Hints and tips for a 2003 Goldwing Motor Trike purchase

[2Paps]

After lots of procrastination my bride is looking at a buying a 2003 Wing with 16K miles on it. Since I'm a Kawasaki rider and have never ridden a Wing I'm looking for some guidance.

I don't know what year the trike kit was installed but do know the Airbags were replaced this year. Also the brakes are new and the "main computer module" has been replaced. The brakes and airbags are normal maintenance but at 16K miles? What would cause the computer to fail? Was there a recall on the computer?

What other things should I look for?

Thanks for any help.

[Gold Rush]

After lots of procrastination my bride is looking at a buying a 2003 Wing with 16K miles on it. Since I'm a Kawasaki rider and have never ridden a Wing I'm looking for some guidance.

I don't know what year the trike kit was installed but do know the Airbags were replaced this year. Also the brakes are new and the "main computer module" has been replaced. The brakes and airbags are normal maintenance but at 16K miles? What would cause the computer to fail? Was there a recall on the computer?

What other things should I look for?

Thanks for any help.

First step is to take the VIN to a Honda dealership and have them run it. They can tell you if all the recalls and service bulletins have been completed. They should also be able to tell you all Honda maintenance that was completed. If the "main computer module" was replaced by them the computer should also have that info... It is Honda part. Not part of the trike conversion. Motor Trike kits do not have computer controls...

Is the trike conversion solid axle or independent suspension? The kit serial number is stamped in different locations on each version. If you have the s/n then a quick call to Motor Trike should provide more information on the conversion itself.. As for things to look for - pretty much the same things you'd check on any motorcycle or trike...

I have two friends with 2003 Motor Trikes. Both have had very good service out of them. Good Luck with the new purchase....

[GoldWingrGreg]

The ECM's on the 2001-03s are getting old and failing one by one. Like Gold Rush said, a Honda dealer will be able to tell you if there are any outstanding recalls or bulletins that need to be done. As for maintenance records, the seller will need to produce those. Buyer-be-ware ... most GL1800 sellers will tell you how well they cared for their Wing. That usually means your Wing was kept in a garage, and it was always shiny, and clean. It got regular oil and oil filter changes, brakes and tires when needed. Rarely is an owner able to produce receipts that say "8,000 mile service, 12,000 mile service, 16,000 mile service ... etc. Doing an oil change at 8,000 miles should not be confuse with an 8,000 mile service. Services take more time, include needed inspections, and cost more.

Most trike owners seek out and buy trikes with independent suspension. Thus, the solid axel ones will sell for less. MotorTrike builds both. However, MotorTrike's solid axle version rides very similar to ones with independent suspension.

As for airbags, because of age, the airbags get old and dry rot. Your new ECM and Airbags should last for years.

[2Paps]

First step is to take the VIN to a Honda dealership and have them run it. They can tell you if all the recalls and service bulletins have been completed. They should also be able to tell you all Honda maintenance that was completed. If the "main computer module" was replaced by them the computer should also have that info... It is Honda part. Not part of the trike conversion. Motor Trike kits do not have computer controls...

Is the trike conversion solid axle or independent suspension? The kit serial number is stamped in different locations on each version. If you have the s/n then a quick call to Motor Trike should provide more information on the conversion itself.. As for things to look for - pretty much the same things you'd check on any motorcycle or trike...

I have two friends with 2003 Motor Trikes. Both have had very good service out of them. Good Luck with the new purchase....

Thanks to you and GoldWingrGreg for your replies. The wife found a 2010 GL1800 with a CSC kit that is only a few thousand more and decided she is no longer interested in this bike.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Good for you ... newer is usually better.

[tfdeputydawg]

MotorTrike's solid axle version rides very similar to ones with independent suspension.

Just curious, have you actually rode both and on similar roads???

I rode several SA brands when searching for a conversion and the ride was no where nearly as smooth as any IRS!

[tfdeputydawg]

Thanks to you and GoldWingrGreg for your replies. The wife found a 2010 GL1800 with a CSC kit that is only a few thousand more and decided she is no longer interested in this bike.

Make sure this conversion has the latest drive shaft design installed!!! If not, if needs to be done! You can do a search for the CSC drive shaft failure threads on this forum.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Just curious, have you actually rode both and on similar roads???

I rode several SA brands when searching for a conversion and the ride was no where nearly as smooth as any IRS!

LOL ... yes, I ride many. I own JustWings. It is the only specialized GL1800 repair shop in the world ... we work on nothing else ... just GL1800s. I do not build trikes and have no personal agenda, or financial gain in reporting one brand over another. Everything I share is based on my personal experience ... nothing more, nothing less.

I probably test ride more GL1800s and GL1800 tikes in a given year then most anyone on our planet. The road near my shop is bumpy in some areas; however, it does not have curves. Because I'm so specialized, many owner who don't get a clear answer, or an answer they trust from a shop in their area, will come many miles to get a free 2nd opinion. In fact, other dealers refer their Wing customers to me, and in some case will ship their customers' Wings here for repair. Usually such Wings come to me because of engine noise or transmission problems. However, most of my business is from doing on-going maintenances. When I had a booth at WingDing (2014), some came to WingDing just to have me test ride their Wing. I probably stepped away from my booth more the a dozen times.

I've always found MotorTike's solid axel's ride to be soft and cushy. I associated it with them using airbags, and a shock absorber; however, the fact that their rear stance is not real wide, like many independent trikes, can play a huge factor too.

Sorry to brag, but let me take a moment to !!! Last winter, a trike owner pulled his Wing from the Houston, TX area expecting to leave it for transmission repair. After a short test ride, he left with some new grommets to hold his engine cover in place and a strong recommendation that he replace his heal-toe shifter. The farthest I know of one coming is from Portland, OR. I might add that in most cases, they are not coming to Florida for a vacation, I am their destination. Unfortunately for them, good GL1800 service and repair is hard to find.

I don't charge for test rides.

[2Paps]

Make sure this conversion has the latest drive shaft design installed!!! If not, if needs to be done! You can do a search for the CSC drive shaft failure threads on this forum.

I didn't see the drive shaft threads but did peruse the CSC site and noticed they had more than one drive shaft design. I'm pretty sure the GW has the latest drive shaft design but will check again.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I didn't see the drive shaft threads but did peruse the CSC site and noticed they had more than one drive shaft design. I'm pretty sure the GW has the latest drive shaft design but will check again.

Take picture and post it here. Take a picture of the rear u-joint area where the shaft attaches to the rear diff.

[2Paps]

Take picture and post it here. Take a picture of the rear u-joint area where the shaft attaches to the rear diff.

Greg and all the rest who tried to keep me on the straight and narrow, Thank you!

Pulled the trigger on the 2010! CSC confirmed the retro kit for the drive shaft was installed. My bride (she's been a bride for a long time) is very happy! As you know, if she's happy, I'm happy.

[KBot]

Last winter, a trike owner pulled his Wing from the Houston, TX area expecting to leave it for transmission repair. After a short test ride, he left with some new grommets to hold his engine cover in place and a strong recommendation that he replace his heal-toe shifter.

GREG. How does one know when heel / toe shifter needs replaced?