Went for First Ride on a Milwaukee-Eight Tri-Glide - First Impressions

[DK Custom Products]

A couple of weeks ago we spent a few hours with a Milwaukee-Eight Street Glide.


We rode it, listened to it, & took it apart a bit...you can see photo's and a video in this THREAD.


Last weekend was our first chance to spend some time on a M8 Tri-Glide.









Our first impressions were a mixed bag.


Perhaps my expectations were too high? After riding the M8 Street Glide and noticing the significant improvement in power of the stock M8 over the stock Twin Cam HO103, I was expecting the same out of the M8 Tri-Glide.


It DID have more power down low (just like the M8 Street Glide), but once the RPM's hit 3000 and higher it was completely unimpressive.




(pic from before the ride, when I was looking forward to being impressed)



I tried at different speeds, in different gears, I just could not get a feeling of life out of the engine at 3000 or higher RPM. It felt completely choked down, bottled up. I was really surprised, because the M8 SG did Not feel that way.


With that said, I do believe there is a lot of potential with this motor, it just needs to be able to breathe freely, and have a good tune.


I am getting almost 106 ft. lbs out of my 2014 Tri-Glide with a Performance Plus Stage I Kit, and I am hoping that with a similar PP Stage I on the M8 that we will see 115 ft. lbs, or more! Time will tell.


(pic after a 25 minute ride, a bit disappointed, & listening to it idle in EITMS mode)







Other impressions-


The ride seemed smoother than the earlier year models of the Tri-Glide. This could be from improved front suspension, or maybe the combination of the roads, tire and shock pressure were just ideal.



The rear shocks on the TG are still the same as previous years, as is the frame.


It dragged the pipes leaving and coming into the driveway.


While I did not ride it long enough to get fully heat-soaked, it was apparent that there was less felt heat for the rider with the Cat positioned about 8" further back than previous years.

It did seem that there was still a lot of right side heat for the passenger.


As with the M8 Street Glide, the drive-train was much tighter!

The reduction in primary lash was very apparent, as was the reduction in vibration at the low idle of 850 RPM.


Top end mechanical noise is almost non-existent!


At certain RPM's in low load situations, I could hear the whining from the gears driving the balancer.

Not irritating (to me), but definitely there.


Exhaust note was louder than previous years.

(video coming soon).


There are quite a few other changes to the M8's. I outlined a lot of them, with pics in the other thread...see link above.


Today I had a M8 reserved for rental. Devin and I were going to spend the day with it, getting it heat soaked, checking the temperatures, measuring for parts development, etc. Alas, the dealer SOLD their rental, so there was no M8 for us to ride. Seems like they are selling well!


Hopefully we will get our hands on one in the next week or so and have a lot more nuts and bolts to report.


In the meantime, barring any unforeseen weaknesses in the M8 powerplant, we are really excited about its' potential!


Kevin

[55il]

Thanks for the info on the new M8 Tri-Glide.

Our local dealer had one but wasn't available for a test ride. I believe all the H-D dealers are having open house inviting everyone to test ride the 2017's next weekend (Sept. 24th). DJ

[DK Custom Products]

Video of M8 Tri-Glide Ride-



Kevin

[peteg59]

It is a purty lookin' ride
Not that I'm ready for anything new, but are they available to rent at most dealerships?
I'm curious to see if you can get another one for a more thorough shakedown...

[gerald martin]

I watched your video with great interest. I heard a lot of whine coming from somewhere maybe the primary, It clunked into 1st gear louder than my 15 freewheeler. not really impressed. the motor sounds louder mechanically than my free how is the heat for the passenger

[ROAD DOG]

I watched your video with great interest. I heard a lot of whine coming from somewhere maybe the primary, It clunked into 1st gear louder than my 15 freewheeler. not really impressed. the motor sounds louder mechanically than my free how is the heat for the passenger

I have read nothing but good things about the new motor , the suspension upgrades , the ride , the lack off drive train noise & BLAH BLAH BLAH ???
I Got to ride one Thursday afternoon, I was not impressed at all . The only good thing I had to say was there was very little heat . I felt anything over 3000 rpm there is no power , 5th gear 50 mph it would not go I had to drop down to 3rd gear to pass a car, there no valve train noise, but there is a lot of other noise goin on that bothered me , pounding it through the gears the tranny clunks like a old bus , the hydrolic clutch sucks ,the brakes suck, the ride sucked , the radio sucked .if you look in the new parts book they 5 different up grades for the sound system ? they have four upgrade's for the motor $1000. - $5000. you can buy chrome wheels $2000. so you do not have to spend all your riding time cleaning raw aluminum wheels that come on the bike. no heated seat or grips ,no rider backrest .

this bike out the door tax, title , sales tax $38680.

then add $10000.

to improve it ??

Then you still have straight axle trike ? 3 years ago I traded my two Road Glide Champion trike's for a 08 GL1800 with a CSC kit on it , It has a hannigan 180 front end , the sales guy says to me what do you think, well see that new Caddy Esscalade & the Kia Sportage that's the difference between them , He says Harley did a great job on theses they finally got it right , I go no it's the other way around . That's my opinion , like they say best you no is the best you will ever no ????

[GARYD]

I agree and disagree with you. I LOVE my TG - except the GPS. I don't have a heat problem or a power problem, but I do ride solo.
I agree 100% about the untreated aluminum wheels, that's absolutely ridiculous. The exhaust sounds perfect - to me.
If you look, you'll see lots of upgrades for every single model not just the TG
No mfg. is going to put all high end accessories on their models(auto or bike). They have to have some accessories to sell to people that want them. Most people are quite satisfied with a stock vehicle - like me for the most part. I've stopped putting "bling" on my bikes years ago - now it's only comfort and safety items.
Some people want every single piece chromed plated. Some want those gaudy lights all over their bikes.

Everyone's different.

Why should I pay for ABS if I don't want it??
I don't know why a lot of riders complain about having to shift/downshift at certain times = WTF is that about!!!

I thought the whole reason to buy a bike is so you can roll through the gears - to me that's the fun part of motorcycling.

Maybe those wussies should buy one of those automatic trans motorcycles.


What else am I going to spend my Social Security checks on? That's the American way.

Bottom line = if you don't like it, don't buy it - or -buy it and modify it and stop belly aching.

[geezerglide11441]

I agree and disagree with you. I LOVE my TG - except the GPS. I don't have a heat problem or a power problem, but I do ride solo.
I agree 100% about the untreated aluminum wheels, that's absolutely ridiculous. The exhaust sounds perfect - to me.
If you look, you'll see lots of upgrades for every single model not just the TG
No mfg. is going to put all high end accessories on their models(auto or bike). They have to have some accessories to sell to people that want them. Most people are quite satisfied with a stock vehicle - like me for the most part. I've stopped putting "bling" on my bikes years ago - now it's only comfort and safety items.
Some people want every single piece chromed plated. Some want those gaudy lights all over their bikes.

Everyone's different.

Why should I pay for ABS if I don't want it??
I don't know why a lot of riders complain about having to shift/downshift at certain times = WTF is that about!!!

I thought the whole reason to buy a bike is so you can roll through the gears - to me that's the fun part of motorcycling.

Maybe those wussies should buy one of those automatic trans motorcycles.


What else am I going to spend my Social Security checks on? That's the American way.

Bottom line = if you don't like it, don't buy it - or -buy it and modify it and stop belly aching.

100% Gary!! Kinda tired of the TriGlide bashing!! If you don't like them, hold your tongue and buy what you like!! I don't think anyone else will care!!

Roger

[DK Custom Products]

I watched your video with great interest. I heard a lot of whine coming from somewhere maybe the primary, It clunked into 1st gear louder than my 15 freewheeler. not really impressed. the motor sounds louder mechanically than my free how is the heat for the passenger

Yes, I could definitely hear the counterbalance gear whine at certain RPM/Loads.

I think the clunk in the video is similar to previous years. It was a brand new bike, clutch may not be adjusted just right, it had been idling for a bit before I pulled in the clutch and put it into 1st, and who knows if the primary is filled properly.

One thing is sure, it is very noticeable, there is LESS driveline lash (slop) when shifting and decelerating or accelerating. The driveline has been tightened up very nicely.

I should have put a note in the video...at the end, where you hear a lot of noise, it is in EITMS mode.

The M8 is Much quieter in the top end than the Twin Cam. Significantly quieter.

Unfortunately we have still not been able to get our hands on a M8 for a few hours, which is what we need to properly/accurately test the heat. My initial thoughts are that it is less heat for the rider, and possibly less heat for the passenger, but I think there is still a heat issue for the passenger on the Tri-Glide.

I have no idea if there is a heat issue for the long term health of the engine....we need to get our hands on one for at least a full day.


If anyone took my comments to be critical of the Tri-Glide, specifically of the M8, I mis-communicated.

I am extremely pleased with my '14 Tri-Glide, and only business considerations are preventing me from pursuing getting a M8 Tri-Glide.

No, I am not wanting an M8 because I am unhappy with my '14. I would like an M8 because I think that power-plant has some serious un-tapped (stifled by the EPA) potential that I would like to play with!



Kevin

[pcombe]

I have a hard time understanding the motor company?

DK says this motor has allot of (potential)?

If this engine is supposed to be the answer to Indians thumper, Why the hell do you have to purchase high performance parts and ignition to REACH potential?

The cost of this motor on a bike is already prohibitive. This coming from a long time Harley guy.
I went into the dealer for some parts for my old tour glide and seen the new 103" tri glides at around $36,000.
A new road glide with the 110" was $42,000!

WTF? The Indian Roadmaster is around $29,000?
That roadmaster already runs like a striped a$$ ape.
I would love to trike one of them!

I have the feeling that Harley is pricing us out of a new bike? I sure know I could never afford one.

The truth is all the high tech electric garbage on either one of them is a turn off to me, Lipstick on a pig type thing. If I had one I would have to trade it in every time it went out of warranty because I cant work on it?
I think that's just what they got in mind, and it sucks, They can keep them as far as I'm concerned.

Hey Harley and Indian? Keep it simple stupid!
Keep in the price range of the working man?

[bronxbill]

I worked at my dealer' demos yesterday. I put about 80 miles on a 2017 Triglide; nothing about it made me regret my decision to buy a close out 2016. Yes it has more lower end torque, and is fast; but not that much more than my 2016. I thought everything else was pretty much the same, rear suspension still transfers the bumps and the front was not that much different either. Glad I took the big discount on my 2016.

[Big Jim]

Rode the freewheeler and the tri glide. I was very impressed with the engine a lot more power and no valve train noise. I have a 2015 freewheeler and ride the mountains and back roads so stay in the 2500 to 3000 rpm range. I had never rode a tri glide before and liked the way it handled

[midiwiz]

I should have put a note in the video...at the end, where you hear a lot of noise, it is in EITMS mode.

Being that it's new, and sounds like it's not even adjusted correctly. My 14 sounded exactly like that with ETMS active.... I found that keeping it off until the 1000 mile check helped greatly on my 16. When ETMS is active on my 16 you can tell but it's not so obvious. On the 14 it sounded like crap, rattled, and basically sucked.


Love the rest of the input, I've heard the heat is definitely reduced on the long haul.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Traded my 16 Tri for a 17 a week ago no regrets here only have 600 miles on it but so far this motor has the power and torque just where i like it,at 60 plus mph this thing is smooth as butter,put the 4 inch street cannons off of my 16 on it and it sounds really nice.The front suspension is better IMO,the heat management is much better.Virtually no drive line lash,If i pull the clutch in and put it in first very quickly it will clunk,but if i wait just a few seconds no clunk,other than that the trans is smoother and quieter.Wind management,controls ,radio and handling all the same as my 16.But someone else may have a different opinion.Me personally i'm glad I traded.

[azbob09]

Traded my 16 Tri for a 17 a week ago no regrets here only have 600 miles on it but so far this motor has the power and torque just where i like it,at 60 plus mph this thing is smooth as butter,put the 4 inch street cannons off of my 16 on it and it sounds really nice.The front suspension is better IMO,the heat management is much better.Virtually no drive line lash,If i pull the clutch in and put it in first very quickly it will clunk,but if i wait just a few seconds no clunk,other than that the trans is smoother and quieter.Wind management,controls ,radio and handling all the same as my 16.But someone else may have a different opinion.Me personally i'm glad I traded.

Your 2016 mufflers fit on the new 2017? I was under the impression the mufflers from the previous years wouldn't fit the 2017's because the cat had been moved back about 8" in the headers.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Your 2016 mufflers fit on the new 2017? I was under the impression the mufflers from the previous years wouldn't fit the 2017's because the cat had been moved back about 8" in the headers.

The two wheelers are different but not the tri glide because of the adapter pipe that has to run under the axle.

[azbob09]

The two wheelers are different but not the tri glide because of the adapter pipe that has to run under the axle.

So the Rienhart mufflers that I had on my 2014 TG should fit on the 2017 Tg's?
If that's the only change I where to make I wonder if the ecm would have the ability to compensate for just the muffler change or if it would affect the tuning? Would it need to get a tuner? What do you all think???

[clint44]

So the Rienhart mufflers that I had on my 2014 TG should fit on the 2017 Tg's?
If that's the only change I where to make I wonder if the ecm would have the ability to compensate for just the muffler change or if it would affect the tuning? Would it need to get a tuner? What do you all think???

Sounds like you are good to go on the slip-ons, Bob. You shouldn't need a tuner as long as you don't add a high flow air cleaner.

[Gone2Three]

Sounds like you are good to go on the slip-ons, Bob. You shouldn't need a tuner as long as you don't add a high flow air cleaner.

I added the Rinehart slip-on's on my 15' Freewheeler w/no high flow, kept stock and haven't had any problems also helped with the heat some... that was a bonus

[Mykneesbehurtin]

So the Rienhart mufflers that I had on my 2014 TG should fit on the 2017 Tg's?
If that's the only change I where to make I wonder if the ecm would have the ability to compensate for just the muffler change or if it would affect the tuning? Would it need to get a tuner? What do you all think???

I only changed the mufflers and it runs fine.