A few TriGlide questions

[Sloufoot]

Honda doesn't make a trike.

If you want a trike with a 100% end-to-end manufacturer's warranty, the triglide is your only option. Everyone voids their manufacturer's warranty with a conversion.

I'm not a mechanic ( far from it ) and cannot afford a "warranty doesn't cover your issue" experience if I break down out on the road.

What actually happens is a builder will purchase X# of new Hondas from Honda & install another manufactures trike assm. He then can sell the trike as a unit with two different warranty. If you have Honda problems go to Honda, & the rest covered by someone else. A real pain sometimes.

:Trike1:

 

[jimgpayne]

What actually happens is a builder will purchase X# of new Hondas from Honda & install another manufactures trike assm. He then can sell the trike as a unit with two different warranty. If you have Honda problems go to Honda, & the rest covered by someone else. A real pain sometimes.

:Trike1:

Around here that doesn't work very well. Honda will tell you that any issue with the engine or drivetrain is completely unwarranted because of the modifications placing additional strain on the bike. They will also disavow any responsibility for elecrical problems if the conversion has lights as well.

Harley takes it one step further by saying they'll void the entire warranty and cancel any extended warranties.

I can see their point. A true conversion is significantly changing the drive train and almost certainly ends up with the engine having to carry hundreds of more pounds at highway speeds than it was designed to.

All things considered; I'm surprised that Harley is the only one to make a Trike. At the very least; I would have expected Honda to at least partner with a conversion manufacturer. But no dice.

So be warned if you think it's easy to get warranty work from your bike's manufacturer if you have a conversion put on it.

If someone tries to tell you otherwise; then ask for it in writing. Then you'll see who you can trust.

 

[Gorilla]

Around here that doesn't work very well. Honda will tell you that any issue with the engine or drivetrain is completely unwarranted because of the modifications placing additional strain on the bike. They will also disavow any responsibility for elecrical problems if the conversion has lights as well.

Harley takes it one step further by saying they'll void the entire warranty and cancel any extended warranties.

I can see their point. A true conversion is significantly changing the drive train and almost certainly ends up with the engine having to carry hundreds of more pounds at highway speeds than it was designed to.

All things considered; I'm surprised that Harley is the only one to make a Trike. At the very least; I would have expected Honda to at least partner with a conversion manufacturer. But no dice.

So be warned if you think it's easy to get warranty work from your bike's manufacturer if you have a conversion put on it.

If someone tries to tell you otherwise; then ask for it in writing. Then you'll see who you can trust.

Lots of truth there

 

[screwball]

If I had rented a tri-glide for a few days, I wouldn't have bought one. It took me longer to really appreciate it for what it was. Best time on it ever was heading west on Hwy 50 out of Ely, NV. All alone except for Elvis on the XM radio to keep me company.

I have to agree with grapenuts. We bought the trike for wife because she had no other choice, Trike or rocking chair. 2 years later I was in the same boat. It took more than a couple of weeks and a ride to the Grand Canyon to finally convince me.

 

[gamechngr]

I herniated my back after dropping my Ultra. Figured enough was enough. Watched other friends drop there's too. Thought it was time to check out trike. Took a while to get used to it.
By 2000 miles was totally hooked.
Now I really miss it.
I think I'm going to head down to dealer this week and get going on 2013. )

 

[FRR]

I'm not as polite as the others, take your Honda and stuff it. I'm sure the Emperor is happy you chose a Japanese toy and will spend your money with great joy.

What an attitude. Some much for the "brotherhood of riders". Hope I never cross paths with you if I have trouble on the road.

 

[Trent]

Ha ha!! Rest assured if you had trouble on the road, Screwball would be the first guy to stop and help, regardless of what you are riding. What he would NOT do is go on a Wing thread and interrupt a discussion with stupid comments that have no relevence. I Think of Screwball as my own Howard Stern. He just spouts out what some of us are already thinking. I would ride with him any day.

Ok,,,Now...Back to the discussion...

 

[GARYD]

:Agree:


It's refreshing to hear someone say what they mean and not worry about being politically correct or afraid of hurt someones feelings. I like honesty even though it gets me in trouble every once in a while.

I don't go on other forums and bash their product/lifestyle or whatever and say mine is better. As a matter of fact I don't go on forums that I have no interest in in the first place. ThumbUp :wave4:

 

[rayg5102]

I'm new here, looking at both Honda and HD, and leaning towards a 2011 Triglide. I know one that has 4,000 miles and they are having $ problems. Asking $25K. I took one rental at a dealers last month (2012) and it was so damn hot my wife couldnt wait to get off it.Reading about it seems that there is a real issue. Not sure what the $ to mode it is. anyone have any figures on what it takes to fix it since it don't appear HD is making a real effort?

 

[MontgomeryLittle]

I'm new here, looking at both Honda and HD, and leaning towards a 2011 Triglide. I know one that has 4,000 miles and they are having $ problems. Asking $25K. I took one rental at a dealers last month (2012) and it was so damn hot my wife couldnt wait to get off it.Reading about it seems that there is a real issue. Not sure what the $ to mode it is. anyone have any figures on what it takes to fix it since it don't appear HD is making a real effort?

I think I got about $1400 in a power vision, head pipes, aircleaner and mufflers for my wifes 2011 TriGlide. She loves it. If I had it to do over I may have done just the factory ECM flash, aircleaner and mufflers. And maybe left the stock head pipes on. But still i feel the cat let off alot of the heat.
Main thing is she is happy with it.

 

[GARYD]

All I did to mine was A/C, pipes and tuner. Did not and will not remove cat. I am quite pleased with my setup. I also installed floorboard extenders and added a "crotch cooler". My lowers are still on (speakers are in them).
I rode in D.C. for Rolling Thunder last summer (in the 90'S) in stop and go traffic(mostly stop) and was very comfortable.
Before I would remove the cat, I would do a pipe wrap - a lot less costly. Once you're moving heat isn't a problem.....at least for me.
My costs were probably in the same range as Montgomerylittle.

I've heard from a few people that Hondas are hot also maybe not as hot as Harley - I can't comment with first hand knowledge, just what I heard.

Have you rode the Gold Wing yet to see how it is with the heat?

I wouldn't put all my faith in a rental. A friend of mine last summer rented a TG and the damn thing handled like a bulldozer - he hated it and brought it back - they played around with it and adjusted it so he took it back out - it was a little better, but he said the thing still scared him. I'm sure it wasn't prepared correctly.

 

[M.A.T.]

We switched from a 82' XLS to new 05' RKC to a new 10' VSRCDX and then ultimately to a 12' Ultra Trike. Same reasons, old bones, bad joints, nerve damage, etc........

First bike event/vacation with the trike was like a breath of fresh air. Not only were we more comfortable but we felt so much safer and all the stress associated with the dangers of riding we have felt for so long somehow seemed non-existent.........

Our trip was in mid Sept. down in Ocean City, Maryland, by the beach, cool breezes, cool nights, warm days............

Traffic for the most part the closer you got to town was a freakin' nightmare. I cooked on this thing. I hate the heat! I can't take the heat! I can't stand the heat! I wear short sleeve t-shirts and heavy cargo style shorts until the temps drop below 45 degrees, then I switch to long sleeve t-shirts...........

This year the traffic was worse than I have ever seen it (in the last 10 years we have been going). One day trying to get back into town we were in traffic for 45 minutes to go 2 miles!!!!!! My right leg was on fire!!!!!!!!!!

I have a tuner. I have a gutted header (no cat). I have wrapped said head pipe and most of the rest of the pipes except for the aftermarket mufflers I installed. I have a cold air intake. I even have the lift kit one of our members creates that you can get online at tGLIDE Stuff.com (I know that doesn't help with the heat but I wanted kick a shout out over to Dennis anyway)............

To me, when it's freaking hot out, it runs as hot as it ever did, and on cool days not so much. But it always runs smooth, and fast, and sounds like a bat outta hell, and looks bad ass too. And it always more power than I ever needed, even with 2 people and some gear packed on.

I would not redo a single thing I did or added to trade back for any of those other bikes I used to own! Did all the mods make a difference? Sure they did. It was hotter before. Did it cost me 2 - 3 grand? Close. But I choose to do that, just like I have on all the bikes before this one (actually more before). The only difference is this time, now they are all truly performance mods and not just for looks or sound. They will help the bike perform better and last longer.

Look, you know as well as everyone else that rides, it's basically a furnace between your legs and I don't don't care what you do. If you are like me, unless you can put that thing in a engine bay or compartment encased in ice and separate it form me by more than just 4 or 5 inches I am gonna be hot! You might be able to tolerate the heat more than me, or better than others can. Maybe you are worse than me, but I highly doubt it.

I gotta say, do what others here have suggested. Pay the money, rent one, in the summer when it is the hottest it can get where you are. And drive into town, in the traffic. And then make you own decision if it gets too hot or not. My guess is, once you ride one, you better have plans to keep it....

Oh, and my Honey, she's the type that wears a thin jacket in the summer, at night. She has never complained about the heat. It's only the driver, and only the right leg. I put mine up on the fairing lower now in traffic.

But just so we are clear how I feel, you wont be able to pry mine from my fingers until I am dead!

And look at the upside, you can ride all winter long on a trike! hehehehe

Rob

 

[Trent]

M.A.T. sez it all. Yep, it costs some $$$ to fix the heat if you cant deal with it. I did the 255 cams & lifters, SE race tuner, just took off a Ness Big Sucker and put on a new HD SE Extreme Breather last month,,like it way better, even more power from more air intake than the Ness,, V&H Power Duals with no cats, V&H Black Widow Mufflers. No more heat issues no matter the outside temp. I now have over 52K into this 11' TG {with more $$ coming} and don't regret a single dime of that. We love our Trike and would have nothing else.

 

[rayg5102]

I have riden a honda gw trike--2005 and 1993 and smooth as butter. No heat. the 2012 HD was way too hot for the wife. the sale chich at harley told her just wear long pants and boots. She doesn't know my wife... I am so leaning to the Harley for mulitple reasons biggest being able to go to almost any town and have it worked on if need be. And the loudness side also.
Just gonna have to ride another one or two and see which way she leans.

Thanks for the info. Hope to have some trike in the garage by Christmas.