108000 trike miles and evolution of Triglide rear suspension

[gfaltersack]

Retired with a product engineering background and 3 back surgeries I'm sharing my suspension evolution with 5 trikes.

2011 Triglide stock air suspension and rear Dunlop at 26# (very bad ride always for back problems)

2016 Triglide with Legends air shocks, compressor, air gauge, Dunlop tires 26#( slightly better ride due to finding sweet spot pressure easier) After 3rd back surgery in 2016 Legends not good enough and I was ready do give up trike riding until.............I discovered Trike Talk and DK customs. With other trike owners help and DK Customs my story continues.

2017 Trike with Pro-Action coil over shocks, HD Hammock seat, Goodyear comfortread tires 20# pressure. WOW what an improvement mostly with shocks! We can ride again and had a record setting 2017 with 22,008 miles!

2020 Triglide and had to try HD's adjustable coil over shocks to see what I could get without adding anything. The ride was much improved from Harley's air shocks but still significantly less that Pro-Action shocks so added all the goodies I had on our 2017 Triglide.

Went to 2 wheels (used Ultra Limited) when Trike down all summer (mouse ate wiring harness in fairing $3000 damage and parts backlog until November. Sold 2020 Trike and stayed with 2 wheels (learned AGAIN it was too much for two people) 12-26-22 traded 2 wheels for...

2015 Trike (currently) and tried DK Customs Next-Gen shocks. I found no need to get rid of stock Dunlops and no need for a HD Hammock seat. Next-Gen shocks with 22# air pressure and nothing else is giving me the best ride yet for our 2015 Triglide!

Thank You forum folks for the advice and DK Customs many hours of R&D to offer great shock products!

 

[ISP-FL]

Didn't your 2020 TG come with non-air shocks? My 2019 has coil over type shocks OEM.

 

[Trampas]

Didn't your 2020 TG come with non-air shocks? My 2019 has coil over type shocks OEM.

You need to re-read it, he said his 2020 had coil over shocks, sounds like it was better than air shocks but still not happy, went with other shocks that he had on his 2017, pro action

All for now Trampas

 

[Jack Klarich]

You need to re-read it, he said his 2020 had coil over shocks, sounds like it was better than air shocks but still not happy, went with other shocks that he had on his 2017, pro action

All for now Trampas

They are coil over adjustable s

 

[Zigzag]

108000 trike miles

You obviously have many more miles on trikes than I do so I value your input on upgrades you’ve done. I purchased my 2021 Tri glide in July of that year and currently only have just under 9,000 miles on it. I’ve changed bars, grips and seat and I guess I’ve been lucky because it’s working well for me. Last year was a trip of just under 2,000 miles but this year have decided to attend an event in Wyoming which since I live in NC will be round trip longest trip to date.

I know everyone has different schedules but I really enjoy hearing about people that love putting miles on their trikes! Thanks again for the information and safe travels, by the way as with most of my bikes for the last over 50 years my trike has the needs a bath look most of the time! Lol

 

[gfaltersack]

You obviously have many more miles on trikes than I do so I value your input on upgrades you’ve done. I purchased my 2021 Tri glide in July of that year and currently only have just under 9,000 miles on it. I’ve changed bars, grips and seat and I guess I’ve been lucky because it’s working well for me. Last year was a trip of just under 2,000 miles but this year have decided to attend an event in Wyoming which since I live in NC will be round trip longest trip to date.

I know everyone has different schedules but I really enjoy hearing about people that love putting miles on their trikes! Thanks again for the information and safe travels, by the way as with most of my bikes for the last over 50 years my trike has the needs a bath look most of the time! Lol

Cody around 4th of July has a big rodeo event called the Cody Rodeo Stampede. We were there by accident in 2011 and horses everywhere! By the way have you had a pre-Milwaukee 8 trike before your 2021? I have had a chance to compare Triglide 103 (not enough power) Triglide 103 High Output 2015 and 2016 (not enough power) 2017 with Milwaukee 107 (Don't want to talk about that engine) and then 2020 114. The 114 is about what Harley needed to start with for powering the Triglide. Taking a two wheel cycle motor, putting it on a Triglide weighing 1204 lbs and combining the added weight, big additional rolling resistance, and then the much increased wind resistance, made for lots of gas used to get nowhere. Enjoy your 114 Milwaukee 8 as you are experiencing the very best of what the Triglides are thus far!

 

[Zigzag]

Owned a 2016 free wheeler that was a 103 motor. Only kept it about a year, for more than one reason I wasn’t impressed with it at all.

 

[HD120AUS]

2015 Trike (currently) and tried DK Customs Next-Gen shocks. I found no need to get rid of stock Dunlops and no need for a HD Hammock seat. Next-Gen shocks with 22# air pressure and nothing else is giving me the best ride yet for our 2015 Triglide!

Thank You forum folks for the advice and DK Customs many hours of R&D to offer great shock products!

What length NEXGEN shocks did you choose? Are you using the DK Customs convertible comfort lift?

 

[gfaltersack]

What length NEXGEN shocks did you choose? Are you using the DK Customs convertible comfort lift?

I bought the 14" Nex-Gen shocks and have been using the lift kit on all my trikes which helps raise the back end up a little especially at dips by curbing. I like the fact I no longer need to adjust dampening as with the Pro-Action shocks. I only adjust spring preload if needed. DK Customs asks questions about what weight will be on Trike and will adjust shocks before they ship. Once shocks are installed we test rode with all the luggage added for at least 17 days out. We found out shocks needed no additional pre-load adjustment as they did not bottom out and the ride was great.

 

[gfaltersack]

You obviously have many more miles on trikes than I do so I value your input on upgrades you’ve done. I purchased my 2021 Tri glide in July of that year and currently only have just under 9,000 miles on it. I’ve changed bars, grips and seat and I guess I’ve been lucky because it’s working well for me. Last year was a trip of just under 2,000 miles but this year have decided to attend an event in Wyoming which since I live in NC will be round trip longest trip to date.

I know everyone has different schedules but I really enjoy hearing about people that love putting miles on their trikes! Thanks again for the information and safe travels, by the way as with most of my bikes for the last over 50 years my trike has the needs a bath look most of the time! Lol

Bikes are meant to be driven and it sounds like you are participating! Today we have 26 degrees for a low and highs of mid 40's here near Green Bay Wis. Our season is short but in addition to bikes needing a bath when we get going in mid to late May we get massive amounts of bugs during the first big hatches.