14 Months on a Tri Glide

[iaff84]

Have had the trike about 14 months now and 13K on it. We found the trike heat was bearable over the first few months that we had it and put about 3K on it before winter hit. As our 05 Ultra was left bone stock for the 60K plus we put on it, (not even a air cleaner or slip ons) it ran on warm side, so no big difference.

Most heat we felt was from the CAT with engine heat adding to it. I found a guy North of me that cut pipes and removed the CAT. Decided to try this route and also wrapped with header tape and sealed before installing. This dropped the radiant heat allot. Depending on where you get work done, you should be able to do install yourself and spend 150 to 200 on this.

Then I thought I would put on an air clear to let it breath and try the Vision tuner to see if I could get a little more life in the 103. Long story short, The tuning thing was over my head at first. Ran the logs for tuning but messed up the changing of tune. Finally with help from JD on the HD forum, learned what I was doing wrong and low and behold, bike ran better than expected.

I had left the stock mufflers on through this time. After getting it tuned for this setup, I found I did not care for the sound of the stock mufflers.

To me it now sounded like a stock setup with a couple of large leaks. I had a set of SE slip ons from an older Road Glide. Welded nuts on them and installed on Trike. Ran a few more tuning logs and adjusted tune. Very impressed with power gained. I do not have an oil temp gauge but the vision tuner, if left mounted, has a head temperature gauge you can setup. While I had the tune messed up. I did at times see 280 plus in stop and go traffic. Now the highest head temps I see are 250 (stop and go) and when moving always around 240.

Overall I have spent 600 for tuner / air cleaner and header wrap and traded a set of my lift brackets for the gutted stock pipe and had the used mufflers. Feel this is less than I would have spent at dealer for some mufflers, air cleaner and a down load and now if I do make changes, I can re-tune myself.

The key on mine, was dumping the stock mufflers, it finally came more alive then.

I was hoping I could keep it more quite but so is life, not real loud and bike runs great now.

So life with a T Glide doesn't need a second mortgage to make it enjoyable, it was great to begin with, now it is superb!!! No regrets.

All this to get back at the EPA.

Whats you story?

[Gorilla]

Nice job.

[jcolson]

Hey Dennis, you should get the 2" pullback handle bars. Man what a huge difference in comfort & handling. You have more leverage in turns. You don't have to stretch so far. Your arms are bent at the elbows. Coming down your way soon. Will give you a call. Installing windows in Anderson. Maybe we can go out to dinner or something.

[iaff84]

Hey Dennis, you should get the 2" pullback handle bars. Man what a huge difference in comfort & handling. You have more leverage in turns. You don't have to stretch so far. Your arms are bent at the elbows. Coming down your way soon. Will give you a call. Installing windows in Anderson. Maybe we can go out to dinner or something.

Be sure to give me a call.
Dennis

[tkglider]

2 years on my TG 11000 miles.Did the Fuel Moto headpipe,wrapped it much cooler.Slip ons and KnN with the Xieds even cooler.Taking out the vents in the lowers made it cooler in the hot summer.But the best mod is the 30tooth gear change,Much stronger bike,better milage and it runs cooler.I have also added floorboard extensions,rear lift kit,Klockworks wind screen and oh yea my Road Zepplin seat.100watt headlight with driving lights rewired.I have a headlight modulator also.

Love riding this bike.The negatives are a lackluster audio system,ineffective rear brakes and emergency brake.Mirrors could be better.All and all I am satisfied with the trike,value is holding up.Would have went to a trike two bikes ago if I had ridden one.

T K

[Bikerbozo]

15 1/2 months old. with business travel taking up most of my time, I don't have time to modify things. Also don't want to take any chances with warranty. Going in later today to set up for 25,000 service. Overall, I am happy with bike. Somewhere in future I would like to do that 30 tooth swap. does that require retuning or anything with speedometer?

[iaff84]

2 years on my TG 11000 miles.Did the Fuel Moto headpipe,wrapped it much cooler.Slip ons and KnN with the Xieds even cooler.Taking out the vents in the lowers made it cooler in the hot summer.But the best mod is the 30tooth gear change,Much stronger bike,better milage and it runs cooler.I have also added floorboard extensions,rear lift kit,Klockworks wind screen and oh yea my Road Zepplin seat.100watt headlight with driving lights rewired.I have a headlight modulator also.

Love riding this bike.The negatives are a lackluster audio system,ineffective rear brakes and emergency brake.Mirrors could be better.All and all I am satisfied with the trike,value is holding up.Would have went to a trike two bikes ago if I had ridden one.

T K

TK, For the mirrors, I found the little fish eyes work very good, The kind you stick on but also swivel around. Gives me view from front of rear fender across whole lane of traffic.
You are right on radio also. Going down highway with a helmet, not a barn burner and I dislike it coming across in helmet speakers. A friend did up date to a brand of speakers called "Hog Tunes". These are clear and crisp at all volume levels. I just find more and more these days I do not listen to radio enough to invest more money into it.
Get enough static from back seat with helmets and intercom if you know what I mean.
As I have only owned an 11 trike with the different gearing, can not comment in that area. On brakes, I am getting by with them at this point, feel maybe HD could have done more but stayed status on what they have and that is just how most manufacturers are.
Only other change I am considering is windshield. In my case, taller or the ones that throw air higher, to keep more off the wife on the long trips.
Anyone have suggestions?
Dennis

[Boom]

Two years on my 2010 come Veteran's Day with 14000 miles. Never a lick of trouble with it. I am very content with it!
Also don't like audio even with expensive J&M front speakers. Needs a bigger amp, if it really matters. Also, lack-luster power when engine is hot. One day I'll go the route of the Sockos with a Woods cam and TTS with proper tune.

[jcolson]

Be sure to give me a call.

Dennis

Thanks for meeting me for dinner Monday. Had a good time. We must get together again. you can pick the place this time. Had a nice time shooting the Sh------ outside in the cold. Did you freeze going home? Ha! Ha! If I had my bike to I would have rode too. Thanks for the tour pack bracket & the deflecter.

You have a good head on your shoulders. Jcolson

[iaff84]

Thanks for meeting me for dinner Monday. Had a good time. We must get together again. you can pick the place this time. Had a nice time shooting the Sh------ outside in the cold. Did you freeze going home? Ha! Ha! If I had my bike to I would have rode too. Thanks for the tour pack bracket & the deflecter.

You have a good head on your shoulders. Jcolson

Was good food and good company. Will get with you soon about the back rest.

This Indiana weather, one never knows what tomorrow will bring, not looking forward to another winter like last year, or a hot summer like this past one. But we will adapt!

Dennis

[GARYD]

Just bought a Tri Glide a couple weeks ago so I don't know the problem with the heat. I've been told it's worse then the Ultra, which I thought wasn't too bad. I keep all my bikes stock. So I'm not sure what I will have to do with the TG. I love the sound of the new stock pipes. Harley finally did something positive with them.

I LOVE my tunes so I have the Hog Tunes Ultra setup. 4)speakers, 2) 7" woofers in the lowers and an amp. 80mph highway with helmet and ear plugs sound is clear as a bell. Would never own a bike without upgrade speakers.

So far the only things I put on the bike is the air seat and heated grips since I ride all winter in the Chicago area.

I had a local biker seamstress make me a set of heat deflectors made from leather and some stuff she uses for the local foundry workers. Will pick them up this weekend. Now I have to wait until summer to see how well they work.

Next purchase are Hyper Lite tail lights. Loved them on my last bike.

[Bikerbozo]

So far the only things I put on the bike is the air seat and heated grips since I ride all winter in the Chicago area.

.

Riding all winter in Chicago? I like you already. I ride all winter also. A couple of pieces of advice. When on snow or ice, only use the rear brake. The front brake is too strong and locks up very easy on slick surfaces. IF you do use front brake on snow, countersteering now works for controlling direction of travel when sliding. I can tell you that my '10 started up and ran at -3'F. Was out for 1 hr. in that. I will use lighter oil this winter though. Also rode 115 miles on unplowed highway. Trike ran straight as long as I kept rear wheels in car tracks and front wheel in center slush. Not saying I was going any kind of speed. Acts like a car without ABS. Have fun.

[iaff84]

Around here, folks thought I was nuts riding in winter. Always have with my two wheelers. Only had the TG through one winter and was laid up most of that so had only a few cold days of riding. I feel this TG will get a work out this winter. Seems it should have a big advantage over the old Ultra with that third wheel.
Dennis

[eagle1]

hey jcolson, who makes the 2" pullback hadlebars and are complications in installing on the t/g? thanks leon

[GARYD]

Let me rephrase that. I don't ride every day.
I lead a group every Sunday for a BBB ride(Blue Balls Brunch) ride to a brewpub or restaurant within about an hours ride. Not wanting to be responsible for other riders slipping and going down, I limit the rides for only when the roads are dry. Some years I only get 1 ride in and others I will get a dozen or more. Sure beats sitting at home and complaining to others how I wish it was summer again so I can ride.

Belive it or not we have a member that will only ride when it is 75* or above and not more the 50 miles from her home.

[wonderment]

GaryD,

Can you post a photo of your Hog tunes setup with the woofers? I'd be interested in seeing that. I've replaced my 4 originals and sounds ok, but I bet your setup is awesome. Not much bass to speak of. When someone sits in the back, you basically just cover up the rear speakers, totally.

[GARYD]

All I did in the past was up grade the 4 speakers and that was it. Last year since I had some extra SS money I decided to get the amp/woofer kit. To tell you the truth I think it is way more then I'll ever need/use. I can blast everyone away at less then 1/2 volume. It's almost overkill.

I'm going to try and install the set up this weekend. I took as much equipment off the old bike as I could. I just had to order a new main power cable and new woofer brackets. As soon as I get it done I'll try to post some pics.

[jcolson]

You guys must like to get salt on your bikes, but not me. I don,t know how much salt they put on the roads in Chicago & Muncie, but hear in South Bend,In, we get alot. so we don,t have many dry roads.We get all the snow from the lake.We might have a blizzard here & sunny in Chicago.Usually when I go to Chicago there is hardly any snow.They salt the hell out of the roads here. Jcolson

[jcolson]

Hey Dennis, I might come down Sunday,Monday or Tues. What are you doing? I will drive the bike down so you can see how the handle bars feel. Plus you can see what some hp feels like. Let me know, ok? Jim

[GRANDPAGRIZZ55]

Harley has a set of bars that are 2" up & 2" back that we put on wifes trike & she loves them. We also removed header pipe & put a x pipe to get rid of the Cat in the pipe you can also cut it open & remove the guts & weld it back if you like. With a K & N high flow & tuner it woke up the 103 motor plus we heat tape wrapped the pipes all the way back to the slip ons. Drop heat to 140 degrees where the cat was putting off 573 degress which burned wifes leg & melted 2 clutch cables. We had a direct link tuner which we just replaced with the screaming eagle pro tuner.