Any advice on "donor" bikes

[flipoid]

Having (another) mid-life crisis and I think it is time to build/ride a Harley trike again. Haven't had a ride since the 90's when I had a rigid Evo trike with a servi-car rear end. I'd like to do it again but this time in comfort. Store bought Triglide is out of the question, too much modification needed (see my profile album and you'll understand). I'm looking for anything to watch out for in a "donor" bike. Are any models better than others for conversion? My rigids had too much vibration and found every bump in the road. I'm thinking an FXWG, Frankenstein, and "power steering" triple trees (or do they still make adjustable triple trees). I'm also thinking 88 inch carburated rather than fuel injected. Any advice on all the new fangled stuff is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gorilla]

Good luck on your project. Im not much help, my build was strickly going for the custom stock look.

 

[1550vt]

Man....the choices could be endless. It is pretty safe to say that with a heavy trike, you will be underpowered with the EVO, but then again...there is no telling how many miles EVO based trikes have made without any issues. Anything you get in the 96-98 year range would be good for an EVO based trike. At one time, I would have loved to find a good EVO drive train and toss my Twin Cam altogether. I have an early Twin Cam and like you...you could not melt and pour a new Harley 2 or 3 wheeler on me. I have got my older Twin Cam upgraded and beefed-up enough to have eliminated all the early issues, but there are enough late-model Twin Cam issues that you should stay away from....unless you want to ride on a toaster oven and hire a rocket scientist to keep it running.

ANY bike you get now will not be a rigid and the trike rear end will have a suspension of some sort. The front end can be raked to get that power-steering you mentioned. It will depend on the $ you have and the ride you want. Don't shy away from fuel injected models. I have been riding them from the first models introduced and they have been trouble free and bullet proof. You DO NOT want to get an early Twin Cam...say 99-00, unless you know the bearing and tensioner issues have been corrected. I would opt for a late model EVO dresser and fuel injection would not bother me. I do think the basic and sound Twin Cam has more miles in it than an EVO though. I have friends that have rolled over 175,000 on the original mil, except for tensioner shoe replacements and routine maintenance, nothing has been done to them.

This could go on...and on....and on. I am sure it will but I will stop here and let some other posters have some room.

 

[oldman]

I thank the word you said is COMFORT. Then i look at a Goldwing if that the what you really looking far Is COMFORT

 

[1550vt]

I am not a metric bike basher and ride with the Honda boys on their kitted bikes as well. I think for sure they are more comfortable in the "cool" riding area, but they have issues of their own. I think the comfort will come from the kit he may choose....as in solid-axle vs. independent suspension, overall adjustment in the rear suspension and wheelbase. Kit a Honda....fine. Kit a Harley....fine. I just think it's the kit itself where he will gain/loose the most overall riding comfort.

If he is thinking Frankenstein....I'd bet he is thinking Harley cruiser or sport-bike. I do have a friend that has put a Frankenstein on a V-Rod....which is not a bad choice.