Hello from FL Triker Wannabe

[Juju]

Hey, y'all. I currently ride a 14-year-old Suzuki 800 Intruder, and it's been a great bike. But for a variety of reasons, I'm thinking of moving to a trike. And I have some questions for the combined wisdom of this board:
How did you know you wanted to move to a trike? I guess that, like me, you all have a variety of reasons, but I'm wondering what really tipped the scales for most riders.
How do you get to test-ride one? I've talked to a couple of dealers in my area and none of them offers test-rides. (That doesn't seem like a good way to attract business, but what do I know? )
Are there any problems keeping up with the two-wheelers? DH rides a HD Road King, and I don't want to always be struggling to stay with him.

Whoa, that's a lot of questions, eh? Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[ben721364]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Juju</strong><br />
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<div class="message">Hey, y'all. I currently ride a 14-year-old Suzuki 800 Intruder, and it's been a great bike. But for a variety of reasons, I'm thinking of moving to a trike. And I have some questions for the combined wisdom of this board: <br /><br />
How did you know you wanted to move to a trike? I guess that, like me, you all have a variety of reasons, but I'm wondering what really tipped the scales for most riders.<br /><br />
How do you get to test-ride one? I've talked to a couple of dealers in my area and none of them offers test-rides. (That doesn't seem like a good way to attract business, but what do I know? <img src="images/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Wink" class="inlineimg" />)<br /><br />
Are there any problems keeping up with the two-wheelers? DH rides a HD Road King, and I don't want to always be struggling to stay with him.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Whoa, that's a lot of questions, eh? Thanks in advance for any advice!</div><br />
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</div>I suggest that you do some searches.<br />
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Yours are good questions and I feel sure you will find more than you wanted to know.

<g> <br /><br />
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BTW. I bought my trike simply because I wanted to try one.

 

[Nana]

Welcome Juju! After about 16 years on my own two wheels I finally added a champion trike kit to my FatBoy just because I wanted to (how's that for a reason??). I love it, and have no trouble keeping up with my husband and friends who all ride Harleys also. I am petite (5' tall, about 105#), and the stability of the trike is a real pleasure, altho I rode 2 wheels without difficulty! Expect about 200-500 miles to get relaxed with the feel of steering a trike instead of leaning, but by 500 miles you won't even notice the change.

 

[Trikerjim]

Juju, don't know what part of FL. you're in but I'd check around and maybe try and find a rally going on. If the dealers don't let you ride maybe you'll get to see and talk with owners and get first hand advice on different brands. As far as keeping up, after you get the feel of the trike, let them keep up with you...

 

[threewheeled]

test rides

Beaufort Motorsports here and we do not allow test rides either. If you knew whats involved on our end to do that, you would not do it either. (Ins) paperwork, lawsuits, If I let someone test ride anything and they get hurt in the slightest way we will get sued and we will loose because we let you ride it knowing you had NO experience. A lady tried to sue us one time because she got scared and claimed it scared her out of the pleasure of riding for the rest of her life. They settled out of court. She is a licensed rider and still rides today but she got alot of cash out of it. Till these type of lawsuits stop, We allow nothing....
My wife and I did the trike thing when we decided that we did not want to fall and get hurt anymore as we do not heal like we use to...
The bottom line is I find the Trikes much more enjoyable than I ever did a bike. When we go to the mountains I can look and see what is going on with no worries.
You will have to get use to the trike just as if you changed cars and that is all
Kodiak

 

[threewheeled]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>ben721364</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=3338#post3338" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
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<div class="message">I suggest that you visit the GL 1800 Riders' Forum, Trike Section, and do some searches. Yours are good questions and I feel sure you will find more than you wanted to know. <g> <br />
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BTW. I bought my trike simply because I wanted to try one.</div>

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</div>Are you racing this guy or cruising with them? The faster Trike is not always the leader. bike for bike he can leave you if he wants to now.Be a triker for yourself and let him ride with you. If you do it right your 800 will do 70Mph all day long without stuggling as a trike and off the line can run off and leave the harley<br />
kodiak:<img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" />

 

[Juju]

Thanks for the quick response to all of you! I'm so happy to hear that someone other than me got a trike "just because you wanted to." Makes plenty of sense to me. <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" /><br /><br />
Ben, that forum is a great resource!<br /><br />
Nana, what a pretty trike you have! Though it's just a small pic, I love the color and the lines!<br /><br />
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Kodiak, I certainly understand your perspective and fully admit that I have no clue what goes into running a dealership, esp. all the legal issues. Guess I just wanted to vent! Because it CAN be hard to find a test-drive venue. As TrikerJim mentioned, rallies are a possibility. Our next one will be Thunder Beach at Panama City Beach.<br />
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Not a huge rally, but maybe--I'm hoping--large enough to attract one or two trike dealers that I could get up close and personal with.<br /><br />
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I didn't mean to suggest that DH and I are competing with one another as far as speed.

I just don't want to hold him back unnecessarily--though speed is not generally one of my goals for any given ride. Probably sounded like it's more of a concern than it really is. Actually, DH would probably relax and enjoy our rides more with me on a trike. Even now that I'm well into my 50s, the guy still sometimes thinks of me as the young, delicate flower (<img src="images/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Wink" class="inlineimg" />) that he married 27 years ago, and he seems to worry about my safety. That's very sweet, but I wish he could let it go sometimes. I think that if I were on a trike, he'd feel better. More importantly, those trikes look like an awful lot of fun and easier on my middle-aged-and-then-some knees, not to mention the rest of my height-challenged self.<br /><br />
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Again, thanks for all the input!

 

[Trikerjim]

if you're not that far from PC beach, come on up to Dothan in a couple of weeks to our little get together. Check out the posts on here for TrikeTalk Rally. Bazooka is a Builder/dealer there at Adventure Motorsports and we would love to have you come join in and meet some of us...

 

[Juju]

Super, TrikerJim! Thanks for the info!!!

 

[WEB]

When my wife and I decided to trike we went to our local trike dealer and after a question and answer period they turned us lose on a 08 ultra and a 08 wing,first in the parking lot then on the road.That was pretty cool and much appreciated,it also got them the job of triking our ultra.I just got back from the 105th harley celebration where I got to try out a new 09 tri-glide,just show your lic. and try out a $7,000 sporster to a $37,000 se ultra and everything in between,great time.We just decided to trike because we liked the stability and cool looks of the trike,no regrets,5,000 miles since june and getting better all the time.

 

[katfish16]

We tried and drove every trike we could. There are a lot of good trikes out there U just have to find the one that suits you and Ur co-rider. The size is up to what U are going to use it for. Harley/Goldwing/ or smaller, like I said it is up to what U R going to use it for. My wife loves the trike and always ask to go riding. That is great. Also we don't have to worry about the gravel and sand on the roads. We ended up with a CSC on a 2000 1500 Goldwing. It has been perfect for us so far.<br />
Good luck, don't get in a hurry U will find what U want.

 

[Juju]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>katfish16</strong>
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<div class="message"> We ended up with a CSC on a 2000 1500 Goldwing. It has been perfect for us so far.<br />
Good luck, don't get in a hurry U will find what U want.</div>

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</div>Thanks--good advice! But, um, showing my newbie-ness now, but what's CSC?

 

[katfish16]

CSC stands for "california side car" here is another trike page that might help UUUU..

index Click on Index

 

[Nana]

Hey Juju,<br />
In case you haven't discovered the "Garage" yet, click on the link above and see lots of great pictures of tons of different bikes and trike kits. You can pick out favorites and pursue the ones you find most interesting to pick the style/make that is best for you, 'cause they are all great in their own way from what I can tell. Ultimately it is what YOU like: style, costs, and personal fit, etc., that will make you happy in the long run.<img src="images/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Wink" class="inlineimg" />

 

[threewheeled]

change to trike

Juju:
My wife rides just fine now for the past 2 years with a 250cc High Performance Automatic Trike and is just now stepping up to a 03 Yamaha 1100cc Trike and she is 145lbs and 5'4". Our total investment in this Trike with full body kit is $16,500... This is just to give you an idea... Find a bike that fits you first and then trike it out. When you find one feel free to drop me a line and I will tell you what we would trike it out for here to give you an idea of cost.

 

[Juju]

Holy mackerel, where have you folks been all my life? Y'all are just so friendly and helpful!