My Tow-Pac 14" InstaTrike Install on Ultra Classic Harley

[dadztoy]

Great looking paint job Bob... You have a great painter...

Les

 

[HarleyBob]

In Clear Coat!

Denis is not cheap but he is the best!

 

[HarleyBob]

 

[Gorilla]

Lookin GOOD

 

[Sunshinein]

Please don't judge me

Please don't judge all trike kits to these. If you are reading this and trying to choose what kit to get, be sure and check us out at Trip Trike then give me a call, I can answer all your questions. :Angel: Oh, and we have patented air ride suspension!

 

[HarleyBob]

Please don't judge all trike kits to these. If you are reading this and trying to choose what kit to get, be sure and check us out at Trip Trike then give me a call, I can answer all your questions. :Angel: Oh, and we have patented air ride suspension!

Actually the ride on this Tow-Pac was better than both of Harley's Trikes and a Voyager I road. I rented both Harleys for a week each their Freewheel and tri glide, so I know their ride.

The Voyager was for a friend and we could never get it right, it was held together with U bolts and had a low ground clearance I didn't care for ether!

See my ***Test Ride*** post on this kit. I'm very pleased with this kits ride. It does NOT require racking the neck or a steering damper!

Now the reverse on the Tow-Pac is garbage along with customer support! Maybe your reverse is better.

A friend of mine Merlin from Raceland, La. has one of your trikes.

I'm yet to ride it and talk to him about it, but will soon now that you brought my attention to it . He will ride mine and I his!

 

[HarleyBob]

Finally we got some sun. So good day to wash and wax before instilling the trike parts on the scooter after Christmas! Today After it's dry, it's in my shop for a Good wax Job!

 

[baba67]

Incorrect!

[I think from your description, That you have confused the voyager with the Han igan kit which uses U bolts on the Crash Bars.

I just wanted to correct that statement.

Thanks, Guys

Actually the ride on this Tow-Pac was better than both of Harley's Trikes and a Voyager I road. I rented both Harleys for a week each their Freewheel and tri glide, so I know their ride.

The Voyager was for a friend and we could never get it right, it was held together with U bolts and had a low ground clearance I didn't care for ether!

See my ***Test Ride*** post on this kit. I'm very pleased with this kits ride. It does NOT require racking the neck or a steering damper!

Now the reverse on the Tow-Pac is garbage along with customer support! Maybe your reverse is better.

A friend of mine Merlin from Raceland, La. has one of your trikes.

I'm yet to ride it and talk to him about it, but will soon now that you brought my attention to it . He will ride mine and I his!

 

[HarleyBob]

[I think from your description, That you have confused the voyager with the Han igan kit which uses U bolts on the Crash Bars.

I just wanted to correct that statement.

Thanks, GuysQUOTE=HarleyBob;537907]Actually the ride on this Tow-Pac was better than both of Harley's Trikes and a Voyager I road. I rented both Harleys for a week each their Freewheel and tri glide, so I know their ride.

The Voyager was for a friend and we could never get it right, it was held together with U bolts and had a low ground clearance I didn't care for ether!

See my ***Test Ride*** post on this kit. I'm very pleased with this kits ride. It does NOT require racking the neck or a steering damper!

Now the reverse on the Tow-Pac is garbage along with customer support! Maybe your reverse is better.

A friend of mine Merlin from Raceland, La. has one of your trikes.

I'm yet to ride it and talk to him about it, but will soon now that you brought my attention to it . He will ride mine and I his!

Ok I stand corrected. It was my friend Merlin's kit. A year ago he told me the frickin U bolts slide and get loose and he had to put a damper on it for low speed shimmy!

When my trike is together I will ride to his house and we will talk and test ride each others. Pictures and comments on this event will follow!

I'm not trying to open a can of worms but I will tell it as I see it!

I'm a 70 Y.O. Vietnam Vet, so I tell it as I see it, just like most Ole Farts!

It was well over 15 years ago on the Voyager kit. But we still never got it right. I don't remember what we did, other than drink Beer, to try and fix it! He sold it!

 

[dadztoy]

I haven't ridden any other outrigger trikes to compare with but I have test ridden Lehman, CSC, and RoadSmith trikes with both solid axle and IRS axles with a variety of different rake kits...

My Tow Pac is very similar to all of them... The Road Smith IRS with 6 degree rake was my favorite and it road better than my Tow Pac but the difference in price was huge!!! 4K for my Tow Pac with paint and lights and 17.2K for the Road Smith conversion...

Personally, I can't see spending all that money for a trike conversion that cost as much as my bike did when I bought it... Just my opinion and we all know what that's worth right???

I am intrigued by the TRIO from Tilting Motor Werks but you lose the ABS and linked brakes with that kit and that's a show stopper for me... So, I'll stay with my Tow Pac for the time being - it has worked well thus far for me... Yes, their customer service leaves a lot to be desired but the kit works well and is reasonably priced... And if you have a Goldwing like me, reverse is not an issue...

Get those fenders on Bob, I'm dying to see the finished product - a very pretty paint job on that bike of yours too!!

Les

 

[HarleyBob]

Les

I can't wait also!

The painter is having his prostrate drilled out today but will be back to

it day after Christmas. He told me he likes to let them dry real good

before bolting on the tail lights and installing them on bike!

I've been waxing and paper toweling.

I learn that from an older detail guy.

You wax it real good then any scuffs remaining you use a paper towel

with wax on it and rub hard in a circle motion. It works awesome.

My LED spot lights should be here tomorrow. I will install them and

finish any waxing I have left and align that new axle.

Then Christmas and then we put it all together!

That's the plan.

 

[trike lady]

I think from your description, That you have confused the voyager with the Han igan kit which uses U bolts on the Crash Bars.

A Hannigan is a full conversion not an outrigger kit.

 

[baba67]

Harley Bob

I to am a 69 year old USMC vietnam veteran .

As far as the Voyager kit.

My experience was that it took quite some time to get the pre load correct and any hard potholes when riding two up would knock the pre load out enough over time to become noticeable.

And requires re adjustment again.

This entails loosening the rear leaf springs assembly's , also known as rear suspension.

And by placing the rear M.C. tire up on various thickness's of wooded blocks, My sweet spot, is a 2x4 about 6 inches long on it's side.

And setting the bike air suspension about 45 lbs. Tire pressures on the bike about 40lbs front and 44lbs rear tire.

I intend to get the grease bolts, nylon washers, and nylon bushings suggested by another member on this forum in the outrigger thread farther into another thread on this forum.

You install them on the rear leaf springs assembly's of the Voyager kits.

They "rattle over bumps on occasion." from the factory.

He has so far found that the grease bolts, the nylon washers, and nylon bushings have all but removed almost all of the "rattles".

As I said before, the thread is in this forum.

The factory is to lazy to take the time to correct the rattle in the voyager kits from the factory.

Both myself and wife Jeanmarie really love the very well made voyager kits.

With the exception of, the pre load problem and the rattle problem over bumps riding two up.

"Correction" the voyager kits DO NOT attach to the crash bars using "U" bolts on the Goldwing.

The Voyager brackets are bike specific to the model and make of the motorcycle.

The both really love this kits.

 

[dadztoy]

I think we should all remember that these outrigger kits, any of them, are a compromise of sorts from a true trike conversion, priced many thousands less, and therefore will likely have some peculiarities not associated with a regular conversion... This is not to say that we should be satisfied with less than ideal customer service or quality, but only to say that they are a compromise and as such will have some shortcomings...

For what they are, I think they do a great job and personally, I love the versatility of removing my kit in a few minutes and riding on two wheels and vice versa... For me, it was a great investment, and the wife and I continue to enjoy the stability and peace of mind it brings us as we ride in our later years... I'm 71, about to turn 72, and the trike kit has enabled me to stretch my riding time for a few more years yet, so I'm pretty happy with that...

Les

 

[HarleyBob]

Les

Well said. In as much as I don't like Tow-Pac's reverse and rip off support.

This kit for me was "Plug and Play" Out the gate it road better than Harley's full

conversion. No damper or rake needed. The ground clearance is high.

Only time will tell how good it will be and last.

I've read here where people have to work hard to get their kits set up to handle

some what better.

After renting the Harley trikes I found the Freewheeler to be a chore to ride with

it's low speed wobble. You had to learn how to not try to man handle it and just

loosen your grip and let it do it's thing at speeds under 30MPH.

So I thought this is how the Tow-Pac would be if not worse.

So when I road my kit for the first time I was Amazed at how well it handled.

Smooth as silk. I would almost put it with Hannigan a $17,000.00 conversion.

I got to ride one at one of our National meetings with the CVMA in Kansas City a

few years back.

I'm not at all say n Tow-Pac is better but it is not for behind when it comes to

handling at all speeds! Oh the Hannigan had it beat for sure but not $12,000.00

worth. The difference I would have had to pay for the Hannigan conversion.

 

[HarleyBob]

The wife will be cooking all day Sunday and she don't like me around. I'm like a dog eating stuff as she cooks! LOL!

So I will be shopping with her today, in the Madness, and Tomorrow as she cooks I'll be in my shop finishing up.

Christmas the house will be full of out kids and friends!

Tracking# says today I get these lights! Gonna look awesome with my headlight already switched over!

 

[dadztoy]

Good deal Bob - we have the kids coming in too... Granddaughter arrived day before yesterday and daughter and husband arriving this evening... It will be a joyous Christmas to have the kids here again...

Like I said before, my TP works very well for me and I have been well satisfied, and if YOUR satisfied, that's all that matters... Some guys pooh-pooh the training wheels concept, or even trikes in general, but if it works for you and keeps you riding, that's all that counts in my book...

BTW, I asked "Santa" for some Electrical Connection LED headlights... Saw them on a friends bike a while back and they are super BRIGHT!!! Anything I can do to be seen is great in my book, so I am hoping Santa responds... Actually, I don't ride much at night here because of all the "critters" in the area... Trying to avoid a deer strike or the like, but I like the idea of the bright low beams in addition to my headlight modulator on the high beams...

To baba67, not to worry about forgetting or getting it wrong... Us old guys have a few problems remembering, but not to worry - we won't hold it against you!! Hope you heal fast from your recent surgery and are out riding again soon...

To all my friends on this forum and "Zook", the forum owner, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...

Les

 

[HarleyBob]

Les, you had posted a picture of your parking brake!

Here is the one I got from Tow-Pac. Just getting around to putting it on.



Looks like we got a good color match via pictures. Bike at my house, fenders and parts at the painter. Yet to put them together in the same room!

 

[HarleyBob]

Well my LED's came in today. I had to rewire them. But I got one installed today.





Look how yellow my right one looks compared to the new LED. It's hard to tell from the picture how yellow it looks but it's way more yellow looking at it here!

 

[dadztoy]

Yeah, the LED's are pretty blue in color compared to halogen bulbs... Should be very visible coming down the road and I would expect you'll see a lot more too!!

I saw the Tow Pac brake applicator but didn't like the idea of metal to metal on the levers so I went with Velcor... Either will work and I can definitely attest to both the ty=rap and the velcor working quite well... Only issue I have run into is that with the bike running and the "parking brake" applied, the brake lights are all on... Not usually an issue but I have done it a time or two...

Les

 

[baba67]

Lokk at these photos care fully

Please look at these photos CAREFULLY,,, not all have circles, but allthe bikes have the "U'BOLTS on the front crash bars

IF you find a kit that installs in this way, LITERALY RUn FOR your life.

People have gotten hurt way to often and i believe I read in another post that at least one,maybe more have died when riding two up .

the kit is priced correctly and comes painted to match.

I was ready to purchase

one till I read the facts

Here comes the photos, I tried to circle the :U:bolts in question, with circles or arrows,

They avoid letting any one git a good picture. INTETIONALLY,

it does not show very well, look at the crash bars closely.

you will see them. at the crash bars

I'm Sorry, I need to correct my post!

I stated that the Hannigan kit was connected to the Goldwing crash bars.

I was incorrect,

This 69 year old jarhead was not thinking clearly,

I just returned home from the Hosp. ( GallBladder Surgery)

I need to apologize to Hannigan.

The trike kit I think you and your friend, (by your own description) was the Motorcycle Trike Conversion Kit: Richland Roadster

. And they attatch the way you have described.

I FEEL BETTER NOW.​

​

​

 

[HarleyBob]

Please look at these photos CAREFULLY,,, not all have circles, but allthe bikes have the "U'BOLTS on the front crash bars

IF you find a kit that installs in this way, LITERALY RUn FOR your life.

People have gotten hurt way to often and i believe I read in another post that at least one,maybe more have died when riding two up .

the kit is priced correctly and comes painted to match.

I was ready to purchase

one till I read the facts

Here comes the photos, I tried to circle the :U:bolts in question, with circles or arrows,

They avoid letting any one git a good picture. INTETIONALLY,

it does not show very well, look at the crash bars closely.

you will see them.at the crash bars

That's a hunk of junk! What kit is that? Who makes it? Please Tell us it could save someone from getting hurt or killed! U bolts will slide!

 

[HarleyBob]

Me playing a Christmas Gig as I think about riding into the sunset on my Trike! LOL!

I wonder if my Trike will pull all my music equipment in a wagon???

 

[dadztoy]

Love your Spittoon Bob!! What make and model Axe are you playing?? I have 2 - a Fender Acoustic and and a 1939 Martin 00-18 - was my Father's and what I learned to play on... Had a Fender Jaguar back in the 60's with Amp but sold that about 5 years back... Looking for a good Luthier to do a little work on the Martin... Toured the Martin Factory in Nazareth a few years back and was in heaven!!!

Les

 

[HarleyBob]

​

You can spit in the Spittoon if you put a $100.00 in it first!

You have some Awesome guitars! I'm playing a New Taylor in the picture.

It's a 412 er small body about a $2100.00 guitar!

​

I work on guitars and I have the action set like an electric! It is an

acoustic electric as you can see.

I have 11 guitars but prefer this Taylor for Gigs! My herringbone martin is too big

and I end up with guitar shoulder after a few hours and have to play it on

my left knee, but the sound can't be beat! I do over 340 songs on my gigs.

I also play and have a 6 string banjo, a Framus .

https://www.facebook.com/Bob-Joseys-Music-535798076611496/

 

[HarleyBob]

I got the LED's mounted. If you get this type of light and have a bike like mine. Then install them with the lettering upside down or you will blind on coming cars!

They are Very Bright! I will have to get the painter to adjust them as he has the special wrench to do so.

 

[HarleyBob]

Final wheel alignment completed.

Tires mush be in alignment with the drive Wheel.

Use straight edge not on any raised letters.

Measure front and back of wheel, both sides.

Must be within 1/16"

Then torque down to 75'lbs.

This was the axle that replaced the reverse and needed to be adjusted.

The other wheel I did when I first got the kit was still right on!

 

[HarleyBob]

Bike is ready for Fenders and parts.

Cleaned waxed and detailed out!

 

[HarleyBob]

To everyone!

 

[Marc H]

That's a hunk of junk! What kit is that? Who makes it? Please Tell us it could save someone from getting hurt or killed! U bolts will slide![/QUOTE]

Looks like a Richland Roadster.I different thought process for suspension than any other.The axle is welded solid to the frame and the brackets run across the frame are designed to flex.They used to claim you could ride with only 1 side on if you really wanted to.