what NOT to get

[hdrider]

If you where to tell someone what you had added to your trike that you would NOT get again....... what would it be?

 

[Ozarkryder]

I had foam grips on for a while. They were like a sponge, got soggy when running in the rain - and they took a while to dry out. I also run with a Crampbuster (love the thing!) and the foam eventually tore from the preassure and turning it to adjust it for riding conditions. They were also much bigger than the stock grips - even bigger around than the grips on my Harley.

 

[BlueTrinity]

Have to agree with both of those. I put the grips on late in the fall and didn't like the size from the git go. Later, when I got out my winter gloves and hopped on the trike... that was complete misery. I could hardly close my hands around them.

Those grips may be the only thing i ever put on that I took back off.

The Crampbuster is "essential" in my book and the best 10 bucks ever spent. I like being in total control on the trike at all times. so I ride mostly with the Cruise Control off. The Crampbuster totally eliminates "numb thumb."

Dave

 

[The Wolf]

I tried the "Le Wipe" It is all well and good if you can work it properly. It would not do what I asked of it so chucked it at around 50mph. Yes..not a wise thing to do and also being a litter bug but it did P..s me off

 

[John Luciano]

What is Le Wipe sounds like a windshield wiper.

 

[The Wolf]

Yes it is and it is useless. That's my opinion. So don't be put off.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Funny.. my first thought was the cramp buster as being the worst thing I ever got.. it hangs on my sleeve and revs the motor sometimes so I took it off.. now C really likes hers.

I guess that's why they make black and white. Everyone is different.

 

[John Luciano]

I use mine on a very long trip. On trips of 100 miles or less not to often .

 

[Ozarkryder]

On the trike I have the wide Crampbuster - it is shorter than the original version. I have never had any trouble with it hooking onto anything or reving. I think it is the placement. A friend gave me one that is made out of a spring metal ring and a "spoon" made of wood. The wood part swings out and away, into the bar or in between. I have this on the left grip to give some support - lessens hand and arm fatigue on those 500 mile days. On the Harley I have an original model Throttle Rocker. Just like the wide Crampbuster, but there is a bit of a downturn on the inside edge that follows the contour of my thumb around the grip.

Now what not to get -

The newer version of the Throttle Rocker. The one with velcro to hold it on. Apparently there were some copyright/patent conflicts with Crampbuster and they had to change the design. Not for the better, IMNSHO.Had one, wouldn't stay in place even with the rubber band it comes with. It is also hard to adjust. With the Crampbuster and the original Throttle Rocker, I just rotate it up and around. The velcro version of the T.R. has have the velcro unhooked and hooked again after the adjustment. Not at all something I want to do while riding. Of course, YMMV,

 

[Ozarkryder]

I tried the "Le Wipe" It is all well and good if you can work it properly. It would not do what I asked of it so chucked it at around 50mph. Yes..not a wise thing to do and also being a litter bug but it did P..s me off

My thought on the Le Wipe was it was sort of a neat idea, but if it is raining hard enough I can't see through the shield (we have a tall Tulsa) and need a wiper, 1) do I want to take a hand off the bars to move the wiper back and forth, 2) do i take my eyes off the wet road to find the handle of the wiper, and 3) shouldn't I pull off till the rain slows

 

[ben721364]

My first trike did not have running boards. My present trike does have them. I would not buy then again. They make impossible for me to toe walk the trike out of a parking space and make routine service and cleaning more difficult. My boots provide ample protection from rain water. Besides they are expensive, especially for bling, in my opinion.

 

[cjmitch]

Antenna (screwed under the top of mast) flag poles...
Lost the cap, then lost the hings, then the entire thing fell off.

Kuryakin, handle bar setback shims....
KILLED my upper shoulders, and chest...
I was told that if you have the rake, (mine does not) the setbacks are great...
Thats what some say

 

[Goldwingtrike]

I just had to have the "new" LED Brake and Turn lights for the rear. $269.00 worth. The only problem.... NOBODY can see the turn signals during the day. At night they are fantastic. I would leave the OEMs on.

Garland

 

[carbco]

Would not buy the headlight plastic shields again. They don't conform to the headlights very well and the little round Velcro attachments look awful IMO. They're in my garage cabinet now. :Shrug:

 

[Rick Kay]

This is a really informative thread. You can't beat real world experience. If you don't mind a HD owner chiming in:

I would never again buy LED plug in lights that are designed to work in the stock housing and lens. I also had to buy an equalizer to make sure everything worked right, and guess what? They were dimmer than the OEM bulbs! Live and learn...

 

[bikerbillone]

My first trike did not have running boards. My present trike does have them. I would not buy then again. They make impossible for me to toe walk the trike out of a parking space and make routine service and cleaning more difficult. My boots provide ample protection from rain water. Besides they are expensive, especially for bling, in my opinion.

Glad I didn't get the boards with my RS. Of course, I may change my mind later.

 

[Hoghead]

This is a really informative thread. You can't beat real world experience. If you don't mind a HD owner chiming in:

I would never again buy LED plug in lights that are designed to work in the stock housing and lens. I also had to buy an equalizer to make sure everything worked right, and guess what? They were dimmer than the OEM bulbs! Live and learn...

Don't mean to run your Harley down as I have one also but their Mickey Mouse charging system will barely run what is stock on them and certainly not much anything else. That is probably the reason for the dimmer lights....

 

[FRR]

Sheepskin seat cover. Ugh. And it stinks to high heaven when it is wet

 

[hbrogan57]

Personally, if I could choose to do something again I would NOT have purchased these. While they do look good the LED's that they used have a terrible tendency of failing and I have already had to replace one side. Which is a HUGE pain in the arse to do.

I'll hopefully be changing them out to a more reliable LED setup as these seem to be mounted on rather cheap boards.

 

[Shimpy]

My thought on the Le Wipe was it was sort of a neat idea, but if it is raining hard enough I can't see through the shield (we have a tall Tulsa) and need a wiper, 1) do I want to take a hand off the bars to move the wiper back and forth, 2) do i take my eyes off the wet road to find the handle of the wiper, and 3) shouldn't I pull off till the rain slows

My buddy had one that blew off on the highway and was not missed at all.

My boots provide ample protection from rain water. Besides they are expensive, especially for bling, in my opinion.

I agree, running boards or ground effects to me are just for looks and I don't really like how they look.

 

[JaysGone]

My first trike did not have running boards. My present trike does have them. I would not buy then again. They make impossible for me to toe walk the trike out of a parking space and make routine service and cleaning more difficult. My boots provide ample protection from rain water. Besides they are expensive, especially for bling, in my opinion.

While I too like the look.
As Im new to trikes and bought a used GW with a MT kit.
Id have left them off.
In less then 2 weeks Ive banged them on speed bumps and dinged them a few times on both side already.
The MT kit has maybe 2 inches of ground clearence.

 

[hbrogan57]

...

 

[hbrogan57]

I have had no issues with speed bumps whatsoever. If the look like a large one then I try and take it very slow and at an angle. That way there is less chance of scraping them.

I can't figure out what you might have bumped into to ding them.......

While I too like the look.
As Im new to trikes and bought a used GW with a MT kit.
Id have left them off.
In less then 2 weeks Ive banged them on speed bumps and dinged them a few times on both side already.
The MT kit has maybe 2 inches of ground clearence.

 

[JaysGone]

The speed bumps in the parking lot where i work are higher then the bikes clearance.
I go no faster then 5 mph over them and try to do so at an angle.
Sometimes the center of the hump catches the outer front edges that if I can I ride around over the parking spaces.
Cant do that all the time.
Ive gotten nailed 3 times.
2x on the right front, 1 time left rear.
You cant see the dings.
But if you ever had a surf board youd know what I mean.
When I had my RoadStar slammed and hard tailed.
Id get yellow paint all over the bottom of the frame.
Its just a part of life down here high and wide speed bumps that is.
Not the end of my world but I thinking of taking them off.
There also is yellow paint on the bottom of the trailer hitch,,,,,,,,,

 

[msocko3]

Don't mean to run your Harley down as I have one also but their Mickey Mouse charging system will barely run what is stock on them and certainly not much anything else. That is probably the reason for the dimmer lights....

The charging system has come a long way from the earlier days, just some LED lights plain suk. The charging system is up to the task of operating heated gear, it can power something like and LED which requires less power than the incandescent bulbs do.

 

[hbrogan57]

Perhaps entering the parking lot from a different direction? Or is there a way you might be able to go around them?

The speed bumps in the parking lot where i work are higher then the bikes clearance.
I go no faster then 5 mph over them and try to do so at an angle.
Sometimes the center of the hump catches the outer front edges that if I can I ride around over the parking spaces.
Cant do that all the time.
Ive gotten nailed 3 times.
2x on the right front, 1 time left rear.
You cant see the dings.
But if you ever had a surf board youd know what I mean.
When I had my RoadStar slammed and hard tailed.
Id get yellow paint all over the bottom of the frame.
Its just a part of life down here high and wide speed bumps that is.
Not the end of my world but I thinking of taking them off.
There also is yellow paint on the bottom of the trailer hitch,,,,,,,,,

 

[JaysGone]

Every lane in this lot has speed bumps at 150 ft intervals.
Its a real PIA.
Being private property and having alot of traffic the owners have made going through the mall over 15-20 mph almost impposible.
Most cars actually stop before proceeding over these bumps.
They really are over sized.
If I can I go around them into the parking spaces.
I know for you its difficult to believe but.
If you were down here with all these ancient senior drivers you would understand.

Look Im not out to dammage my bikes.
They just cant always be avoided.
They were all reinstalled during the summer and made twice as big as they were before.
I can stand outside my stores front door and watch 5 out of 10 cars bang something on them all day long. Maybe Ill get energetic and take a picture.
These arent the regular 6-9 inch wide speed bumps most are used to.
They are about 18 inches long and Id guesstimate 3 inches+ at the top. They run fully across the entire width of the road.
So I cant even go through the middle so to say.

Not the end of the world.
We did after all ask the managment to do something about the speeding through the Mall.

 

[hbrogan57]

Man...that really sucks. Too bad you can't find a way to go around. All I can say is to be careful and take them as slowly as possible. I would be crawling over them.

Every lane in this lot has speed bumps at 150 ft intervals.
Its a real PIA.
Being private property and having alot of traffic the owners have made going through the mall over 15-20 mph almost impposible.
Most cars actually stop before proceeding over these bumps.
They really are over sized.
If I can I go around them into the parking spaces.
I know for you its difficult to believe but.
If you were down here with all these ancient senior drivers you would understand.

Look Im not out to dammage my bikes.
They just cant always be avoided.
They were all reinstalled during the summer and made twice as big as they were before.
I can stand outside my stores front door and watch 5 out of 10 cars bang something on them all day long. Maybe Ill get energetic and take a picture.
These arent the regular 6-9 inch wide speed bumps most are used to.
They are about 18 inches long and Id guesstimate 3 inches+ at the top. They run fully across the entire width of the road.
So I cant even go through the middle so to say.

Not the end of the world.
We did after all ask the managment to do something about the speeding through the Mall.

 

[rvance]

I have the running boards on my '08 MT ADV and I have about 3.5" clearance. You might need to add fork extensions, especially if your forks were raked without them. I am going to add another extension to the forks to get another 1/2 inch or so. Also, your front springs might be sagging.
rv

 

[Bill Reber]

I have a back rest I do not care for it is too high on my back Think it's a Show Chrome. If I ever get the bucks I plan on getting a total new seat maybe a corbin.