New to the group would love some info.

[robandlyn]

Hi,
I am thinking about buying a trike or turning my 2007 Street Glide into a trike.
I have never ridden a trike I would like to take a class does anyone know of a trike class being held in NH or MA.
I ride 2002 Dyna Glide & 2007 Street Glide but I do find after about 150 mile the Street Glide gets real heavy when I get in stop and go traffic. I had surgery on my right elbow back in 2005 it has left me with a 10 pound limit with that arm. I am thinking the trike would be the way to go.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Lynn

 

[Nana]

Hi Lynn!
Welcome to TrikeTalk! We have some New England members, and I'm sure they will know if there are any trike classes near you. Meanwhile, take some time and explore the information already here. If you have any questions (or any are raised by what you read), just ask. All questions are welcomed, and you will find someone who has the answer on here for sure!

The Street Glide would make a beautiful trike, by the way!
Nana

 

[spiritdream]

Hi Lynn, welcome to the site! Whereabouts in Nashua? I lived off Exit 8 for about 7 years - loved my condo, but found a great deal on some land in central MA.

I was never able to find any classes specific to trikes, but I was told by a number of people to contact GWRRA as they occasionally have classes available. Another option might be to check out the MSF classes in your area - if they offer sidecar classes, call and see if they have trikes. Ironstone Ventures here in MA only advertises sidecar, but I know he's working on putting together an agenda for trikes - other MSF schools might be doing it too. Keep in mind though that you'll probably need a trike for the course. Around here, they aren't common enough yet for the schools to be able to provide one, even if they do offer a class.

Just a thought - check out some of the dealers in the area and see if any of them can recommend a private instructor or mentor, if you aren't able to find a class. That might be your best option.

 

[robandlyn]

Hi Lynn!
Welcome to TrikeTalk! We have some New England members, and I'm sure they will know if there are any trike classes near you. Meanwhile, take some time and explore the information already here. If you have any questions (or any are raised by what you read), just ask. All questions are welcomed, and you will find someone who has the answer on here for sure!

The Street Glide would make a beautiful trike, by the way!
Nana

Thanks Nana,
I love my Street Glide but not sure if it would be better to
make it a trike or buy a new trike. My husband told me we
are going to a harley shop tomorrow to see if I can take one of
there trikes for a ride.
Lynn

 

[robandlyn]

Hi Lynn, welcome to the site! Whereabouts in Nashua? I lived off Exit 8 for about 7 years - loved my condo, but found a great deal on some land in central MA.

I was never able to find any classes specific to trikes, but I was told by a number of people to contact GWRRA as they occasionally have classes available. Another option might be to check out the MSF classes in your area - if they offer sidecar classes, call and see if they have trikes. Ironstone Ventures here in MA only advertises sidecar, but I know he's working on putting together an agenda for trikes - other MSF schools might be doing it too. Keep in mind though that you'll probably need a trike for the course. Around here, they aren't common enough yet for the schools to be able to provide one, even if they do offer a class.

Just a thought - check out some of the dealers in the area and see if any of them can recommend a private instructor or mentor, if you aren't able to find a class. That might be your best option.

Hi Spiritdream,
we live 10 miles west of Nashua thanks for the info.
Ironstone Ventures is who I took my motorcycle class with.
You are right I don't see to many trikes out on the road.
I know it is going to be a lot different riding a trike
to riding my motorcycles. So hopefully I will get to at least test ride
one tomorrow at one of the dealers
Thanks again,
Lynn

 

[John Luciano]

Well I am in Connecticut so NH would be a quite a ride. If you know the basic of a motorcycle shoul be quite easy to pick up. If you try it you will love it. Ask anyone who has switched to 3 wheels and they will tell u they wish they did it sooner

 

[Gorilla]

Lynn, Welcome aboard. Your Street Glide would make a fine trike. I converted by 07 Road King and made a Road Glide trike using a Champion conversion. My reasons were very much the same as yours. It's been about 6 months and 6 thousand miles and no regrets. Ted

 

[spiritdream]

Lynn, in poking around I found that Ironstone Ventures offers the Evergreen Safety Council's S/TEP program. It says you need to provide your own rig, but if you contact the owner mailto:Joe@ironstoneventures.com he might be able to suggest alternatives/solutions.

Hope you were able to test ride one at the HD dealership, and if you were let me know where it was.....I'd LOVE to test ride one of them!!!

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

Welcome to trike talk, Lyn! I bought a triglide and had only ridden two wheels. A few parking lot practices and then hitting the low traffic streets for a week and I was ready to go. Love it and would never go back.

 

[robandlyn]

Here is her 07 SG
Rob ....

 

[robandlyn]

Thank you so much for all of your posts. We just got back from Heritage Harley Davidson Concord, NH. Our sales guy Ricky Baron was awesome.
One of the nicest sales people I have ever dealt with. He let me take out a beautiful 2009 Red Hot Sunglo I did 20 miles on it even took it on the high way.
I feel in LOVE with it had a great time test riding it.

Yes John it would be a bit of a ride from Connecticut but Thanks.


Ted I am going to try selling the Street Glide and getting a 2010 Tri Glide....

Spiritdream thanks for the info. if you want to try it out just give Ricky a call 603-224-3268 ext .244

Ultraboy I hear ya he said they could give me 14 to 14.5 I am going to sell it on my own I have
put so much into it. I am going to try to get around 17.5 and see what happens.
Than order 2010 Tri Glide I know with Harley the 2010's will be out the end of July.

Ironhorsepilot yes it sound like a few parking lot practices and I will be doing good.
Thanks again for all your help and the warm welcomes from everyone.
Lynn

 

[spiritdream]

Fingers crossed that it works out for you! Don't be a stranger here, and let me know when you get it and feel ready - maybe we can hook up sometime this summer, even if just for a coffee or ice cream! (By the way, Nice Bike!!!!)

 

[tis]

Lynn: Welcome to the boards,if you and hubby get a chance you should take a ride up to Amerricade in Lake George, N.Y. next week. They'll have all the Trike Mfgs. there and you'll be able to test drive them. IO don't know if you ever drove snowmobiles in N.H. but the steering is just about the same. Anyways good luck......

 

[Nana]

Sounds like a great test ride experience, Lynn . Whatever you ultimately do--triglide or triking your current one, you will love it!

 

[Ironhorsepilot]

Good luck in selling yours and getting your 2010 TriGlide. They are really fun rides. Even my hubby, die hard Harley rider on two wheels, loves to ride my TG.

 

[Gorilla]

Lynn,

Your Street Glide looks SWEET. Find the right buyer and you should be okay. One thing to remeber when you are doing your calculations on selling outright or trade is that you will only pay sales tax on the difference between the purchase price of the new bike and the trade in value of your bike. If you sell outright you have to pay sales tax on the full purchase price. At least that is the way it workes here in Florida. Here in Florida that would be about $900. That might make you re-think the hassle of selling your own, because the bottom line, you would only be up about $1k if you were to find a buyer of your SG for $16.5 to $17. You might be a little high at $17.5 in todays economy. Just a thought to confuse the issue. Ted

 

[spiritdream]

Lucky girl is in NH - no sales tax! :yes: (They get you other ways in NH)

 

[John Luciano]

Really lucky Conn gets you both ways. the 20 miles practice is good. You can do it. now all you need to do is practice in 1,000 you will not know why you ever doubted. . Yes Americade would be your best bet to see and ride others. Some are better and of course cheaper . You would have to be there before 12:00 on Sat the 6th. DFT makes a great Harley trike with a GOOD REV.

 

[robandlyn]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks again for all your posts it's been a busy night and day here.
We went thru and added up all the extra parts I put on my Street Glide
it came to $6000 and that's just in parts labor not included. So to sell
it for 17 I would have to be crazy. So we are going to put a trike kit on it.

My husband's friend has a shop up in Keene NH that puts Trike kits on bikes.
He uses Hannigan Trike, Champion Trike, Motor Trike, & Roadsmith.
So now I am looking to find the best kit out there. I would love all
feed back on what type is most used and liked.

I cannot make it to Americade but we will be going to Laconia so hopefully
there will be some dealers there.
Thanks again,
Lynn

 

[robandlyn]

Ok So far I see Ted Likes Champion Trike & John likes the DFT..

 

[Nana]

Lyn,
All of those are great kits....It truly is going to come down to which pros/cons are most important to you personally.
For me, the Champion offered the best quality for the price, the best style for my taste, and they make the EZ steer and the reverse I liked the best. I also made some calls to get questions answered, and the guys at Champion were incredibly helpful and good to talk to, taking the time to be sure I had the information I needed. Ultimately they were my choice and I have had no regrets. But not because they were "better"; but because they best met what I was looking for.

 

[tis]

Lynn: Hopefully, your husbands friend can steer you in right direction. Your dealing with differant types of suspensions on the models you mentioned. I had narrowed my choice down to a Champion or Hannigan. I also liked the DFT, but my wife wanted to retain our tourpack. I have been looking at the Hannigan for about four years but there was no dealer in the area, every other mfg. had a dlr. within 60 miles radius. I had narrowed it down to Champion, But I got a call from Hannigan and they had a dlr that would work with me. Hannigan has a independant suspension, and I LOVE IT. It's a joy to ride... you guys have a tough decision to make. I'm sure everyone on this board will try to help you out, cause their a fine group....I'm of to Americade.

 

[robandlyn]

Lyn,
All of those are great kits....It truly is going to come down to which pros/cons are most important to you personally.
For me, the Champion offered the best quality for the price, the best style for my taste, and they make the EZ steer and the reverse I liked the best. I also made some calls to get questions answered, and the guys at Champion were incredibly helpful and good to talk to, taking the time to be sure I had the information I needed. Ultimately they were my choice and I have had no regrets. But not because they were "better"; but because they best met what I was looking for.

Thanks Nana
Yesterday I thought I was just going to buy a new 2010 now today I am looking at different trike kits. I love my Street Glide and was a little bummed
I was going to see someone else riding him. But now I will continue enjoying
riding him he will just be a different type of ride that I know I am going to love.
This is such a wonderful group...

 

[robandlyn]

Lynn: Hopefully, your husbands friend can steer you in right direction. Your dealing with differant types of suspensions on the models you mentioned. I had narrowed my choice down to a Champion or Hannigan. I also liked the DFT, but my wife wanted to retain our tourpack. I have been looking at the Hannigan for about four years but there was no dealer in the area, every other mfg. had a dlr. within 60 miles radius. I had narrowed it down to Champion, But I got a call from Hannigan and they had a dlr that would work with me. Hannigan has a independant suspension, and I LOVE IT. It's a joy to ride... you guys have a tough decision to make. I'm sure everyone on this board will try to help you out, cause their a fine group....I'm of to Americade.

Thanks Tis,
Ya my husband has known Doug for 35 yrs I think he will steer us in the right direction if we end up going with one of the four that he installs. Thanks for the info. Have a wonderful time at the Americade....

 

[Charlie D]

Robandlyn:yes:: If you are going to convert your Harley...try MotorTrike conversions out of the factory at Troup Texas..If not just get yourself a new Stallion trike. It is fantastic. We Just traded our HD 2008 Ultra Classic for our 2009 Stallion trike after over 50 plus years of riding 2 wheels. Charlie D.

 

[Gorilla]

Lynn, Great choice to convert. The paint on your SG is very nice and with all you put in it, it only makes sense. I chose Champion because I built it myself. They had the best instructions and like Nana says were very easy to deal with. After that it becomes what you like looks wise and what feels better for you when you ride it. Take advantage of the friend with the shop and see if they can let you do some test riding. Decide what rides best for you then what you like best in the looks department. You will find some of us that say Independent suspension is best and others that say straight axle is best. Bottom line is what you like when you ride it. Both types have their pluses and minuses and both get the job done. Good luck and keep us updated. Ted

 

[robandlyn]

Robandlyn:yes:: If you are going to convert your Harley...try MotorTrike conversions out of the factory at Troup Texas..If not just get yourself a new Stallion trike. It is fantastic. We Just traded our HD 2008 Ultra Classic for our 2009 Stallion trike after over 50 plus years of riding 2 wheels. Charlie D.

Thanks Charlie,
The Stallion is cool but not the style I am looking for but the Motor Trike we have been looking at.

 

[robandlyn]

Lynn, Great choice to convert. The paint on your SG is very nice and with all you put in it, it only makes sense. I chose Champion because I built it myself. They had the best instructions and like Nana says were very easy to deal with. After that it becomes what you like looks wise and what feels better for you when you ride it. Take advantage of the friend with the shop and see if they can let you do some test riding. Decide what rides best for you then what you like best in the looks department. You will find some of us that say Independent suspension is best and others that say straight axle is best. Bottom line is what you like when you ride it. Both types have their pluses and minuses and both get the job done. Good luck and keep us updated. Ted

Thanks Ted,
My husband was checking out Champion last night and he said they have just come out with Independent suspension this yr. I think that was one of the places he was calling today. I will keep everyone updated on what we decide. The color on my Street Glide is Black Cherry it is a very nice color...