My Pro's and Con's for choosing Goldwing Trike vs TriGlide

[jredman]

When I was in the process of looking for a trike, I was looking at the Harley TriGlide and the Goldwing trike. It turned out to be a fairly easy decision for me. I wanted something that would last into my old age, and give me many miles of trouble free riding. Here is some of what I put together. I loved both trikes.

Goldwing Trike

Pros:

Adjustable Air Ride Suspension Standard

Independent Rear Suspension Standard

Heated Seats, Heated Grips Standard

Smooth 6 Cylinder, rock solid engine

Reliable

3 year Warranty on bike.

3 year Warranty on conversion

Lot of storage

Shaft drive

Trailer hitch standard

Regular unleaded fuel.

Cons:

Footpegs, one riding position

GPS not standard, but can get one with built in GPS, but very expensive.

Trike is a conversion

Harley Tri Glide

Pros:

Technology, GPS, MP3, Blue tooth, Boom Box great sound

Love the footboards, changing riding position.

Lots of storage

Tons of dealerships, everywhere.

Cons:

2 year Warranty

$495 check or first 500 miles-my dealer

$495 for 1000 mile check-my dealer

Straight axel belt drive, short wheelbase

Just the heads water cooled, can get hot is traffic

Hand pump air suspension and pump does not come with it.

Low, would need a lift kit to not drag pipes.

No trailer hitch

Cost of ownership will be high

Premium fuel only

[FRR]

Another item that may be added. I know 3 friends that bought Triglides and all of them have had to spend thousands of dollars to increase the performance of the engine since the Triglide is under powered.

Also, brake life seems to be much shorter. At least from what I'm learning.

[Mick]

Two of the things that sold me on my wing. When I was driving in the Rockies and not worrying about having the horsepower going up the mountains with the Wings fuel injection especially towing a trailer. Second when I drove to California and getting stuck in downtown Vegas in !09 temps. And when I drove across the Mojave and it was 113 all day. The Wing took it all with a breeze. I had a V twin before but for long distance riding I dont think its the way to go unless youre a mechanic and rider.

[suvcw04]

Another item that may be added. I know 3 friends that bought Triglides and all of them have had to spend thousands of dollars to increase the performance of the engine since the Triglide is under powered.

Also, brake life seems to be much shorter. At least from what I'm learning.

Marketing 101. Sell a $30,000 product and then charge another 5 to 10 thousand to upgrade it to what it should have been to begin with.

[dirtdobber]

When I was looking last October I test rode a lot of trikes.

I really like the comfort of the tri glide, we ride a street glide most of the time. However I rode a conversion from a 2 wheeler to a trike now that was really impressive. Almost bought it. Test rode 3 goldwing trikes, different kits.

That ended my search.

For a trike the GW is a great plat form to start with.

Thought of triking the cvo street glide but to get it like I wanted it would have came close to just buying one out right so that's what I did.

You did good grasshopper.

[jredman]

I actually did not test ride anything. I just found what I wanted and did the deal over email. Then went up and road it 380 miles home. I did not even test ride it before I rode it home. But I am totally happy with the Goldwing Trike, I love it more every ride, and now that the weather has been in the upper 70's this past week, I still can't wipe the smile off my face. Can't wait to take a long trip on it this spring. It is so comfortable. I did add the Airhawk R, Risers, and Ergo II Highway pegs.

[dogman513]

Your pros & cons were right on the money...as stated Harleys are underpowered for sure...Put in Stage 1 or Stage 2 ($$$$) then much better. And the heat, Oh that heat!

[Craigar]

I actually did not test ride anything. I just found what I wanted and did the deal over email. Then went up and road it 380 miles home. I did not even test ride it before I rode it home.

Exactly what I did except for riding it home due to weather. I had a HD Ultra Firefighter special and thought about triking it. I found my Goldwing CSC on the web in N. Utah with only 16K miles. Had a buyer for the Ultra and got into the Wing for about half what it would of cost just to trike the Ultra with a cheap kit.

Another thing about the Tri-glide is your stuck with a solid axle, and a very short trike. My Wing with the CSC has around a 9" longer wheelbase and independent axles.

I haven't rode a Tri-glide or any other trike, but I'd like to try one with the shorter wheelbase just to see how they handle.

Now, with all that said, I need to ride tomorrow... it's suppose to hit 62F in this part of Utah tomorrow.

[Thomas L]

You mention as a 'con' the - tri-glide needs premium fuel. Does this mean you are putting regular in your 1800 ?

[tfdeputydawg]

You mention as a 'con' the - tri-glide needs premium fuel. Does this mean you are putting regular in your 1800 ?

Not the OP but, yes, you should be using regular in the 1800. Reg. is actually better for it than premium.

Also, the OP listed a 3yr warranty on the bike as a pro. Hope he doesn't have a drive train failure that can be blamed on the conversion!!!:Meds

[FRR]

You mention as a 'con' the - tri-glide needs premium fuel. Does this mean you are putting regular in your 1800 ?

Anyone who puts premium fuel in a GL 1800 or any other Goldwing is wasting their money. It does nothing to increase performance, does not help it run better, and only costs more. There have many several threads on this subject over the years and every chemical engineer, honda rep, or article on this subject has concurred.

[msocko3]

You mention as a 'con' the - tri-glide needs premium fuel. Does this mean you are putting regular in your 1800 ?

I always fill my 2012 Wing with regular, big difference between a 6 cylinder liquid cooled engine vs a twin cylinder air cooled engine.

[Texan]

Ya know I read thru this post with a lot of remarks to myself.

1st, I'm a die hard Harley fan so I am a little bias. Have been riding for 60+ years and have owned or ridden just about every flavor bike you can name. Still own, in addition to my TG, a couple restored Honda XLS 350's and a Sears Moped. My first observation about Honda's vs Harley's is you ride "on" a Honda and "in" a Harley. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

2nd: I have a '13 TriGlide that runs just great with a high flow kit. I have added several cosmetic things but other than a tuner and exhaust, maybe $800.00, that's all I've done to the trike and it runs great. I even pull a Bushtec Roadstar trailer.

3rd: Premium gas. Never run it. I do use Mid-grade most of the time. As somebody said using premium is a waste of $$$$. Have a couple friends who work in the oil and gas industry who laugh all the time about the only people using premium gas are motorcycle riders. Also because of the lack of use the premium tanks are always dirtier.

4th: When I started developing Parkinson 2 years ago, loosing my balance control, I started looking into trike conversions because I didn't want to stop riding. I owned at that time a 2010 Harley Ultra Classic. Being somewhat over analytical I did a lot of analysis of various Harley conversions and others. I figured it was going to cost me more to convert my 2010 to a trike than to buy one. Also, utilizing KBB and NADA numbers I figured I'd loose 24-28% a year in deprecation on a conversion vs 6-9% on a new HD trike. No brainer.

I've put my kickstand down in all 48, the four furtherest most corners of our great country, the high and low, Canada and Mexico on 2 wheels. Now to do it on 3.

Over heard a factory rep at the TT get together in Eureka Spgs last year say "on a Harley you can run over a nickle in the road and tell if it's heads or tails" NOT true. I've ridden those so called IRS conversions and my opinion they're not that much better if any at all.

Okay, now which closet did I get this soap box out of. Going to go over in the corner, sit down and just watch. 8~\o

[jredman]

Hi Thomas, yes, I have used nothing but regular unleaded. I have no pings and it runs perfecty. If I remember correctly even the manual says 86 Octane ore higher. I think regular unleaded is 87? I have had other vehicles that the dash even had Premium fuel and I never did, just used regular unleaded.

Hi Texan, I love the TriGlide and Harley as well. Just had to make a decision that would last me a lifetime (I am already OLD). If I had unlimited funds, I would have one of them as well.

[ge4ever]

I have a 2008 Ultra Classic with a CSC trike kit. I bought the Harley
new had Had it Triked because I liked the Adversary color. I have
about 6000 miles on it after the conversion by CSC and with a $1,000 or so in upgrades to the motor I feel this is an excellent trike.

I rode a 2014 triGlide and found the performance better than my 2008 but
the CSC conversion seemed to ride and handle better.

Last Saturday I took delivery of a new 2014 Gold Wing Navi/XM converted by
CSC with their viper kit. After just a couple of hundred miles I am convinced
this a much better overall ride than my converted Harley Ultra.

The Gold Wing is more expensive but it lacks nothing except a cb which
is also an extra on the TtriGlide

In retrospect I wish I had bought Honda first. Overall it seems a much better
match to my expectations.

Now I have two trikes in the garage.

Bill

[kimber45]

I had a 2010 Harley tri glide and put 52000 miles on it. Bought a 2013 Gl1800 Nav CSC new, I now have 34,862 miles on it. The Honda is hands down the best ride. Regular gas for the Honda. We went to Alaska last May 11520 miles and no problems. I can't say that about the Harley.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Okay ... gotta chime in ... I've owned four GW's ... 2 1800's .... loved them all ... but ... there is no one in the world that markets like Harley ... I love being able to mod the snot out of my ride ...

People asked me when I traded my GW for a Harley, why? Not fast enough .. nope GW way faster. Not comfortable enough ... nope GW way more comfortable ... bottom line ... I think what ever you start with ... that's your first love. And Harley is it. This is my first trike ... I really liked the GW with a CSC conversion I looked at ... but the Harley just fit me.

[SMSgt]

I think it would be interesting to see this same conversation on the Harley forum.

[Hooker 6]

I think it would be interesting to see this same conversation on the Harley forum.

I am a member of both forums and I don't believe the discussion would be significantly different.

The GW is the superior trike platform, hands down - power, comfort, ride, handling, braking, mileage - you name it.

Don't misunderstand. I love Harley's and have owned several. Currently I have a 2002 Lorider and a 2014 Ultra Limited. The limited is magnificent - much more fun to ride, great GPS and sound system and the Lowrider is a biker's bike.
U
That being said, the 1800 is the ultimate touring bike for two folks, hands down.

[FRR]

I think it would be interesting to see this same conversation on the Harley forum.[/QUOTE

I am a member of both forums and I don't believe the discussion would be significantly different.

The GW is the superior trike platform, hands down - power, comfort, ride, handling, braking, mileage - you name it.

Don't misunderstand. I love Harley's and have owned several. Currently I have a 2002 Lorider and a 2014 Ultra Limited. The limited is magnificent - much more fun to ride, great GPS and sound system and the Lowrider is a biker's bike.
U
That being said, the 1800 is the ultimate touring bike for two folks, hands down.

Be careful about posting anything positive about a Goldwing on the Harley site. Especially if it compares the two in any way. The readers there will flame anyone who posts anything negative about Harley, whether it is accurate or not. I stopped posting anything on that site, ( and I've owned 7 Ultras in 20 yrs) because every time I posted anything that Harley readers objected to they were brutal and got personal. One guy even suggested that Wing riders shouldn't even be reading "their page".