First Trike - What to buy?

[Po_Po]

I'm new to the forum and not sure where to post this. Here it goes. I'm retiring in a few months and the woman and I are going to travel out West. Take a month or so and see whats out there. Hopefully, it'll be one of many such trips to come. I've been riding 2 wheels for 40 years. Harley's for the last 20. I'm getting older (back and hip problems) and the weight of my Ultra is getting more noticeable. I don't mind it when I'm alone, but I no longer want the responsibility when the woman I love is onboard.

I think it's time to make the move to a trike. Problem is, I don't know that much about them. The only trike I've ridden was a Harley and that was for a few miles. I'd really like this to be my last bike purchase, so I want to make the best decision I can. We love to ride and are planning to make many long trips around the country over the next 10-15 years. Things like comfort, ride handling, and bike longevity (bike maintenance) all come to mind. Given what I've said, what's the communities thoughts on what I should be looking at? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome to Trike Talk Jeff

I would ride or even rent several trikes and put some miles on each. This may help you narrow down your choice

[Po_Po]

Welcome to Trike Talk Jeff

I would ride or even rent several trikes and put some miles on each. This may help you narrow down your choice

Thanks. I thought about that but, where I live, there are none to rent or even borrow. I'm looking though.

[LadyonaMission]

I agree that riding as many trikes as you can is a good plan. Be sure to have your wife test out the backseat before you make the purchase. Out West is so much fun on a trike.

Welcome to Trike Talk.

[graygoat]

Welcome aboard, Jeff!

I agree with Jack to spend as much time as you can riding as many different trikes as you can. Just remember a few things while you are riding them:

1 don't put your feet down at stops

2 allow more space around gas pumps & curbs

3 they don't lean, push/pull on the handle bars to turn

4 they will probably ride a little rougher with 3 wheel tracks rather than one, harder to miss the potholes

5 most of us have made many improvements to our trikes to make them better than a "stock" rental unit. This forum is full of that info.

I have never ridden any of the conversions, so can't comment there. For me, the Triglide was what I wanted. Can get dealer help on the road much more easily with an all factory unit.

Best of luck to you and have fun with your search!

[peteg59]

Welcome to T/T PoPo.

Assuming you've already done your research, you know that Harley is currently the only manufacturer that makes a trike you can buy off the showroom floor.

Harley does demo rides throughout the riding season as well as rentals at most dealerships, where you could actually swing a leg over one and take it for a ride.

No other manufacturer offers such.

There are reverse trikes, (CanAm & Slingshot), but those take a special someone to actually lay down the $$ on due to their unusual look.



Then there are conversions, of which many are popular. Honda leads that charge, but there are kits for many big touring and cruiser style motorcycles.

The main drawback to a conversion is once its done, many dealers won't work on it as its no longer a "stock" motorcycle in their eyes. And their service dept.'s don't have trike modified bike lifts to actually work on one.

Good luck in your search and as others have said, as difficult as this may be, test ride as many as you can if you are serious about getting a trike...

[rhino 2]

Jeff......You can rent one at most Harley dealers ......I don't know if all dealers do this but my dealer will wave the rental fee [1 week] if you like the Trike and then buy a new one from them...

[ol' school]

Welcome to Trike Talk Jeff! Like has been said, ride as many different trikes as you can before you decide what you are spending your money on.

[paws]

Jeff! Welcome to TrikeTalk!

I concur with all previous statements posted here. It is a big decision...the quest has just begun!

[Fearless]

Welcome to the forum from Western Pennsylvania. So you have ridden Harley's all your life so do you think you would be happy with anything else? I know there may be smoother rides out there but what in the world are you going to do with the huge T-shirt collection you and your Bride have collected thus far... only kidding but still food for thought. Ride as many different one's as possible you said none were available close. One thing to remember Harley shops are like fly poop they are everywhere if you have problems. Good luck on your choice Ride safe Fred

[Po_Po]

You good people are great. Several things I hadn't even thought of were brought up - repairs on the road, clothing (lol - but true), everything. I'm gonna stick with Harley. Now to find one I like. Thanks everyone.

[Fearless]

You good people are great. Several things I hadn't even thought of were brought up - repairs on the road, clothing (lol - but true), everything. I'm gonna stick with Harley. Now to find one I like. Thanks everyone.

Enjoy the hunt for a trike still ride as many Triglides as possible. I don't think you will be disappointed make sure your bride gives the nod of approval you know the sayin' (Momma's not happy Ain't nobody happy) LOL... My bride is always after me to get the Trike out of the garage and she's planning places to go. We love Old Shiney

[Jack Klarich]

Enjoy the hunt for a trike still ride as many Triglides as possible. I don't think you will be disappointed make sure your bride gives the nod of approval you know the sayin' (Momma's not happy Ain't nobody happy) LOL... My bride is always after me to get the Trike out of the garage and she's planning places to go. We love Old Shiney

Fred, you have a very nice well maintained 09

[FuzzyWuzHe]

If you've ridden Harley's for 20 years, then you know 50-60k miles is reaching rebuild something time. I too love Harleys and just except that as fact. There are some exceptions if you take steps to cool the beast, but, guessing you know that.

Kind of the only "bullet proof" ride out there is a Gold Wing conversion. It is true that there are dealers who won't touch a conversion. In my neck of the woods ... Western Colorado ... most will. Quite a few of them actually do conversions. Pretty much all of them will work on the "Honda" part.

Planning on doing lots of longer trips, you might need to consider these facts. A winter "maintenance rebuild" every couple years or 50-60k miles would negate this issue. If you don't wrench, that can get pricey.

Not trying to influence you, just providing food for thought.

[Burnerboy]

It's either Harley or Goldwing (these R your two main choices)

Harley guys stick with Harley, and Honda guys stick with Goldwing

I've been riding Honda's for years so we both know I'd never make the switch....G/Wing 4 me.................Same with you, you've been riding Harleys so tri glide 4 you...

enjoy that ride, your going to love what ever you decide ..................

Ronnie

[Gorilla]

welcome buy a tri glide and an extended warrantee takes a lot of worry out of it when on long trips. spyders a second choice buy do not have the dealer coverage like harley. also a good road service plan

[Zammy]

Hi Jeff, the Misses and I both have had some health problems, that's why we went to 3 wheels. I've ridden just about anything out there but settled on Harley because of all the dealerships near us and when we travel, tough on us getting down on the concrete or asphalt when something goes south. We have the extended warranty but haven't really taken too much advantage of it yet.

[Texan]

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

[Po_Po]

Thanks everyone. All valid points. I'm currently on the hunt for a Tri Glide. Looks like it's gonna be fun.

[radismukes]

• To the Trike Talk Family! FROM SOUTH Angleton, TX
  
  Howdy Jeff!
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