How did you become a triker?

[doughboy]

I AM 63 YEARS YOUNG AND I HAVE HAD 2-strokes FIRST ONE 3YEARS AGO ON LEFT SIDE COULD NOT MOVE FINGERS IN LEFT HAND, SECOND 11/2 YEARS AGO ON RIGHT SIDE COULD NOT WALK OR TALK.
in THE LAST 3 YEARS ALSO 2-TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENTS.
So I SAID TO MYSELF after I recovered by my own therapy that i always wanted a MC, so I took the riders course in CT. and received my MC lic.
I purchased a Honda 750 Shadow and had TWO close calls that SCARED the
S??? out of me, and sold it with 48 miles on it at a loss of course. All my life I buy HIGH & sell LOW.
Well I was determined to ride a MC and all my family thinks I am NUTS after my strokes and I say who cares. So I bought a Can-Am Spyder and rode it for 4000 + miles and just traded it in for a New HD FLHXXX Street Glide which I now have over 1000 miles on HER. Looking for her name on another post on this site. NOW WHO IS NUTS?????

Good Day
TrikerBOB

 

[Saltywheels]

Such great reading. Guess I cannot resist adding my 10 cents. Grewup in Bombay with Uncles & adults riding such exotic machines as BSA, Nortons, Velos, AJS, James, Royal Enfield & on & on. And I made sure I got to pillion on each & every one whenever I could mooch a ride. First 2 wheeler was an 18th birthday gift of a 150 Vespa. Loved the darn thing. Much later on, ended up painting it powder-blue & giving it to my new bride. Next came a 1951 BSA B-34. "You sure you know how to ride?" 'Oh Sure!' I says with bluster.The Man above was watching over me that day. What a wild & scarey ride home. Oh, so that's how you change gears; not like the Vespa!! Thru the 15 years in the merchant marine there were Royal Enfields, Nortons or Javas waiting at home. Last 33 yrs Stateside have seen Kawasakis, Hondas, Suzis & Beemers. But always sport bikes & plenty of Track days. 2 bad knees & a spine that belongs on a corpse had my son (the apple never falls far from the tree!!) & my ever so tolerant wife suggesting "another option". What are you kidding? Real riders dont need training wheels!! Oh Ok, I'll rent a Trike for a day, but just to please you, Dear. Sucker! I was hooked! 3 more rental days & some judicious E-Bay surfing & I am the proud owner of a candy red, rarely ridden (4032 miles) 2003 GW1800 / CSC. Bought & paid for with delivery this Sunday. And, the Wifey has resumed riding with me again....

 

[ultratrike]

I started riding 2 wheels when I was 2, and I am telling the truth as all the people who live in the area would tell they always worried about me getting hit. So much for that and I bought a motorcycle when I was 18, sold it at 19 bought a nother one at 22, sold it at 24, bought a nother one at 27 sold it at 29, then cam the kids so I did not buy a nother one till I retired. Almost died over this one, as the wife went to ky. to visit family and I stayed home and when she got back I owned a 2004 fxd. then when she went to work 1 1/2 years latter I bought a 2007 ultra glide, I had to sell the fxd. Now on 10/31/09 I turned the ultra glide into a trike. Took pictures and as soon as I get smart and figure out how to post them I will do so.

 

[John Luciano]

What a great thread. We could start a book with this . One that every would be triker should read to help him/her get off the fence and take the plunge into trikedum. Also the sdie hard 2 wheeler that laugh at us don't know what they re missing.

 

[msocko3]

I'm 45 years old and don't fall with in the demographics that most Trike manufacturers target, I just think trikes are neat. I followed my dads lead when he decided to get a 2009 Triglide I decided a trike would be fun to have around to keep my 06 Ultra company. I have to say I have to toss a coin on which one is the most fun to ride.

 

[Papa Zook]

This is a great thread. I love hearing these stories. Thanks to everyone for posting yours.

 

[sprt220]

Very cool stories.I'm 60 and a few years ago my co-workers kept bugging me to get a bike. I've never owned or rode one other than being on the back a few times.I told them that learning to ride a 850lb bike at 57 was crazy. One of them said that I should convert it into a trike. I've never seen one on the rode and my wife was driving around town one day she saw a Goldwing and followed him until he stopped at home and asked where he got the trike.Well 3-4 months go by and after giving into peer pressure I went to the trike builder that my wife found out about and I come away with buying a bike and ordering a trike kit.I ended up with a Yamaha Road Star 07 with a Champion kit.10,000 miles later and I wondered why it took me so long to enjoy riding. I love being on that bike and of course so does my wife. Ken:yes::yes:

 

[John Luciano]

Just popping in to say , the most common comment is ( " Why didn't I do it earlier or Why did I wait so long. )

 

[trikerman]

I started on motorbikes at the age of 16 in 1966, I brought a BSA c11 1949, then a Lambretta 125 Scooter, Royal Enfield Crusader sports, BSA 500 Shooting star, BSA 650 Super Rocket, AJS 350, Honda CB 500T, Honda CX500, Honda 750 F1, 1954 Sunbeam S7, Yamaha Virago 550, Kawasaki VN1500 Classic and then In 2000 I brought my present bike which I've since triked 2 years ago, a 1450 Road King Classic. we rode the Harley to Benidorm in spain for a holiday, the next year we rode to Learett de Marr in Spain for another Holiday.Then we road to Farro in Portugall for the biggest custom show rally in Europe, we have ridden through France a number of times also. Then 3 years ago My wife Pat started with arthritis of the spine and she had great difficulty getting on the bike, she also was having problems with camping in a damp tent(British weather) so 2 years ago I had the Harley converted to a trike and we have brought a tear drop type camper so we can carry on camping. So we are really enjoying life on the trike.

John.

 

[jim peacock]

Four years ago while travling out west and visting the cemetary in deadwood south dakota I droped our 96se and in the process my wife and I went off hard.If she had not had her helmet on it would have killed her.I jamed my left shoulder up making it hard to use.
After that I had made up my mine we were going to either quit riding or go to a trike.
We put the bike up for sale,but being late in the year we had no luck selling it.
We started looking around for a used 1800 trike,but had no luck finding what we wanted.
We even looked in to buying a new 1800 trike but to set it up like our 1500 it would cost over forty thousand dollars,even though we were offerd nine thousand for our bike on a new 1800 trike we felt like that was just more money then we could afford.So we had bikes-n-trikes of boggstown indiana install a lehman kit.Should have done it sooner.WE LOVE IT.
Because of my wifes medical problems this last year we sure have not got to ride as much as we would have liked to.
I will say one other thing if anybody does not beleve in wearing a good helmet,they should have seen my wifes helmet after she went off the bike when I droped it and we were just barley moving.
It destroyed the helmet but saved her life.Luckley she had a extra helmet with us.
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.

 

[spiritdream]

Cowardice, plain and simple. :blush: Always wanted to ride, but where I grew up "nice girls" didn't ride bikes - a moped maybe, but I wasn't having any of that!!

Fast forword many years (nope, not admitting how many)....kids are grown, best friend is a MSF instructor, so I told hubby if I'm gonna do it it needs to be now. Took the course, had a blast, passed the test, and couldn't wait to start riding!!

Hubby had a "procedure" done - ended up with 3 stents in his heart, and out of work for 3 months. No money for a bike - heck, I didn't have money for a helmet!!

That's when I started "thinking" - I'm not a kid anymore, if I go down I'm gonna get hurt!! I have occasional bouts of vertigo, so sooner or later I'm gonna go down.

Then I saw a trike - hmmmmm, maybe? So I mentioned it to hubby, who immediately started looking at VW-based ones, and one from some German company that I don't even remember. Took me a while to convince him that I wanted a more "traditional" look - GW, you know?

Looked around, found a Harley triked for a woman that I really liked, but the place wouldn't finance. Looked some more, and found a GW & a Suzuki C90 trike - the engine size scared me though, so I ended up with a Suzuki C50/Lehman kit, and been loving it ever since!! Although I DO wish I'd gone with the GW or the C90 - next trike!

 

[Gorilla]

Well this is more of a story of how a wife and husband became trikers.

My wife MJ had her first motorcycle in 1978 a Honda 400T. I have had motorcycles most of my adult life. We got married in 1968 while I was in the military. In 1970 in joined the FAA and we moved to Chicago. In 1972 me and the group of guys that i hung with all purchased street and dirt bikes. MJ called us the dirty dozen. I tried to get MJ to ride but she said no because she did not like to shift. She kind of jokingly said when they make an automatic she would ride one. Well in 1978 Honda made a 400T and I got it for her. She rode it for 2 years even took the girls to school on it.

We moved to Florida in 1980 and sold all our bikes before we moved. We did not ride for about 10 years. I then got back into riding. MJ did not and would not even ride as the passenger. I tried several times to get her on but she refused and said she liked driving the chase vehicle.

Fast forward to the fall of 2006. We were at Biketoberfest in Daytona on Beach St. MJ saw this vehicle in the window of one of the stores. That evening she said something to me that she thought it was interesting. The next day we went to Thoroughbred Motor Sports of Daytona meet Russel and Libby. They showed MJ the prototype of the Stallion and we scheduled a ride. We put a deposit and took delivery in March of 2008 at the Daytona Spring Rally. MJ loves her Stallion and being a triker.

At this point I am still on 2 wheels. Twice in late 2008 I had a very hard time holding up my Road Glide in the driveway. Also I asked MJ would she ride with me if I had a trike. She said she would give it a shoot. In November 2008 I ordered a Champion Conversion. I took delivery and built my trike. Have not regretted the change. Still ride 2 wheels occasional but I am a triker also.

 

[frankentrike]

real simple.got my first bike at 45 or 6.got my second at 50 or so.wife wasnt comfortable on either.couldnt ride any more than a couple miles,legs hurt from being cramped[she has diabetes].traded my bike for a trike[vw powered].she can stretch her legs out and be comfortable now.lots o fun:yes:

 

[Gorilla]

Great story. WHEN THERE IS A WELL THERE IS A WAY.

 

[trikester09]

I started out on a 600 Honda Shadow in 1993. Loved it and rode everywhere. Had a accident on it but once healed I was back on it. In 1997 my husband and I both had some medical issues that forced us to sell both our bikes for awhile. In 2001 he bought a new Harley but I waited until 2004 which I got my dream Harley Low Rider. I did great for a month until a woman pulled out in front of me. I didn't hit her but I did lay it down and hurt my leg some. I tried so hard to continue to ride but I had developed a fear of other people and kept second guessing my own abilities that only grew bigger and bigger over the years. I poured so much money into that Low Rider that it hardly had anything original left on it. It was beautiful but continued to sit in the garage. I was obsessed with the desire to ride but also obsessed with the fear of it. I bought another Honda Shadow in hopes to get my confidence back up. A year later I sold it with only about 100 miles on it. I bought a Sportster (Nightster) in hopes that was my answer. A year later I sold it with about 130 miles on it. I thought there has to be something out there to give me back what I once enjoyed. I decided my last chance was a trike. If this didn't work I was giving up riding all together even as a passenger. So I traded my love, the Low Rider, for the TriGlide. I fell in love with it and put over 1100 miles on it within three months (took five years to put that much on the Low Rider). I don't want to get off of it. It was the true answer to my fears. It gave me back the confidence that I had lost and the fun that I knew I could have. No more obsessive thoughts, just enjoying life again! What a blessing!

 

[CandyO]

I have been riding bikes nearly all my adult life. I enjoy the feel of the freedom, the wind, just the style of rolling down the highways on two wheels.
Back in 2003 I purchased a GL1800 and had it converted with a Lehman kit. The wife's MS was getting her balance out of whack, and that solved her problem. I had (and still have) a 2003 GL1800. Lots of riding thru the years for us. Now it is time for me to "expand" to the 3 wheel mode. I always loved riding hers. Just takes time to do these things.
I have decided to go with M/T IRS. It is in its second week being put together @ the plant. Soon, the conversion will begin. Can't wait to share more of the IRS with you. Gotta study up on how to do the pictures here. :yes:
I'd even be willing to leave a glass of milk and some cookies out if it would speed things up a little!! Ha!

 

[Gorilla]

Great stories thanks for sharing Trikester09 and CandyO

 

[shadowokie]

I met my (now husband) thru a local biker group and we set a date for a group ride the following weekend. It had been many years that I'd been on the back of 2 wheels but enjoyed it very much. After a year riding with him I decided I wanted my own. I got my bike at a deal I couldn't pass up with only 470 miles on it. It's a '04 Shadow Aero and bought it in Feb. '08. I was planning to ride 2 wheels so during the winter we added the crash bar. Got up enough nerve to try riding it in the Spring. I tried twice riding it around the yard and laid it over twice. Never got hurt. My old hips and not much strength just kept me from holding it up. We then decided to get the Voyager kit and haven't regretted it since. It has enough power to keep up with the others I ride with and handles curves great without having to slow down much. I wish I'd taken this step many years ago!
I've now been riding a little over a year at 63 years old!

 

[Gorilla]

GREAT and quit lying about your age. You don't even qualify for AARP

 

[rocker bri]

Some real good reading there folks..wow where do i start, well my mum and dad were bikers so i grew up around bikes or motorbikes as we say back here in the UK so i started to ride from a real young age, well ive had truimphs , bsa, matchless, ajs and harleys etc i suppose im a petrol-head on bikes ha ha
and there is nothing more better at putting a smile on your face than sitting on a motorbike.... well there is the wife and she sure makes me smile..opps sorry back to the story...ok i was in the services , i got wounded serving...got shipped home well to cut a long story short i was retired out of the service's due too my injuries i found i could not hold a bike up very well so afther thinking about do i get a bike and a sidecar i thought i would give a trike a go so found myself a Harley had her done and guess what....the smile was back and ive not looked back over the last few years...love it ... so i would sure recommend one to folks....ok ride safe and smile...

 

[FBTRIKE]

Started riding mini bikes (home built) at about 7 years old, then moved on to dirt bikes. Over the years I've owned a Hodaka Super Rat, Honda 250 Elsinore, 400 Maico, Yamaha YZ465. But my street days started at 15. I got a little Honda SL125, road it on the street and off road.
Street bikes I've owned over the years;
BSA 650 Lightning (would give anything to still have that one)
Hondas-SL125-CL175-SL350-CB550-CB750-CBR900-and a Valkyrie.
Yamahas-650 Special-Fj1200
Suzuki-GSXR1100

In 2003 I became disabled and sold my 98 Valk. I never thought that I would ride again. But, some how, in 2006, I talked my wonderful wife in to letting me try to ride a trike. Since I have always worked on everything that I have owned, I purchased a 2006 H-D Fatboy and started the conversion. Well, it's now almost 2010 and it's still not finished. It is rideable, but don't ask when it will be done! It really doesn't matter! I love the planning and working on it when I can. Rides are few and far between and most of my friends and family, question my sanity. But as long as I'm able and my wife puts up with it! I'll keep plugging away, and enjoying every ride.

 

[Gorilla]

FBTRIKE. You hit the nail on the head. It's what's good for you.

 

[shadowokie]

GREAT and quit lying about your age. You don't even qualify for AARP

Thank You! If you were close enough I'd give ya kiss for that comment! Yes, I'm 63 but still very young at heart.

 

[Juju]

Great question, OR. I'm loving reading everyone's stories.

My own story is that I rode a scooter in college (a lonnnnng time ago), but then didn't get my own motorcycle until 2006, after taking the MSF class. I rode my Suzuki 800 for a couple of years, and I felt pretty comfy on it, but was having trouble holding it up when I had to put my feet down. I'm "height-challenged" to begin with, and my knees aren't what they used to be, thanks to many abuses, including several years as a naval parachutist. In August 2008, the Chief mentioned that I might look at a trike. Well, that was all I needed to hear--I took that suggestion and ran with it. In September, we met Bazooka at the Thunder Beach Rally in Panama City, and by the following spring, I had my gorgeous Honda VTX-1300 Champion trike.

And the rest, as they say, is history!

 

[mpolissky]

My wife no longer wanted us on two wheels.

I visited the Trike Shop of Daytona and fell in love with what I've seen...especially after talking with Dick, the owner, I realized that triking would be my next move. It took me a year of getting funds together and doing my own research. I came back to the conclusion that the Trike Shop of Daytona is the best choice...and I'm glad I did. We love this thing!!!

 

[caveman50]

Growing up near a small town in the midwest i began to realize there was a shortage of bad bikers in my area, so to fix this problem at the ripe old age of almost 15 i sold my favorite cow & bought a used Cushman Husky. Fast forward a few years to a 900 kawasaki, loved to ride, but also to fish & camp. Never enough time for all, so being a fabricator I built my first vw trike, and a gooseneck trailer to pull behind it to haul my 1 man bass boat & camping gear. Then i was able to ride, camp, & fish all in the same weekend. Now I Build & ride trikes but always keep a 2 wheeler around for those occasions when i have the urge to live on the edge. Thanks all for the interesting posts. Caveman

 

[Gorilla]

Re: Learned the Hard Way

Hello, I'm new to the forum but this is a subject that is interesting to me. I am 58 years old, retired (semi) and started riding motorcycles late in my life. I first bought a Yamaha 250 Virago, went to the Rider's Edge course and rode the bike exactly 49 miles. Then I parked it. That was four years ago. A few months back, two of my friends came by riding motorcycles and began to tell me the fun they were having taking rides once or twice a week if the weather was nice. I decided that it was time to try again. I purchased a new Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 and added a lot of accessories to it. We took one ride of about 200 miles and I had a good time, but was never really comfortable on the bike. One day I decided to take a short ride and was returning home, when I made a turn and lost the bike. I laid it down and slid across two lanes of highway and finally stopped on the shoulder of the road. Lucky for me, there was no traffic. A couple of guys stopped and helped me get the bike off of my leg, and I thanked them and rode it home. Let's say that there was more damage to me and my pride than there was to the bike. After my wife found out, (she was out of town) she was not as excited about the new motorcycle as she had been. I also had no desire to kill myself on something that I was never comfortable on. So, I sold the bike and bought a new VTX1300R Motor Trike. When we got it home, we both mounted up and rode for about 20 miles and I knew that I had made the right decision. When I sold the motorcycle, it only had 254 miles after 5 months. The trike has almost that many in 5 days. The spill I took was a wake up call to me that I did not have the reflexes or experience to ride a motorcycle with confidence.

welcome aboard mag5049. Something to remember all that stuff you learned, most applies to trikes. Defensive driving and education.

 

[dancerjim]

MY first m/c was 1955 BSA 750 Super rocket which i bought in 1960. in 63 I bought a new 63 BSA super Rocket . In 78 went down to a Honda 550, and in 79 bought a Honda 750 limited edition. and also a 1000 Gold Wing. in 81 bought 80 Honda GoldWing Interstate. in 93 bought Honda Goldwing 1500 and 96 bought a 95 Harley ultra classic all 2 wheelers until Aug. 2010 bought my first trike 2010 Stallion.

 

[Wes Quick]

I have been riding motorcycles since 1957. My Brother had a 1956 Triumph 650 and would take me riding on it. I watched to see how he shifted and one day when he was at work I took it for a ride. When he got home I told him I did it, good thing to because a bunch of his friends seen me and told him the next day.Anyway to keep a long story short. I tipped over in the sand and gravel a couple times with the wife on the back. She didn't like that much. We were always sitting still or trying to back into a parking spot and you all know what happens when you feet slip on the sand. She started asking about trikes and after several years of her begging I brike down and bought one. We both love it and hope to have many more years of riding together. We have been married over 46 years.

 

[lightin]

Well been rideing 2 wheel for 39 years and duto physical disability cold not safely hold the 2 wheels up at stopsigns redlights ectera, and the not riding was just crushing me inside. I have built custom bikes and worked at dealers for years and my own shop briefly. so i pulled out the tools and cranked up the welder and help from my friends that have built trikes Im now own three.