Harley vs Wing

[jfingalls]

Above, someone mentioned that the Honda GW's warrantee was voided when triked. That is not the case. Everything on the bike is still warranteed by Honda except the trike kit (that is from the drive shaft back). Of course most trike kits come with their own warrantees as well as the installer's reputation. One other consideration that one must think about is you may want a "shaft drive" in lieu of a "belt drive". Last but not least, usually trikers like to travel long distances and most people I ride with say the loud exhaust and excesive heat of the HD wears on your nerves after several hours of riding. Good luck with your decision, it took me several months to decide on the GW over the HD and I have a lifetime of experience designing and building numerous products.

 

[katfish16]

Above, someone mentioned that the Honda GW's warrantee was voided when triked. That is not the case. Everything on the bike is still warranteed by Honda except the trike kit (that is from the drive shaft back). Of course most trike kits come with their own warrantees as well as the installer's reputation. One other consideration that one must think about is you may want a "shaft drive" in lieu of a "belt drive". Last but not least, usually trikers like to travel long distances and most people I ride with say the loud exhaust and excesive heat of the HD wears on your nerves after several hours of riding. Good luck with your decision, it took me several months to decide on the GW over the HD and I have a lifetime of experience designing and building numerous products.

U might have a good dealer who will take care of U under warrantee.. but go on a trip and have problems and see how many dealers will take care of U....this has been haggled back and forth for some time...
I wish everyone nothing but the best on their warrantee...if U can get Honda to cover something that is great...But the minute they get the Vin saying it is a trike now, things start changing....

 

[mpolissky]

The gold wing is better suited to be triked then a harley.
I belong to a trike club here and we have harleys and gold wings I know of a couple of them that had harley trikes that after they took long trips especally out west in the mountains went to the gold wing.
The harleys just do not have the power the gold wing does.To me a harley has to be the most beutiful bike out there,but I know people who have two wheel harleys and some that are trikes,and have had serious problems with the engine even 2010 models.
Harleys are a beutiful bike and they have come a long way in the last few years but as for as I am concerend they need to go to the v-rod engine in all their big bikes it has pleanty of power and it is my understanding they have had no mecanical problems with it.
Their current engine design is over a hundred years old,it is way past time to put it on the shelf and move on with a morden engine like the v-rod engine before they start having the problems that got then in trouble before.

I agree, V-Rod engine (liquid cooled) and is designed by Porsche (There Is No Substitute), which now tops the list in cars reliability. So if I was in the market for a 2 wheeler, I'd definitely consider V-Rod, since with my height of 5'6" Goldwing bike would be very hard for me to handle.

Before deciding on the Goldwing Trike, I tested HD TriGlide as well and IMHO, Goldwing trikes are much bigger, cooler, smoother, more powerful and most importantly more comfortable for my wife. As far as the long distance driver riding position problem that some talked about, I agree but it was easily resolved by an addition of highway pegs.

 

[Big_Steve]

U might have a good dealer who will take care of U under warrantee.. but go on a trip and have problems and see how many dealers will take care of U....this has been haggled back and forth for some time...
I wish everyone nothing but the best on their warrantee...if U can get Honda to cover something that is great...But the minute they get the Vin saying it is a trike now, things start changing....

My local Honda/Motortrike dealer told me emphatically that once a bike is triked, Honda will not honor the warranty. My thinking is what you're alluding too. Maybe the "home" dealer just isn't telling Honda the bike is triked, or getting around it some other way.

 

[Casper]

My local Honda/Motortrike dealer told me emphatically that once a bike is triked, Honda will not honor the warranty. My thinking is what you're alluding too. Maybe the "home" dealer just isn't telling Honda the bike is triked, or getting around it some other way.

Had 2 GW trikes and my local dealer would always take care of me, not that I ever needed anything...but out on the road I always worried or wondered if any Honda dealer would do the same...my guess it would have been a crapshoot, some would, some wouldn't....one thing I do like about the TG...2 year factory warranty....course to make the TG right I would be voiding the warranty...go figure.

 

[msocko3]

Above, someone mentioned that the Honda GW's warrantee was voided when triked. That is not the case. Everything on the bike is still warranteed by Honda except the trike kit (that is from the drive shaft back). Of course most trike kits come with their own warrantees as well as the installer's reputation. One other consideration that one must think about is you may want a "shaft drive" in lieu of a "belt drive". Last but not least, usually trikers like to travel long distances and most people I ride with say the loud exhaust and excesive heat of the HD wears on your nerves after several hours of riding. Good luck with your decision, it took me several months to decide on the GW over the HD and I have a lifetime of experience designing and building numerous products.

This all depends on the dealer. While I was researching whether to buy a new Wing and Trike it or buy a new Triglide I happened upon a thread concerning transmission failures on the Wing at another forum. There was one person who had a 08 that was triked and was still under warranty. Once the servicing dealer notified Honda of the transmission failure on a Wing that had been triked Honda refused to repair the transmission because they said the extra stress of the trike kit caused the failure. The poor guy was out of pocket around $3,400 which got my attention and had me thinking more in line of a Triglide. Now after owning the Triglide and knowing that the modification I have had to perform just to get the generated heat and performance close to what is acceptable may cause me grief in the future if I have a warranty claim I wonder if I made the right choice. Right now I'm pretty ticked off at Harley Davidson and have no plans on any more new Harley's any time in the future.

Last year while I was talking with customer service I told the guy the gearing was all wrong for the Trike, he acted like I was on crack. After explaining that 6th gear was pretty much useless unless one was traveling out west where the speed limit is 75 mph and can go 80 he started to get the picture. Now poof, the 2011 MY comes out with a 30 tooth sprocket on the transmission and the folks who have the 09 - 10 are out of luck and have to pay their own way if they want to change their gearing to the same. My feeling is Harley Davidson engineers knew at the time the gearing was not correct for the Triglide and chose to still sell it with hopes it would all work out. At the very least Harley should offer to pick up 50% of the cost and provide a download to recalibrate the speedometer for those who want their sprocket changed to the 30 tooth which comes on the 2011. But we all know wish on one hand and crap in the other... which one will fill up first.

 

[Tango]

Had 2 GW trikes and my local dealer would always take care of me, not that I ever needed anything...but out on the road I always worried or wondered if any Honda dealer would do the same...my guess it would have been a crapshoot, some would, some wouldn't....one thing I do like about the TG...2 year factory warranty....course to make the TG right I would be voiding the warranty...go figure.

It's all up to the dealer. Don't ask, don't tell. My dealer has told me don't worry if you're here. If another dealer says sorry, no warranty. Call us first, if we can't get the other dealer to honor the warranty, we will take care of it another way. Tom

 

[Boscoporp]

I have an 1800 GW Trike and I ride with a guy that has a new HD Trike. He brings a copy of his warranty with him on all the rides because that is all he has! He can't keep up becuase the HD doesn't have the power to run a trike. He still likes it because he is a smaller guy 5 ft 7 and the GW is too tall for him.

 

[skuuter]

I have an 1800 GW Trike and I ride with a guy that has a new HD Trike. He brings a copy of his warranty with him on all the rides because that is all he has! He can't keep up becuase the HD doesn't have the power to run a trike. He still likes it because he is a smaller guy 5 ft 7 and the GW is too tall for him.

....Oh come now Stan...GW is too tall...I'm 5'7"......:laugh:

 

[BlueTrinity]

I have an 1800 GW Trike and I ride with a guy that has a new HD Trike. He brings a copy of his warranty with him on all the rides because that is all he has! He can't keep up becuase the HD doesn't have the power to run a trike. .

You 'wingers just keep throwing out the bait don't you?

Best make sure your own house is fire proof before you start fanning those flames!
:Flag:

 

[ROAD DOG]

I have an 1800 GW Trike and I ride with a guy that has a new HD Trike. He brings a copy of his warranty with him on all the rides because that is all he has! He can't keep up becuase the HD doesn't have the power to run a trike. He still likes it because he is a smaller guy 5 ft 7 and the GW is too tall for him.

AND HIS MOTHER WERES COMBAT BOOTS :yes:

 

[meredog]

I ride with Harley AND Winger guys (when any of them can keep up)

 

[msocko3]

You 'wingers just keep throwing out the bait don't you?

Best make sure your own house is fire proof before you start fanning those flames!
:Flag:

+1 It doesn't take a whole lot of digging to find issues with the Wing, just have to visit some other forums and spend a little time reading.

 

[Tango]

I have an 1800 GW Trike and I ride with a guy that has a new HD Trike. He brings a copy of his warranty with him on all the rides because that is all he has! He can't keep up becuase the HD doesn't have the power to run a trike. He still likes it because he is a smaller guy 5 ft 7 and the GW is too tall for him.

I'm 5'4", have no problem with my Wing Trike. Tom

 

[Tango]

+1 It doesn't take a whole lot of digging to find issues with the Wing, just have to visit some other forums and spend a little time reading.

You're right. Wings have had their problems also. But at least they get taken care of. Tom

 

[jfingalls]

As it turns out, my GW did not need any warranty work and is still running perfect now after 2+ years and 10,000 miles. The warranty was not necessary as I have found out. Interestingly, my circle of GW friends and riders have had the same experience. As mentioned before, it took me several months to make my decision. I recommend that you create a comparison chart with "weighted averages" on your comparison requirements and the results will dictate your choice as happened to me. Good Luck....

 

[duane43344]

Last BTW Trike Rally I went to, one of the guys had a new HD trike...walked over with title in hand and asked if I`d be interested in tading even up for my '03 Wing trike..lol

 

[msocko3]

and is still running perfect now after 2+ years and 10,000 miles.

Dang don't ride it much do you.

 

[Casper]

I have an 1800 GW Trike and I ride with a guy that has a new HD Trike. He brings a copy of his warranty with him on all the rides because that is all he has! He can't keep up becuase the HD doesn't have the power to run a trike. He still likes it because he is a smaller guy 5 ft 7 and the GW is too tall for him.

what does height have to do with a trike??? inseam should make any difference....or am I missing something?

 

[ROAD DOG]

Last BTW Trike Rally I went to, one of the guys had a new HD trike...walked over with title in hand and asked if I`d be interested in tading even up for my '03 Wing trike..lol

AND WHEN I WOKE UP THE FRONT OF MY UNDIES WERE ALL WET :blush:

 

[katfish16]

AND WHEN I WOKE UP THE FRONT OF MY UNDIES WERE ALL WET :blush:

:yes::yes:

 

[skuuter]

......did I ever mention I really like "TRIKES & MOTORCYCLES".....

 

[Gorilla]

......did I ever mention I really like "TRIKES & MOTORCYCLES".....

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had be fooled.

 

[skuuter]

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had be fooled.

"Thought So"......

 

[prm]

A new HD Trike comes with a Factory Warrenty.

Conversions don't. - keystone

Interesting statement, my new Motor Trike Gladiator came with a 3 year, 60,000 mile warranty which is better than my HD (two wheeler) came from the factory with.

 

[Chumbly]

My experience has been that warranty is only as good as your dealer... I'd never buy a machine based on warranty...look at which machine has a better "track record" and/or which one fits better. Chumbly

 

[msocko3]

Interesting statement, my new Motor Trike Gladiator came with a 3 year, 60,000 mile warranty which is better than my HD (two wheeler) came from the factory with.

The trike kit you had or you installed came with that warranty on the kit itself. The actual donor motorcycle part I know did not. Most motorcycle manufactures will not provide warranty on their product once it has been modified from its intended design.

 

[duane43344]

I`ve heard the H-D Trikes are having some serious heat issues..why, I dont know. Was at Seligman, Az trike ralley, guy with a new H-D trike asked if I would consider an even trade, my GW trike for his H-D...go figure..lol

 

[msocko3]

I`ve heard the H-D Trikes are having some serious heat issues..why, I dont know. Was at Seligman, Az trike ralley, guy with a new H-D trike asked if I would consider an even trade, my GW trike for his H-D...go figure..lol

The HD Triglide is a hot running bugger, 09 wasn't bad but 10 sure likes to cook the rider. Harley is doing business like banks used to, you get a free toaster oven when you buy a new Triglide.

 

[prm]

The trike kit you had or you installed came with that warranty on the kit itself. The actual donor motorcycle part I know did not. Most motorcycle manufactures will not provide warranty on their product once it has been modified from its intended design. - msocko3

Yea, your right there, its on a 2000 Electra Glide. Warranty was long gone on the bike. I'm in the NG and have been on active duty a lot the last few years and it only had 11K miles on it. Since it was paid for years ago, and not worth much as a trade in, the Motor Trike conversion put me $$$ ahead.

It's still nice to have warranty on the kit.