Honda Factory Trike

[pwhoever]

If Honda had a factory trike I might have looked that way. I was concerned about dealer support , I know GW’s are pretty reliable and companies like CSC are top notch but stuff can happen on the road and it’s one of the deciding factors that convinced me to stick with Harley’s , plus I was familiar with the platform already having owned an Electra Glide and a Sportster for 15 years and worked on them myself a lot.

Although you do have a point on the customer network for Harleys, in the example of CSC, very rarely will you have any kind of issue from one of their kits especially out on the road. And if it did, it probably wouldn't be something that would prevent you from getting back home again. I haven't experienced anything catastrophic in the now 8 years of CSC ownership. And the Goldwings are also very reliable. But if something were to be a serious problem, it would most likely be on the front end which would be handled by Honda anyway and there are dealerships all across the country.

You mention 15 years of Electra Glide and Sportster ownership and that you have worked on them a lot. That's kind of where I'm at with Goldwings. I have owned Goldwings for the past 25 years and that is what I'm comfortable working on and pretty much do all my own maintenance and repairs.

I think it comes down to what you are most familiar with and that ends up being more of a tie breaker. I think either is a solid choice. Go with what you know and you will be happy.

 

[Notgrownup]

Although you do have a point on the customer network for Harleys, in the example of CSC, very rarely will you have any kind of issue from one of their kits especially out on the road. And if it did, it probably wouldn't be something that would prevent you from getting back home again. I haven't experienced anything catastrophic in the now 8 years of CSC ownership. And the Goldwings are also very reliable. But if something were to be a serious problem, it would most likely be on the front end which would be handled by Honda anyway and there are dealerships all across the country.

You mention 15 years of Electra Glide and Sportster ownership and that you have worked on them a lot. That's kind of where I'm at with Goldwings. I have owned Goldwings for the past 25 years and that is what I'm comfortable working on and pretty much do all my own maintenance and repairs.

I think it comes down to what you are most familiar with and that ends up being more of a tie breaker. I think either is a solid choice. Go with what you know and you will be happy.

Yep, it’s a very personal choice

 

[cycle7447]

Ronnie - as a previous Wing owner (also had a Wing trike), I can appreciate what you are saying.

Given the opportunity, please take a ride of a Harley that has been converted by CSC or another conversion company. After that ride, please share your thoughts.

 

[Burnerboy]

Ronnie - as a previous Wing owner (also had a Wing trike), I can appreciate what you are saying.

Given the opportunity, please take a ride of a Harley that has been converted by CSC or another conversion company. After that ride, please share your thoughts.

#7447,
That I will do, for sure, I have a Harley shop located approx 25 miles from my home, as well as a Honda shop also located appox the same distance, BUT in the opposite direction from each other, I will test ride each, (again) to see, which, I [feel] (key word here) is the "smoothest"..............May the "smoothest" machine win my vote, and money!!

Ronnie
12/29/24

 

[Notgrownup]

A CSC converted Harley and a Stock Tri Glide will deliver very different results. In my opinion and limited experience, a stock Tri glide ride sucks. For me the seat (ultimate tallboy) bars (2+2), 14” Pro Action shocks and front fork Intiminators was needed to make my bike comfortable to my liking. I can almost guarantee you that a freshly converted Electra Glide converted to CSC trike will be smoother than the ride with all my upgrades. I hate to say this but it’s likely the truth.

I wish you were closer as I would let you take my bike out for a ride.

 

[HDUSA1]

In east central Illinois, you won’t find ANY Harley shop with a converted Harley, but they will have a handful of Tri’s, RG3’s, and FW’s. You might have better luck finding one at a Honda dealer that’s been traded for a Wing.

Like Notgrownup says, if you were closer, I’d have you ride my Ultra with Roadsmith kit. It’s night and day different from a factory trike.

Some of our friends we ride with have different setups similar to Notgrownup’s on their Tri’s. When they see we don’t slow down going over RR tracks & bumps in the road, they get curious and asked if they could ride our trike. A half hour later they are grinning ear to ear and asking tons of questions. I can’t wait to get off theirs.

I don’t know what your definition is on smoothness. If it’s operation of the bike with motor, tranny, controls, electronics, and ride, get a Wing, it’s the Cadillac.

If you are wanting a V-twin and something with some character and nice riding, then get an Ultra with a Roadsmith or CSC, it’s the big SUV.

A retrofitted Tri is your 3/4 ton pickup.

A factory Tri is an empty tandem dump truck or as one of my Victory engineer buddies said, the Flintstones suspension.

 

[Jackyll0220]

Interesting response. Harley did and they seem to sell quite a few of the Harley trikes. Lots of folks are moving from the two-wheeler to the RG3, Freewheeler and the TriGlide.

Now, only is Harley would produce an independent suspension trike.

No,
Simply put, IRS is too many parts for H/D
Asking H/D to produce an IS is nice but Highly unlikely…
#1 The bike would cost a lot more than it already does
#2 to many moving parts = Warranty issues, problems = less money
#3 Though the TG rides “ just ok”, it sells, why fix what’s not broken ?
#4 most importantly———Profit takes the edge here, Executives, shareholders, are priority over making an IS when the solid axle sells well

H/D making an IRS 3W doesn’t make financial sense, regardless of how TG rides currently

Should Honda make a 3W , i can tell you it would be the Best riding motorcycle ever

 

[Jackyll0220]

In east central Illinois, you won’t find ANY Harley shop with a converted Harley, but they will have a handful of Tri’s, RG3’s, and FW’s. You might have better luck finding one at a Honda dealer that’s been traded for a Wing.

Like Notgrownup says, if you were closer, I’d have you ride my Ultra with Roadsmith kit. It’s night and day different from a factory trike.

Some of our friends we ride with have different setups similar to Notgrownup’s on their Tri’s. When they see we don’t slow down going over RR tracks & bumps in the road, they get curious and asked if they could ride our trike. A half hour later they are grinning ear to ear and asking tons of questions. I can’t wait to get off theirs.

I don’t know what your definition is on smoothness. If it’s operation of the bike with motor, tranny, controls, electronics, and ride, get a Wing, it’s the Cadillac.

If you are wanting a V-twin and something with some character and nice riding, then get an Ultra with a Roadsmith or CSC, it’s the big SUV.

A retrofitted Tri is your 3/4 ton pickup.

A factory Tri is an empty loaded tandem dump truck or as one of my Victory engineer buddies said, the Flintstones car.

Tri-Glide = Loaded dump truck
You are Correct……

I’m Sorry to say, but the TG is VERY H/D right down to the bone…..
Though the ride is Subject to debate, depending who you talk with, its Profit over Performance is what matters

 

[cycle7447]

Bummerboy - you have any trips planned this year. Who knows, you may be in my area - or I am y be in yours. We are thinking about heading back to Lake George in 2025 or, at least Niagra Falls for the Kyle Petty Memorial ride.

 

[HDUSA1]

#3 Though the TG rides ok, it sells, why fix what’s not broken?

It’s all about paying for a “Lifestyle” and MoCo successfully markets their old technology as buying “Heritage”.

 

[Jackyll0220]

It’s all about paying for a “Lifestyle” and MoCo successfully markets their old technology as buying “Heritage”.

Very true

 

[Notgrownup]

I think I might have a few more tweaks on my TG to make it better but when Mrs Notgrownup and I can do 3000 miles in 6 days and be fine at the end of the day and the trip? I think we have it set up right. I have posted my reasons for sticking with a factory trike. Will I ever stray away from this? Maybe so. We shall see. I guess some of the comparisons above In my opinion might be because a bike wasn’t setup properly but I will never know. I practiced with the tweaks on a 14 and swapped seats, bars, pegs and Shocks until I had it almost like I had it so when I traded it for my 21, I had the formula almost there. Talking to George at Pro Action and making wholesale changes on my shocks made a huge difference and then addressing the front with Intiminators did the trick. I visited CSC and was given the plant tour by one of the engineers there. I was really close to converting…I wish y’all miles of smiles.

 

[Oldster]

It's not about lifestyle for most of us although I have met a few wannabes that seem to want to be bikers, whatever that is. When I was contemplating a trike I contacted a few builders and got literature from some. The folks based in Minnesota impressed me the most. The cost to convert my bike, a very nice Road-Glide with 35,xxx miles on it, compared to a new Tri-Glide was about the same money. Actually, a new Tri-Glide was a bit cheaper. As I have said before, I don't have an issue with the ride, I did put a tallboy seat on it and I actually like the bars. Of course, I have changed a few things to make it mine as the advertising says. I'm happy with my choice and would do the same thing over. Apparently, I'm not very sensitive to the ride etc. I have been thinking about one of those sheep skin covers, anybody know of a good one.

 

[Notgrownup]

It's not about lifestyle for most of us although I have met a few wannabes that seem to want to be bikers, whatever that is. When I was contemplating a trike I contacted a few builders and got literature from some. The folks based in Minnesota impressed me the most. The cost to convert my bike, a very nice Road-Glide with 35,xxx miles on it, compared to a new Tri-Glide was about the same money. Actually, a new Tri-Glide was a bit cheaper. As I have said before, I don't have an issue with the ride, I did put a tallboy seat on it and I actually like the bars. Of course, I have changed a few things to make it mine as the advertising says. I'm happy with my choice and would do the same thing over. Apparently, I'm not very sensitive to the ride etc. I have been thinking about one of those sheep skin covers, anybody know of a good one.

I use an Alaskan sheepskin on mine with an Ultimate Tallboy seat. On my recent trip to UP, I had my Airhawk on it and on the 2nd day I said, I’m gonna try without the Airhawk. I didn’t use it for the rest of the 2500 miles and it did great . The sheepskin is for me a must.

 

[Notgrownup]

For me a Harley Davidson is not a lifestyle, it’s just a Brand I like. I am first and foremost a Motorcyclist, not a Biker.

 

[Donncat1]

I would love to see a Honda Trike. I really like my Roadsmith but I think Honda would kill it with a factory built trike.

 

[FRR]

I don't think it will ever happen. Trike sales are down, more dealers closing. Where I visit in Fla there is one CSC dealer within 150 miles, AND, most Honda dealers only service the bike, not the Trike kit.