Harley Tri Glide versus Everyone Else

[Capt.Bob]

First off, I have owned a 2016 Harley TGU for 6 months now and have about 5400 miles on it. I had ridden a friend's 2015 TGU and thought that it might be time to get off my 2012 RGU being that I have a bit of a gimpy left hip.

Yesterday, I went over to our local Can-Am dealer and sat on a 2016 Spyder RT Limited Can-Am. The new Rotax engine reportedly has more grunt, gets better gas mileage and makes the Can-Am reportedly peppier in most categories including reduced felt heat to the rider.

The only other factory "trike" that I have sat in is the new Polaris Slingshot. That seems like a larger departure from motorcycling than either the TGU or the RT or other Can-Am's and the Harley Freewheeler.

On one of the older threads on this forum, I was reading about the reported woes of some of the aftermarket manufacturers of trike conversion kits following the introductions of the above-mentioned three factory trikes and how the finance/insurance industry has sort of put a whammy on that aspect of the industry.

The reason that I went over to sit on the Can-Am was that there was this little nagging voice in the back of my head that said to me, "Bob, you know that the TGU is a bit retro in terms of engineering and being state-of-the-art" as the EITMS kicked in on a hot 85 degree day yesterday cruising around town on my straight axle ride. I used to go primarily for state-of-the-art sport bikes during that phase of my riding career and wondered if I wasn't missing something by not having looked at the 2016 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited in person before pulling the trigger on a new TGU. I had sat on a much older version of a Can-Am Spyder and it did not knock my sox off.

My experience sitting on the Can-Am was an interesting one. The suspension is so vastly more forgiving than the Harley but it also occurred to me that there are something like 6-7 computers that manage all of the complex systems on the Can-Am and the bike requires full-time electronic stability control that is not found on the Harley. Not sure how many computer systems manage the Harley?

Additionally, for some reason, although the TGU has a lot of fiberglass and some metal, the Spyder felt to me like it was mostly plastic.

Sort of a different feeling about it compared to the "tractor" Harley.

Additionally, I have never hankered for an automatic/push button shifter which is the norm for the Can-Am RT.

Well, I rode my TGU home and have been stewing over my experience for the past 24 hours and have not come to any profound truths. However, my gut tells me that I am pretty glad that I got the Harley over the Can-Am, even though the Can-Am seems significantly more sophisticated. The Slingshot to me is not even close to the motorcycle experience so I am not jonesing for it although it is one seemingly very sophisticated and state-of-the-art trike.

So, after doing all of this after-purchase musing that is essentially ass-backward, I think I made the correct decision for myself given the current factory options. I am however, very interested in hearing others viewpoints about this state of affairs since this is a trike forum and all kinds of different trike riders/owners are represented which gives us a better cross-section of folks that like and ride trikes. And please no flaming suggesting that I am a troll for Harley. I am seriously interested in my decision making and that of others concerning how we all uniquely arrived at our chosen ride.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

As with all things ... everyone has their likes and dislikes.


I rode a can am ... the "full dresser" looking one. It was a hoot ... lots of power ... good handling ... I wasn't thrilled with the foot position, but I think that would e something you get used to (similar to the BMW K1200Lt) ... I might of gone with the can am (loved the pearl white with high brown seat and back rests), but the dealer had no desire to take my Harley in trade and I didn't want the hassle of selling it.

I agree with you about the sling shot. Kewl looking, just way to far from a motorcycle experience, not to mention, if you tend to be on the big side, it's hard getting in and out of. I have the same feeling about the Stallion.

As stated earlier, each to his own.

[Bikerbozo]

As far as a computer on the TG's. It's actually a hamster named Dave. He's a little slow and they gave him an abacus. As long as you feed him plenty of chrome add ons, he's happy.
And you thought it was a a single ECM they used.

[geezerglide11441]

First off, I have owned a 2016 Harley TGU for 6 months now and have about 5400 miles on it. I had ridden a friend's 2015 TGU and thought that it might be time to get off my 2012 RGU being that I have a bit of a gimpy left hip.

Yesterday, I went over to our local Can-Am dealer and sat on a 2016 Spyder RT Limited Can-Am. The new Rotax engine reportedly has more grunt, gets better gas mileage and makes the Can-Am reportedly peppier in most categories including reduced felt heat to the rider.

The only other factory "trike" that I have sat in is the new Polaris Slingshot. That seems like a larger departure from motorcycling than either the TGU or the RT or other Can-Am's and the Harley Freewheeler.

On one of the older threads on this forum, I was reading about the reported woes of some of the aftermarket manufacturers of trike conversion kits following the introductions of the above-mentioned three factory trikes and how the finance/insurance industry has sort of put a whammy on that aspect of the industry.

The reason that I went over to sit on the Can-Am was that there was this little nagging voice in the back of my head that said to me, "Bob, you know that the TGU is a bit retro in terms of engineering and being state-of-the-art" as the EITMS kicked in on a hot 85 degree day yesterday cruising around town on my straight axle ride. I used to go primarily for state-of-the-art sport bikes during that phase of my riding career and wondered if I wasn't missing something by not having looked at the 2016 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited in person before pulling the trigger on a new TGU. I had sat on a much older version of a Can-Am Spyder and it did not knock my sox off.

My experience sitting on the Can-Am was an interesting one. The suspension is so vastly more forgiving than the Harley but it also occurred to me that there are something like 6-7 computers that manage all of the complex systems on the Can-Am and the bike requires full-time electronic stability control that is not found on the Harley. Not sure how many computer systems manage the Harley?

Additionally, for some reason, although the TGU has a lot of fiberglass and some metal, the Spyder felt to me like it was mostly plastic.

Sort of a different feeling about it compared to the "tractor" Harley.

Additionally, I have never hankered for an automatic/push button shifter which is the norm for the Can-Am RT.

Well, I rode my TGU home and have been stewing over my experience for the past 24 hours and have not come to any profound truths. However, my gut tells me that I am pretty glad that I got the Harley over the Can-Am, even though the Can-Am seems significantly more sophisticated. The Slingshot to me is not even close to the motorcycle experience so I am not jonesing for it although it is one seemingly very sophisticated and state-of-the-art trike.

So, after doing all of this after-purchase musing that is essentially ass-backward, I think I made the correct decision for myself given the current factory options. I am however, very interested in hearing others viewpoints about this state of affairs since this is a trike forum and all kinds of different trike riders/owners are represented which gives us a better cross-section of folks that like and ride trikes. And please no flaming suggesting that I am a troll for Harley. I am seriously interested in my decision making and that of others concerning how we all uniquely arrived at our chosen ride.

Sorry Bob, but I wouldn't touch this one with a ten foot pole. Harley snob over here!!

However, I think you made the right decision, at least you tested/tried some of the others and have your own opinion anyway!! Good on you!!

Roger

[rhino 2]

Back in 08 i wanted a Trike to ride for when i put my two wheelers away for the winter... The only factory trike at the time was Can-Am.. I had it for about 3 years, And i Always felt like i was riding a toy, . A rater unreliably toy that would leave me stranded on the side of the road... At the same time having only Japanese bikes for 30 + years, and believing the BS that Harley's were 1940's technology i never even walked into a Harley showroom. When i took my Spyder out of the repair shop, And after 2k in repairs and 80 days waiting for parts on my dime and only a few days out of warranty' i was riding past a Harley dealer, Saw a Tri-Glide sitting there and decided to take it for a test ride.. The dealer said take it out for as long as you want... I drove it for only 10 miles came back and said.. Have a new one ready for me And take my Spyder''Please''... The Harley's have a feeling that can't be expanded...

And has never left me stranded...

[Steve on 3]

I like my Tg because it was engineered to be a trike from the factory. Everything fits and works together. Not a big Honda fan so I have no desire for a conversion Honda. Nothing wrong with them, just not my choice. We test rode the Can Am at Daytona. It was different than my TG but the biggest takeaway for me was the feeling that it was a snow mobile with wheels. Slingshot to me is not a trike. Trikes don't have steering wheels.

[Ozarkryder]

I like motorcycles and trikes. I can appreciate 3 and 2 wheelers, and cars & trucks, even if they aren't completely my thing. I have had my 1990 FLHS since since 1992, we have a Goldwing Champion conversion, Gloria recently got a Trike Shop Roadhawk (VW based trike) and I also have a 2013 Triumph Bonneville T100. We have sat on and ridden many others - Gloria was looking at a Stallion, wasn't for her. We know folks that love theirs, just like folks like Spyders, Tri-Glides, and others.
Bottom line - it's your boat, you know what floats it.

[Yanko]

Started riding 2 years ago. I'm 74 now. Purchased a 2015 can am rt limited. Have it up north. When I went down to Florida last fall I purchased 2015 Triglide.
Can Am with the 1330 engine is sweet and easy to ride. Rides better than Triglide. That said I love my Triglide. Pure testosterone. Had to spend some bucks on Triglide to cool it done especially in Florida.

Decated, love jugs, tank lift,etc.


When I came up north and started riding the Can Am for first time in 6 months it was completely different.

Quieter, cooler, smoother, about same quickness.
Triglide is pure testosterone. There like women. Some are blondes and some are redheads. But you still like them both. It's sort of like staying home on a Saturday night and renting a movie with the Can Am. Or, going out on a Saturday night and going to Hooters with the Triglide. Different rides but both enjoyable.

[trikermutha]

Went from a TRIGLIDE to the Spyder..Could not be happier. It is one smooth machine. At first I had my doubts but after a long ride and found out I wasn't all beat up like I was on the TRIGLIDE I was hooked on the Spyder. There are a some other reasons to why I jumped to the Spyder.

Anyway Have fun

[Capt.Bob]

Started riding 2 years ago. I'm 74 now. Purchased a 2015 can am rt limited. Have it up north. When I went down to Florida last fall I purchased 2015 Triglide.
Can Am with the 1330 engine is sweet and easy to ride. Rides better than Triglide. That said I love my Triglide. Pure testosterone. Had to spend some bucks on Triglide to cool it done especially in Florida.

Decated, love jugs, tank lift,etc.


When I came up north and started riding the Can Am for first time in 6 months it was completely different.

Quieter, cooler, smoother, about same quickness.
Triglide is pure testosterone. There like women. Some are blondes and some are redheads. But you still like them both. It's sort of like staying home on a Saturday night and renting a movie with the Can Am. Or, going out on a Saturday night and going to Hooters with the Triglide. Different rides but both enjoyable.

JFHAAS, Your head-to-head comparison based on ownership provides some very illuminating insights into the two different rides I have been most interested in. Just based on your brief analogies of the ride characteristics, I am still feeling comfortable with my decision between the two machines.

I remember owning three Hondas (1100ST, 1300ST and a VFR800) and they were incredibly smooth machines but for me were actually too smooth.

They felt more like finely crafted industrial sewing machines that ran perfectly and were so quiet in comparison to a V-twin Honda sportbike I owned (VTR1000) which was extremely visceral and was a somewhat "Harley" version of a Honda V-Twin sportbike.

I liked the VTR 1000 better than I did the much smoother ST's or VFR although the engine was "snatchy" and sort of like a light switch whereas the ST's and the VFR were as smooth as butter.

- - - Updated - - -

Went from a TRIGLIDE to the Spyder..Could not be happier.

It is one smooth machine. At first I had my doubts but after a long ride and found out I wasn't all beat up like I was on the TRIGLIDE I was hooked on the Spyder. There are a some other reasons to why I jumped to the Spyder.

Anyway Have fun

Trikermutha, I understand the issue of feeling less beat up on a Spyder than a TriGlide because when I sat on the Spyder RT Limited and jumped up and down on it was amazed at the difference in suspension travel between it and the TGU. Very interested in your statement "some other reasons too (sic) why I jumped to the Spyder". You are definitely in friendly territory here because unlike the HDFORUMS, this is a Trike Forum and we are all here because of our love of trikes over the necessities of brand loyalty. Please elaborate if you feel comfortable sharing about some of the other reasons.

[ShoalsGary]

Started riding 2 years ago. I'm 74 now. Purchased a 2015 can am rt limited. Have it up north. When I went down to Florida last fall I purchased 2015 Triglide.
Can Am with the 1330 engine is sweet and easy to ride. Rides better than Triglide. That said I love my Triglide. Pure testosterone. Had to spend some bucks on Triglide to cool it done especially in Florida. Decated, love jugs, tank lift,etc.
When I came up north and started riding the Can Am for first time in 6 months it was completely different. Quieter, cooler, smoother, about same quickness.
Triglide is pure testosterone. There like women. Some are blondes and some are redheads. But you still like them both. It's sort of like staying home on a Saturday night and renting a movie with the Can Am. Or, going out on a Saturday night and going to Hooters with the Triglide. Different rides but both enjoyable.

I also had a Can Am 1300 Limited and absolutely loved everything except the startup procedure (leave it running if you're going to rob a bank!). My TriGlide is crude and clumsy in comparison. But my wife missed the sound, the vibration, and has a closet full of Harley clothes. So I bought a WheelsUp Landing Gear conversion and a Heritage Softail on her promise to ride it. She never rode it. So now I finally gave in and bought a Geezer Glide after 60 years of riding motorcycles. At least my wife is happy. She never DID like leaning!

[Capt.Bob]

I also had a Can Am 1300 Limited and absolutely loved everything except the startup procedure (leave it running if you're going to rob a bank!). My TriGlide is crude and clumsy in comparison. But my wife missed the sound, the vibration, and has a closet full of Harley clothes. So I bought a WheelsUp Landing Gear conversion and a Heritage Softail on her promise to ride it. She never rode it. So now I finally gave in and bought a Geezer Glide after 60 years of riding motorcycles. At least my wife is happy. She never DID like leaning!

Gary, This new data point that you have contributed goes toward the heart of some of my confusion about my own selection process. OTOH, the TGU power plant does seem somewhat crude and clumsy compared to what appears to be a more technologically sophisticated machine in the 1330 Rotax-engined Can-Am. However, that being said, sans the Harley riding gear, why is it that many of us have elected to get what is seemingly a more clumsy but potentially more attractive ride (based on sales figures?) with the Harley? I am sure that the engineers and marketing people at both Harley and BRP are trying to dial in just the right mix of whatever ingredients are necessary to sell the most amount of trikes. BTW, I also refer to my TGU as a "Geezer Glide" and am sort of proud of the name even though I am just turning 67 and fairly physically fit except for my gimpy left hip that I continue to work on with physical exercise. I do miss leaning a LOT but was behind a Softail yesterday and saw him creeping up to a light having to stab the pavement with a foot to keep the bike up and thought to myself that I do not miss that aspect of two wheels in the least.

[tfdeputydawg]

Not to offend anyone but, it probably will, the only reason I would ever consider a Tri or a Free is I would have a warranty on it! That is a huge + in my mind!!!!
To each his own.
My own, after loads of test rides and a few visits to manufacturing facilities was a conversion for my USA made Wing that included an extended wheel base, and an almost maintenance free IRS system. Also, didn't have to spend a couple extra grand on it to make it cool enough to ride!
If there is another, it will not be a now totally an imported, Wing!!!
So there very well could be a Free or a Tri in my future

[rhino 2]

To sum it up with Harley's....Its called ; AN INTANGIBLE....
And as soon as you hit the starter button you'll know...I've had Honda's' Kawasaki's 'Suzuki's' Yamaha's
And still have a Victory.... All of them were/are great bikes, Got me to where i was going with out any drama, Some were even a little boring... Not so with the Harley's...Like i said before;
Its an Intangible....

[Sunman]

Don't have a TG but do have a Freewheeler. When I decided to go a trike to keep my wife riding with me I decided on the FW because it is a factory trike and if I have problems that I can't fix I just take it to a Harley dealer. I had a GL1800 with a MotorTrike conversion about 5 years ago. It was a great trike but broke down on us while on a trip and it was an issue identifying the problem and then figuring out who is going to fix it (Honda or MotorTrike). Also, the part that broke down was part of the IRS. Even though the FW is a solid axel and maybe not as smooth a ride there are a whole lot less moving parts in the suspension to worry about. Like many others I have owned Harley, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory, Ducati, Yamaha and BMW motorcycles over the years but keep ending up with another Harley. I like the style, the sound and the riding experience. JMO.

Sunman

[GARYD]

I could never own a Spyder = the 6 main reasons,
1)It's not a Harley, 2)it has the 2 wheels in front which makes it feel like I'm driving an ATV and not a motorcycle, 3)the sound, 4)the ability to move my feet in many different positions for long distance comfort, 5)lack of the Harley family mythos, 6) auto trans, 7)NOT MADE IN THE U.S. AND DOESN'T SOUND AND FEEL LIKE A MOTORCYCLE - more like "a sewing machine".


I wonder if anyone ever did a study to see who falls asleep more often while riding, riders on rough and noisy Harleys or smooth and quiet non Harleys? I bet I know what the answer would be.

Am I biased? you bet I am, but I also rode metric bikes for 28 years - nothing wrong with them - I just want a real red blooded AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE.

BTW: I loath 2 wheel riders saying trikes are not motorcycles. ESAD

[rhino 2]

I wonder if anyone ever did a study to see who falls asleep more often while riding, riders on rough and noisy Harleys or smooth and quiet non Harleys? I bet I know what the answer would be.

I had a Honda VTX 1800... With a large Memphis shades wind shield, And it was so smooth, And at the time i was smoking Cigars. Well i was going down Rt84 in Pa heading to NY smoking a cigar at 70 MPH.
And i started to dose off 'What woke me was the Cigar falling out and bouncing off my shoulder.
Smooth bike but very boring on long straight rides...

[trikermutha]

I look at it this way as long as your happy with your Trike that's all that matters.

Have owned Honda,Yamaha,Harley and Now the Spyder. They all have there pros and cons.but I will say paddle shifting and no hand lever to pull is a blast to drive. As I get older I appreciate the easier things that make my rides more enjoyable.

The HD would beat the crap out of me in an hour and couldn't stand it anymore. I may have still own the HD but the parts were garbage and needed constant attention.. I got real tired of wrenching the POS.

Anyway enjoy what you have!

[Capt.Bob]

[QUOTE=rhino 2;357368]

I wonder if anyone ever did a study to see who falls asleep more often while riding, riders on rough and noisy Harleys or smooth and quiet non Harleys? I bet I know what the answer would be.
[/QUOTE]

I had a Honda VTX 1800... With a large Memphis shades wind shield, And it was so smooth, And at the time i was smoking Cigars. Well i was going down Rt84 in Pa heading to NY smoking a cigar at 70 MPH.
And i started to dose off 'What woke me was the Cigar falling out and bouncing off my shoulder.
Smooth bike but very boring on long straight rides...

Gary, I don't want to derail my own thread but your surmise about Harleys and going to sleep doesn't quite match up with a critical motorcycle experience I had some 21 years ago on a Harley Fat Boy. I was occasionally riding out on my Fat Boy to a facility I worked at about 1.5 hours from the house where I would do a two-day stint, stay at a hotel and then ride home. One afternoon on a warm Summer afternoon after a two-day stint of 10 hour days, I fell asleep on the Fat Boy and was headed for the median when I woke up and corrected my near disastrous direction and this was on a vibrating, loud, Fat Boy where my right foot would vibrate off the floorboard. Turns out that I went to see my Doc suspecting sleep apnea, was tested and found that I had moderate/severe sleep apnea and had a procedure called a UP3 (Uvulopalotopharyngoplasty) on my throat/palate to stop the snoring and regain alertness. However, I do get your point that too smooth a motorcycle does not make for as much fun of a ride. It sort of matches Rhino 2's suggestion that there are intangible qualities to the Harley experience that may be sucking us in?

[TGCarol]

I went from Spyder to TGU. I really liked my Spyder but I missed shifting gears and with the two wheels in front, it didn't feel like a motorcycle to me. Very happy with my TG.