Anybody actually ride trike stock?

[oldtimer]

Anybody actually ride their trike stock?

Or at least close to stock?

I'm getting a little depressed reading all these threads about how bad these things are, no power, too much heat, you gotta spend at least 3K to get it to where it's even streetworthy, etc.

Are they really that awful stock?

 

[TNTriker]

I'm pretty much stock! Stage one, that's it and I'm a Girly girl!

 

[Guido Gonzeaux]

If I had to to do it all over again, I would install the rear lift brackets and Capt Itch leather heat shield and just ride it for a while. These two mods are not expensive and both work really well.

doug

 

[Skeet7373]

I'm riding stock, oh, I did add the lifts the other day and the fork wind deflectors and the wind baffle. Yes, these machines are hot, but so was my 2011 Softail Deluxe that was miserable to ride. The TG is not. And the power is awsome compaired to the 96". I felt that my 80" was more powerful than the Deluxe. The TG is smooth and runs great. I'm very happy with mine. And I'm a Girly Girl toooo!

 

[thomocon]

vtx trike almost rock stock// I had decided if I went to the rockies I would use a lower profile tire for a bit better low end pull

 

[arnie]

Hey oldtimer.I just got my trike last fall.the more i ride it,the more i like it.I've done the same basic mods to it that i have all my h-d's.mufflers,a/c & download.The only exception was removing the cat.It cost me a case of beer to get it welded but well worth it! I just put on the header wrap this last wkend,but it's been raining ever since so i don't have an idea how much that has helped. With me,heat was the only issue.I don't have that much money in mine,& i'm more then happy with it!

 

[DakotaTG]

As far as the engine that is stock with the exception of removing the cat by our local HD putting SE header pipes on. I do have a fair amount of bling on it with the bumper and the LED light bar below it, chrome trim around the fenders, airfoil tour-pak rack and of course the lift kit and deflectors and other bling. I'm not sure if there are very many that don't add something. One of the guys in our group only put on true duals and mini ape hangers and nothing else. He has done that with his last few bikes. No other bling except his trike has a backup beeper which kind of give us a chuckle when he backs up.

2011 Merlot and Black TG, lift kit, deflectors, cat removed.

I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.

 

[CSM]

Re: Anybody actually ride their trike stock?

Or at least close to stock?

I'm getting a little depressed reading all these threads about how bad these things are, no power, too much heat, you gotta spend at least 3K to get it to where it's even streetworthy, etc.

Are they really that awful stock?

To me, they are awsome just stock, after that it is a matter of personal preference...the heat is not really "that" bad, we had plenty of power and it is the most comfortable ride I have ever been on.

I have not had a single HD I have not thrown money at.
on my Triglide I have added V&H power duals, V&H slip ons, Stage 1, SE race tuner, baby apes (ALL my scoots got apes, ALL my scoots got V&H)....but that is just me, they are "more" than street worthy stock.

 

[heliv8r]

Don't know what the problem is. The only thing that I have added to my GW 1800 Is chrome, that is only for looks. It rides and handles great completey stock. Oops, I did add 4 1/2 degrees of rake on the triple tree.

 

[Frang]

Other than the lifts from Dennis and new VH mufflers mine is pretty much stock.Added some chrome for bling and removed the lower fairings which helped with the heat.

 

[skuuter]

Come on now "Honda, etc. Guys"......this is the HARLEY FORUM.....let's not clutter the Harley Folks Threads with "OFF TOPIC" stuff.....makes it easier for Them to get and find Valuable Harley Info..... ThumbUp

 

[Memnoch451]

Oh the tri glide.... Don't have one... I do have a 2010 Ultra classic with a champion kit on it. Most of the guys on here put stuff on their trike for comfort, looks, fun and a few are power devils with many many engine mods and all that.

But..... Unless you're going race ' n you don't really need the engine mods and there is no trike category in NASCAR or NHRA that I know of??? I don't care what anyone says I have my Harley for looks and it's a pretty good "go out to brunch" with my pals on local rides.

Does it past trucks and go up hills like a gold wing... heck no! But, it looks very cool stock and is a very popular at filling stations and dive bars. ThumbUp

Ride what you like how you like... just ride with the intent of making it back home! :Angel:

 

[ssw1]

Had mine 1 year and 3 mos. Only mods are shock lifts, tour pack lift, air horns,tour pack luggage rack, rear bumper and some minor bling. So yes, to stock engine and mufflers, no to pure stock. How can anyone resist adding something to a new ride? Love it just like it is now. Seems to get better the more it is ridden.

 

[screwball]

Wife and I have 2 Tri-Glides, and '09 and '11. Other than the 'usual' changes we have done to the 9 previous Harleys we have owned, you know slip-ons to make it a bit louder, SE intake to help it breathe better, and a re-map to adjust the computer to the new in and out the bikes are stock. Both have the catalytic converters intact, both run great. Stock oil coolers on both and no heating problems. Both have been around the Grand Canyon at least once, the '09 will be doing it's 4th lap later this year. We live on the high desert in Southern California where 100* days common. We wear 'wet vests' to keep ourselves cool. When I was younger I had a Ducate if I wanted to go really fast, and a Harley when I wanted to cruise comfortably. Now that I'm old I don't want or need to go that fast anymore, but I do understand the 'need for speed' in some of our younger posters. 20 years ago that was me!!! Most of the money we have spent on the scoots is comfort stuff, footboard extensions, softer grips, back rests, changed clutch springs. I have neither raised or lowered the suspension, and the whole purpose of a motorcycle is "wind in the face, bugs in your teeth". These Tri's are only the second motorcycles wife and I have ridden with windshields, and we replaced the stock ones with a 4" and 6". I wear shorts and tennis shoes a lot in the summer and don't have any burns on my legs...... except the ones from getting on or off the Sportie we kept and I ride occasionally. I'm 67, 5'10" 256# I've been on motorcycles since my first Triumph I bought in 1962.

 

[Bigbill]

Re: Anybody actually ride their trike stock?

Or at least close to stock?

I'm getting a little depressed reading all these threads about how bad these things are, no power, too much heat, you gotta spend at least 3K to get it to where it's even streetworthy, etc.

Are they really that awful stock?

With the exception of a few dressup items to personalize it, mine is stock. I love it. Harleys run hot, air cooled v twins run hot. But not so hot to keep me from riding it. It runs great, looks great and handles great. To me its the most fun you can have with your pants on.

 

[BinIdaho]

Other than blingy-bling stuff, lift brackets, floorboard extensions, air deflectors..am running stock (nothing done to the engine). No heat issues, goes plenty fast for me and I am defintely a girly-girl

 

[msocko3]

I've never owned a stock Harley, they've all had some form of modifications to the engines along with plenty of bling to personalize them or make them more functional. My Triglide is no exception, the list of changes is long and the end results have been worth it.

 

[4Jr@usmc]

remove the cat? how did this work out for you and was it costly to do at HD?

 

[Oldmsocko]

I have never owned a stock HD. All my bikes were modified before delivery. Once home and M3 and I could get our hands on it bling was installed to my liking and engine modifications were made. It may not be pretty but I like it.

The engine modifications were done to cool them down. I am not interestd in going fast, just having enough power to get the brick up to speed entering freeways.

 

[GARYD]

Mine would still be stock if it wasn't for the heat problem(that I've read about on this forum), but like Oldmsocho said, I don't need any more speed thank you. I can go over the legal limits fast enough in stock trim.
I just hope I don't have to remove the head pipes and cat, that's the only thing I haven't done yet.
Everyone has different threshholds of pain. If the heat wasn't any worse then a stock Ultra, I wouldn't even do the A/C, slipons and tuner mods, but just about everyone here says it's much worse with Tri Glides. I haven't had mine for a summer yet so I don't know how I'm going to feel.
Can't wait for next month for my first looong term road test to Washington DC and the BRP.

 

[oldtimer]

Mine would still be stock if it wasn't for the heat problem(that I've read about on this forum), but like Oldmsocho said, I don't need any more speed thank you. I can go over the legal limits fast enough in stock trim.
I just hope I don't have to remove the head pipes and cat, that's the only thing I haven't done yet.
Everyone has different threshholds of pain. If the heat wasn't any worse then a stock Ultra, I wouldn't even do the A/C, slipons and tuner mods, but just about everyone here says it's much worse with Tri Glides. I haven't had mine for a summer yet so I don't know how I'm going to feel.
Can't wait for next month for my first looong term road test to Washington DC and the BRP.

I only have 500 or so miles on mine but I too can already tell the heat is going to be a problem. Rather than going with slipons, A/C and some sort of fuel enrichment (probably would have just tried Xieds) like you did I think I'm going to have a catless head pipe installed at the 1K service and keep the stock mufflers and A/C. It is my understanding that the ECM can easily adapt to the catless head pipe so I won't mess with the fuel management unless it's proven that I need to.

I hope that works. I'm not looking for speed either but I would like less heat and a little better sound. I've heard that the combination of the open head pipe through the stock mufflers give you a pretty good sound.

 

[Pittsburgh Biker]

Mine is totally stock. Roadking with Roadsmith. Runs fine, rides good. Thought about updating air cleaner and slip ons however why bother with it then the EFI needs updated.

 

[Memnoch451]

Re: Anybody actually ride their trike stock?

To me its the most fun you can have with your pants on.

Have you tried riding pant-less... If so post a picture you'll be a big hit on youtube in no time at all...lol ThumbUp

 

[ehroyal]

I have a 2011 Tri-Glide. Have put about 9K mi. on it since it was new in April 2011. So far, I haven't done any modifications to the engine, exhuast etc. Still seems to run fine, with plenty of power. Heat really has not been an issue, at least from a comfort standpoint.

 

[screwball]

Just some thoughts.

Because of where I live and ride I removed the lower fairings and replaced them with Linby crash bars that double as road pegs. Only 3 bolts and about 10 minutes. You do have to jack up the scoot to get the bars out. The heat you will feel on your right calf is from the head pipe running parallel to your leg. The Cat is under your right foot. Try sliding your foot an inch or two forward. Heat felt on the knees is head heat. Again, move your legs. Instead of hugging your tank with your knees, 'speadem'

I leave the lowers off my '09 all the time, we do a 'change over with wife's '11 summer and winter. I wouldn't think your legs would get much hotter in the summer season, exhaust gas in the pipe is around 1400* It will burn you if it is snowing, may take a minute or two longer.

We just rode from Santa Clarita, Ca. to Loughlin Nv. last week. Outside temps were in the high 80's, we went from 1400 feet above sea level to over 5000. On the longest uphill (6% grade) at 70mph the scoots got up to 230* Riding from Laughlin Nv. to Kingman, Az we got stuck in traffic for a while, temp rose to 260* but dropped back down to 230* as soon as we got rolling. I probably should have shut the trike down, but I let it idle while the cops cleared the accident.

As was mentioned, heat or pain thresholds vary, but before you drop a bunch of bucks or worry yourself into major mechanical work, ride it for a while. You may be surprised. May I also suggest that if you do remove the cats, keep the stock head pipe just in case your state starts inspecting. I know too many people that were sure the Cat in their car was destroying their engine so they took it out and threw it away. Costs big bucks for a new one.

 

[msocko3]

May I also suggest that if you do remove the cats, keep the stock head pipe just in case your state starts inspecting. I know too many people that were sure the Cat in their car was destroying their engine so they took it out and threw it away. Costs big bucks for a new one.

Good advice, my cat lives in the garage attic.

 

[Oldmsocko]

Fortunately my head pipe still lives on my TG as it came in 09 without cats. Had it came with cats the head pipe would also live in my garage attic.

 

[Stan66]

Mine (2010 FLXXX Street Glide trike) is BONE stock, and love it like it is. Only adder is a luggage rack and sometimes a passenger backrest Think it looks better without one.

Heat, even in Virginia summers, is not that bad. Keep movin' and ya never notice it.

 

[jcolson]

Sorry people,I have to have some power. I put too much money in my engine but it will get it when I need it. It sounds awsome too. You can tell it's not stock. Don't want to bore you with everything in it. I will say the add ons I've put on from Dennis's collection
have been some of the best mods I've done. The lift kit & wind deflectors are the best.!!Thanks Dennis Jim

 

[gbsb]

I have a 2011 TriGlide. I put on the bling and the lift kits from Dennis, tired of mufflers dragging and more room for the wife. I put on a PCV only to get rid of the pinging. The internals are pure stock. I am in Tx and it is hot but so was the 3 Ultras I had and the Road King. Harleys are Hot end of story. Just ride and enjoy. There is a lot of aftermarket parts out there the great think about Harley is we can change any thing we want, cams, exhaust, pistons, aevery thing. So let your bank acount be your guide.