Harley conversion v Can-am Spyder

[Nurzo]

My daily ride has been a Spyder ST for the past 18 months, this is after having a major crash which broke my pelvis in 2 places (open book fracture). I find the Spyder to be very safe, comfortable and predictable and I like the extra safety of 3 wheels.
My problem was I still had my 2000 low rider which had been ridden about 4 times in the 18 months. Problem being I like the raw agricultural feel of the Harley and was reluctant to part with it.
It was decided to convert it to a trike.
The conversion has been completed for about 3 weeks now , Mystery Design IRS basic kit, after riding both bike over the 3 weeks here is my opinion, the Spyder is very safe and boring whereas the Harley is raw, exciting and has to be ridden with a lot more care than the Spyder. The Spyders electronics keep you out of trouble but with the Harley that is all up to how it is ridden.

For me the Spyder is the daily ride still just for the safety aspect.
The Harley trike is the excitement fun machine to put a grin in your face that won't go away whether your riding or just looking at it.
When I retire, soon, it's the Spyder that will be sold.

Steve

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I think you have Harley in your blood, a condition I can sympathize with cause I have it to, so my response might be a tad biased.

I tried a few years back to get away from Harley .... Mainly because they seem to lag on technology, specifically ABS brakes. I tried Gold Wings and a BMW. They were all great bikes. The only problem was they didn't shake, weren't hot, were extremely quiet and the engine was very well disguised by plastic. I mean when I want to change plugs, I need to do a "Tupperware Party", really ... as a guy that likes to wrench, that to me was way silly.

So ... what could I do? I went back to the loud, hot, shaking, engine exposed bike I love.

I spent a lot of money trying to break free of my love of Harley's. Even to the point of selling my beloved HD T shirt wardrobe. My friends all asked me the same questions as I traded these bikes. Wasn't it fast enough? Wasn't it comfortable? Did you have issues with reliability? The answer to all the questions was nope .. none of those apply. Then they'd ask, "So why'd you trade it?" My response has always been the same, "It never got here."

(as I patted my heart) I understand when you say "Raw Agricultural Feel". the Harley's have, there is just something that gets in a man's blood. Not to mention that nobody markets like Harley ... NOBODY.From accessories to clothing. I don't think I've ever been in a 7-11 that didn't have two things. an officially licensed Dallas Cowboy hat and an officially licensed Harley Davidson hat.

Ask yourself this, "Are you ever gonna be happy without a Harley?" Then make your decision, and ensure you include both heart and brain. Just my HO and admittedly biased. Thanks for listening.

[rhino 2]

Theres something about the feel of a Harley, Its not easily perceived, grasped, or comprehended.
INTANGIBLE is the only way to describe it...

[Fearless]

I think you have Harley in your blood, a condition I can sympathize with cause I have it to, so my response might be a tad biased.

I tried a few years back to get away from Harley .... Mainly because they seem to lag on technology, specifically ABS brakes. I tried Gold Wings and a BMW. They were all great bikes. The only problem was they didn't shake, weren't hot, were extremely quiet and the engine was very well disguised by plastic. I mean when I want to change plugs, I need to do a "Tupperware Party", really ... as a guy that likes to wrench, that to me was way silly.

So ... what could I do? I went back to the loud, hot, shaking, engine exposed bike I love.

I spent a lot of money trying to break free of my love of Harley's. Even to the point of selling my beloved HD T shirt wardrobe. My friends all asked me the same questions as I traded these bikes. Wasn't it fast enough? Wasn't it comfortable? Did you have issues with reliability? The answer to all the questions was nope .. none of those apply. Then they'd ask, "So why'd you trade it?" My response has always been the same, "It never got here."

(as I patted my heart) I understand when you say "Raw Agricultural Feel". the Harley's have, there is just something that gets in a man's blood. Not to mention that nobody markets like Harley ... NOBODY.From accessories to clothing. I don't think I've ever been in a 7-11 that didn't have two things. an officially licensed Dallas Cowboy hat and an officially licensed Harley Davidson hat.

Ask yourself this, "Are you ever gonna be happy without a Harley?" Then make your decision, and ensure you include both heart and brain. Just my HO and admittedly biased. Thanks for listening.

+1 fearless

[clint44]

As much as Sherry and I really liked our Boss Hoss,we love our Harley. It's not about speed,it's not about power,it's about "soul".
Best way I can describe it at the moment.

[Sunman]

You guys got it right. I tried to get away from Harley several times. Just didn't work. They stir the soul. My old '79 Shovel Head quit on us so many times that my wife wouldn't ride on it any longer. Still have it in the garage. On the other hand, had a '81 Lowrider that never left us stranded. Tried a Goldwing GL-1800 tike a few years back. Great machine but just wasn't a Harley. ( It broke down on us in the boonies of Arkansas).

Now riding a Freewheeler.

Steve, I worked in Perth, Sale, Darwin and Melbourne back in the 1990's and 2000s. Perth is one of my favorite places in the world. Drank a few cold ones in the Freemason Bar in Fremantle too.

Sunman

[trikermutha]

I wish I could could have said the same but I went to the other side and been really happy with my decision.
The Harley was nice but lacked certain things and reliability on the parts. The same parts that been issues for several years now.

Unless something changes with Harley I am sticking to the other side.

I do still have my older 1996 conversion Harley with IRS and need to get it back running again. Maybe over the winter I may get the urge to work on it but in no hurry..

My body could not take the Daily beatings from the Harley anymore. Have fun no matter what you ride.

[Retired Army]

Nurzo,

Is there any difference in handling with the two wheels being attached to the front of the trike as opposed to rear wheeled trikes?

Thanks for your input.

[msocko3]

I wish I could could have said the same but I went to the other side and been really happy with my decision.
The Harley was nice but lacked certain things and reliability on the parts. The same parts that been issues for several years now.

Unless something changes with Harley I am sticking to the other side.

I do still have my older 1996 conversion Harley with IRS and need to get it back running again. Maybe over the winter I may get the urge to work on it but in no hurry..

My body could not take the Daily beatings from the Harley anymore. Have fun no matter what you ride.

I still have my 06 Ultra Classic, but loving my 2012 Hannigan Goldwing.

[ray6576]

Nurzo,

Is there any difference in handling with the two wheels being attached to the front of the trike as opposed to rear wheeled trikes?

Thanks for your input.

I had a 2013 RT Limited and now have a 2015 Tri Glide. There are some differences between the two but for my level of riding skill I found the change from the Spyder to the Tri Glide to be minimal.

[rhino 2]

Handling wise, Not too much difference between them.. What i did notice when i had a Spyder that the two front tires would fool squirrels when they ran in front and tried to straddle them , the rear tire would flatten them...

[trikermutha]

The Spyder has power steering and is a bit different than the Triglide as for the steering feel..Its like you took the Triglide and flipped it around now..

[hogcowboy]

I found that with the Spyder and it's power steering, you aren't nearly as tired if you have a half day of twisties. But that same power steering made it very easy to get a wheel off the ground and kick in the nanny. They are two different kinds of riding styles. You have to get used to each one and not over ride them. JMHO

[shrubs2999]

I had a 2013 RT Limited and now have a 2015 Tri Glide. There are some differences between the two but for my level of riding skill I found the change from the Spyder to the Tri Glide to be minimal.

I had a 2012 RT and 2013 RT and agree, the transition in riding style was minimal. I did have some is in 2012 though trying to not counter steer. However, after a few hundred miles, it was much easier.

I found that with the Spyder and it's power steering, you aren't nearly as tired if you have a half day of twisties. But that same power steering made it very easy to get a wheel off the ground and kick in the nanny. They are two different kinds of riding styles. You have to get used to each one and not over ride them. JMHO

This is why folks need to ride the bike(s) they are interested in purchasing as each person and bike is a different ride for a different person. I do miss the dynamic power steering in parking lots but I feel the TriGlide is more stable at freeway speeds. I was very tired after riding my 2013 RT for a few hundred miles. I have no issues on the TriGlide.

JMHO

YMMV!

[trikermutha]

I found the Spyder stable at any speed or curve..TriGlide was smooth on flat surface then the bumps were another story..
Spyder handle all road condition pretty well I think..Less effort to drive versus the Triglide..

[GARYD]

I rode metric's for the first 29 years of my 56 years of riding motorcycles. Difference between night and day. Harley is like a family - metrics not so much.....at least for me.

TriGlide from 2 wheels - I have absolutely no problems going between the two.
Metrics are too quiet, too smooth and way to complicated for me and they don't "LOOK" like a real motorcycle. JMHO

The only reason I will never own a Spyder = the 2 freekin' wheels in front. It's like riding an ATV for chrisake.

[dirtdobber]

When I was in the market for a 3 wheels bike I test rode the spyder. I was impressed with it in the most part. After 50 miles I knew I could not do a trip on one. There was jsut something about it, not sure what it was though.
I have found there are 2 types of folks concerning a spyder. You either like it or you don't.

[trikermutha]

Metrics to quiet.. Have you seen the metrics flying by you at 120 mph with that nasty ass noisy muffler they use..

What does a "real" motorcycle suppose to look like??

As long as I can park my fanny on the seat and have the wind on me its a motorcycle..I get more comments on cool the Spyder is than I did the Harley...Figure that one out??

[GARYD]

1. I have never been passed by a metric except by a youngster on a rice rocket. Never been passed by a Gold Wing - maybe I have but didn't hear it.
BTW: I don't like the practice of putting obnoxiously loud pipes on Harleys as soon as you buy one.
I love the sound of a newer Harley exhaust.

2. A real motorcycle looks like a Harley - end of discussion. Don't even mention a V-Rod or Street.

3. Cool comments - I can't figure that one out either.

How many movies have metrics been featured in?
Gold Wing in Blue - ?
Honda and the Marboro Man - ?
Harleys have been in tons of TV shows - because they look like - wait for it - motorcycles.

Bottom line is if you are happy with what you have that's all that matters from a moped to a Boss Hoss.

[trikermutha]

Still don't get the real motorcycle comment..