2014 Trike Pro's and Con's

[riden2low]

Guys, need your help. I am getting to the point to where I am looking at a trike. After both hips replaced and heart surgery, the woman gets a little worried when I take off on my Ultra. So I just happen to stopped by the local Harley shop to pick up a oil filter and got started looking at the two 2014 trikes they had sitting on the floor. They did some numbers for me and I am at the point that I am thinking about it seriously. I am going back in to do a test ride and then go from there.

I have always bought my bikes from other riders and this is the first time for me doing a new bike from the Harley dealers. I would like some opinions or suggestions on what I should be asking. I have been reading the forums here all morning trying to see what problems you guys have been having and what are the best mods. I will have them put on a hitch as I have a Bustec trailer to pull plus maybe rinehart mufflers. But I am trying to convert my mind from a two wheel to three wheels. I was up at 4:00 AM this morning reading the forums. Getting a new ride sort of got me stressed out a bit.

 

[Peter A.]

Glad to see you on this site and having an 'open mind - as others will surely post shifting to a trike is something you wil NOT REGRET! I still ride my 2-wheeler but spend most of my time and all my long trips on THREE.
Give that demo ride a chance I DON'T think you will regret it!

Guys, need your help. I am getting to the point to where I am looking at a trike. After both hips replaced and heart surgery, the woman gets a little worried when I take off on my Ultra. So I just happen to stopped by the local Harley shop to pick up a oil filter and got started looking at the two 2014 trikes they had sitting on the floor. They did some numbers for me and I am at the point that I am thinking about it seriously. I am going back in to do a test ride and then go from there. I have always bought my bikes from other riders and this is the first time for me doing a new bike from the Harley dealers. I would like some opinions or suggestions on what I should be asking. I have been reading the forums here all morning trying to see what problems you guys have been having and what are the best mods. I will have them put on a hitch as I have a Bustec trailer to pull plus maybe rinehart mufflers. But I am trying to convert my mind from a two wheel to three wheels. I was up at 4:00 AM this morning reading the forums. Getting a new ride sort of got me stressed out a bit.

 

[trikermutha]

Highly recommend you drive the trike for awhile before you buy and see if it is something you like..You will have the steer and shift your body while driving at times.

Once you get use to it its a blast!!

 

[Peter A.]

As a side note to my previous post - I also have a Bushtec for my 2-wheeler but never put a hitch on the trike because I have plenty of room on it.

 

[HDB0B]

Traded my 1983 FXDG (owned since new) for my new 2014 TriGlide. My wife is back on the back .... and Life is Great! I have no regrets with 800 miles on the clock. My wife picked it out before I got to the Dealer. In less than a month we have put some great mods onto "Roxy" and are really enjoying riding together once again. I still have a FAST 2 wheeler to play with when solo. If the right Sportster comes along I may Frankenstein it and get rid of the 2 wheeler. Riding on 3 is just so much more relaxing. You will not regret getting a trike.

 

[riden2low]

Wow, thanks a lot. It makes me feel better. I live here on the Oregon Coast and you see a lot of trikes coming thru here on road trips.

 

[Trent]

Wow, thanks a lot. It makes me feel better. I live here on the Oregon Coast and you see a lot of trikes coming thru here on road trips.

I can't help you any about the 2014 TG.. and not trying to change the subject,,, But.... I know that The Otis Café has the best waffles I have ever eaten. The Black Molasses bread is pretty damn good too... with honey on it. Used to live in Oregon,, passed thru Otis a lot. We will be passing southbound thru Lincoln City in a coupla weeks on our Trike with another couple on their Trike. Ok.. Sorry... Back to the original conversation.

 

[Casper]

As we baby boomers get older, the trike is is a way to keep our knees in the breeze.
will you miss the two wheels, most likely, most of us do, we all want to,keep riding like we are in our twentys, but reality has to set in and we relialize it's not safe for us or our passengers...heck, we'd like to play sports, or do all the other things we used to do, but age creeps up on us all, fact of life!
the TG gives us the freedom to ride, safer for us all, easier to navigate gravel parking lots, stop and go traffic is a breeze. Easier for the passengers to mount and dismount....lots of benefits to owning a trike. You gonna notice more and more Trikes on the road, us older folks have more disposable income and are the ones that can afford these high priced machines.

Test ride the TG, give it a chance, keep an open mind and relialize that this may be the best thing since sliced bread....just point it and go without the worries of dropping the bike or getting hurt...

Good luck on decision....

 

[Sully]

Traded my 1983 FXDG (owned since new) for my new 2014 TriGlide. My wife is back on the back .... and Life is Great! I have no regrets with 800 miles on the clock. My wife picked it out before I got to the Dealer. In less than a month we have put some great mods onto "Roxy" and are really enjoying riding together once again. I still have a FAST 2 wheeler to play with when solo. If the right Sportster comes along I may Frankenstein it and get rid of the 2 wheeler. Riding on 3 is just so much more relaxing. You will not regret getting a trike.

View attachment 20912View attachment 20913[/QUOT

Bob, do you use those ramps on your trike ? if so how do you do it ? Thanks, E]

 

[Gorilla]

Agree with all the above. the 14s for the most part have survived the teething problems. I have a 13 but have read alot about the 14,

Pros:
Water Cooled. most say they notice the difference.
More newer style. lots more rounded
Tour pac lid opens and closes easier
Built in nav once you learn to use it
Day Maker Lights
Re designed parking brake

Cons:
CB optional

Suggestion See if you can find a dealer that is renting Tri-Glides.
Rent one for a day or two
You are looking at spending 30k+ what is a couple of hundred to make sure you are not making a mistake. I bet you will like it.

Exhaust look at just having the cat remover from the header pipe. Makes the stock muffler sound really nice. Stock motor has plenty of power for most of us.

Good luck

 

[riden2low]

I can't help you any about the 2014 TG.. and not trying to change the subject,,, But.... I know that The Otis Café has the best waffles I have ever eaten. The Black Molasses bread is pretty damn good too... with honey on it. Used to live in Oregon,, passed thru Otis a lot. We will be passing southbound thru Lincoln City in a coupla weeks on our Trike with another couple on their Trike. Ok.. Sorry... Back to the original conversation.

Yep, Otis is right down the road from us. And yes that little Cafe is packed all of the time. Our small place over looks the 101. So we see and hear a lot of bikes go by.

 

[HDB0B]

Sully,

:laugh: :laugh: No .... those ramps are for my cars. They make a nice stopping reference point for parking Roxy.

 

[Jerry/MD]

My wife and I just completed a 1350 mile ride on our '14 Tri-Glide last week. For 2 up riding you can't beat it. I've also been amazed at the extra storage compared to the Ultras.

I will tell you a trike is a completely different riding experience comapred to a 2 wheeler. It takes some time to adjust. I have a lttle over 6500 miles on mine and still feel feel I have much to learn. just be patient, it's worth it. Good Luck and keep us updated on whatever you choose.

Jerry

 

[Trent]

Yep, Otis is right down the road from us. And yes that little Cafe is packed all of the time. Our small place over looks the 101. So we see and hear a lot of bikes go by.

I personally do not have any physical limitations that facilitate having a Trike. My BOB [Babe On Back] is just way more comfortable and feels safer on three than two, so that works for me, we have a blast on our TG, and She is happy to go for a ride anytime. It is just flat out fun to ride, and especially very comfortable on long trips, combined with the much more safer factor. Part of the fun simply comes from not having to focus so much energy on keeping your ride from tipping over.. just enjoying the wind & bugs hittin' your face. I was not sure about going to 3 instead of 2,,, but would not go back to 2 now. Well,,, maybe one of each.

 

[riden2low]

Trent----- yeah, I am thinking once I go to a TG the safe factor will make our two up rides a lot more fun. As of now, my woman shy's away about riding. I went down about a year ago. A hit and run. The driver just tapped me and put me into an uncontrollable skid. I almost had it under control but the front end locked up and I was thrown about 25 feet. I was worried more about the bike than my self. I was just bang up a bit and was able to straighten out the handle bars enough to ride it home. The insurance fixed it back to new and I was back on the road again. My lady rides once in awhile with me but not she use to. And she agrees about not worrying about staying up right and keeping her mind on the joy of riding.

 

[Trent]

Sometimes I worry about my BOB falling asleep back there because She gets so relaxed. I tell here to thump me once in a while so I know She is still aboard. It really is the ultimate way to travel if you are going 2up on a regular basis. Cant think of any negatives... everything is thumbs up!!