2024 Road Glide 3 Disappointments

[Noodles107]

Been ride'nnnn a Honda Goldwings since 2002 (02/2010) my 2010 has been triked since 2022

Ronnie
12/21/24

Nice bike Burner … but you should post in the Goldwing Conversion thread and not here in the Harley Freewheeler / Road Glide 3 thread. Next we’ll be comparing BMW, Yamaha etc.

 

[Papa Zook]

Nice bike Burner … but you should post in the Goldwing Conversion thread and not here in the Harley Freewheeler / Road Glide 3 thread. Next we’ll be comparing BMW, Yamaha etc.

Agreed, the Honda posts really dont belong in Harley threads and vice versa.

 

[Chains]

I am new to trikes, I've ridden Harley's since 1995 and I've owned a few. My last Harley, before this Road Glide 3, was an Ultra Classic. The reason I went to three wheel is my back caught up with my military career and my age. Most of my complaints I will list are my own fault because I should have done more research on this trike before I bought it. The only excuse I have is, I really didn't know the right questions to ask. It taken time to discover that things that are what I consider flaws with this Road Glide 3.

To start off, I thought I was buying a touring bike/trike, I found out rather quickly that I did not. It started when I paired my phone and then tried to pair the blue tooth in my helmet. Phone paired, but the helmet did not, the reason for the helmet not pairing is, there is no WHIM module on Road Glide 3's. Next issue, I wanted to put fog lights on this Road Glide 3, and use a Harley Davidson auxiliary light switch. Well, I found out that unlike this trike's two wheeled cousin (Road Glide), Harley Davidson did not run an auxiliary power cable under the frame. The ride on this trike feels like you're riding in a Conestoga wagons and for God's sake do not hit a pot hole. There are several other things I don't like about this Road Glide 3, but the final big issue, or at least something I don't understand is, why Harley Davidson put a 114 cubic inch engine on a 1200 lbs trike and a 117 cubic inch on a regular Road Glide that weighs 400 lbs lighter.

To sum up my disappointments of this almost $40K trike; I thought I was buying a replacement for the Ultra Classic I had. I found out I did not. This Road Glide 3 is missing a lot of creature comfort that I believe should have come on this trike.

I have had 5 trikes. This is my first RG3. I traded my 2023 Street Glide in on it at an Indian dealer that took it on trade. 2O24 with a little over 7,000 miles. I’ve since put close to 800 miles in it and it rides and handles better than any previous trike I’ve owned. Plenty of power. Lowered the shock setting to the lowest possible on the knob. Air pressure 36 in front 26 rear.

Ride isn’t bad at all. It’s not a car. As far as pairing up Bluetooth it was a piece of cake in the phone don’t use a headset so can’t respond to it. Installed the jumper under the fairing for Apple CarPlay and a wireless phone e hook up as well. Both work flawlessly with the GTS radio. I hope after a while you can get used to it they are a lot of fun. Oh on reverse I never use it unless absolutely necessary. I park it just like my two wheeler. Good luck.

 

[Exile]

I have had 5 trikes. This is my first RG3. I traded my 2023 Street Glide in on it at an Indian dealer that took it on trade. 2O24 with a little over 7,000 miles. I’ve since put close to 800 miles in it and it rides and handles better than any previous trike I’ve owned. Plenty of power. Lowered the shock setting to the lowest possible on the knob. Air pressure 36 in front 26 rear. Ride isn’t bad at all. It’s not a car. As far as pairing up Bluetooth it was a piece of cake in the phone don’t use a headset so can’t respond to it. Installed the jumper under the fairing for Apple CarPlay and a wireless phone e hook up as well. Both work flawlessly with the GTS radio. I hope after a while you can get used to it they are a lot of fun. Oh on reverse I never use it unless absolutely necessary. I park it just like my two wheeler. Good luck.

I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I've done some of the same things you have; recently I seen a YouTube video from DK customs, and even though they were very careful to not say as gospel to lower the tire pressure in your rear tires, it was one of those wink, wink, nod, nod type of advise. I lowered my tire pressure to 26 lbs, as you did and that surprisingly improved the ride. I have, more or less, figured out the radio, iPhone and Bluetooth helmet setup. I am warming up to my RG3.

 

[Gorilla]

Try 24 lbs in those low profile tires. I rode 60k miles with that pressure in my low profile tires and was very comfortable. I did most ride ONE UP though. The ride will grow on you.

 

[Exile]

Try 24 lbs in those low profile tires. I rode 60k miles with that pressure in my low profile tires and was very comfortable. I did most ride ONE UP though. The ride will grow on you.

appreciate the advice, 24 lbs it is.

 

[ROAD DOG]

Try 20 lbs

 

[pwhoever]

Even though lower pressures are the key to a better ride, the manufacturers and tire companies cannot recommend lower pressures than what they do for liability reasons. I see above we have 24lbs and 20lbs recommended. I prefer around 22lbs by myself usually unless I am pulling my cargo or camper trailer or running through an area that has a lot of twisties. Then I bump it up a few lbs until I go back to solo riding and straighter roads.

And not sure what differences or effects are caused with tire pressures between straight axles and independent rear suspension but mine is an IRS.