Almost a triker

[Nauga Mok]

Hey all! I'm in the process of trying to decide which kit I want to get to convert my '06 Ultra to 3 wheels. I think I've pretty much decided on Roadsmith for several reasons. Why am I switching to a trike? I got the Ultra this past January & just can't seem to keep it from falling over. That's NOT from not using it. It had 5,400 miles on it when I traded my '06 Sporty (with 25,000 miles) & now the Ultra has 24,700+, so I DO ride a bit. On the return half of my trip to Sturgis & points beyond this summer, I blew my knee out to the point it had to be surgicaly repaired. I just got back on the road from that when I hit some wet pavement at a stop sign & skidded it on it's side, breaking my ankle in the process. 'Pest (my wife) made the comment; "If you're gonna keep riding, you're gonna haveta turn that d$#% thing into a trike!" At first that ticked me off, but the more I thought about it, the better I liked the idea. She has osteoperosis & all I'd need would be to drop the bike & break HER! I like for her to ride with me, but with the knee & ankle problems, I haven't been able to take her for a ride since the end of July. I KNOW she's chomping at the bit to go for a ride. She even had me go out & fire it up last week so she could hear it run again! The Thunder Header slip ons on true duals kicked by a stage 2 engine DO sound nice, so I can't really blame her.

A bit about us: We used to be really heavy into black powder shooting competition & historical reenactments. That's where our names came from; Lil' Pest & Nauga Mok -- and we EARNED 'em the hard way! Due to her health problems, she had to give up shooting & if she couldn't play, she didn't want to go. Then I got back into motorcycles after a 25 year vacation from ownership (I still fixed 'em on the side) we had another hobby we could both enjoy together again. She didn't ride the Sporty all that much, but when I got the Ultra & replaced the seat with a Saddlemen "Road Soffa" she fell back in love with riding again. We used to ride all over the place on the old rigid chopper I had when we first met nearly 36 years ago. With the trike, it'll eliminate my worries about dropping it on her. It's MUCH more fun riding when I don't have to worry about breaking her. I managed to get to a competition in October & realized how much I was missing the "smoke poles". It's pretty hard to transport a rifle with 42" of barrel on a motorcycle! Hopefully, I can figure out how to make that work with the trike & combine both madnesses.

How did I end up here? I was looking for customer reviews on the Roadsmith kit & one of the links I looked at was here. This was exactly what I was looking for! I've been "lurking" around here for about a week reading a BUNCH of ya'll's posts. I've been pleasently surprised that I've seen NO posts along the lines of "Mine is better'n yours!" & that the main concern here is that we ride -- no natter what our choice of equipment is. That is NICE! I've seen at least 1 member here from here in Las Vegas, so maybe there's a chance for riding buddies already. Now -- gotta get rid of this stupid cast & get a kit ordered. Hmmmm -- maybe I got that backwards? Get the kit ordered & maybe by the time it gets here, I'll be rid of the cast & be ready to dive into the conversion. Didn't intend for this to turn into a book!

[FBTRIKE]

Welcome,
The Roadsmith trikes look like nice units, I'm sure you'll be happy with it. I know you'll be happy with your decision to go to three wheels and we sure don't want you breakin your wife! Hope you continue to mend and keep us posted (with pics) on your progress. As far as carrying that big "smoke stick", where there's a will, there's a way.
And every one will probably give you a wide birth, when thay see you toting that cannon.

[Nana]

Love the story, NM! Tell your wife she'll soon be riding again, and this time your smiles will be even wider than before! The only negative is you'll be picking bugs out of your teeth more too.............

[John Luciano]

Don't know if it will work but they do make a unit that will carry a golf bag on a trailer hitch. The local police may have an issue with it <LOL>

[Greydog]

Congrats on your decision to become a Triker. I can pretty much assure you that you won't be disappointed. Regardless of which model you choose it will provide the stability you're looking for and, in my opinion, the ride is far more comfortable. You will find that the Trike is much more nimble than you would expect and in most situations I find it handles better than a two wheeler. It takes a little "getting used to" but that doesn't take long. Like you, one of my big concerns was dropping the two wheeler with my Girl Friend on the back. That concern is gone and with the added confidence the whole riding experience becomes MUCH more enjoyable.

One more suggestion: I had mixed recommendations regarding installing the reverse option. I had it installed and found that I have not, to date, had to use it. I bought the Champion Reverse that incorporates into the existing transmission and it works like a charm. If you are going with the reverse I would recommend the mechanical reverse over the electric motor that I believe Roadsmith uses.

You're going to love your Trike so get the kit ordered!! By the time you receive it you will be healed up and ready to begin installation.....and unlike living in West Virginia, you can ride it as soon as you're done!!!

[Nauga Mok]

Thanks for the welcoms & encouragement. Nana, I've ALWAYS had that problem with bugs 'till I got the Ultra with it's big windshield. I'm thinking the solution for transporting the smoke poles is to get a trailer & mount the rifle case underneath. Yeah, by modern standards, they could be considered cannon -- I have 45cal, 50 cal, 54cal, in rifles & a 62 cal smooth bore. I use the 54 for deer hunting -- do NOT have to track after a good hit on these western Mulies. I used to go back to New York & chase black bear with my flint locks up in the Adarondaks -- the white tail back there just gave up when I pointed that 54 in their direction! :yes: I WISH!! If all else fails, I can just use the .45 with it's short 34" barrel. It's really my best target shooter anyway. We do ride year round here, so once the conversion is done, I'll be gone a LOT! Again, thanks for the big welcome!

NM

[katfish16]

Welcome to the board... Roadsmith makes a good kit..if U have read much on here U know we like pictures so when you get started post some for us... It will be a little learning curve once U start riding the trike. But the more U ride the more U will love it... I think ur wife will love it too as for some reason they don't seem as tense on a trike

I enjoy the black powder too, but in a different way. I have hunted with it and had a lot of fun, deer hunting... right now I don't have a black powder rifle due to cousin. (long story). but hope to get another one later on..

Ride safe and keep us posted.. hope u continue to heel good....

[Nauga Mok]

Grey Dog -- like you I have concerns about the electric reverse. The '06 HDs all have a marginal charging system, so I'd anticipate any extensive backing WOULD run the battery down some. Of course the cure for that is the '08 or newer alternator kit that puts out 45 amps instead of the 35 amps the '06 has. I also like the idea of variable speed you get with the Baker Driveline Reverse like Champion sells. The problem is right now the reverse kit for 5 speeds seemd to be VERY hard to find. Baker is coming out with a new F5R kit that puts the shift into reverse on the regular shifter but it isn't available yet. It has an electric solenoid that locks out reverse unless you manualy turn the switch on to allow the shift into reverse. Eliminates getting into 2 gears at once & the burned fingers from the exhaust pipes. The burned fingers isn't a problem 'cuz like I've said, the Ultra has true duals that gets the back cylinder's exhaust out of the way for the old style reverse shifter. Baker DOES have the F6R kits for the 6 speeds out on the market & they use the same solenoid lockout for reverse. Baker uses a 45% lower gear for reverse than 1st so it'll move really slow or if you want to it should top out at about 25 mph backwards. I may be crazy, but I'm not THAT stupid -- or not -- may just have to try it at least once if I do get the Baker set up. The guy at Mystery Design sez the Baker unit will do 80 in reverse -- I think he's awfully optomistic & / or crazy -- maybe both? Maybe it's just that 25 in reverse seems like 80??? I think I will go with the Baker kit if I can find a kit for 5 speeds within the next month or so. Baker isn't saying when the F5R will be available. The guy at Mystery Design sez, Jan or Feb, here again he could be "awfully optomistic".

NM

[tis]

Welcome to the boards. Once you start checking into the different set-ups you'll piece together a great kit. Like you I was worried about burning my fingers on the pipes with the reverse kit Champion offers. But I did order one & one of the members on this site made up a extension that works great. People on this site are very helpful and are a great bunch. Just keep us in mind with pictures on the build.

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard. I have an AIM reverse (very similiar to the Champion) and Only use it once in awhile, but still like the comfort of it being there if needed.

You will live triking. I'm there for pretty much the same reason as you made the switch except my wife rides her own. Order the kit and maybe the cast removal my seem like it will get here quicker.

[shiney b.]

welcome aboard-
wife and i had the trikeshop/roadsmith installed on our 97 wing in may, and really love it. on our crappy roads here in se kansas, the indep. rear suspension is soooo nice. as far as carrying stuff, we had a hitch installed, and pull a cargo trailer. never know it's back there unless you look. hope this helps, maybe we'll meet on the road when the weather gets warm-dave

[shiney b.]

by the way-
we were in your wonderful town the week before thanksgiving. we really enjoy our trips out there-we try to get out there a couple of times a year-dave

[Nauga Mok]

Shiney -- do you fly out or ride the trike out? Maybe we can get together sometime. I LOVED your roads this past summer! NOT! I grew up in NW MO about 16 mi NE of St Joe, so I do get back in the midwest every now & again. I have some old colllege buddies that live in Topeka & a Cousin that lives about 40 mi NE of there. I made the mistake of letting "Ms Zumo" pick the route from Topeka to my cousin's & she sent me over some of the most white knuckle gravel roads I've been on in a LONG time. Gravel & I have a history -- a BAD history. The first time I crashed on 2 wheels was on my cousin's Schwinn on the gravel road by his house & gravel has been my nemesis ever since. It seems EVERY crash I've had except the last one on wet pavement, gravel was involved one way or another, so I HATE gravel! Yeah, I know, I grew up on gravel & dirt roads, but I've been out here in Las Vegas for the last 39 years & gotten away from gravel roads on 2 wheels. I'm sure this will be a GREAT advantage for the trikes. Glad to hear your Roadsmith does well on your roads!

NM

[CandyO]

Welcome aboard. I'm still "wet-paint" new myself. And like you, I'm an "almost triker". It is being built, starting this week. Can't wait!:yes:
I too live in the Las Vegas/Henderson area. Once things get put together, we'll have to get together!!

[Saltywheels]

Hi NM, welcome to the forum. You've tangled with a great bunch of folks. Always willing to help. Me, I am a newbie too. Got a 2003 GL 1800 with a California Side Car trike kit. Love it! But I believe yours has more trunk space. Can't beat inde-suspension. Smoothes out the ride for my Chief Mate in the back. Like yours, wifey politely shyed away from 2-up on my Yamaha FJR 1300 after I laid the bike down a couple (few) times & inherited some skeletal hardware. Got the trike almost used in October & now we ride every week end..so long as it's dry. And in So Cal, thats just about every week end. Maybe we can hook up once you are 'wheeled'. Wifey loves going to Sin-City..wonder why?? Take care & keep us posted.

[Nauga Mok]

Candy --- Whitch kit did you decide on & who's doing the install? I'm ALWAYS up for a ride or will be once I'm mobile again.

Wheels -- I looked long & hard at CSC, but their policy of dealer only installs put them out of the range of my budget. If I remember right, CSC has a 6+ ft3 trunk & Roadsmith has a 4.5 ft3 -- one of the reasons I was looking at CSC. The biggest thing I liked about Roadsmith & CSC is the longer wheel base -- should be a better ride. Like I told Candy, once I'm mobile again, I'll always be up for a ride.

NM

[CandyO]

Nauga Mok; I decided on the Motor Trike IRS (Independent Rear Suspension), Advantage kit. It's a new one this year. The installer is out on 470 N. Boulder Hwy. "Motorcycle/Trike Toys" is the shop doing the install. The kit is being shipped from Troup, Texas and is due Wednesday.
The kit is being attached to my 2003 GL1800 Goldwing. I dropped it off this last Friday so they could get a jump on the disassembly. Let the fun begin!!

[Saltywheels]

Candy --- Whitch kit did you decide on & who's doing the install? I'm ALWAYS up for a ride or will be once I'm mobile again.

Wheels -- I looked long & hard at CSC, but their policy of dealer only installs put them out of the range of my budget. If I remember right, CSC has a 6+ ft3 trunk & Roadsmith has a 4.5 ft3 -- one of the reasons I was looking at CSC. The biggest thing I liked about Roadsmith & CSC is the longer wheel base -- should be a better ride. Like I told Candy, once I'm mobile again, I'll always be up for a ride.

NM

NM, the CSC trunk has a 'step' inside that results in loss of space. Then the lid hinges necessitate leaving the hinge fold-in areas free of 'cargo' as well. I dont seem to be able to get too much in. But it is what it is. I inherited with the purchase & love it.

[John Luciano]

Goldwing DFT is the largest trunk I have seen. CUI don't tell the story. I won a best in show trophy that was 34" long and I threw it into my trunk along with the 3 folding golf chairs. The trunk is almost ( 4" short ) full width of the trike.

[Nauga Mok]

Yes, the DFT Smoothie had the biggest trunk of all. Something like 9 ft3! I looked at one at Sturgis & it's HUGE!. Unfortunately, DFT's body that I like has a stupidly SMALL trunk -- under 2 ft3!

Made some progress on the project today. Got rid of cast & now have "the boot" so I can at least take it off once in a while & take a shower!! That'll be nice!! Our local HD dealer is our source for AIM, so got the reverse gear ordered. It was funny -- this was the first reverse they'd ordered & most of the guys didn't even know they had them available. That gave me enough points the triglide tripple tree was only $118, so it's on back order. Get main kit ordered tomorrow, then it'll all be about the wait. Reverse should be here next week, so I can get that started, at least. Tripple trees are suppoded to ba available just after the 1st of the year -- about the time I'm spozeta get rid of this boot. YEA!!

NM