What is the best Outrigger Style Trikes ?

[HarleyBob]

I have a 2003 Ultra Classic, now I'm almost 70, I find it harder to ride with the wife on board. I don't want to give up 2 wheels for solo now and then. So Outrigger Style Trikes is what I'm looking at. I'm leaning to Tow Pac InstaTrike. I only have 5K I want to spend on this. I'm redoing a 1957 Chevy truck and I'm getting a new four post car rack. So 5K or so is all I want to spend on the bike!

I will do all the work myself on the trike except for pin striping and paint. Is Tow Pac InstaTrike a good kit for me? I don't plan on long trips with the kit on maybe 100 miles at a time.

Are there any Tow Pac Insta Trike builds on a Harley Ultra here to look at?

Are there any body parts that make it look less "Training Wheel" from the back view?

I

[HarleyBob]

Looks like it rains every time I go on a long ride!

[GRR]

I have a 2003 Ultra Classic, now I'm almost 70, I find it harder to ride with the wife on board. I don't want to give up 2 wheels for solo now and then. So Outrigger Style Trikes is what I'm looking at. I'm leaning to Tow Pac InstaTrike. I only have 5K I want to spend on this. I'm redoing a 1957 Chevy truck and I'm getting a new four post car rack. So 5K or so is all I want to spend on the bike!

I will do all the work myself on the trike except for pin striping and paint. Is Tow Pac InstaTrike a good kit for me? I don't plan on long trips with the kit on maybe 100 miles at a time.

Are there any Tow Pac Insta Trike builds on a Harley Ultra here to look at?

Are there any body parts that make it look less "Training Wheel" from the back view?

I

Bob,

You might check craigslist. I have seen some Tow Pac kits for sale in the Houston area for $1000 or less.

[GRR]

https://houston.craigslist.org/mpo/d/motorcycle-trike-kit/6353202242.html



https://houston.craigslist.org/mpo/d/tow-pac-vtx-1300c-instatrike/6337466766.html

Of course, you would have to check to see if the brackets will fit your Harley or order some additional brackets.

[HarleyBob]

Thanks George, what is the trike in your picture?

That will be a good place to look and the price is right. I'm looking for bigger wheels than on the one you sent, 14 or

15" and I would like to add a reverse! I'll keep my eye on eBay also! Trikes are not for everyone and the outrigger style may need adjustment from time to time to keep

them tracking right. From what I'm finding out here. So I would bet that is one reason, you can find them secondhand at a good price.

[HarleyBob]

Toe Pac's reverse system $440.00 when ordered with a kit. Looks like it many only fit 12" wheels. I will call and find out.

Compare to Voyager at $1295.00

[HarleyBob]

Tow Pac metal frame covers but not pictured on a Harley.

[HarleyBob]

Tow Pac's wheel cover's on 14" only wheels.

[HarleyBob]

[ol' school]

See your other thread for info, Bob.

[GRR]

Thanks George, what is the trike in your picture?

That will be a good place to look and the price is right. I'm looking for bigger wheels than on the one you sent, 14 or

15" and I would like to add a reverse! I'll keep my eye on eBay also! Trikes are not for everyone and the outrigger style may need adjustment from time to time to keep

them tracking right. From what I'm finding out here. So I would bet that is one reason, you can find them secondhand at a good price.

The trike in my my picture is my 2004 Road King with a Frankenstein conversion. There is is a build thread under Harley Trike conversions.

[hogcowboy]

Personally I think LegUp Landing gear is less obtrusive and better looking in action for the same money or maybe less.

[BIG DENNY]

I have a 2003 Ultra Classic, now I'm almost 70, I find it harder to ride with the wife on board. I don't want to give up 2 wheels for solo now and then. So Outrigger Style Trikes is what I'm looking at. I'm leaning to Tow Pac InstaTrike. I only have 5K I want to spend on this. I'm redoing a 1957 Chevy truck and I'm getting a new four post car rack. So 5K or so is all I want to spend on the bike!

I will do all the work myself on the trike except for pin striping and paint. Is Tow Pac InstaTrike a good kit for me? I don't plan on long trips with the kit on maybe 100 miles at a time.

Are there any Tow Pac Insta Trike builds on a Harley Ultra here to look at?

Are there any body parts that make it look less "Training Wheel" from the back view?

I

Give ZOOK a call I think he can help you.

[dadztoy]

I'm not well versed on all the outrigger conversions, but generally speaking the outriggers are wider than a normal trike kit and thus have a bit of a different look than a standard trike conversion...

I'm not sure which is better, the 12" wheels or the 14" wheels, but as I see it there are advantages to both... 14" wheels should ride better due to more surface on the road but will have a higher unsprung weight, while the 12" wheels will ride somewhat rougher, but have a lower unsprung weight... All things being equal, lower unsprung weight will yield better acceleration and better suspension performance and just be overall easier on the suspension and have better ride quality overall...

Tough to make a call... Personally, I have a Tow Pac and have been well satisfied with it for your exact reasoning, still being able to ride on 2 wheels solo, but installing the trike kit when riding with the wife, daughter, granddaughter, etc for additional stability and peace of mind...

All outriggers seem to have some issues and peculiarities, so ya kinda "pays your money, and takes your choice"... I've made some mods on my Tow Pac to suit my style of riding and transporting the trike on my Rampage Lift in the back of my pick-up truck...

The Tow Pac has worked well for me but others have had issues like HarleyBob and the Tow Pac reverse (read his thread)... And this isn't the first customer service issue people have had with Tow Pac so that's a bit of a caveat for future buyers... Yet, my experience has been good with the exception of their installation of the kit which left a lot to be desired quality wise... Here lately, I have been chasing a problem with excessive fender vibration at speeds above 70 MPH... Normally this doesn't effect me as I tend to stay off Interstates and below 70 MPH but still, it's a nagging issue I haven't solved yet...

When I bought mine, I bought a "demo unit" and I'm not sure what that meant, but I did get the full warranty... I did have to replace bearings and races a while back due to water infiltration that damaged the bearings and races, but I do that myself, so it's not a big issue for me in terms of maintenance... I have started using BelRay waterproof grease so we'll see how that holds up in the future but I do check bearings regularly these days...

If reverse is important to you and you don't ride a Goldwing with the built in reverse, you would probably be better served looking at units other than Tow Pac... The Voyager seems to have a decent reverse according to the video I saw but I'm not sure of any others...

Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us informed as to your progress...

Les

[baba67]

Hello Harley Bob

I hope you have read this thread here on outrigger style kits.

If not please do.

It may save you a lot of hard earned cash.

I personally have a 1997 Honda GL1500 with a Voyager kit, and I don't think there is anything better.

But in my case, the Wing has factory reverse.

Good luck with whatever you install.

READ THIS LINK........... PLEASE
My Tow-Pac 14" InstaTrike Install on Ultra Classic Harley

I'm not well versed on all the outrigger conversions, but generally speaking the outriggers are wider than a normal trike kit and thus have a bit of a different look than a standard trike conversion...

I'm not sure which is better, the 12" wheels or the 14" wheels, but as I see it there are advantages to both... 14" wheels should ride better due to more surface on the road but will have a higher unsprung weight, while the 12" wheels will ride somewhat rougher, but have a lower unsprung weight... All things being equal, lower unsprung weight will yield better acceleration and better suspension performance and just be overall easier on the suspension and have better ride quality overall...

Tough to make a call... Personally, I have a Tow Pac and have been well satisfied with it for your exact reasoning, still being able to ride on 2 wheels solo, but installing the trike kit when riding with the wife, daughter, granddaughter, etc for additional stability and peace of mind...

All outriggers seem to have some issues and peculiarities, so ya kinda "pays your money, and takes your choice"... I've made some mods on my Tow Pac to suit my style of riding and transporting the trike on my Rampage Lift in the back of my pick-up truck...

The Tow Pac has worked well for me but others have had issues like HarleyBob and the Tow Pac reverse (read his thread)... And this isn't the first customer service issue people have had with Tow Pac so that's a bit of a caveat for future buyers... Yet, my experience has been good with the exception of their installation of the kit which left a lot to be desired quality wise... Here lately, I have been chasing a problem with excessive fender vibration at speeds above 70 MPH... Normally this doesn't effect me as I tend to stay off Interstates and below 70 MPH but still, it's a nagging issue I haven't solved yet...

When I bought mine, I bought a "demo unit" and I'm not sure what that meant, but I did get the full warranty... I did have to replace bearings and races a while back due to water infiltration that damaged the bearings and races, but I do that myself, so it's not a big issue for me in terms of maintenance... I have started using BelRay waterproof grease so we'll see how that holds up in the future but I do check bearings regularly these days...

If reverse is important to you and you don't ride a Goldwing with the built in reverse, you would probably be better served looking at units other than Tow Pac... The Voyager seems to have a decent reverse according to the video I saw but I'm not sure of any others...

Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us informed as to your progress...

Les

[paddlefish1]

I just got a 2008 goldwing with all bells and whistles. got a voyager put on and dont like the ride.

the voyager bible says 1/2 inch preload . the tires come up even on slow speed curves. i have had tow motortrikes, 1 irs land 1 straigt axle. then roadsmitch which i should have never got rid of.

this was installed by one of the dealers. wouldnt they note it is a goldwing and that means 1/2 preload.I dont understand putting 10 miles on it an already adjusting on it. Does anyone know if there is a reference point on this voyager preload setting to know positively it is set right. i started going straight on an exit ramp the other day and had to shut down to 5 mph to keep from hitting the gardrail.

thanks in advance.

gary

[buzzbrown]

I have a 2003 Ultra Classic, now I'm almost 70, I find it harder to ride with the wife on board. I don't want to give up 2 wheels for solo now and then. So Outrigger Style Trikes is what I'm looking at. I'm leaning to Tow Pac InstaTrike. I only have 5K I want to spend on this. I'm redoing a 1957 Chevy truck and I'm getting a new four post car rack. So 5K or so is all I want to spend on the bike!

I will do all the work myself on the trike except for pin striping and paint. Is Tow Pac InstaTrike a good kit for me? I don't plan on long trips with the kit on maybe 100 miles at a time.

Are there any Tow Pac Insta Trike builds on a Harley Ultra here to look at?

Are there any body parts that make it look less "Training Wheel" from the back view?

I

My wife and I bought Tripp Trikes for less than $5000 and are very happy with them.

[buzzbrown]

I would suggest Tripp Trikes in Arab, AL. My wife and I bought one each and are very happy with them. She had a voyager before, but found the Tripp Trike to be more cost efficient. She said they handle the same.

Buzz Brown

[Bouncer]

Check out BIC Trikes - YouTube

[Oldveteran]

I too got a little old too hold up the bike, the wife, and the attached racks and luggage. Besides, the Viet Cong decided it was best to land a rocket in my hooch in 1970, and that pretty much stopped any future of me holding up a lot of weight with my right leg! Hence, the trike kit. I have a Voyager Kit on my anniversary 2003 Road King Classic. Got the thing "used" for around $1500. Included the belly mount and everything. It came off of a Road King, so it bolted right on.

I worked really hard to get the "rattles" out of the kit, which are common to Voyager Kits, but the cost was my motivator. As I have stated in other posts, I got it done, and the bike is fun and easy to ride set-up the way it is.

Oldveteran