Trike better than Bike

[Venture 1]

Am considering a Trike but a little reluctant to make the move. It seems like it would be a major adjustment, any comments out there!

 

[katfish16]

I think U will find most who have trikes wished they had done it sooner. I do not miss the 2 wheeler at all.

 

[ThirdWheel]

I kept my two wheeler, but rarely ride it anymore. I do enjoy it for just short rides. Can't beat the trike for interstate or longer rides.

 

[Nana]

I happily rode on 2 wheels for 16 years, then triked my Fat Boy two years ago. For me it has been an improvement on a favorite thing, if that is even possible. I'm glad I did it.

 

[threewheeled]

It is kinda like LOVE... You always think you have it coming up through the years. Then you find it. Then you always thought you had LOVE all those years.... LOVE and TRIKE go together.
rode bikes for decades and have never looked back since. I do like to take one on quick store trips though... I call it Cheating on my trike to help keep the trike inline...LoL
kodiak

 

[Gorilla]

Hi V1,

I like Kodiak, rode 2 wheels for years. I'm 62 and started on 2 wheels at 14. I just switched to 3 about 6 months ago. It started with my wife buying a Stallion. She ordered it in Oct of 06 and took delivery in march of 08. She would not even ride on the back of a bike previously. I drove it a few times both when we were demo-ing and her trike and it is great. I then converted a Suziki Burgman 650 with a Tow-Pac last year for my daughter who never rode before and she loved it. I then got her a 1997 Honda Goldwing 1500 with a California trike conversion this past spring. She is in heaven. I rode that a few times also. Well this past year I have almost tipped over a couple of times with my Harley Road Glide while standing still or slowly manuvering it into the garage because my knees are getting weak and I'm not as comfortable in being able to hold her up. It's just part of getting older. So with all this experience riding my wifes Stallion and my daughters creations, I decided to give the trike conversion a try. I just finished my Road Glide 2 weeks ago with a Champion Conversion. I did the work myself. I love riding it. The slight difference in how you manuver it, is the only big difference. The fact that I do not have to worry about a knee giving out is very assuring. The riding in the wind feel is very much still there. Bottom line is try it I believe you will really LOVE IT. Ted

 

[saybel]

Venture 1
I put a trike kit on my H-D Ultra this summer/fall. I did the work myself. I don't have a lot of miles yet, but for riding double, I would never go back. My Sportster is two wheels and great for the twisties. The Sportster doesn't get many miles any more, as my my wife's first comment in the morning is "where are we riding today, lets get going". I have a physical handicap (some say mental too, ask Nana) and had trouble getting the Ultra off the stand and also moving and parking the big bike, those are no longer a worry.

 

[FBTRIKE]

Like others, I have ridden two wheels for years. I had to go to three because of disability. But even if you don't have to go to three, I can honestly say, once you get used to the fact that you now steer in the direction you want to go (no more counter steering) You don't lean in corners, and the fact that you no longer worry about gravel, you don't have to put your feet down at stops........two up riding is a piece of cake, well.......
it is just a wonderful way to enjoy motorcycling!

 

[John Luciano]

It was a scary tran for me from riding 2 wheels for 17 years. Bought a trike 2003 .My wife would not ride on 2 wheel , Only if I begged. ( 500 miles a year ) like pulling teeth. Tried the Voyager kit on the 1100 got her up to 700 miles a year but still had to ask and beg. now with the 1500 trike She has bought new outfits to ride and rides as co-rider 4,000 miles this year. so it will not be just you who will feel more at ease your co-rider will also.

 

[Venture 1]

Very nice to hear your comments on trikes, sounds like anyone that
has made the switch from bic to trike has certainly not regreted it. I have a lot to learn about trikes but I think I have the found the right site to learn and ask questions.

 

[BLACK DRAGON]

Hi All!
Our story much the same as Johns. My bride would not ride at all for years on my 2 wheelers. Then only short hauls for lunch on my Roadstar or Nomad 1600. When i got the 800cc Lehman trike she rode a little. Now with our
GL1500 Honda Valkyrie triwing trike she loves it. Almost falls a sleep on trips while out on the dragon. Free on 3 forever!
Terry

 

[newtriker]

This from the co-pilot point of view. I would ride with Steve on two wheels rarely though he wanted me to. I never felt comfortable on back, but tried to. When we got the trike, I never knew it would be such a difference riding behind. Now we ride so much it's become a passion. We talk to each other more on the trike than we talk at home and have so much fun. We live in our RV so we are used to being together a lot, but it's nothing like riding together. It is the most fun we've had in a long time and we enjoy it together which makes it even better--from the planning trips to riding by ourselves or with others. Enjoy...

 

[dwiht]

Same story, rode two wheels till I started falling over at stop lights. I was always worried whenever the wife rode with me. Now on the trike, we just ride. No worries, it's a blast pushing the two wheel bikes in the corners, and I can take my power chair with me on the long rides. The wife is much more fun and relaxed.

 

[John Luciano]

My wife does fall asleep on rides She fell asleep for 20 min. on a ride thru N.H. on the way to Maine. She woke up in Maine and said ," Did we go thru Concord yet? " you can tell when she is sleeping I get a buzz in the head set and Turtle kisses on the helmet ( the helmets keep banging together ) <LOL>

 

[Mattel]

I had a metric cycle for about 6 years and my wife would not get on once. I laid it down about 4 times, from oil, ice, lizard, and slick road. Hit a cat once but it was the one that went down. I road in all kinds of weather.

Now that I have my trike, I can hit oil, gravel, and other deleterious conditions that would cause your heart to race and possibly laid down your bike. I love my Stallion trike. I can ride it in all weather with ease. I am more comfortable, I have a trunk to put a bunch of junk in, and unlike my cycle I don't have to have it all in a back pack. My wife rides with me all the time now. I may ride a cycle for a little fun for about an hour, but I have had my Stallion for only 8 months and I have already put over 5k miles on it. I had my cycle for about 6 years and only put 3k on it! I may get another cycle, but I will never be without a trike.

One is not better than the other. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. You feel more free in the twisties dipping back and forth on a cycle, but you are more at risk for laying down your bike. Trikes are better for the long haul, or for two people riding, and for comfort.

Which ever one you choose, ride safe.

 

[George Lewis]

Ditto all of the above. Triked my '02 Wing three years ago and love it. I seldom ride my two two wheelers any more...I am 76 and it will extend my riding years....

 

[Ozarkryder]

Been triking for about 16 years, 2 wheels a lot longer. Started out triking when the wife bought a trike because she didn't like to lean over and the Trike Shop would fit her out with a VW trike with an automatic, and put a foot accelerator on it. Put lots of miles on it. Sold it back and bought a GW1500 about 5 years ago. That's the platform we use to take the long trips and pull the Bunkhouse, and "sanity rides" when both of us go. We put around 7500 miles on it last year. I put about the same miles on my Harley, when I ride alone, or do the camping thing with a tent instead of the camper.

Love riding both, the rides are so different, but fun in seperate ways.

 

[Venture 1]

Ozark rider -- We are heading down toward Missouri this summer , are you close to St Louis?

 

[Ozarkryder]

Venture1 - That would depend on your definition of "close". According to the GPS program, Anderson is 309 miles from St. Louis, and would take about 4hrs, 45 min. on I-44 and Hwy 71. I have never made the trip in less than 8 hours, but then I have never run the freeway. Too many interesting roads in the Ozarks to slab it. We are on the other side of the state from St. Louis just south of Joplin, and about 160 miles south of Kansas City in the area they call the "4 states". The corner of Missouri near the borders of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

 

[Venture 1]

Well I guess you are quite a ways from where we are going to be, I have a good friend who lives in Elmdale Kansas, close to Emporia. He rides a 06
goldwing trike.