Review on Harley Tri-Glide

[Ironhorsepilot]

I have been practicing my riding on the airport roads, but today I went on the real road with the Tri Glide. This is one awesome riding machine. The steering EASY! I did 63 country miles on one lane roads with lots of curves. Yea, I slowed way down, but I was at posted limit most of the time. I just wasn't sure how it would handle plus traffic coming opposite gave me reason enough to slow down. Most of the time they were on my side of the road!!!
I did U turn on the road, took a gravel road and went to a pub that had a gravel parking lot. The only thing that bothered me was my clutch hand. The clutch is tight and I have very tiny (extra small gloves) hands. I will have to just get used to it. I hit the wrong gear on occasion but I have only ridden automatics before my msf course two months ago, and haven't ridden since then until now. I am so ready for some road trips. I thank Harley Davidson for such an great machine that is set up to be a trike. You can just tell that a lot of forethought went into the production of these trikes. The rake and the steering damper....I went over some really rough crowned roads, and never felt a lot of wobble. Do you think I am happy??????



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[threewheeled]

Ironhorse:
Give it time and the Trike will become like your gloves on your hand. Have fun and be safe as I am sure you will... I am happy for you. Ride till you Die but, Don't Die riding. Slide that trike into your grave at a ripe old age with your last words being, "DAM, WHAT A RIDE"
kodiak

 

[Gorilla]

CONGRATS Ironhorsepilot The Tri-Glide will be a hit for HD. Go forth and enjoy the ride. The clutch might get a little easier as it breakin and your hand strengthens. Ted

 

[Juju]

Do you think I am happy??????

Hmm, now let me see...

Sounds like a match made in Trike Heaven! And about the clutch, seems I've heard about a gizmo you can install to make the clutch a bit easier to engage--not sure what it's called or who makes it (I'm so helpful, right?), but a chat with your dealer or a google search should turn up something.

Glad to hear you're loving your new machine!

 

[Nana]

You'll be ready for Daytona!!! Woo Hoo!!! By that time you'll be running all over the countryside on that beautiful thing!

 

[saybel]

CONGRATS!!!!
I know you will continue to enjoy, many happy miles to you.

 

[Redrider]

Google( VPC clutch assist) and you"ll find some help to reduce clutch pull.

 

[luckylady]

I am new to this forum and new to trikes--we just ordered an HD Trike and I am SO excited!! I have been riding on the back of our Harley for 6 years and am ready to drive my own. About the hard clutch.....Harley makes a clutch plate that can be installed by your dealer. It's called the "reduced effort clutch kit". It is accessory #36808-05 in the Harley catelog or online. It came stock on the '06 and later twin cams, so your bike should already have it. The dealer should be able to adjust it for you until your clutch is easy.
We had one installed on our '05 Road King and my husband could pull the clutch with one finger. We now have an '08 Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic with a hydrolic clutch and it is not as easy to pull as the one we had on our Road King with the clutch kit. I tried the clutch on a trike at our local dealer and couldn't even pull it in, so I am already planning to get them to adjust mine when it comes. Enjoy your new bike. I can't wait to get mine!

 

[Nana]

Hey there lucky lady .... sounds like the perfect name for you, with a new trike on the way. Welcome to the TrikeTalk family fun center! Join in often to share and learn and laugh.

 

[saybel]

luckylady
Congrats on getting a H-D Trike, and welcome to the forum. I think you will enjoy the triking experience.

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

Congratulations on ordering your TriGlide. When is it going to be in? What color did you get? I absolutely love mine! My hubby couldn't believe how tight the clutch was when we picked it up, as his Ultra is so easy. They did tweek it some for me, but it's still tight. Seems that it is a heavy duty clutch and made that way because of the 103 and the extra weight in the back. I am kinda worried to mess with it now that I learned why it is this way. I am adjusting to it, but my hand does hurt after an hour of driving on curvy roads where I am constantly down shifting. The bike is so much fun otherwise that I don't even notice until I get off. VERY easy to drive. My shoulders haven't hurt me at all, it just glides through the curves.

 

[dwiht]

Sounds like you are having fun with your new trike. I really like mine and the way it handles and I am sure they improved on it a lot. Good luck with the clutch. I understand why they put in the heavier clutch. Maybe you can build up your hand and wrist muscles by working with a handspring or squeezing a ball. Just have fun and enjoy the ride.

 

[ned69]

The only thing that bothered me was my clutch hand. The clutch is tight and I have very tiny (extra small gloves) hands. I will have to just get used to it.

My wife has one, and she had a Rekluse Pro-Start Clutch kit installed.

It is awesome. You only pull the clutch lever in whenever you shift up or down!

You can use a pinky finger to pull the clutch lever, it is that easy. Sitting at a stop light, in first gear, with no hands on the grips! Twist the throttle, and you launch like a pro. Only use the clutch when you shift up or down, and it requires almost no effort - really, you can use your pinky finger to pull the clutch lever.

It cost about 800 beans installed, but worth every penny for her. I love it too, and when I get back on my Road King, I am spoiled and miss that effortless clutch she has.

Check it out, just do a search of Rekluse Pro-start clutch.

A Lehman Trike dealer in Spartenburg SC installed it for her. The clutch web site is [http://www.rekluse.com/ProStart.html]

Good luck and enjoy that tree-wheeler.

 

[Chopper09]

My wife has one, and she had a Rekluse Pro-Start Clutch kit installed.

It is awesome. You only pull the clutch lever in whenever you shift up or down!

You can use a pinky finger to pull the clutch lever, it is that easy. Sitting at a stop light, in first gear, with no hands on the grips! Twist the throttle, and you launch like a pro. Only use the clutch when you shift up or down, and it requires almost no effort - really, you can use your pinky finger to pull the clutch lever.

It cost about 800 beans installed, but worth every penny for her. I love it too, and when I get back on my Road King, I am spoiled and miss that effortless clutch she has.

Check it out, just do a search of Rekluse Pro-start clutch.

A Lehman Trike dealer in Spartenburg SC installed it for her. The clutch web site is [http://www.rekluse.com/ProStart.html]

Good luck and enjoy that tree-wheeler.

Hi ned69,

I´v reading that your wife has a trike with a Rekluse Prostart.

Wat´s your experience about the Rekluse Clutch?

I´ve an Ultra 2004 with a Lehmann Trike kit and the Recluse Clutch.
My problem ist that the clutch facing to burn up after 1000 miles.
Rekluse Germany tell me that they are no longer to sell and supported the Pro Start.

Now my question: Have you had also this problem and how have you fix it?

Best regards from Germany
Chopper

 

[Gorilla]

Welcome aboard Chopper

 

[RK-Downunder]

Hi –First post from Australia. Triking a 2010 Road King (ABS) pictured in my album along with a Mystery’s Trike I am going to use as a guide.
The Back End: IRS from Mystery.
The Front End: A 14 degrees triple tree from AME with 8” overstock tubes.
Harley ABS?:
1.The back and front brakes are supposed to be independent. I assume that this relates to the front & back brake output actuation. But as a general rule there is a connection of the front & back input sensing via algorithms within the Electronic Control Unit. (i.e. detection of dissimilar speeds between front and back wheels). If this is so, then must the rear wheel sensor remain intact for the ABS to control the front brake actuation? Or will the front ABS function normally without any rear ABS components attached?
2.I want to adapt rear ABS sensor to control back disc on the Mystery IRS www.mysterydesigns.com/suspension - any potential problems with braking a diff?
Comments PLEASE?

 

[trikes4ever]

Here's a link.

 

[1550vt]

RK...I do not think you can (meaning as per your 2.1 item listed above). Kit manufacturers disable the ABS feature on a Harley. The Honda already has a "linked" brake system and it will make your head spin reading the explanation of what pedal/lever pull activates what piston in which caliper. On the shaft drive system, the trike kits that offer ABS pick-up the rear ABS signal off the drive shaft, which is the same method used in some pick-up truck ABS systems. It uses the drive shaft rotation to determine rear wheel spin and apply braking pressure to both rear calipers based on this input.

I don't know of any Harley kit that provides for the retention of the ABS system. Shaft drive...yes. Harley....no. If it did...it would require a sensor on each rear wheel or the rear pulley and a complete redesign by some rocket scientist to get the input data calibrated to the ECU.

For my 2-cents worth...I would remove it all and simply bring the brakes back to a non-ABS configuration (rear pedal rear brakes/front lever front brakes). I am sure that when you remove the rear sensor, it will generate a warning light which you can disconnect (unless somebody out there has found a way to "fool" it). With that sensor removed....the brakes should revert to non-ABS (answer to part 1 of your question) and your front lever should actuate both front calipers.

I really can't see any advantage to having ABS on the front wheel only, if you can't get it on all three braking wheels.

 

[gesteff]

I too just bought a new Tri-Glide, a 2011, and love it. For years I was on the Honda Goldwing (2 wheeled) I had to go to a trike because of my knees, so we bought a Goldwing trike a 2009. Had nothing but problems with it, first one thing then another, the dealership that triked it made ever excuse in the books why he couldn't or wouldn't fix it. So after taking it back the 10th time for the same problem, I decided it was time to look else where. I did manage to get the dealership to buy back the Goldwing. Been impressed every time I get on the Harley. :yes::yes:

 

[Gorilla]

I too just bought a new Tri-Glide, a 2011, and love it. For years I was on the Honda Goldwing (2 wheeled) I had to go to a trike because of my knees, so we bought a Goldwing trike a 2009. Had nothing but problems with it, first one thing then another, the dealership that triked it made ever excuse in the books why he couldn't or wouldn't fix it. So after taking it back the 10th time for the same problem, I decided it was time to look else where. I did manage to get the dealership to buy back the Goldwing. Been impressed every time I get on the Harley. :yes::yes:

Congrats and welcome to the Harley World.