Do I want a Road Smith conversion?

[kam582]

I didn't think I would want an 18 or newer Wing because of the reduced sitting space for the passenger. Well, today at Sturgis I discovered that Road Smith trike conversions moves the seat back 2 inches and up some, thus there's enough room for the wife, and a great sitting position for me. After sitting on a 18 DCT my wife says she has plenty of room. Ok, let's demo it. All I can say is wow, so smooth, great ride, and just plain cool. What a mistake, now I want one. My question though is do I want a Road Smith conversion? I currently have a Motor Trike on a 02 Wing, and I've had drive train problems. Motor Trike stood behind their product, but I am a little gun shy with a kit I know nothing about. Thanks.

 

[Papa Zook]

I have been a trike builder for 12 years. I was originally a Motor Trike exclusive top 10 dealer and ordered as many as 24 trikes at a time from MT during the heyday back in 2008, 2009. After several years, we added Roadsmith to our lineup and it was the best thing we ever did.

I can say with all honesty that all of our Roadsmith builds have been super dependable and trouble free, something I could not say about Motor Trike. I think you will be very happy with a Roadsmith conversion. They build a good product and stand behind it.

Have a few RS owners had an occasional issue? Of course, that is true with all manufacturers, but RS is among the best and I sell them all including RS, CSC, Champion, Lehman, Hannigan, Frankenstein. Your choice in your dealer/installer is the key to having a great trike. If you have any questions, feel free to call me anytime at 346-800-7946.

Randy

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

If I'm not mistaken ... and it's been known to happen ... isn't RoadsSmith the one that uses readily available automotive parts that can be purchased at auto parts stores wherever they can?

As a guy that works on his own ride, that to me would be a plus :Shrug:

 

[LadyonaMission]

This goes for trikes, IMO

 

[Fabricater]

I like my RS. I purchased it through Papa Zook ,picked it up at the factory and did the install myself. Not many manufacturers allow this that I know of. I did the install late in 2015 and did not put many miles on it. Spring rolled around and I was working a lot. The last week of June ,we packed up the trike and camper and took off on a trip from Ohio to California and back. The RS Trike did great. I also recommend easy steer from Papa Zook (Cut - N - Shoot customs)

 

[kam582]

Thanks guys. We're seriously considering the Road Smith. We have to figure out how to get in in our 10 foot toy hauler garage for the occasional times we haul it, and how to extend the tail gate a couple inches on our utility trailer for its rare use. I need to find a talented aluminium welder.

 

[stacebg]

Thanks guys. We're seriously considering the Road Smith. We have to figure out how to get in in our 10 foot toy hauler garage for the occasional times we haul it, and how to extend the tail gate a couple inches on our utility trailer for its rare use. I need to find a talented aluminium welder.

back it in and cut a hole in the tailgate been there done that

 

[Fabricater]

Thanks guys. We're seriously considering the Road Smith. We have to figure out how to get in in our 10 foot toy hauler garage for the occasional times we haul it, and how to extend the tail gate a couple inches on our utility trailer for its rare use. I need to find a talented aluminium welder.

It should fit in a 10' long box. My trike measures112" overall if I remember correctly . I measured it after I was done. Another reason I went with a roadsmith is the 58" over all width. My truck bed clearance is 60-1/2" ,so it will fit in the bed of my truck.

 

[Burnerboy]

I love my Roadsmith trike (1800 Goldwing) But if yea text me I can tell you where NOT to have it built....AFTER SERVICE totally sucks from this builder, and it too bad cause RS does indeed make a great kit.. and this builder make em look bad!

[Too the builder/you know who you are, send me back my $90.00 and I'll stop bad mouthing you]



Ronnie

 

[Fabricater]

I am not sure I agree with the old Volkswagen design. Roadsmith uses a trailing arm design that allows the wheels to move up and down full length of travel independently of each other and stay square with the chassis. Early Volkswagen wheels cambered in and out at the top of the wheel as it moved through the range of motion.

Roadsmith also used a coil over shock that has a ride height adjustment not found on Volkswagen. Along with the shock on each side, there is a coil spring on each side that is adjustable, I chose the option to use the bike controls to increase spring preload just like the factory goldwing preload is adjusted. This is not a option on a Volkswagen.

I did my own conversion and know the roadsmith kit very well. I also went to the factory,toured the factory,and brought my kit home from the factory. As far as fit and finish that is the installers job to get it right. Mine fits very well,as I took time to get it right. As far as service Roadsmith provides, I can not comment, as I have never had a problem that I needed to contact them after purchase. I did my kit in 2015 .(Goldwing)

It is true that Honda will not support someone else's product. I also have a Harley Ultra limited. It's not triked. It is a good bike as well. I would rather do a aftermarket kit on it ,if I would chose to trike it, over the factory triglide. I don't care for the straight axal design that Harley uses, however,it is a Harley product and they should stand behind it.

 

[Silks70]

Volkswagen

All I can say is I have downloaded the parts list from the RS site. Some of the parts listed are Volkswagen parts, actually there is a mixture of parts to this conversion kit. I replaced my brakes with ceramic pads and they are for a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle.

 

[Burnerboy]

Again, I love Roadsmith trike............... BUT I will tell you where NOT TO GET YOUR TRIKE built...This company will rip you off Before installation the owner will sweet talk you into him doing the building/ BUT once he builds it LOOK OUT ....Even a small question he will bill you .......

To the builder: Give me back my $90.00 ASAP cause I will BAD mouth you for ever... Your lucky that I don't just flash your name all over the internet...

 

[bikerbillone]

Hang in there Ronnie, some installers are out there just to get the $ and screw you over while doing it. Unfortunately, you don't know that until the fat lady sings, until it's all said and done. Having said that, there are good one's out there, you know, like Zook but we all can't get to Zook. I am disappointed in the communication with Bear Lake RS, but I've said that before, so no need to shovel into it.

 

[DblTrbl]

Again, I love Roadsmith trike............... BUT I will tell you where NOT TO GET YOUR TRIKE built...This company will rip you off Before installation the owner will sweet talk you into him doing the building/ BUT once he builds it LOOK OUT ....Even a small question he will bill you .......

To the builder: Give me back my $90.00 ASAP cause I will BAD mouth you for ever... Your lucky that I don't just flash your name all over the internet...

Burner, are you talking about the shop in Keene? if so, it took me over 3 years to get the $700 he owned me for parts he "misplaced"....

 

[Burnerboy]

Burner, are you talking about the shop in Keene? if so, it took me over 3 years to get the $700 he owned me for parts he "misplaced"....

You just hit the nail right on the head, it's now inserted deep into the board!

 

[Fabricater]

All I can say is I have downloaded the parts list from the RS site. Some of the parts listed are Volkswagen parts, actually there is a mixture of parts to this conversion kit. I replaced my brakes with ceramic pads and they are for a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle.

Roadsmith does use some VW brake parts,and I believe the cv joints are VW as well. The rear differential is ford. I like this because I can go to a parts store anywhere and get replacement parts. Not so much with some other trike manufacturers . With them the parts have to be bought from them and they can charge what they want.

 

[Chaplain Hardcase]

Should fit Easily

Thanks guys. We're seriously considering the Road Smith. We have to figure out how to get in in our 10 foot toy hauler garage for the occasional times we haul it, and how to extend the tail gate a couple inches on our utility trailer for its rare use. I need to find a talented aluminium welder.

I have a 2005 GL1800 with a 2016 HTS kit, I bought the Roadsmith for 2 reasons one reputation and two it easily fit in my enclosed 6x12 (last 2 feet is pointed nose) trailer. The trike fits in as if the trailer were squared off no problem. I have even tested it in my neighbors 10' landscape trailer. I did add a soft pad along the back when the gate went up just to be safe