Conversion Discounting

[14TriGlider]

What kind of discounting can one expect when pricing a new trike conversion?

[SMSgt]

You can't expect anything. the seller/installer know they have the product and they hope you have the money. Like the old saying goes if you have to ask you can't afford it.
Sorry
P.S. love your little town, BTW

[mhgoldwing]

Depends on the dealer. Unfortunately, trikes are hot commodities right now so I think about you will get are token discounts. But, they all add up so shop around. Law of supply and demand.

[Rick Kay]

I paid list price for my conversion. Nobody I checked with (at the time) offered any sort of discount.

[tfdeputydawg]

Before the "bottom" dropped out MSRP was the norm.
The trike market, as many others, is still some what depressed at this time.
While many are still trying to get MSRP, I have seen ads from some of free labor, that can safe approx. $1500.
If you "buy" from the manufacturer, no discount of any kind, that I know of.
Buy from an installer, there might be some room for negotiations.
I am not at liberty to reveal the price I paid for my Hannigan conversion, done in 2010. Suffice it to say, it was substantial.
Keep shopping 'til you find some one that really wants to sell a trike or a conversion. There are deals out there!
A good source to study what these units really sell for is E-bay. Watch how many auctions close with 0 bids or Reserve not met as most are way over priced!

[TwoBye]

What kind of discounting can one expect when pricing a new trike conversion?

About as much a discount as we get when we visit Gatlinburg.

Like has been said before, shop around. It all depends on what you want versus what you'll accept and how big a hurry you're in.

[tfdeputydawg]

About as much a discount as we get when we visit Gatlinburg.

I have a place in down town Gatlinburg, where we pay for 2 nights and get the 3rd free and it's a 2 bedroom condo!!!

[wiredgeorge]

There are a couple installers who sell kits on eBay that offer free install. Keep in mind when you see the roughly $8K price tag that much that you want will be considered options... paint, floorboards, rake kit, aux fuel tank, etc. etc. some even make carpet in the trunk and a trailer hitch options as well as chrome rear wheels. But this is true of any kit seller who also installs. <br />
<br />
My suggestion is to try a variety of types of kits.... Roadsmith, Hannigan, Motor Trike, CSC, Chamption, DFT, etc. When you have picked out the one that stands out for you, take a look at USED trikes that meet your needs/wants and let someone else take the hit for the trike kit. In the end, most folks will spend $11-14K for a kit installed with the options they want and you can generally do better buying a good used trike.

Once you have narrowed down your search, don't be afraid to go out of your local area to buy and keep your ear to the ground here on this board for potential problem areas with the type of bike/trike kit you have selected... many issues come out here and you can avoid them by following this board for a bit.

[14TriGlider]

Thanks for all your responses <img src="images/smilies/smileygarden_de_banana7.gif" border="0" alt="" title="pepper" class="inlineimg" /> Gatlinburg is a GREAT town by the way, especially once you learn all the back roads to bypass the traffic <img src="images/smilies/smiley confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="confused" class="inlineimg" /><br />
<br />
Here's a little more about what we're looking for and what seems to make it so complicated ...<br />
<br />
One of the things that complicates our search is our bike, the Honda Goldwing F6B. Right now, there are only three companies with a ready made kit for the F6B. Motortrike has the Raptor, Lehman has the Monarch II LLS, and Sturgis Motoren has a Can Am Spyder like reverse trike kit. The two more normal trike conversion kits are about the same price as a Hannigan, Roadsmith, CSC, or Champion. Seems like they're all within + or - $ 300 of each other, all around 14,000.00 to 14,500.00.<br />
<br />
<br />
We get over to Asheville / Hendersonville a lot so I may stop in to talk with Schroader's since they're a Roadsmith dealer also.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm looking to do a winter project conversion starting in January. I'm looking for a pretty minimalist type of trike conversion supporting the clean bagger look of the F6B ... don't want any chrome, air wings or spoilers, light bars, etc. Would like to keep the black wheels. I want a parking brake and rake kit. I really love the idea of the Hannigan wide 180 front tire / rake kit.

I do not want any running boards since I will be using the Fred Flintstone reverse. Other options I will probably want are trunk carpet, trailer hitch and wiring, and possibly fender bras and matte black tubular bumper. I'm not sure about the Motortrike Raptor's short wheelbase, narrow track, and tiny trunk although I really like the way it looks. I like the look of the Lehman Monarch II LLS also. Don't know if installers can do anything with the conversion kits for the Goldwing (that don't have a special version for the F6B). <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" /><br />
<br />
Thanks! <img src="images/smilies/clapping smilie.gif" border="0" alt="" title="clap" class="inlineimg" />

[Marc H]

Honda Of Knoxville is a Motortrike dealer and usually has at least one assembled on the floor.Last time I was in there they had 2 F6B trikes.If your want to stay with the F6B that might be a good place to start.At the very least you get a feel for the dimensions so you can go from there.As was stated it might be more economical to trade for one already triked than do yours but only you can make that decision.

[bikerbillone]

[QUOTE=VitaminF6B12;247250]Thanks for all your responses Gatlinburg is a GREAT town by the way, especially once you learn all the back roads to bypass the traffic

Here's a little more about what we're looking for and what seems to make it so complicated ...

One of the things that complicates our search is our bike, the Honda Goldwing F6B. Right now, there are only three companies with a ready made kit for the F6B. Motortrike has the Raptor, Lehman has the Monarch II LLS, and Sturgis Motoren has a Can Am Spyder like reverse trike kit. The two more normal trike conversion kits are about the same price as a Hannigan, Roadsmith, CSC, or Champion. Seems like they're all within + or - $ 300 of each other, all around 14,000.00 to 14,500.00.

We get over to Asheville / Hendersonville a lot so I may stop in to talk with Schroader's since they're a Roadsmith dealer also.


I'm looking to do a winter project conversion starting in January. I'm looking for a pretty minimalist type of trike conversion supporting the clean bagger look of the F6B ... don't want any chrome, air wings or spoilers, light bars, etc. Would like to keep the black wheels. I want a parking brake and rake kit. I really love the idea of the Hannigan wide 180 front tire / rake kit. I do not want any running boards since I will be using the Fred Flintstone reverse. Other options I will probably want are trunk carpet, trailer hitch and wiring, and possibly fender bras and matte black tubular bumper. I'm not sure about the Motortrike Raptor's short wheelbase, narrow track, and tiny trunk although I really like the way it looks. I like the look of the Lehman Monarch II LLS also. Don't know if installers can do anything with the conversion kits for the Goldwing (that don't have a special version for the F6B).

Thanks! [/QUOTE

Seems you have done your homework, and good luck with your choice. Pls look for a good installer, that's a make or break thing. Believe the closet one to you is in Pigeon Forge, now sure what he builds or how good he is. Hannigan is a good kit, but be prepared for sticker shock on that wide tire set up.

[JaysGone]

What kind of discounting can one expect when pricing a new trike conversion?

None Zero nada. Nothing on a new bike from a dealer.
The closet Motor Trike dealer to me is 140 miles away.
When I was last there they had 3 trikes on the floor.
2 new bikes for top dollar. $38K and $36k same bike different options.
Then there was the 04. I though kind of a lot for the asking, $26k very low miles though.
New conversion but. The bike itself had some serious road rash on the right side engine guard and highway peg.
It was dumped by the previous owner and they converted it.
In my imagination I could see the rear bags, seat and such and all torn up.......
It also was fully backed by them 100% mechanically for 90 days with of course MTs 3 year 36 mile warranty.
They didn't change the pegs. So asked why?? The shop owner said so there would be no question that they weren't trying to hide anything from lookers.
Otherwise it would be none the wiser from looking at the trike, to know anything of its past.
Plenty of wiggle room on that one. If anything the Blue Book value of the 04 less some new pegs etc.
But the conversion costs they wouldn't budge on.

So for my 2 cents unless its a used bike taken in a trade in and then dealer converted.
Then you might have some wiggle room.
A full warranty means a lot to me too.
Id look for a late year model, still under Honda warranty.

Which is why I did indeed buy my 2010 used.............
Next week as a matter of fact. I intend to go to my local Honda dealer and see what they have to offer in the way of another extension from Honda itself if any. Im not interested in any of those after market warranties they have been useless in the past on cars Ive purchased. Wasted money.
The PO had the 3 year plus he bought a 4th year from Honda.
Its up in October and I only have 18K total miles on the bike now.

[tfdeputydawg]

None Zero nada. Nothing on a new bike from a dealer.
I would discuss that some! Bikes are discounted, if that dealer wants to sell any, that is!


Plenty of wiggle room on that one. If anything the Blue Book value of the 04 less some new pegs etc.
But the conversion costs they wouldn't budge on.
Again, they'll wiggle if they want to sell!

So for my 2 cents unless its a used bike taken in a trade in and then dealer converted.
Then you might have some wiggle room.
A full warranty means a lot to me too.
Id look for a late year model, still under Honda warranty.
Now that is a problem as warranty claims on anything that can be attributed to the conversion may and have been denied!.

Which is why I did indeed buy my 2010 used.............
Next week as a matter of fact. I intend to go to my local Honda dealer and see what they have to offer in the way of another extension from Honda itself if any.
The PO had the 3 year plus he bought a 4th year from Honda.
Its up in October and I only have 18K total miles on the bike now.
Didn't know a 1yr extended was available! Normally one can purchase a 4yr extended warranty for a total of 7yrs. However, again, if a failure can be caused by the conversion and especially if the factory rep gets involved, claim may be denied!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

[brianl]

None Zero nada. Nothing on a new bike from a dealer.
The closet Motor Trike dealer to me is 140 miles away.
When I was last there they had 3 trikes on the floor.
2 new bikes for top dollar. $38K and $36k same bike different options.
Then there was the 04. I though kind of a lot for the asking, $26k very low miles though.
New conversion but. The bike itself had some serious road rash on the right side engine guard and highway peg.
It was dumped by the previous owner and they converted it.
In my imagination I could see the rear bags, seat and such and all torn up.......
It also was fully backed by them 100% mechanically for 90 days with of course MTs 3 year 36 mile warranty.
They didn't change the pegs. So asked why?? The shop owner said so there would be no question that they weren't trying to hide anything from lookers.
Otherwise it would be none the wiser from looking at the trike, to know anything of its past.
Plenty of wiggle room on that one. If anything the Blue Book value of the 04 less some new pegs etc.
But the conversion costs they wouldn't budge on.

So for my 2 cents unless its a used bike taken in a trade in and then dealer converted.
Then you might have some wiggle room.
A full warranty means a lot to me too.
Id look for a late year model, still under Honda warranty.

Which is why I did indeed buy my 2010 used.............
Next week as a matter of fact. I intend to go to my local Honda dealer and see what they have to offer in the way of another extension from Honda itself if any. Im not interested in any of those after market warranties they have been useless in the past on cars Ive purchased. Wasted money.
The PO had the 3 year plus he bought a 4th year from Honda.
Its up in October and I only have 18K total miles on the bike now.

I was under the impression Honda voids all warranties once the bike is triked. Am I wrong?

[rmrc51]

I was under the impression Honda voids all warranties once the bike is triked. Am I wrong?

As strange as it seems, it all depends on the dealership. The dealer I use in Harrisonburg VA honors the warranty on the bike itself after a trike conversion has been done. They also do MotorTrike conversions. When I first bought my Wing/Roadsmith, they said that they would still honor the warranty on the 1800.

[tfdeputydawg]

I was under the impression Honda voids all warranties once the bike is triked. Am I wrong?

Actually, no, the whole warranty is not voided!
Only denials are on claims that can be contributed to the conversion or to the addition of a rack kit.
There are dealers that will not report the bike has been triked, hence stories of no warranty problems.
Honda got wise to that pretty quick and started sending their reps out to review bikes w/drive train failures to make sure they weren't trikes.
Having said all that, Honda also knows their dealers that are also doing trike conversions, so it's pretty much a crap shoot on warranty coverage for the biggy(transmission failures)!
The other problem is finding a dealer that will perform even routine bike portion maintenance as most will refuse since they are not set up to work on trikes.

[pcombe]

What kind of discounting can one expect when pricing a new trike conversion?

I will tell you a secret if you send me a private message

discounts are at your fingertips and you are closer than you think right at this moment!

[tfdeputydawg]

As strange as it seems, it all depends on the dealership. The dealer I use in Harrisonburg VA honors the warranty on the bike itself after a trike conversion has been done. They also do MotorTrike conversions. When I first bought my Wing/Roadsmith, they said that they would still honor the warranty on the 1800.

As most dealers that do conversions will tell you, We still honor the bikes warranty.
The problems start when you are unable to return to this dealer for the repairs!!! Such as you're 1000 miles from home on a trip and have a break down!.
1st concern is finding a place to get the work performed as most dealers are not set up for trikes and will refuse to even look at it!
2nd concern is finding a dealer that will not report the conversion to whomever the donor bike manufacturer is!
It is strange, after all my years of being aware of and involvement with trikes, to this day, Hannigan is the only conversion manufacturer than told on their web sight adding the conversion would void the bikes warranty. That statement is now gone since their web sight was updated!!!!!

[sparky1597]

I was under the impression Honda voids all warranties once the bike is triked. Am I wrong?

That's why I went with Harley, though I really wanted a Honda. I just imagined myself standing in a showroom, ranting and raving because Honda wouldn't honor Honda section, and the conversion company wouldn't honor their part, blaming each other.
Now, I just go to a Harley dealer, and I get, "adjust the parking brake. It's a Harley, it's suppose make sounds like that"
Ya' can't win!!