Coming from a Can Am Spyder......

[Kratos]

The only motorcycle I've ever owned is a Can Am Spyder. I want a Goldwing trike now, but I know absolutely nothing about them. I'm gonna do massive searches on this forum to gather info, but if anyone can give me any basics I need to know such as maintenance and what to look for when buying, it'll help reduce my search time. The can am automatic clutch makes it where anyone can drive one. I'm sure the Goldwing won't be that easy, as I'll have to learn how to drive a manual clutch. <br />
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I want to find one that super decked out to save me the time in finding accessories. Who's a good trike dealer that has beautiful bikes to pick from? I live in McComb MS, and heard of a trike dealer somewhere in Alabama that's good......Was it KD cycles or something? <br />
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P.S.....I plan on buying one already triked to save the hassle. So far the "square-looking" Hannigan rear ends look wicked to me.

I'm in my early 30's making me young for the trike age (from what I'm told), so I want a kit that has some edge to it.....

 

[Rick Kay]

Welcome to Trike Talk! <img src="images/smilies/wave4.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Wave4" class="inlineimg" /><br />
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I can't really help with trike dealers in your area, but good luck with your hunt.

 

[rmrc51]

I bought my trike from KD Cycles. They're a great bunch of guys who clearly place customer satisfaction as a top priority. Tony's Trikes in Alabama is another top notch dealer. ThumbUp

Sending you a PM.

 

[MangoMike]

Like you, I left the Spyder world and came back to the Goldwing world, this time on a GW trike. I enjoyed the Spyder, but find the GW to be much better, especially the power. It took me a little while to be able to shift the GW smoothly, but it will come. My wife and I both enjoy the larger size of the Wing, and it's fun to be riding a "real" motorcycle again. I find I have feel more confident in the Wing to take me where ever I want to go, more so than the Spyder. Maintenance is less expensive, but my Spyder was a 2010 RT and I understand the 2014's are much better in every way.<br />
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We are glad we made the switch.

 

[Kratos]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>MangoMike</strong>
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<div class="message">Like you, I left the Spyder world and came back to the Goldwing world, this time on a GW trike. I enjoyed the Spyder, but find the GW to be much better, especially the power. It took me a little while to be able to shift the GW smoothly, but it will come. My wife and I both enjoy the larger size of the Wing, and it's fun to be riding a "real" motorcycle again. I find I have feel more confident in the Wing to take me where ever I want to go, more so than the Spyder. Maintenance is less expensive, but my Spyder was a 2010 RT and I understand the 2014's are much better in every way.<br />
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We are glad we made the switch.</div>

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</div>Thanks for the feedback. Glad the maintenance is cheaper. The Spyder is pretty steep in that area. Also, the Goldwing peeks my interest because I have a dealer 15 minutes away, whereas the spyder I have to drive at least an hour for service. I'm a little worried about getting used to real shifting, but I'd rather learn that on 3 wheels than 2.

Lol

 

[Kratos]

Are there any exhaust mods for the trike versions? I've heard the Goldwing trike exhausts sounds boring to people.

 

[MangoMike]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Kratos</strong>
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<div class="message">Are there any exhaust mods for the trike versions? I've heard the Goldwing trike exhausts sounds boring to people.</div>

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</div>The GW sounds like a sewing machine, a very quiet sewing machine. HD riders tell me they never hear us coming, as we fly by. While I love the mellow tone of a stock Harley, I much prefer the quiet of the GW, especially on long trips where the constant drone of the HD grates on me pretty quickly. It's all up to what you want. If you want a finally tuned machine that will run for several hundred thousand miles, generally without any problems, by the GW, if you want a motorcycle, with the sound, and heat, by an HD. <br />
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I just rented a 2014 Tri-Glide and really enjoyed it. It was fun being back on a motorcycle which was a little loud, vibrated, was harder to get on and off (we are 70, so take that for what it's worth), but was fun to ride. I wouldn't mind owning one, but my wife loves the Wing, and so do I. They are just completely different machines and both have their place.<br />
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Oh, I do think there are exhaust mods, but don't know about using them on a trike.

Not being a V-Twin I don't think your ever going to get the Wing to sound like a motorcycle.

 

[rmrc51]

Some have had positive reviews regarding Vance & Hines. It all matters on personal taste.

Here's a link to their site;

http://www.vanceandhines.com/

 

[Kratos]

Thanks for the link. Has anyone put the V&H on the trikes?

 

[skuuter]

You will really enjoy a Gold Wing Trike.....Fantastic Machines.....ThumbUp

 

[Saltywheels]

Try Kuryakyn Exhaust Turndowns. Have them on my 03 & I dont sound like a sewing machine anymore...just a souped up one

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Kuryakyn also carries the V & H exhausts. G'Luck

 

[Kratos]

Try Kuryakyn Exhaust Turndowns. Have them on my 03 & I dont sound like a sewing machine anymore...just a souped up one

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Kuryakyn also carries the V & H exhausts. G'Luck

Thanks I'll look them up.

 

[Trikerbobbilly]

I just recently purchased a Gl1500 with a 2012 motor trike conversion with the turbo exhaust, it sounds more like a souped up Porsche than a sewing machine. The sporty exhaust sounds great when running around town and doing a lot of shifting but can wear on you a little on long trips especially while trying to listen to the sound system. Louder exhaust has its good points and its drawbacks. When I feel like really letting my hair down I jump on my VTX1300C and ride, there is nothing like the feel of a big V twin. Hope you find what your looking for.

 

[Konrad]

The only motorcycle I've ever owned is a Can Am Spyder. I want a Goldwing trike now, but I know absolutely nothing about them. I'm gonna do massive searches on this forum to gather info, but if anyone can give me any basics I need to know such as maintenance and what to look for when buying, it'll help reduce my search time. The can am automatic clutch makes it where anyone can drive one. I'm sure the Goldwing won't be that easy, as I'll have to learn how to drive a manual clutch.

I want to find one that super decked out to save me the time in finding accessories. Who's a good trike dealer that has beautiful bikes to pick from? I live in McComb MS, and heard of a trike dealer somewhere in Alabama that's good......Was it KD cycles or something?

P.S.....I plan on buying one already triked to save the hassle. So far the "square-looking" Hannigan rear ends look wicked to me. I'm in my early 30's making me young for the trike age (from what I'm told), so I want a kit that has some edge to it.....

Reference: Learning to shift gears: don't worry about it! If you are slow at first, the trike is not going to fall over on you! You can go as slow as you want until you get the hang of it - which probably won't take you more than an hour - after which you'll probably be speed-shifting!

Noise: I hate it. There are no studies anywhere showing that noisy pipes save lives and there are plenty of people who object to loud bikes! A Goldwing doesn't need to advertise its testosterone.

 

[Razor]

Shifting is the fun part. OK one of the many fun parts. I have found that if you time it right your rider will think its an automatic. The key is backing off the throttle enough to stop accelerating about a half a second before you pull in the clutch. As the clutch disengages drop the RPM another 200, shift and release the clutch and accelerate moderately. After some practice your will be the only one that knows your changed gears. Or you could pop the clutch, run it up to about 6000rpm, dump the throttle, pull in the clutch, slam it into the next gear, dump the clutch and then back to 6000rpm. Do this five times really fast then pull over and pick the bugs out of your teeth.
I rode a friend of my wife's on the 4th. The first thing she said when she got off was "I did not know they made these with an automatic". I just smiled.
I like the sound a feel of the Gold Wing engine. You can feel the torque as it accelerates. I also like the sound of the big two cylinder bikes. If I had to choose I would pick one of each.

 

[Kratos]

Shifting is the fun part. OK one of the many fun parts. I have found that if you time it right your rider will think its an automatic. The key is backing off the throttle enough to stop accelerating about a half a second before you pull in the clutch. As the clutch disengages drop the RPM another 200, shift and release the clutch and accelerate moderately. After some practice your will be the only one that knows your changed gears. Or you could pop the clutch, run it up to about 6000rpm, dump the throttle, pull in the clutch, slam it into the next gear, dump the clutch and then back to 6000rpm. Do this five times really fast then pull over and pick the bugs out of your teeth.
I rode a friend of my wife's on the 4th. The first thing she said when she got off was "I did not know they made these with an automatic". I just smiled.
I like the sound a feel of the Gold Wing engine. You can feel the torque as it accelerates. I also like the sound of the big two cylinder bikes. If I had to choose I would pick one of each.

Wow, thanks for the shifting lesson! This is officially my very first "real bike" driving lesson. :clapping:

 

[old stoner]

Take a look at the Champion trikes, I think they flow better with the wing instead of the square look!!! I built my 2001 1800 wing trike and I love it!! And as far as sound goes I like some good rumble so I put Cherry Bomb glass packs on mine and they sound really good!!! Atleast you can hear me coming down the road!! Good luck ! Jerry!ThumbUp

 

[Kratos]

Take a look at the Champion trikes, I think they flow better with the wing instead of the square look!!! I built my 2001 1800 wing trike and I love it!! And as far as sound goes I like some good rumble so I put Cherry Bomb glass packs on mine and they sound really good!!! Atleast you can hear me coming down the road!! Good luck ! Jerry!ThumbUp

Thanks for the info. I figured most wouldn't like the square look. I'm just different I guess. lol

 

[msocko3]

Thanks for the info. I figured most wouldn't like the square look. I'm just different I guess. lol

I like it, IMO Hannigan nailed it when they did the body for the GEN2.

 

[bikerbillone]

Yes, you're right about that, a very good job by the designers to give it that 'wow' look.

 

[John Luciano]

Only reason I don't like it's the trunk is small. The Champion and DFT utilize all the space in the fenders. I can get 6 folding Golf ( $7.00 at Wally World ) chairs in mine.

 

[lgjhn]

Kratos,
You have a PM from me.
Hope it helps.
LJ

 

[bikerbillone]

I'm guessing you did not get the aux fuel tank.

 

[cjmitch]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Kratos</strong>
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<div class="message">Thanks for the link. Has anyone put the V&H on the trikes?</div>

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</div>they wont fit on some trike kits, particularly the Motortrike Adventure and Raptor kits. (the Independents)

 

[brianl]

Are there any exhaust mods for the trike versions? I've heard the Goldwing trike exhausts sounds boring to people.

I test rode several CanAms before deciding to trike my GL1500. Personally, I enjoy the quiet ride of a wing. The CanAms seem to run at a much higher RPM and sounded "whiney" to me. The Goldwing shifts very smooth and it won't take long to get used.

 

[John Luciano]

I taught a 70 year young woman to ride a GW Trike in 3 weeks. She never rode a motorcycle in her life. She thought she would never learn. . After 2 weeks she said I don't know what I was so nervous about. It really is not shifting...

 

[bustedwing]

Hello Jerrold and welcome to the website from the U.P. of Michigan. While the handling of the CanAm is a little different than a GW, you have been a little spoiled with the shifting. I would suggest that you take the trike to an empty parking lot and practice, not only stop and gos, but figure 8s. That's to get used to the wider rear end in turns. When you do your figure 8s use a marker of some kind, that will not damage the trike. Also a word of advice, when you get ready to fuel up, watch out for those deadly yellow posts, they will jump right out at you!