CVO Conversion

[druzinski]

Hello,
I have a 2015 Harley CVO limited with 300 miles on it. Because of medical condition I was not able to ride it much last year hence the low miles. I have to now convert it to a trike or get a 2016 Tri-Glide. I can pick up a new Tri-Glide trading in my CVO plus $2000.00. There is a Motor Trike dealer not far from me who is also a Harley dealer who says the will honor the Harley warranty. The “ruff” estimate for the Gladiator conversion without running boards is $20,000.00. I am wondering if any one has faced this dilemma before and perhaps converted a CVO or price out the cost of adding the CVO features to a Tri Glide? I have read many post on IRS vs. solid axle and seem to be 50/50 as to which is better. I am not looking for someone to make the decision for me however I welcome advice and personal experiences to help guide me and perhaps not make mistakes others have.

[clint44]

I love our Street Glide w/Hannigan conversion but in your particular case,I think I would trade for a TriGlide and not look back.
You will love a trike!

[Oldmsocko]

You could flip a coin concerning straight axel vs IRS. My son M3 loves his Hannigan Conversion where I love my 09 Tri Glide.

[J.T.M.]

Just my 2 cents. I have the Hannigan Transformer conversion on my Ultra Classic. It is a wide IRS and we love it. As for the CVO, if you convert you will have a CVO. Hannigan matched my limited paint perfect and I am sure they can match yours. With my larger trunk and wider stance I would not trade my 2010 Ultra Classic with the Hannigan Transformer for a new TRI GLIDE. Just my 2 cents.

[druzinski]

Just my 2 cents. I have the Hannigan Transformer conversion on my Ultra Classic. It is a wide IRS and we love it. As for the CVO, if you convert you will have a CVO. Hannigan matched my limited paint perfect and I am sure they can match yours. With my larger trunk and wider stance I would not trade my 2010 Ultra Classic with the Hannigan Transformer for a new TRI GLIDE. Just my 2 cents.

Thank you for your input. I have an email to Motor trike and the dealer also has regarding the matching paint. Hope to find some pics of CVO conversions. One of the things that sets the CVO apart is the paint.

[trikermutha]

Sell the CVO and get one already converted it will save you a ton of cash..or buy the Tri Glide..

[Darth]

I say keep the CVO...

http://www.triketalk.com/content/174-World%E2%80%99s-First-Factory-Bagger-Convertible-Trike

[Hrolfr]

Seems to me the new tri would be the way to go, I mean there is an $18,000 difference between converting what you have and buying new. I am willing to bet that you could get the new tri, have them put a 120ST in it sell the new 103 that came in the new tri and still come out a few grand cheaper. Although I am not sure you can get the 120 for the Twin cooled models, but then there is still the 110 and it would still be much cheaper.

[Sloride]

Having had a 2013 Roadglide CVO and now a Roadglide Trike, I understand some of where your coming from.

IMO...Trade in or sell the CVO.

Your return on investment after converting the CVO to trike will have you spending somewhere in the $55K to $60K before financing (if needed) that would leave you having to ride this trike for about 8-10 years for a decent ROI

IMO, trade in the CVO on a new Tri-Glide and have the HD-dealer put in the new 120ST motor, exhaust and tune.

You will then have a new trike with dealer warranty that will run like your CVO does

BTW...My opinion and $5 will get you a medium coffee at Starbucks

[druzinski]

Having had a 2013 Roadglide CVO and now a Roadglide Trike, I understand some of where your coming from.

IMO...Trade in or sell the CVO.

Your return on investment after converting the CVO to trike will have you spending somewhere in the $55K to $60K before financing (if needed) that would leave you having to ride this trike for about 8-10 years for a decent ROI

IMO, trade in the CVO on a new Tri-Glide and have the HD-dealer put in the new 120ST motor, exhaust and tune.

You will then have a new trike with dealer warranty that will run like your CVO does

BTW...My opinion and $5 will get you a medium coffee at Starbucks

I was told by the dealer that I would not notice the difference with the 103 compared to the 110 that there was not that much difference. I have not rode the newer 103's yet

[Sloride]

I was told by the dealer that I would not notice the difference with the 103 compared to the 110 that there was not that much difference. I have not rode the newer 103's yet

The biggest difference will be Torque not HP, and the 2015 110 CVO TQ curve is significantly different than the 2016 Rushmore 103 TQ curve.

The Trike is 3-4 hundred pounds heavier than the bike, plus all the additional gear that you can haul, add to that a larger cross section and much less aerodynamic and you come up with needing more power than the 110 CVO makes to give you comparable power to weight

I have a 2010 RGC converted to a Motortrike. It was originally a 96 CI and was converted to a 103 Stage II SE with the 255 SE cams, 2-1 exhaust and AC and tuned. I would venture to say that this motor would favorably compare with the new Factory Rushmore 103 Motors.

There is no way on God's green earth that my trike would run anywhere close to my CVO. That is the reason that I am going to put either a GMR 117 CI or a S&S 124 in my trike...but I am a power freak and that is another thread.

You may be perfectly happy with a New TG and how they run...but IMO...do not expect it to run like a 2015 CVO bike.

[ParrotHD]

Hannigan Transformer

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I'd trike the CVO, if for no other reason, it would be way more unique and the transformer is a sweet trike kit and Hannigan does a great job with the paint.

[RoadKingTrike]

Seems that many posters have overlooked your selection of MotorTrike and want to sing the praises of Hannigan, a brand you didn't bring up. While I'm sure Hannigan is a good conversion, there's nothing at all wrong with the MotorTrike conversion, and I'm very happy with my Road King / MotorTrike set-up.
That being said, I made the decision to convert rather than move to a TriGlide based on economics. My RK was paid for, and had many upgrades and extras. To sell it, buy a TriGlide, and then bring it to a condition where my RK was already would have cost me a lot more than the MotorTrike install.
I don't know how attached you are to your CVO, or how personalized you've made it. If it's mostly stock, I would trade it and $2000.00 and get the TriGlide. Then spend your money for extras on it.
Respects

[clint44]

Your return on investment after converting the CVO to trike will have you spending somewhere in the $55K to $60K before financing (if needed) that would leave you having to ride this trike for about 8-10 years for a decent ROI

That was my reason for suggesting the OP trade for a new TG. IIRC,that 2015 CVO Ultra cost over $40K plus. Add $20K for a trike conversion on top of that and the numbers get a little skewed. But,who am I to be offering opinions as I've got well over $35K in our 2011 trike.

[Gorilla]

It really depends on what you like. It is hard to go away from a CVO that basically has everything. If you really like that feature then a conversion might be up your alley. If that is just a nice feature then the new TRI might be the way to go. Your used CVO is worth about the same as the new TRI on the retail value. If you go with the TRI see if you can get them to add a 120ST engine. The 110 in your Ultra is geared and has a different power band then the 103 in the TRI. Take one out for a test drive and compare for yourself. The new TRI is very good performer. It might just be all you really want.

Now if you really like the CVO look then a conversion with the same paint style would be outstanding.

[HDB0B]

Have you explored the easy option of adding a sidecar? ..... especially if your medical condition ever changes and you want 2 wheels again???

Bob

[druzinski]

Have you explored the easy option of adding a sidecar? ..... especially if your medical condition ever changes and you want 2 wheels again???

Bob

I have not looked into a sidecar I will have to explore that option.

[druzinski]

Going to go with the Tri-Glide instead of the Motor Trike conversion. Main reason is the dealer tells me that Motor Trike cannot tell me how they would match the graphics on my CVO. The "don't worry it will look good" does not cut it for me when spending that kind of money. Find it hard to believe they do not have someone that can do a simple mock up of how the graphics would be applied. I am sure they can match the color but they cannot answer the simple question of how would you apply the color.

[RKK]

Sorry i didn't see this post earlier, to little to late from me. But I was able to convert my CVO with the help of FAT BAGGER. They were very helpful, cost alot less than most and great qaulity and service. Matched the graphics perfectly