Brain's On Overload

[Beeper]

Hi All,
Been lurking for a couple of weeks. Joined today. You guys are great! Seem like a nice bunch of folks! Found you from "V Twin Mama" website forum. She speaks very highly of this site and TOI. Sorry, I digress

I hope I'm in the right place on TT to ask this. If not, I apologize ahead of time. Just let me know . . .

For about 6 weeks, I have been researching the best bike/trike choice as my main ride. I'd prefer a trike for a number of reasons, but am not sure I can afford the cost of one big enough to do what I want, i.e. carry me to work, mostly interstate, day in and day out, and get good gas mileage. My head's about to explode from all of the reading. I've been saying prayers, cuz I don't have the money to make a mistake. Then, I found you guys and now, I'm really on overload

I'm 5'8" and 275. I tend to be one of those that drive the speed limit (70mph on NE Texas interstates), unless I'm trying to stay out of or get out of trouble I ride alone. I don't know any other riders to talk to and have not gotten a lot of good/reliable info from local dealers. They just want to make a sale to the "little lady". Anyway . . .

Do you think a 900cc would be big enough with my weight AND a coversion? Based on what I've read, once you get above 1100, the gas mileage seems to really start dropping off. I was hoping to get something in the 35mpg and up range, even if it meant putting some kind of booster kit on.

I think I just need some direction. I've got TOO much info . And am not sure where to start narrowing it down.

Thanks very much!
Beeper aka Brenda

 

[RottieLuvr]

Welcome! I'm sure others will advise you also but I say go as big as you can. I'm 6' and 220# Tried one of those 'Zooki c50 & Honda 750 trikes and was dissapointed with the power. I know they're a small bike but I didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling riding it. As for MPG the smaller motor may have to work harder therefore drink more gas. And don't forget the VW option. May not get super MPG but ride great & plenty of power. Bottom line is what YOU feel comfortable riding.

 

[Gorilla]

Beeper, I would suggest that you PM this forum founder Bazooka AKA Randy and owner of Adventure Motorsports listed in this forum. He is very knowledgable and very honest. He will give you the good facts and if possible sell you a trike that fits you. I'm thinking that you might want to look at a Honda 1300 VTX or maybe an older Goldwing 1500. Contact Randy you will be glad you did.

 

[Beeper]

Beeper, I would suggest that you PM this forum founder Bazooka AKA Randy and owner of Adventure Motorsports listed in this forum. He is very knowledgable and very honest. He will give you the good facts and if possible sell you a trike that fits you. I'm thinking that you might want to look at a Honda 1300 VTX or maybe an older Goldwing 1500. Contact Randy you will be glad you did.

Yes sir, I've been thinking about the 1300 VTX or a C90.

Thanks for the info, Gorilla! I appreciate it! . . . At both places

 

[Beeper]

Welcome! I'm sure others will advise you also but I say go as big as you can. I'm 6' and 220# Tried one of those 'Zooki c50 & Honda 750 trikes and was dissapointed with the power. I know ithey're a small bike but I didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling riding it. As for MPG the smaller motor may have to work harder therefore drink more gas. And don't forget the VW option. May not get super MPG but ride great & plenty of power. Bottom line is what YOU feel comfortable riding.

Thanks!

 

[skuuter]

WELCOME to TRIKE TALK.....Lotsa' Great INFO here from the "Trike World".....Hope You find the Right One for Your Needs....ThumbUp

 

[spiritdream]

Hi Beeper, and welcome from another VTwin Mama!!

I have the Suzuki C50/Lehman Tramp, and while I enjoy my "toy", I would recommend you go with the C90 if you choose the Suzuki. I have the C50, and enjoy my "toy", but I was ready to trade up to more power before my first riding season was over (received in mid July, too cold to ride by mid October). I've spent the last 3 seasons wishing I'd gone with the C90 instead.

I'm 5'5", @150 lbs, I also ride the highway to work (@ 49 miles each way), and I generally ride alone most of the time. I can pretty much keep up with everything around me, but I can also feel the trike seeming a bit sluggish at higher speeds sometimes. Maybe it's the maintenance it's gotten, or the rider's skills (or lack thereof ), I don't know.

Personally, I'd seriously consider the VTX first - I think you'll be happier with that in the long run. If money is an issue and you "have" to go with the Suzuki, then definitely choose the C90.

Just remember to have fun and ride safe!!

Have fun

 

[Beeper]

Hi Beeper, and welcome from another VTwin Mama!!

I have the Suzuki C50/Lehman Tramp, and while I enjoy my "toy", I would recommend you go with the C90 if you choose the Suzuki. I have the C50, and enjoy my "toy", but I was ready to trade up to more power before my first riding season was over (received in mid July, too cold to ride by mid October). I've spent the last 3 seasons wishing I'd gone with the C90 instead.

I'm 5'5", @150 lbs, I also ride the highway to work (@ 49 miles each way), and I generally ride alone most of the time. I can pretty much keep up with everything around me, but I can also feel the trike seeming a bit sluggish at higher speeds sometimes. Maybe it's the maintenance it's gotten, or the rider's skills (or lack thereof ), I don't know.

Personally, I'd seriously consider the VTX first - I think you'll be happier with that in the long run. If money is an issue and you "have" to go with the Suzuki, then definitely choose the C90.

Just remember to have fun and ride safe!!

Have fun

Hi Cheri,

Very Cool to find another V Twin Mama here Thank you for the information. It helps to know that part of the research was on the right track. I'm still concerned about gas mileage with the larger engines, but guess there's a trade-off somewhere.

I'll also be PM'g Bazooka to see what wisdom he can give

Thanks again!
Beeper

 

[John Luciano]

Tell you what Cheri didn't mention hew MPG I am willing to bet it is not 45 MPG so that said my 1500 wing will get 38 if you stay with traffic . Back roads and not 2 up 36 MPG. High way over 65 in the mid to high 30's . so if u go with the C50 and get say 41 MPG you are not saving enough to talk about The VTX or the C90 will return about 38 to 40 and have the power.

 

[Beeper]

Tell you what Cheri didn't mention hew MPG I am willing to bet it is not 45 MPG so that said my 1500 wing will get 38 if you stay with traffic . Back roads and not 2 up 36 MPG. High way over 65 in the mid to high 30's . so if u go with the C50 and get say 41 MPG you are not saving enough to talk about The VTX or the C90 will return about 38 to 40 and have the power.

Hi John,
True enough. I was never considering a C50 as a trike, though. I did, however, think about the Vulcan 900. I had wondered if the extra 100 ccs might be enough, depending on the weight of the trike kit that was on it. But, again, I couldn't get enough info on my own, to figure it out. I wasn't sure where to look for the GENERAL info re: torque/HP needed to pull x number of lbs, blah, blah, blah :gah: See, I come up with all of these questions. Then, I get lost in the details! Sheesh! :banghead: When all I really wanna do is fine a decent trike for a reasonable price and ride :Biker:

It'll happen eventually. I just need to be patient . . . Not my strongest suit :Joker3:

Thanks a lot for your info! I appreciate it.
Beeper

 

[Papa Zook]

Hi Cheri,

Very Cool to find another V Twin Mama here Thank you for the information. It helps to know that part of the research was on the right track. I'm still concerned about gas mileage with the larger engines, but guess there's a trade-off somewhere.

I'll also be PM'g Bazooka to see what wisdom he can give

Thanks again!
Beeper

Brenda,
Welcome to the TrikeTalk family!

Trikes are like cars, in that any of them will get you where you're going, but some will be a little more comfortable doing so. There are plenty of Suzuki C-50 Lehman and Honda Shadow Aero 750 Motor Trike owners here and they will tell you that they are great trikes, very dependable and a lot of fun.

Trike Talk member Calman, has just toured the perimeter of the entire USA on his Motor Trike 750 Aero, so yes even the smaller trikes can do the job, even up to touring. The plus side of the smaller trikes is a relatively low cost, easy to handle, not intimidating and FUN. The minus is, a lower hwy cruising speed and more noticeable vibration (slight) when you do hit the higher speeds.

What it boils down to is what kind of riding are you going to be doing? If its going to be mostly around town and an occasional longer trip, there is nothing wrong with the smaller trikes in my opinion. Ive sold around 30 of the Motor Trike 750s over the last six years and all have held up fine. Quiet a few 750 owners have upgraded to larger trikes though, once they figured out how much they loved triking and were taking longer excursions. Some went to the VTX-1300s and others went to Gold Wings and Harley Dressers.

One option would be the new "STORM" trike by Lehman. I just posted a press release from Lehman Trikes on their April release of their new Factory converted "STORM" trike, which is based on the Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Classic. (see "Trike & Motorcycle News" at the top of the page) The 900 Vulcan is a great platform for an entry level trike, boasting plenty of power and torque thanks to a water cooled 903cc EFI motor with dual 34mm Keihin throttle bodies.

Its a larger framed bike than the C-50 or the Shadow and has more power. The best part of all is its LOW price. At just $15,495 its a great deal for a brand new factory built trike. Below is a link to a video and test of the Vulcan bike itself with a comparison to both the Honda and the Suzuki. Keep in mind the bike shown is the custom or "sport" model which is very similar but doesn't have the larger front tire and fender that the classic or "cruiser" model does, which is what the "Storm" is based on.

Vulcan 900
​

Zook

 

[Beeper]

Brenda,
Welcome to the TrikeTalk family! ThumbUp

Trikes are like cars, in that any of them will get you where you're going, but some will be a little more comfortable doing so. There are plenty of Suzuki C-50 Lehman and Honda Shadow Aero 750 Motor Trike owners here and they will tell you that they are great trikes, very dependable and a lot of fun.

Trike Talk member Calman, has just toured the perimeter of the entire USA on his Motor Trike 750 Aero, so yes even the smaller trikes can do the job, even up to touring. The plus side is of the smaller trikes is a relatively low cost, easy to handle, not intimidating and FUN. The minus is, a lower hwy cruising speed and more noticeable vibration (slight) when you do hit the higher speeds.

What it boils down to is what kind of riding are you going to be doing? If its going to be mostly around town and an occasional longer trip, there is nothing wrong with the smaller trikes in my opinion. Ive sold around 30 of the Motor Trike 750s over the last six years and all have held up fine. Quiet a few 750 owners have upgraded to larger trikes though, once they figured out how much they loved triking and were taking longer excursions. Some went to the VTX-1300s and others went to Gold Wings and Harley Dressers.

One option would be the new "STORM" trike by Lehman. I just posted a press release from Lehman Trikes on their April release of their new Factory converted "STORM" trike, which is based on the Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Classic. (see "Trike & Motorcycle News" at the top of the page) The 900 Vulcan is a great platform for an entry level trike, boasting plenty of power and torque thanks to a water cooled 903cc EFI motor with dual 34mm Keihin throttle bodies.

Its a larger framed bike than the C-50 or the Shadow and has more power. The best part of all is its LOW price. At just $15,495 its a great deal for a brand new factory built trike. Below is a link to a video and test of the Vulcan bike itself with a comparison to both the Honda and the Suzuki. Keep in mind the bike shown is the custom or "sport" model which is very similar but doesn't have the larger front tire and fender that the classic or "cruiser" model does, which is what the "Storm" is based on.

Vulcan 900
​

Zook

Hi Zook,

I don't know how to thank you I was going to PM you later at the suggestion of Gorilla and Nana. And I just posted to John about the fact that I had looked at a Vulcan 900, originally, for a trike. I knew it would be plenty big enough as a two-wheeler. I just wasn't sure if it would have enough power and MPG once I put the trike kit on, plus my 275 lb, 5'8", big-girl frame, doing 70 down the road

I need to look into the "Storm". I didn't realize Lehman made a kit for the 900.

Thanks again! If you were here, I'd kiss your feet :Excited:
Beeper

 

[Papa Zook]

Beeper-
Lehman doesn't offer a kit for the Vulcan 900, just the turn-key trike, but considering the average cost of a kit, painted and installed, their price for the complete turn key trike is a better deal by far IMHO. I'll be talking to Lehman Monday morning and will find out the actual availability date. I know its this month, but not sure exactly when.

(If you Lehman guys happen to read this before I talk to you, please chime in ThumbUp)

Zook

 

[Beeper]

Beeper-
Lehman doesn't offer a kit for the Vulcan 900, just the turn-key trike, but considering the average cost of a kit, painted and installed, their price for the complete turn key trike is a better deal by far IMHO. I'll be talking to Lehman Monday morning and will find out the actual availability date. I know its this month, but not sure exactly when.

(If you Lehman guys happen to read this before I talk to you please chime in ThumbUp)

Zook

Bazooka,
Sorry to keep bothering you . . . But how does something like that work? Would I place an order through a dealer? I see that you have Lehman on your website. 'Course you're in Alabama and I'm in Texas
Beeper

 

[Papa Zook]

Bazooka,
Sorry to keep bothering you . . . But how does something like that work? Would I place an order through a dealer? I see that you have Lehman on your website. 'Course you're in Alabama and I'm in Texas
Beeper

Thats what I am talking to them about on Monday. I'll let you know via PM as soon as I get the details. Also, you're not bothering me....I eat, breathe, work and play TRIKES!

Zook

 

[Beeper]

Thats what I am talking to them about on Monday. I'll let you know via PM as soon as I get the details. Also, you're not bothering me....I eat, breath, work and play TRIKES!

Zook

You Da Best! ThumbUp

Thanks!

Beeper

 

[skuuter]

Yep, Beeper, You'll find out that there isn't any question about Trikes that's a bother.....What TRIKE TALK.com is about....Never fear askin'.....ThumbUp Enjoyed Your PM, and THANKS for joinin' the TEXAS TOI CHAPTER.....:wtg:

 

[spiritdream]

Hi Cheri,

Very Cool to find another V Twin Mama here

IronHorsePilot is also here, and I think there's one or two others, or there was anyway. Absolutely AWESOME site for anything trike related.....actually, just an absolutely awesome site, period!! :wtg:

 

[Juju]

I'm chiming in a little late, Beeper, but just so you know, what you're calling "bothering" is music to the ears of Trike Talk folks, who just love to talk trikes!

Bazooka built my trike--a Honda VTX1300, Champion kit--more than two years ago, and he has not steered me wrong. I also test rode a couple of 750s, but ultimately went with the bigger ride to allow for more comfort and get-up-and-go when chasing the Chief (my DH) on his Harley. Now with the 1300, sometimes he's chasing me!

Best wishes in your search for your new best-friend-on-three-wheels!

 

[old stoner]

Hope this is helpfull, My wife and I ride a GL1800 Champion trike and right now getting 34 mpg but when warmer weather gets here we will get around 40! Together we weigh about 230 so I Know you would have no problem. Just find a local trike dealer and talk to him about a Champion kit they are a wonderfull kit and you can't beat an 1800 for power and COMFORT!!! Jerr!!!

 

[Frozenshrimp]

Beeper, Welcome to the forum from Oklahoma...Good luck with your search!!

 

[KDHUFF]

I own a 2007 vulcan 900, gas mileage is not that great .good torqe though. as a 2 wheeler it seems you are always needing another gear you dont have, not just my opinion, search some forums, wish I had before i bought it.
good bike for short trips and back and forth to work which is what I bought it for.