Anyone gone from a Tri Glide to a conversion?

[Copasetic]

Why? what are the pros and cons? Thanks

 

[KRUZR]

Before I decided to convert my HD Street Glide to a Trike. My wife and I thought we wanted a Tri Glide and tried to trade her bike and mine for one, but we couldn't get the money we wanted for trade. Lucky, we weren't successful. In Sturgis 2010 we test rode a couple of Tri Glides and it just didn't do it for us. We also rode several of the conversion Trikes and liked the Motor Trike and CSC conversions the best (wish we would have tested a Hannigann). After those test rides we decided if we were going to have a Trike, we would convert my bike. Can't say enough good things about our CSC Daytona conversion. To be fair I have probably spent more money on my conversion than if we would have purchased a Tri Glide.

 

[Oldmsocko]

Before I decided to convert my HD Street Glide to a Trike. My wife and I thought we wanted a Tri Glide and tried to trade her bike and mine for one, but we couldn't get the money we wanted for trade. Lucky, we weren't successful. In Sturgis 2010 we test rode a couple of Tri Glides and it just didn't do it for us. We also rode several of the conversion Trikes and liked the Motor Trike and CSC conversions the best (wish we would have tested a Hannigann). After those test rides we decided if we were going to have a Trike, we would convert my bike. Can't say enough good things about our CSC Daytona conversion. To be fair I have probably spent more money on my conversion than if we would have purchased a Tri Glide.

I understand what you are saying. Before I bought my TG I priced out converting my 06 Ultra with a DFT and it was going to cost me more money to convert so I bought the TG.

 

[Rick Kay]

The money on my CSC Daytona conversion vs a TriGlide was about equal when I factor in the trade-in I was offered. BUT, and it is a big BUT, I got all the bells and whistles the conversion offers, a mechanical reverse, kept all the upgrades I had already done to my bike, and did about $5K in custom powdercoating and engine upgrades. I ended up with custom trike for the same money as a bone stock TG. Also, I like the ride of the CSC Daytona conversion much better than the Harley, that must be due to the independent rear suspension. Love the CSC Daytona!!!

<img src="http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/Yoeder06/046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket]

 

[GARYD]

I'm with Oldmsocko on this. I did the same thing. I also wanted a FACTORY produced bike with a 7 year warranty and a huge dealer network. I also don't like the fender treatments on most conversions.

 

[Copasetic]

I understand the cost, resale and warranty advantages of the TriGlide. What I wonder about is the ride, handling, brakes, reverse, etc that the conversions offer and if they are beneficial enough to make a switch if money wasn't the driving force.

 

[KRUZR]

As I mentioned We rode several Trikes in Sturgis. Bobbi's and my first impressions were how much different we felt riding the 2 coversions I mentioned earlier. Handling and ride is apparrent right away. As an example, on your other question about how comversions compare to Tri Glides,, start by comparing the breaking system on a CSC Daytona. Enough though I ride a conversion and like it, I'll never have the benifit of a nation wide dealer network Tri Glide owners enjoy!! Ride Safe!!, See you in Maggie Valley!!

 

[pigbike]

I looked at the Tri Glide several times, at several different dealers. No one was willing to deal on one. One said I could "maybe" get a two tone for the single color price.

I found a Ultra conversion that was loaded with extras, that the previous owner had dropped just short of 50 grand into, with under 8000 miles for way less then 1/2 the price of a new Tri Glide. I wasn't about to pass it up

 

[BinIdaho]

I'm with Oldmsocko on this. I did the same thing. I also wanted a FACTORY produced bike with a 7 year warranty and a huge dealer network. I also don't like the fender treatments on most conversions.

I'm with oldmsocko & garyd on this one! To convert my '06 EGC with "kit" and void my extended warranty wasn't worth it....the cost was more than what I paid for my '09 Tri-Glide! Can't believe those who think they can put a "band-aid" conversion kit on their bike and expect to save $$:Trike1:

 

[pigbike]

I'm with oldmsocko & garyd on this one! To convert my '06 EGC with "kit" and void my extended warranty wasn't worth it....the cost was more than what I paid for my '09 Tri-Glide! Can't believe those who think they can put a "band-aid" conversion kit on their bike and expect to save $$:Trike1:

I'm not quite sure a conversion is a "band-aid". Most of the better known conversion kits have 15-20 years or longer of perfecting their products. Harley Davidson has been making theirs for a whopping 2-3 years.

 

[Oldmsocko]

I'm not quite sure a conversion is a "band-aid". Most of the better known conversion kits have 15-20 years or longer of perfecting their products. Harley Davidson has been making theirs for a whopping 2-3 years.

Please don't forget 3 wheels is not new to HD. They have in the past produced a Servi Car.

 

[HDHoggly]

While Harley may have produced the Servi Car, it hasn't since 1973. The engineers involved in that are long gone, which is why Harley turned to Lehman when they wanted to get back in the market.

 

[pigbike]

The 45ci service car is a far cry from whats available today.

 

[Gorilla]

The big difference between a conversion and a Tri-Glide is the available warrantee from the factory if that is important to you. If not, then a conversion are every bit as good as the Tri-Glide.

 

[msocko3]

The big difference between a conversion and a Tri-Glide is the available warrantee from the factory if that is important to you. If not, then a conversion are every bit as good as the Tri-Glide.

:Agree: Its all about warranty, Triglide= 2 year unlimited mileage factory warranty. Conversion=0 warranty because HD will flag it unless you happen to have a cool dealer who looks the other way, and you never have a big problem that requires the HD district rep to become involved. If you have something happen that gets the HD rep involved your screwed because they will flag the warranty and refuse to touch it.

 

[Oldmsocko]

The big difference between a conversion and a Tri-Glide is the available warrantee from the factory if that is important to you. If not, then a conversion are every bit as good as the Tri-Glide.

You are 100% correct. There is nothing wrong with a conversion. I do believe I have read where some folks have a problem getting insurance for a conversion. Not really sure why. A warranty is only important if you have problems.

 

[Copasetic]

I understand the differences in cost (apples to apples the conversions are much more), lack of warranty and the TriGlide's resale advantages. What I really want to explore are the differences in ride, handling, etc.

KRUZR mentioned these things in his posts.

I have spoken with a number of conversion manufacturers and dealers. They (as expected) all tout the "significant" advantages of the conversions and the problems of the TriGlides. I'm a new rider (have about 1000 miles on a TriGlide since last fall) and have never ridden a conversion (but will). I can say that on rough roads (and there are a lot of them where I am in MN), the TriGlide's ride isn't the best.

 

[Memnoch451]

Ok I'll wade in here!!!

I love my conversions... 2010 ultra and 2012 GL 1800 - both Champion


Harley problems are just that... Harley problems. Tri-glides are Harley's nose to toes. if the clutch goes bad, they fix it, if it leaks a little oil they fix it... ok that's cool. But, it's for 2 years... Buy an extended warranty... no way... I might as well gamble. They sell those to make money... it's a numbers game and most Harley's won't have enough issues to warrant the cost of the warranty. There is always a chance that something could go wrong.. but let's face it it's not the norm.

Most trike companies have a 3 year warranty ( Champion, Motor Trike, CSC and some of the others) on their portion of the trike and I think Champion has unlimited mileage as does Hannigan and maybe Motor trike???

The thought that the conversations are not as good as the Tri-glide is just rubbish. If it gives you peace of mind to buy the All Harley tri-glide then buy it. After all it's your money. I like the Champion and the Lehman trikes because in my opinion they just look better and I feel the Engineering is better than that of the Tri-glide. Sure it's just my opinion but like the tri-glide Owners it's my money and I'm happy with my choice. Just ride!!!!

 

[Gorilla]

one last statement from me. A tri-glide is just a conversion made by and done by HD. It is a straight axle and rides very much like all straight axle conversions. A conversion is nothing more than removing the rear wheel and fender attachments, changing the swing arm and adding the new rear portion. HD does the same thing starting out with a Ultra without the rear portion and then adding the trike rear section which is very similiar to mnost all conversions. The real difference is the IRS conversions will have a better ride on rough roads and if you have a conversion with a longer wheel base that helps the ride also. I built my 07 road glide/champion in Jan of 09 for around 24k not counting my labor.

 

[msocko3]

one last statement from me. A tri-glide is just a conversion made by and done by HD. It is a straight axle and rides very much like all straight axle conversions. A conversion is nothing more than removing the rear wheel and fender attachments, changing the swing arm and adding the new rear portion. HD does the same thing starting out with a Ultra without the rear portion and then adding the trike rear section which is very similiar to mnost all conversions. The real difference is the IRS conversions will have a better ride on rough roads and if you have a conversion with a longer wheel base that helps the ride also. I built my 07 road glide/champion in Jan of 09 for around 24k not counting my labor.

Next time you get a chance check out the frame on a Triglide and then check out the frame on a 09 and later Touring bike, they are not identical. The frame on the Triglide has been beefed up vs the 2 wheel touring bike, the front half frame PN is not the same PN as the 2 wheel Touring bike.

 

[Rick Kay]

Ok I'll wade in here!!!

I love my conversions... 2010 ultra and 2012 GL 1800 - both Champion


Harley problems are just that... Harley problems. Tri-glides are Harley's nose to toes. if the clutch goes bad, they fix it, if it leaks a little oil they fix it... ok that's cool. But, it's for 2 years... Buy an extended warranty... no way... I might as well gamble. They sell those to make money... it's a numbers game and most Harley's won't have enough issues to warrant the cost of the warranty. There is always a chance that something could go wrong.. but let's face it it's not the norm.

Most trike companies have a 3 year warranty ( Champion, Motor Trike, CSC and some of the others) on their portion of the trike and I think Champion has unlimited mileage as does Hannigan and maybe Motor trike???

The thought that the conversations are not as good as the Tri-glide is just rubbish. If it gives you peace of mind to buy the All Harley tri-glide then buy it. After all it's your money. I like the Champion and the Lehman trikes because in my opinion they just look better and I feel the Engineering is better than that of the Tri-glide. Sure it's just my opinion but like the tri-glide Owners it's my money and I'm happy with my choice. Just ride!!!!

Well said!!!

I'll repeat myself here...my CSC conversion with IRS rides and handles better than the TriGlide. There is actually no comparison, whether ridden two-up or solo...

For me, the money involved was the same as if I had traded my '06 FLHTI and purchased a TriGlide. Instead of a stock Harley (which I would invariably put another few thousand dollars into), I have a custom trike with all the CSC bells and whistles, custom powdercoating and paint work, had some motor work done and added a Champion mechanical reverse. From my point-of-view, I am dollars ahead and have a better machine.

 

[Memnoch451]

Well said!!!

I'll repeat myself here...my CSC conversion with IRS rides and handles better than the TriGlide. There is actually no comparison, whether ridden two-up or solo...

For me, the money involved was the same as if I had traded my '06 FLHTI and purchased a TriGlide. Instead of a stock Harley (which I would invariably put another few thousand dollars into), I have a custom trike with all the CSC bells and whistles, custom powdercoating and paint work, had some motor work done and added a Champion mechanical reverse. From my point-of-view, I am dollars ahead and have a better machine.

Rick.. You are as smart as you are good looking... much like myself!!!!

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

As a Motortrike conversion owner I call tell you that having the on board compressor with my solid rear iaxle s a very smooth ride. Having the ability to adjust my suspension on the fly for a softer or stiffer ride is the only way to travel. If Im cruising and want to soften the ride I can, If Im riding some twisty roads I can stiffen the ride for less roll and better handling in the curves.... Cant beat it!!

My Motortrike setup has had one problem in 44k miles that required me to go to a Autozone to get a replacement brake cable for my rear drum brakes.