First 300 mile ride and impressions of my 2019 Tri Glide Ultra

[Capt.Bob]

Took delivery of my 2019 M8 (114) yesterday afternoon. Spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening waxing the shiny parts of the Scorched Orange/Black Denim trike and checked all of the fluids, tire pressures and rear shock setting. This morning, I headed out about 8:30 a.m. in 74 degree weather that eventually heated up to 92 degrees at about 2 p.m. Rode all different kinds of pavement as I traversed from one side of the Florida Peninsula to the other and then back again through the interior of the State.

I did this to be able to vary my speeds/rpm's throughout the ride on this first part of the 500 mile total break-in procedure prescribed by the MOCO (was limited to 3k max rpm for the first 50 miles and then 3.5k rpm until completion of break-in at 500 miles on the clock while all the while varying my speeds/rpms for potentially best break-in.

As some of you know, this is my third Tri Glide having owned: a 2016 103c.i. (14.5k miles); 2017 107c.i. M8 (7.9k miles) and now the 2019 114 c.i. M8 with 300 miles. I thought I would share early impressions of the new trike to help others discern if the improvements in the latest iteration are of interest to them in terms of possible purchase. Of course, I have only 1-day of riding but had just gotten off my 2017 2 days earlier.

The 2019 TGU with some of the added features is an overall better functioning trike IMHO. I didn't get that fastest color which is Black but I did get one of the neatest colors in this year's offerings which was the Scorched Orange/Black Denim combo. I had my selling dealer transfer all but the DK Customs Custom Lift kit over to the new trike. The reason that the lift kit did not get transferred is that the new suspension has the trike level and actually a bit higher in the back than my previous TGU's with lift kits. The steering is concomitantly easier due to the change in geometry and I think even a tad easier to steer than my TGU's with the Lift Kits. As Trampas retorts "All for now".

Here are my impressions in a somewhat organized hierarchical (what dat mean?) order to point out the improvements of the 2019 over the two previous iterations of TGU's that I have owned.

1. The new Boom! Box GTS infotainment center with the Gorilla Glass is light years improved over the 6.5 Boom Box era. if you use your Infotainment Center a lot for GPS/Trip Planning/Calls/Trike Status etc., the upgraded systems really take some of the sting out of the cost in upgrading to the latest model.

2. The 6-speed transmission on the 114 is the absolute smoothest one I have EVER had on a Harley. In addition to this, the formerly snatchy clutch engagement is a thing of the past and it is the most refined clutch that I have ever used on any Tri Glide. Finding Neutral was much easier on this machine than any of the other TGU's.

3. The 114c.i. M8 is smoother than either the 103 TC or 107 M8 and does not making popping sounds when decelerating. It does not appear to me to be that significantly more powerful than the 107 M8. I had the EITMS turned off and found that the idle is better at about 1,000 rpm as opposed to the 107 M8 which idled at 950 and tended to occasionally stumble leaving a light.

4. The Reflex Linked Anti-lock Brake System and Traction Control System are both different, a bit quirky, but more effective than anything that has come before it on the Tri Glides. It causes the brake lever feelings to change based on what the system sensors are reporting and it also at times makes some different sounds as the actuators do their jobs. I am not sure how these added features are going to play out when I am taking tight twisties up in the mountains? In Can-Am parlance, these systems are known as the "Nanny" and I am not that fond of relying on an engineers/programmers thoughts of how my suspension system should be responding and taking responsibility away from the rider.

5. The changes to the front and rear suspensions based on my uber precise, scientifically non-repeatable "butt-o-meter" findings suggested to me that the suspension overall rides maybe 30% softer and more compliant. It still seems like a fairly rough ride and I suspect that based on folks reports of the coil over shocks that places like DK Customs sells provide a better ride than this latest iteration of shock absorption? As I had mentioned earlier, the bottom of the installed optional rear bumper is approximately 13" above the ground and the trike does not have that drooping look/ride with much better muffler clearance than previous models.

6. I have heard through the grapevine that this new 114 M8 is likely sporting the 5th generation of oil pumps since the TGU's were equipped with the 103 "wet heads" in 2014 and supposedly, the latest oil pumps handle Stage 3 and 4 upgrades better, especially at higher speeds.

7. Did I mention that although slower than the Black trikes, the fit and finish of this top-of-the-line paint job with only one other color combo in the category is about as perfect as I have seen them painted. Harley also made the dash out of shiny plastic instead of the textured plastic and it looks really sharp (ala CVO's). Additionally, on the two most expensive paint jobs, the tank badges are flush with the tank and do not interfere with my knee placement. On my 2017 trike, I removed the big honkin' metal badges with strong fishing leader and got the adhesive goo off the tank with nary a scratch in the beautiful shiny paint underneath the two tank badges.

In our warm Florida heat, the extra displacement seems to translate into as hot or slightly hotter engine feel. I have a set of Love Jugs and DK Customs Floor Board Extenders on the trike to help ameliorate the deleterious effects of our significant heat cycles. Overall, as I was finishing up the ride, my thoughts were that I am glad that I migrated from the 2017 to the 2019 but I am not sure if the significant difference in prices/values completely warrants the upgrade? I don't plan to share those cost differences but rest assured that it was not as cheap as people like me would have liked

I forgot to mention one crazy thing. This new TGU represents my 100th motorcycle/trike (yep, it is not a misprint) since I began riding my own motorcycles in 1964. Pushing well over 400k seat miles and hope to add at least another 100k before I consider hanging up my handlebars.

[David357]

Good post Bob

You have one absolutely beautiful trike.

Enjoy

[TEP]

Awesome. I went from a '13 to a '15 to a '17...Now you're tempting me.

[Gorilla]

Took delivery of my 2019 M8 (114) yesterday afternoon. Spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening waxing the shiny parts of the Scorch Orange/Black Denim trike and checked all of the fluids, tire pressures and rear shock setting. This morning, I headed out about 8:30 a.m. in 74 degree weather that eventually heated up to 92 degrees at about 2 p.m. Rode all different kinds of pavement as I traversed from one side of the Florida Peninsula to the other and then back again through the interior of the State. I did this to be able to vary my speeds/rpm's throughout the ride on this first part of the 500 mile total break-in procedure prescribed by the MOCO (was limited to 3k max rpm for the first 50 miles and then 3.5k rpm until completion of break-in at 500 miles on the clock while all the while varying my speeds/rpms for potentially best break-in.

As some of you know, this is my third Tri Glide having owned: a 2016 103c.i. (14.5k miles); 2017 107c.i. M8 (7.9k miles) and now the 2019 114 c.i. M8 with 300 miles. I thought I would share early impressions of the new trike to help others discern if the improvements in the latest iteration are of interest to them in terms of possible purchase. Of course, I have only 1-day of riding but had just gotten off my 2017 2 days earlier.

The 2019 TGU with some of the added features is an overall better functioning trike IMHO. I didn't get that fastest color which is Black but I did get one of the neatest colors in this year's offerings which was the Scorch Orange/Black Denim combo. I had my selling dealer transfer all but the DK Customs Custom Lift kit over to the new trike. The reason that the lift kit did not get transferred is that the new suspension has the trike level and actually a bit higher in the back than my previous TGU's with lift kits. The steering is concomitantly easier due to the change in geometry and I think even a tad easier to steer than my TGU's with the Lift Kits. As Trampas retorts "All for now".

Here are my impressions in a somewhat organized hierarchical (what dat mean?) order to point out the improvements of the 2019 over the two previous iterations of TGU's that I have owned.

1. The Infotainment Center with the Gorilla Glass is light years improved over the 6.5 Boom Box era. if you use your Infotainment Center a lot for GPS/Trip Planning/Calls/Trike Status etc., the upgraded systems really take some of the sting out of the cost in upgrading to the latest model.

2. The 6-speed transmission on the 114 is the absolute smoothest one I have EVER had on a Harley. In addition to this, the formerly snatchy clutch engagement is a thing of the past and it is the most refined clutch that I have ever used on any Tri Glide. Finding Neutral was much easier on this machine than any of the other TGU's.

3. The 114c.i. M8 is smoother than either the 103 TC or 107 M8 and does not making popping sounds when decelerating. It does not appear to me to be that significantly more powerful than the 107 M8.

4. The linked brakes, traction control, and a two other features of this performance ensemble are both different, a bit quirky, but more effective than anything that has come before it on the Tri Glides.

5. The changes to the front and rear suspensions based on my uber precise, scientifically non-repeatable "butt-o-meter" findings suggested to me that the suspension overall rides maybe 30% softer and more compliant. It still seems like a fairly rough ride and I suspect that based on folks reports of the coil over shocks that places like DK Customs sells provide a better ride than this latest iteration of shock absorption? As I had mentioned earlier, the bottom of the installed optional rear bumper is approximately 13" above the ground and the trike does not have that drooping look/ride with much better muffler clearance than previous models.

6. I have heard through the grapevine that this new 114 M8 is likely sporting the 5th generation of oil pumps since the TGU's were equipped with the 103 "wet heads" in 2014 and supposedly, the latest oil pumps handle Stage 3 and 4 upgrades better, especially at higher speeds.

7. Did I mention that although slower than the Black trikes, the fit and finish of this top-of-the-line paint job with only one other color combo in the category is about as perfect as I have seen them painted. Harley also made the dash out of shiny plastic instead of the textured plastic and it looks really sharp (ala CVO's).

In our warm Florida heat, the extra displacement seems to translate into as hot or slightly hotter engine feel. I have a set of Love Jugs and DK Customs Floor Board Extenders on the trike to help ameliorate the deleterious effects of our significant heat cycles. Overall, as I was finishing up the ride, my thoughts were that I am glad that I migrated from the 2017 to the 2019 but I am not sure if the significant difference in prices/values completely warrants the upgrade? I don't plan to share those cost differences but rest assured that it was not as cheap as people like me would have liked

Thanks Bob for the review. BUT DANG she sure is PRETTY

[Ray Paige]

That is one purty trike. Green with envy in Montana!!!

[Trampas]

Good looking trike or should I say a great looking trike, I debated on a 2019 they had in black but chose the 2018 instead, after a few threads from you and others on the 2019 maybe I made a mistake. I know I got a better deal on the 2018 and couldn't get together on price for the 2019.

Enjoy the new ride

All for now Trampas

[Jack Klarich]

6. I have heard through the grapevine that this new 114 M8 is likely sporting the 5th generation of oil pumps since the TGU's were equipped with the 103 "wet heads" in 2014 and supposedly, the latest oil pumps handle Stage 3 and 4 upgrades better, especially at higher speeds.

Indeed they do

The newest pump has an all new seal that is supposed to help

[MDO]

Jack, did you replace your FW oil pump?

[Peter A.]

Thanks for a GREAT review....... I want that same color, dealer has one, but we have NOT AGREED on terms yet!

CONGRATs on your NEW RIDE!

[Capt.Bob]

Good looking trike or should I say a great looking trike, I debated on a 2019 they had in black but chose the 2018 instead, after a few threads from you and others on the 2019 maybe I made a mistake. I know I got a better deal on the 2018 and couldn't get together on price for the 2019.

Enjoy the new ride

All for now Trampas

Trampas, As I stated in my opening remarks, " Overall, as I was finishing up the ride, my thoughts were that I am glad that I migrated from the 2017 to the 2019 but I am not sure if the significant difference in prices/values completely warrants the upgrade?"

Because of the delays in getting the paint formulation correct on the 2019 Scorched Orange/Black Denim paint, most Harley dealers are reportedly not going to be able to receive all of this color that they would like. The difference between a 2019 Black TGU and the color optioned Orange is a whopping $2400 just for the paint colors and a flatter profile set of tank badges.

If you compare the 2018 list price on the Black TGU to the two-toned 2019 color option, we are talking a whopping $4000 just for the paint/and model year feature differences. That coupled with the deals that some dealers are likely making on left-over 2018 inventory would suggest that the price/value comparisons become tilted toward the 2018 IMO. It also depends on how much you ride and how often one is prone to change out their rides which then brings depreciation schedules into play.

The dealer was very accommodating (did I mention that I really appreciated working with all the staff at Treasure Coast Harley in Stuart, FL?) and was willing to transfer my accessories that originally cost me about $2k which sealed the deal for me. Had I needed to reload on the exact same accessories, I would not have migrated from the 2017 I owned. I don't think that you made a mistake whatsoever.

In another thread I had started a while back, I had said "Meh" to the 2019's. Do we really need complex traction control systems? Do we really need fancier Infotainment systems? Is the 114 M8 significantly better than the 107 M8? Is the suspension system night/day better than the previous iterations? The answer to these four above questions is likely "Not really". So, when making a significant buying decision and weighting those variables, it is likely that your choice to get a right-priced 2018 may have been the smarter move? As you are prone to say, "All for now".