First Trike - What to buy?

[rhino 2]

Welcome to Tri-Talk.

i"m going to take a little different route on this subject. When I developed Parkinson's a little over 5 years ago I had some big decisions to make. Have been riding for 65+ years on 2 and was now having to consider not riding or going to a tricycle, tricycle it was. Knowing basically there was the Harley Tri-Glide and Harley/Honda conversions. I got out the Kelly Blue Book and NADA books at my credit union. They library several years of these books (I don't really know why). I started an analysis spread sheet analyzing depreciation and lost dollar value for a 5 year period. Harley's depreciated on an average of 6-8% a year where the conversions were around 22-28%. AND if you converted, let's say a '09 Harley with a new 2020 conversion kit....it was considered a 2020. Also looked at what it would cost doing a conversion to my '12 Ultra. By the time I added a reverse, and added degree triple tree and several other options that came stock on the Tri-Glide the conversions was going to cost the same as a new Tri-Glide.

I also looked at the CanAM reverse trikes while in Sturgis and the ROT in Texas. Did a test ride and was not comfortable at all. Now I'm sure they've improved on the comfort factor but they still have a, what I consider, flaw. Any railroaders on here will understand wheel "hunting". This is where a rail car will go back and forth on the rail trying to find an even, good place to ride. This "hunting" creates a back and forth motion in the front end. I hated it. AND the whole engineering feat they did to shove 6th gear in with out any major modifications to the transmission is mind boggling. I'm sure they made improvements but I can only address what I experienced 3-4yrs ago. Ohhhhhh, have a friend that has a new CanAm and they still have the "hunting" issue.

I bought a '13 Harley Tri-Glide in '13, brand new off the floor when the '14 first hit the showroom floor and haven't looked back. Love it. Did all 48 continental states, 5 Canadian provinces and Mexico on 2. Getting ready to do it on 3.

Why didn't I buy a '14 that was sitting right next to my '13 ?? About $6000-$8000 options and accessories off my '12 Ultra that would fit the '13 and NOT the '14. All comes down to economics.

8~\o

The hunting issue is like the tail waging the dog.....Its the rear tire going off and on the crown in the road...I had an 08 Spyder i got used to it....But being it was the first model year the Spyder wasn't quite ready for prime time...I put 60 thousand miles on it before i traded it in for a new 2011 Tri-Glide....

[seniorsgt]

I had same decision to make last summer. didn't want used and can am was the only other choice in town. Personally didn't like the two wheels in front, felt better looking over one wheel. I got a 2019 Triglide the 1st of Aug and I've put 3400 miles on it in two month. Had medical issue and the then snows game cant wait to get it out again.

coming your way in Jun for the air show in Olympia

like Larry the cable guy says "getter done"