Long Test Ride Whith Wife On Freewheeler Today Review

[Bill G]

As stated before we plan on buying a new Freewheeler around Sept or Oct. So today the wife and I took a long test ride on a new Freewheeler along with the owner of the local Harley dealer on his bike. We road quite a long distance through multiple terrains on a course Scott uses for test rides.

We absolutely loved the Freewheeler Trike and had a great time. I did not really have any of the issues talked about on the forums with the rideing of a Trike for the first time. No issues understanding the steering, no issues with lane positioning turns curves parking lot manuevers or anything else to speak of. The handling of the trike seemed to come very easy to me. Don't get me wrong here anyone I know there will still be a steeper learning curve in the future and I look forward to it. So far we are stoked with the outcome of the test ride.

The Freewheeler ran great just the way it is stock. Lots of power great throttle response and the factory mufflers even have a decent tone to them for stock mufflers. The trany shifted great and the Trike felt really stable. I am glad we took it for a pretty long test ride to get a feel for things. I thanked my local dealer for allowing this but he also knows we will be buying one soon as we have purchased 4 other Harley's from the dealer.

Take Care All,
Bill G

[hogcowboy]

I've heard the Freewheeler fits smaller people. That some near 6 foot or over would have a problem. Did you find that the case or are these long legged guys full of hot air too?

[Bill G]

I've heard the Freewheeler fits smaller people. That some near 6 foot or over would have a problem. Did you find that the case or are these long legged guys full of hot air too?

I don't know if this will help answer your question or not.

I am only 5'. 8 1/2" tall and the trike was fine as far as fit for me. I think the Freewheeler as is would be good up to around 5.10" or so. If a guy is taller than that or has really long legs he may need to look at a saddle that will move him back such as the Tall man seat that Harley makes it moves the rider back 1.5"

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[clint44]

I sat on one at my local H-D dealer,today. I'm also 5'8" with a 30" inseam and it fit me like a glove. Am really starting to consider buying a Free Wheeler if I don't convert our Street Glide. The big question is "Can the wife and I tour the country on one in reasonable comfort"?

[Gorilla]

Bill glad you enjoyed the test ride. Just sound like you took to it like a duck to water. Depending on peoples back ground some find the transition easier then others. That does not reflect on one person or another. What you done in the past has a lot to do with it. Who knows that Freewheeler may be in your possession sooner then later. Jump when you are ready you will not regret it.

[screwball]

Congrats on the short learning curve. Wife 'triked' in 2009, me in 2011. We rarely ride 2 up. It would be my suggestion that if you plan on touring a lot take a longer look at a Tri-Glide. MUCH more comfortable for the back seater, and more room for 'stuff'. For the driver the Free is easier to maneuver and more fun to ride. We just finished a 1440 mile ride around Arizona. Not sure how comfortable wife would have been on the back of my Free. I know they cost more, but if most of your riding will be 2 up, it may be worth the extra bucks.

Good Luck

[Bill G]

I sat on one at my local H-D dealer,today. I'm also 5'8" with a 30" inseam and it fit me like a glove. Am really starting to consider buying a Free Wheeler if I don't convert our Street Glide. The big question is "Can the wife and I tour the country on one in reasonable comfort"?

Good question.. I think if a guy put the trunk rack and trunk bag on top one could do pretty well. I think the storage would be pretty good and depending on your wife her size and how she feels about a back rest only would be the next concern or question. I do think the trike would do fine as it is really in my opinion pretty much a Road King Trike and lots of folks tour around on a Road King.

The ultimate for all out long distance touring would be the Tri Glide Trike, just no way around that.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[cavie]

I do not believe the Freewheeler would make a good tourer. It's more in line with a local bar hopper design. Ok short distance local rider. If I needed to have a Harley it would be a Triglide. After they add a radiator and the other 1/2 of the water cooled motor.

[Bill G]

Congrats on the short learning curve. Wife 'triked' in 2009, me in 2011. We rarely ride 2 up. It would be my suggestion that if you plan on touring a lot take a longer look at a Tri-Glide. MUCH more comfortable for the back seater, and more room for 'stuff'. For the driver the Free is easier to maneuver and more fun to ride. We just finished a 1440 mile ride around Arizona. Not sure how comfortable wife would have been on the back of my Free. I know they cost more, but if most of your riding will be 2 up, it may be worth the extra bucks.

Good Luck

Thanks for the feedback....

We have already put a lot of thought into our decision and have considered a lot of the aspects of what you said. Pretty much for our riding style, we have always really enjoyed the Road King or Street Glide style touring model Harleys. We have ridden two up for many years on these style bikes going on 17+ years together now.

I find the Freewheeler to pretty much be a sporty Road King Trike and again, for our riding style it will be perfect. We do not tour ride for days or weeks at a time. We prefer long day rides or an overnight ride to places every now and then. The wife has always loved the Road King style bikes the best and she is one of the best passengers bar none I have ever had on a Motorcycle.

The storage is good on the Freewheeler and can be expanded with trunk rack and tail bag. The wife has no issues with the back rest on longer day rides or couple day touring trips.

Really for us the Freewheeler is cost effective and fits our type of riding better than the Tri Glide.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[cavie]

Sounds like you got a plan. That's the kind of riding I do. Daytripper. You can add armrest to any sissy bar as I did. Bag on the luggage rack when needed.

[clint44]

Good question.. I think if a guy put the trunk rack and trunk bag on top one could do pretty well. I think the storage would be pretty good and depending on your wife her size and how she feels about a back rest only would be the next concern or question. I do think the trike would do fine as it is really in my opinion pretty much a Road King Trike and lots of folks tour around on a Road King.
The ultimate for all out long distance touring would be the Tri Glide Trike, just no way around that.
Ride Safe,
Bill G

The Free Wheeler trunk is a lot bigger than it looks in pics. With a luggage rack mounted on the trunk lid,a pretty large T-Bag would allow quite a bit of luggage capacity for touring. Road King trike? That was my first thought too,Bill.

It's hard for me to get excited about a TriGlide,for some reason. It will either be a Free Wheeler or convert our SG with a Hannigan Transformer kit,for us.

[screwball]

Boy, do I understand! I triked because at 70 it was getting harder and harder to hold the Ultra up when stopped. Wife triked because Cancer treatments left her feet numb. When I first saw pictures of the Freewheeler on this board I called my local dealer. She told me one was on the way. Told her to put a SOLD sign on it when it came in. 90% of my bike riding over 50 years was on a Softail or Dyna. When I bought the Ultra I kept the Dyna, a lot more fun to ride. Wife likes all the bells and whistles of the Tri, I usually take the windshield off my 'Free when we aren't on a 2 or 3 week ride. The Freewheeler is a LOT more fun to ride ( me ) than a Tri.

Good Luck and have fun!

[Bill G]

Bill glad you enjoyed the test ride. Just sound like you took to it like a duck to water. Depending on peoples back ground some find the transition easier then others. That does not reflect on one person or another. What you done in the past has a lot to do with it. Who knows that Freewheeler may be in your possession sooner then later. Jump when you are ready you will not regret it.

Thank's, if I get a bunch of OT at work it could happen a little sooner

Take Care,
Bill G

- - - Updated - - -

The Free Wheeler trunk is a lot bigger than it looks in pics. With a luggage rack mounted on the trunk lid,a pretty large T-Bag would allow quite a bit of luggage capacity for touring. Road King trike? That was my first thought too,Bill.

It's hard for me to get excited about a TriGlide,for some reason. It will either be a Free Wheeler or convert our SG with a Hannigan Transformer kit,for us.

I get what your saying... For us we really don't mind the Tri Glide Trike but it is really just more cost and more trike than we need. Also the Freewheeler Trike just really floats our boat.

If if you go with the conversion be sure and post some pic's.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[Sunman]

I am 6' 1" and the Freewheeler fits me just fine. Most of the time I ride with my feet on the hi-way pegs and I am comfortable. I usually ride about 12 - 15K a year but due to the bad weather (lots of rain) we have had since I bought the bike in December I only have 2,200 miles so far but I am very happy with it. I would by another Freewheeler. As several have said it is basically a Road King trike.

Sunman

[clint44]

For us we really don't mind the Tri Glide Trike but it is really just more cost and more trike than we need. Also the Freewheeler Trike just really floats our boat.

If you go with the conversion be sure and post some pic's.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

Your thoughts on both trikes pretty much mirrors my own,Bill.
Will definitely post pics of what we end up with.

[Bill G]

I look forward to the pic's Clint. Ya I think we're spot on with each other on our thinking

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[Springman2007]

I've heard the Freewheeler fits smaller people. That some near 6 foot or over would have a problem. Did you find that the case or are these long legged guys full of hot air too?

I am 6 foot and the only issue is my butt does not like the stock seat all that well - that is more of a comfort thing though.....

It is true that the stock seat pushes you forward a bit - actually that seems to be true on all the new, stock touring seats. I would like my replacement seat to position me as the seats before - about an inch back; and, I would be just fine.

The other aspect is the fuel tank, the FLRT has a slightly bigger tank than my old FLSTSC, its not really an issue, just another wrinkle to adjust too..

So, fear not! The Freewheeler can tackle all size people.....

Springman

[clint44]

My wife and I have pretty much decided to go with a Free Wheeler. Our dealer has offered to put our 2011 Street Glide on consignment and thinks it will sell quickly. We are trying to decide on the color,either Blue or Black. Will most likely buy it without any optional accessories as I can save a lot of money buying them online and installing them,myself. I've built a ton of custom bikes over the years and have a bunch of ideas for these trikes. Customizing our Boss Hoss trike was very satisfying and I'm excited about working on our own Free Wheeler.