A Word of Encouragement

[Alan Oakley]

Riding a Trike, Harley or otherwise, is a liberating experience for those of us that struggle, for whatever reason with the large two-wheel touring bikes today. I love to ride and my 2014 Triglide, without a doubt, has lengthened my riding time and pleasure. I often see posts with concerns over going from two wheels to three....I am on my second trike, the first being a Goldwing with Motor Trike IRS and now the Harley. They both have their own merits but the key is being on the Road and continuing to enjoy what we ride. For those of you that are new to trikes, don't worry about the adjustment period.....just learn how to handle the trike and the ergonomics of three vs. two wheels and do it safely. I have met just a few that simply didn't like the experience of a trike but they are very, very few. I see more and more three wheels on the road every weekend......It is a great experience......ride safe

 

[jaxbobg]

Amen to that, brother. After 35 years of riding a two wheeler, I gave it up due to increasing back and hip problems. Really missed the open road experience but just resigned to my fate.

But then, on a trip to visit relatives, I met a couple with a trike that were on a tour from Alabama to Washington, D.C. After about a half hour of conversation and looking over the trike, it became obvious that I could once again experience the open road.

At age 65, I bought a trike and have since logged about 40,000 miles. What a delight it has been to discover the freedom of having three wheels on the road. In the last five years, I've taken many week long road trips and feel like my younger self once again.
epper:epper:epper:

 

[hogcowboy]

I'm absolutely convinced that just keeping your knees in the breeze anyway you can keeps you years younger than your real age too. Like someone said, it's a good thing. Yeah, I know who said it. Just hate to admit I know who.:laugh:

 

[MB1953]

Some of the guys at work made comments about a trike not being a "real" motorcycle when I made the switch from 2 to 3. Almost all of these same guys never ride to work, or say they ride but make excuses for not doing it. I put 16K miles on mine within the first year; some of these guys only have a couple thousand miles a year or less, and then get jealous when I tell them where I have ridden over the past weekend or week, and they are all younger than me. Riding on three lets me go places I never would have thought possible. Ride it like you stole it, and don't look back.

Just remember, you don't stop doing things because you get old; you get old because you stop doing things!

Ride safe, my friend...

 

[DK Custom Products]

Riding a Trike, Harley or otherwise, is a liberating experience for those of us that struggle, for whatever reason with the large two-wheel touring bikes today. I love to ride and my 2014 Triglide, without a doubt, has lengthened my riding time and pleasure. I often see posts with concerns over going from two wheels to three....I am on my second trike, the first being a Goldwing with Motor Trike IRS and now the Harley. They both have their own merits but the key is being on the Road and continuing to enjoy what we ride. For those of you that are new to trikes, don't worry about the adjustment period.....just learn how to handle the trike and the ergonomics of three vs. two wheels and do it safely. I have met just a few that simply didn't like the experience of a trike but they are very, very few. I see more and more three wheels on the road every weekend......It is a great experience......ride safe

Well said! :clapping:

I always expected to switch to a trike "when the time came". It just came a bit earlier than expected.



We are on our 2nd trike also. Knowing what I know now, we probably would have gotten a trike earlier. We are thoroughly enjoying it!

Kevin

 

[coronetracer65]

I am one that had trouble adapting but not for long ! The first test ride I absolutely hated it . I went ahead and purchased my 2014 a few months later basically because my wife fell in love with it my health and age was dictating the move. We logged 14,000 miles on it from April thru Nov. and are looking forward of a lot more miles this year. I have to say for real the more I ride the more I love it . We are in our mid sixties and hopefully we have many more years to enjoy ! My hat is off to the original poster here , great write up ! Ebert

 

[RoadKingTrike]

I recently made the switch from 2 to 3 by converting my Road King using a MotorTrike conversion. Like many, health issues dictated that I either go for 3 wheels or give up riding. So far, this has been a very difficult transition, but I realize that I have to make the adjustments to succeed. I have over 50 years on 2 wheels, and adjusting to the trike is not going to happen overnight. But my wife and I will prevail, and we will learn to love the new wheels.

 

[sandrooney]

Rode 2 wheels for 50 years. My wife rode 2 wheels for 20 years and we both switched to trikes and would never go back. I am in the process of selling my last 2 wheeler now.

 

[GARYD]

I'm 71 and have no health issues - I just like riding a trike - or 2 wheels for that matter - I'm fine with either one.
The reason I bought the first trike is because I have a job and money - I may not have either one in a few years so it made sense to get it now and not worry about HAVING to buy one later in life when I HAVE to and don't have the money.
I bought an extended warranty and a long term service contract, so I'm set for as long as I can ride and not have to worry about being able to afford to ride - except for gas.

I started life on a trike and by golly I'm going out on a trike. Smiling all the way. ThumbUp

MB1953, same here. Lots of talk about a real motorcycle, but these same guys only ride on the weekends and only if it's dry and above 70*. I ride every Sunday all winter on what I cal my BBB rides (Blue Balls Brunch) ride. I usually have 4 or 5 others that ride with me. It's a lot better then siting on the couch and mumbling how you can't wait for summer to get here.

I'm doing a Route 66 trip with my dealer in June and then from there back to Chicago on a Saddlesore 1000 attempt.



And as someone else said riding keeps you young - I believe that with my whole heart.

Just keep smiling - it drives 2 wheelers crazy.

 

[roadking2]

I always liked trikes starting with the Servicar. I liked the look and I thought I'd someday like to have one. After 45+ years on Harleys the time came for me. I'd ridden a couple, but it was years back and I never went many miles. Just a short test hop here and there. I converted my Roadking and on my first ride I was thinking to myself "what have I done to a perfectly good motorcycle"! A couple hundred miles later I was then thinking that it was the best modification I ever did to a bike. No regrets here. If I had it to do over again, I'd have done it sooner. I think it's a shame that there is so many misconceptions out there about trikes.

They are slow, they can't corner well, etc.

and it's a shame so many guys believe the misconceptions without ever having experienced a trike.

 

[GARYD]

I always liked trikes starting with the Servicar. I liked the look and I thought I'd someday like to have one. After 45+ years on Harleys the time came for me. I'd ridden a couple, but it was years back and I never went many miles. Just a short test hop here and there. I converted my Roadking and on my first ride I was thinking to myself "what have I done to a perfectly good motorcycle"! A couple hundred miles later I was then thinking that it was the best modification I ever did to a bike. No regrets here. If I had it to do over again, I'd have done it sooner. I think it's a shame that there is so many misconceptions out there about trikes.

They are slow, they can't corner well, etc.

and it's a shame so many guys believe the misconceptions without ever having experienced a trike.

I can put to rest that a trike can't handle and is slow.

Last summer coming back from Rolling Thunder I took the BRP and I joined a group of about 7 rice rockets. I stayed with them for approx. 7 miles - as I passed them when they pulled off onto a scenic area, they all gave me a thumbs up. I will admit that it was very invigorating to say the least. I wouldn't try it if I was a "newbie"

I don't think we'll ever convince the non trike crowd that they are a LOT OF FUN!!! ThumbUp

 

[Sloufoot]

I can put to rest that a trike can't handle and is slow. Last summer coming back from Rolling Thunder I took the BRP and I joined a group of about 7 rice rockets. I stayed with them for approx. 7 miles - as I passed them when they pulled off onto a scenic area, they all gave me a thumbs up. I will admit that it was very invigorating to say the least. I wouldn't try it if I was a "newbie"

I don't think we'll ever convince the non trike crowd that they are a LOT OF FUN!!! ThumbUp

I think you are absolutely correct on convincing the 2 wheelers about Trikes. But then again, that gives us the ability to have things that are out of the norm. LET THEM JUST WISH !!
:kpzxvq:

 

[clint44]

I tell people all the time that my only regret in riding a trike was that I didn't do it sooner.