Wish I had chosen a different trike kit vendor...

[pin-hi]

After over 2 years of hell this was my last letter to the trike kit vendor whose product I had installed on my 2006 Harley Davidson 1200 XL Custom. Do your research before deciding on a trike kit for your bike!!!

Richard Yelvington and Bob Witte of Trinity Trikes A/K/A YELVINGTON TRIKES,

Andrew has completed the repairs to my trike.

It was good to ride after yet another wasted summer of not riding due to repair work being needed on the trike kit.

The bolts that sheared and the additional bolts that were still intact were not “aircraft grade”, nor were they 1.5” in length. They were stainless steel and I’ve replaced them with less brittle, stronger fasteners and 8 per side rather than the 4 bolts per side.

I had to have a local welding shop that makes the trike kits for TriWing Industries make me a new right side bearing due to the wear on the original and they transplanted the spline end over as well. They made a new replacement aluminum spacer for the right side. So, I’m out $1,300.00 for parts, welding and labour, including Andrew’s labour costs.

I will still never be fully comfortable and truly feel safe riding my trike.

The donor sprocket I sent when the kit was originally built was never used in the build on my trike kit, a longer belt had to be used, and bolts sheared that put me in danger while riding. I waited forever for those repairs, it broke again and I paid $550.00 in shipping costs to have it repaired AGAIN and you still couldn’t get it right, it BROKE AGAIN!!!

I have never “done a wheelie, hit an armadillo, used “fake red lock-tight” or ridden the trike in any manner except how it was intended to be safely ridden.

I do know one thing for certain….I have never had a company and its owners blow so much smoke up my a** in my entire life.

Both you Richard and Bob should be ashamed of yourselves.


Oh, by the way, tell the truth now, is there a need to add lube or gear oil or something to the rear differential or does it never need additional lube?

Thanks.

David.

Beware of YELVINGTON TRIKES!

[Bushman4]

Unfortunately many companies seem to specialize in blowing smoke your a...s

[skuuter]

Thats just BAD BUSINESS!!!....

[bikerbillone]

Yes, I would as well. Unacceptable work like this should not go unreported.

[dadorfman]

I am confused. It is common on the forums I follow to heap praise on vendors who do a particularly good job. The same is generally true about those who do a bad job. All that is asked of the poster is a bill of particulars. It is then common for customers to post defense stories of the good treatment and work done for them. The readers can then make informed choices. That is not all that different from the ratings on Amazon or Angie's list. I want to know the pros and cons before making a purchase or dealing with a vendor.

As long as you give specifics along with your comments, you are not bashing anyone. Nobody is perfect all the time, just as you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Share honest, first-hand experiences openly, assuming you were not strong-armed into signing a non-disclosure agreement. If this forum is a brother-/sisterhood, you don't owe a vendor doing poor work any confidentiality. Rather, you owe you brothers and sisters the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Let the chips fall where they may.

[Oldmsocko]

Sorry to hear about your problems. Some vendors cannot be trusted.

[0pini0nated]

" I will still never be fully comfortable and truly feel safe riding my trike."

Well, it's a pretty bike! Polish it up, and sell it on eBay.

It's kind'a like a first marriage ~ just because you and wife #1 (this trike) didn't work out, doesn't mean that the next suck....... ah ....husband (the next owner) wouldn't fall in love with it.

Besides, look at all the work you did on it! You got all the bugs out ~ now it's freaking PERFECT!

Meanwhile, you'll move on with wife #2 (your next trike.)

[Woolie]

Perhaps a well written complaint here, Recalls & Defects | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would get some changes made. I bet they know how to make someones life miserable, You might even save a life. Click on file a complaint on the right.

[Bullet]

Perhaps a well written complaint here, Recalls & Defects | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would get some changes made. I bet they know how to make someones life miserable, You might even save a life. Click on file a complaint on the right.

I don't know if he can... He's from Canada. They may have something similar though.