New 2014

[rgc]

I saw and took a 2014 for a drive. There are some nice improvements but there is much work to be done. It is clear this is the first of a new addition and it is also clear Harley did not consult with any Trike owners in the design process. I will wait and see if the 2015 have improvements on the things Harley did wrong and if they have added the things they have left out.

 

[Buckin']

I saw and took a 2014 for a drive. There are some nice improvements but there is much work to be done. It is clear this is the first of a new addition and it is also clear Harley did not consult with any Trike owners in the design process. I will wait and see if the 2015 have improvements on the things Harley did wrong and if they have added the things they have left out.

If you would, please enlighten the rest of us with what those things are?

 

[rgc]

[/B]

If you would, please enlighten the rest of us with what those things are?

Just a few things. The improvement of the parking break is good. But the brake pedal would have been better positioned in front of the left foot rest so it could be operated with the toe (a simple redesign of the lever would fix this). Having to find the pedal below the foot rest is a bit awkward. Also, with the pedal where it is a person would not be able to add running boards to the trike because the board would cover the pedal. The brake seems to operated on the left rear brake instead of both left and right. The break also seems weak (maybe this is an adjustment issue). The start in natural is a safety issue. If someone starts out from a red light or stop sign and stalls the bike, having to find natural to restart may be too time consuming. Having the start disabled without the clutch being engaged would serve as well.

It seems they have extended the frame and inch or two and that is good. But the seat has not been extended (or repositioned) and it you look behind the passenger back rest there are exposed wire bundles with exposed plugin connectors. In a driving rains storm, it seems possible to have water thrown into this area. Will those connections get wet and will that cause something to shut down or short out? With all the redesign of the dash and related exposed switches and surfaces, how long will it be before chrome is available to dress up the bike? There is a way to turn the radiator cooling fans on after the bike is turned off to help dissipate the heat. The guy driving the HD truck showed me how to do it. Adding a thermostat to control the fans for cool down would be a better way to go instead of having to do it manually.

The redesign of the fairing does reduce the buffeting. Steering seems more responsive and easier. The engine seems to have a little more pep and the absence of the heat off the engine is both noticeable and welcomed. Having the foot break pedal operate both the front and rear breaks is a great improvement.

I would think the update to the electronics in a work in progress and that would be good. I think they should have stayed with Garmin as the GPS provider for the complete GPS unit and software.

I think the 2014 had a lot of promise and it can be a great platform. I think if HD had brought in a group of Trike riders during the design process they could have rolled out a much better product.

 

[Moe55]

You clearly have little to no knowledge of a 2014 trike With out addressing each of your so called problems will just touch on a couple. Coolant fans do go on automatically do you honestly think they would rely on the rider to cool the engine. If you looked there is a thread on this site on how to start the Trike in gear of course it is in the owners manual. Let me guess you work for the Government that manufactures problems that don't exist. You should not buy a 2014 wait until all your so called problems are fixed you can watch the rest of us having a great time on our problematic trikes in the mean time!
.

Just a few things. The improvement of the parking break is good. But the brake pedal would have been better positioned in front of the left foot rest so it could be operated with the toe (a simple redesign of the lever would fix this). Having to find the pedal below the foot rest is a bit awkward. Also, with the pedal where it is a person would not be able to add running boards to the trike because the board would cover the pedal. The brake seems to operated on the left rear brake instead of both left and right. The break also seems weak (maybe this is an adjustment issue). The start in natural is a safety issue. If someone starts out from a red light or stop sign and stalls the bike, having to find natural to restart may be too time consuming. Having the start disabled without the clutch being engaged would serve as well. It seems they have extended the frame and inch or two and that is good. But the seat has not been extended (or repositioned) and it you look behind the passenger back rest there are exposed wire bundles with exposed plugin connectors. In a driving rains storm, it seems possible to have water thrown into this area. Will those connections get wet and will that cause something to shut down or short out? With all the redesign of the dash and related exposed switches and surfaces, how long will it be before chrome is available to dress up the bike? There is a way to turn the radiator cooling fans on after the bike is turned off to help dissipate the heat. The guy driving the HD truck showed me how to do it. Adding a thermostat to control the fans for cool down would be a better way to go instead of having to do it manually.

The redesign of the fairing does reduce the buffeting. Steering seems more responsive and easier. The engine seems to have a little more pep and the absence of the heat off the engine is both noticeable and welcomed. Having the foot break pedal operate both the front and rear breaks is a great improvement.

I would think the update to the electronics in a work in progress and that would be good. I think they should have stayed with Garmin as the GPS provider for the complete GPS unit and software.

I think the 2014 had a lot of promise and it can be a great platform. I think if HD had brought in a group of Trike riders during the design process they could have rolled out a much better product.

 

[rgc]

You clearly have little to no knowledge of a 2014 trike With out addressing each of your so called problems will just touch on a couple. Coolant fans do go on automatically do you honestly think they would rely on the rider to cool the engine. If you looked there is a thread on this site on how to start the Trike in gear of course it is in the owners manual. Let me guess you work for the Government that manufactures problems that don't exist. You should not buy a 2014 wait until all your so called problems are fixed you can watch the rest of us having a great time on our problematic trikes in the mean time!
.

No Sir Mr. Ass, I do not work for the government. I do have a trike and I have most likely been on more long distance trips that you may have ever thought of. As I said, what I wrote was my opinion and I will not spend $35+ thousand on bike that I think can be improved. I will continue to ride the one I have until Harley gets this one right and then I may consider buying another one.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

As we all know there will always be problems, weather its a new year bike or a new bike that's been around for awhile. As longs as the problems don't continue things will be fine. A little more research will go a long way.

 

[screwball]

The starting thing just started this year. My '09 and wife's '11 will start in gear with the clutch pulled, don't have to have the break on. I don't have any problem with the old parking break lever on the right side, both trikes still have them and we use them. Don't have any fans on ours, so I can't speak to that. We have ridden the trikes in terrible rain, same as the Ultra and her Deluxe, never had a problem with the connectors getting wet or anything not working.

We have always had a laugh about wind 'buffeting' My Ultra was the first motorcycle I've owned with a windshield. Wife's trike is the first. I once said on these boards if wind buffeting is such a problem you should have spent your $34,000 on 3 Toyota Corollas. I always thought 'wind in your face, bugs in your teeth' was the reason to ride a motorcycle. I'm not sure if I like the 'all in one' radio. Definitely don't want to answer my telephone riding down the road, and not too sure about the GPS built into the radio. We have Kuryatkin (or however you spell it) mounts that replace the gas cap door, work really great! We have been playing with the idea of trading off the '09 for a '14. We took a chance and bought a 1st addition with the '09 and love it, never had a problem with her.

EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion, I respect your ideas, but then I've beechastiseded for expressing mine....

 

[Buckin']

No Sir Mr. Ass, I do not work for the government. I do have a trike and I have most likely been on more long distance trips that you may have ever thought of. As I said, what I wrote was my opinion and I will not spend $35+ thousand on bike that I think can be improved. I will continue to ride the one I have until Harley gets this one right and then I may consider buying another one.

Well, "Mr. Ass" as you call him is right and you are wrong. You can start the 2014 in gear, you just have to apply the brake along with the clutch. And by the way, scholar, it is neutral not natural. I'll not waste my time addressing the rest of the flaws in your post.

 

[Sloufoot]

TAKE A REST GUYS & GALS ! We can correct a person without getting nasty about it. We all know incorrect assumptions are sometimes upsetting, but guiding & correcting is always better than attacking ! Might not feel as good at the time, but it always works better.......

Ride Safe
Ride Often !!
EVERYONE ,,, Have a great day !!

 

[Brentwood Bob]

Jesus Christ,Lighten Up. Life is to short and anger way to long. All one has to do is read around this forum and you will see people make mistakes as well they have their own opinions regardless of right or wrong. I personally love how some have no life and get angered over the littlest things.

 

[msocko3]

TAKE A REST GUYS & GALS ! We can correct a person without getting nasty about it. We all know incorrect assumptions are sometimes upsetting, but guiding & correcting is always better than attacking ! Might not feel as good at the time, but it always works better.......

Ride Safe
Ride Often !!
EVERYONE ,,, Have a great day !!

:Agree: Time to remember we all can disagree, but please do so in a respectful manner. One of the things I like about TT is it isn't like some of the other bike forums where people slam others for their opinions whether they be right or wrong.

 

[Rick Kay]

No need for the name calling. This isn't the school playground. We can accomplish much more by educating than by alienating, so let's drop the crap!

 

[msocko3]

The starting thing just started this year. My '09 and wife's '11 will start in gear with the clutch pulled, don't have to have the break on. I don't have any problem with the old parking break lever on the right side, both trikes still have them and we use them. Don't have any fans on ours, so I can't speak to that. We have ridden the trikes in terrible rain, same as the Ultra and her Deluxe, never had a problem with the connectors getting wet or anything not working.

We have always had a laugh about wind 'buffeting' My Ultra was the first motorcycle I've owned with a windshield. Wife's trike is the first. I once said on these boards if wind buffeting is such a problem you should have spent your $34,000 on 3 Toyota Corollas. I always thought 'wind in your face, bugs in your teeth' was the reason to ride a motorcycle. I'm not sure if I like the 'all in one' radio. Definitely don't want to answer my telephone riding down the road, and not too sure about the GPS built into the radio. We have Kuryatkin (or however you spell it) mounts that replace the gas cap door, work really great! We have been playing with the idea of trading off the '09 for a '14. We took a chance and bought a 1st addition with the '09 and love it, never had a problem with her.

EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion, I respect your ideas, but then I've beechastiseded for expressing mine....

If a person wears a helmet their helmet choice can cause buffeting. Out of the 5 different helmets I have there is only one that I find buffeting, didn't notice it until the other week since it isn't worn very often.