,I am sure you will love it.The disc brakes are important to me too.It is nice to know that they are both quality kits,they both have features that I like.I really like the clean lines of the champion,not much on using harleys shocks,they all seem to leak,but I like being able to adjust according to load.The on board compressor with the bags sounds good on the motor trike and I like the front wheel option.DECISIONS,DECISIONS.Thanks guys,I'm just ready to ride.

 

[Ron H]

Check out DFT

I am having a DFT Smoothie conversion done on my 07 Street Glide. I did a bunch of research and talked to several dealers and builders. I considered Motor Trike, Lehman, California Sidecar, Champion, and DFT. I chose the DFT because it had independent suspension (not a solid axle), adjustable coilovers and swaybar, and very distinctive styling. As an added bonus, the Smoothie kit gives you almost 10 cubic feet of storage. You can check DFT out at DFTTrikes.com

 

[WEB]

Thanks Ron,I will check out their website.The DFT kit definetly has its own styling,I was not aware of that much space.Please post pictures of yours when finished,I have never seen a street glide trike,should look awesome.

 

[Ron H]

If all goes right, I should pick it up this weekend. I will post pics soon thereafter.

 

[Dwight]

I'm with bazooka on this. I haven't installed any Champion kits but I have done Lehman and Motor Trike. Pick the one you like the looks of best, I don't think you can go wrong. Personally, I do not like the air bag system Motor Trike uses. All airbags leak, same thing happens to them that happens to baloons. If I built a Motor Trike for my personal trike (I have an Ultra/CSC) I would install a good set of coil over shocks and not use the bags. Now remember, that's just my personal likes. The Motor Trike is a quality kit, goes together well, and looks good. One other thing you might consider is trunk space, it's important to us for distance travel, might not be to you.

Dwight

 

[Chil]

Web,
I do both Motor Trike and Champion conversions. Those two conversions probably ride and handle as close as any two conversions you could pick. Both are solid axle and the handling characteristics are very similar. They are both very well built and I don't think you would have any disappointments with either. On all Champion conversions, they utilizes disc brakes. Motor Trike gives you the option of upgrading to disc on the Harleys, (standard now on the Gold Wings) though you do get the "air ride" suspension with two progressive shocks & two Goodyear air bags as standard equipment on the Motor Trike. They both have their own advantages. I tell my customers that it pretty much boils down to personal preference. The styling is markedly different on the two. The Champion has hidden hinges and a narrower, but longer trunk and longer fenders than the Motor Trike. Take a close look at the two of them and pick the one you like best. You wont go wrong with either trike.

bazooka AKA - Adventure Trikes

We've been looking seriously at Champion conversion (HD Ultra Classic) for my wife because of the "EZ steer". In your experience, does EZ steer make a difference in handling?

Thanks!

 

[katfish16]

Chil, go to the Forum section and look down to steering section. There is a 2 page discussion about the e-z steer. Might help u some.
Ride Safe

 

[Papa Zook]

We've been looking seriously at Champion conversion (HD Ultra Classic) for my wife because of the "EZ steer". In your experience, does EZ steer make a difference in handling?

Thanks!

Chil- Thats one of the most often asked questions I get about trikes. Heres the best answer I can give. On some trikes it makes all the difference in the world, on others not that much. On the heavier trikes like the Harley dressers, Gold Wings and Valkryies, big difference. This is particularly true in two cases:
1) Hilly and curvy riding conditions 2) Trikes with independent rear suspension.

I have converted customers bikes who never complained about not having EZ-Steer until they took a trip to the Dragon`s Tail. After two or three days of heavy riding their arms were aching and they had to have EZ-Steer. If 90% of your riding is flat, and mostly straight roads you probably wont need it. On the independent rear thing, I am probably setting myself up for bashing from the independent rear guys, but I am honestly speaking from my own riding experience. To me, they definitely seem to steer heavier for whatever reason. (I haven't driven a DFT) I do not and will not bash any manufacturers trike conversion. I think the top five are all very high quality these days. I am just speaking from personal experience.

I would invite others to post their experiences on the independent rear vs solid rear from the EZ-Steer standpoint. I am interested to know if anyone else has noticed any difference between the two.

 

[WEB]

Thanks for all the responces on the question on which trike between champion and motor trike.We ordered the champion yesterday,may 16 ship date,long wait.The question on the ez steer is a personal preference,we test rode one with and one without back to back.The ez steer may not be for everyone but I believe it is for me.The road conditions,crown on the road,was much easier to handle with the ez steer,plus just the ease of riding felt good.Maybe I am just lazy but that is my opinion.Keep in mind that I have just test rode these trikes,big difference between that and spending day after day on them.There is so much trike knowledge on this site,great place to learn from.

 

[Papa Zook]

I'm with bazooka on this. I haven't installed any Champion kits but I have done Lehman and Motor Trike. Pick the one you like the looks of best, I don't think you can go wrong. Personally, I do not like the air bag system Motor Trike uses. All airbags leak, same thing happens to them that happens to baloons. If I built a Motor Trike for my personal trike (I have an Ultra/CSC) I would install a good set of coil over shocks and not use the bags. Now remember, that's just my personal likes. The Motor Trike is a quality kit, goes together well, and looks good. One other thing you might consider is trunk space, it's important to us for distance travel, might not be to you.

Dwight

Dwight,

We haven`t had much problem with air bag leaks. We seal all the fittings with a commercial liquid thread seal and are careful not to over tighten them. We do re-snug them at the 500 mile checkup if needed. How does the Motor Trike conversion compare to the Lehman conversion in your opinion? I haven't installed a Lehman.