If you were to do it again, how would you build/buy it?

Apr 12, 2015
231
120
Arlington, TX 76017
If you were to be able to build/buy your trike again, what differences would you make?

Would the conversion guys buy a Tri-Glide?

Would the Tri-Glide guys buy a conversion?

Would you use the same conversion kit? If not...which one

IRS or solid axle?

Build the Harley motor? or put a SS/Jims/HD120 in it?

Electric or Mechanical reverse?

skinny or fat front tire?

There is a guy that is really wanting to buy my trike. I told him I would give him an answer in a week.

I would really like to hear from you guys on what you like and what you would change if you could

I am a Harley guy, not really interested in the Harley vs the other brands
 
My first trike was a 2009 TriGlide. Second is my 2015 FLRT. So I guess I would have to say that I would stay with a Factory built HD trike.
 
I would buy another Tri-Glide, Or maybe even a Freewheeler...
And before i took it out of the showroom i would definitely have the Mechanical Reverse installed.ThumbUp
 
My first trike was a 2009 TriGlide. Second is my 2015 FLRT. So I guess I would have to say that I would stay with a Factory built HD trike.

:Agree: I've had a 2012 and now a 2015 TriGlide and I would go for another if the time arrives, however I do wish the factory would build a Road Glide Tri. If they would build it I would own it.
 
If you were to be able to build/buy your trike again, what differences would you make?

I am a Harley guy, not really interested in the Harley vs the other brands


That's a shame really. Kind of like only eating fast food, or Chinese, or German food every day for your entire life.

One of the pleasures I get from triking is that I've owned or ridden many different brands and conversions, including the TriGlide. They all offer different features, advantages and disadvantages. Of the conversions, the Hannigan is my favorite so far, but I want to try a CSC one of these days.

When I was riding 2 wheelers, my favorites were Norton, Triumph and Suzuki, but I've owned a number of other brands as well.

Good luck to you. At least your options menu is pretty limited, other than the mods you make yourself later on.
 
Happy with mine as is, 12 Triglide. Although IRS makes more sense to me. Never rode one with it. No fat front tire, would steer harder than normal. "Rake it". The 103 is fine to me with a few mods, got enough power and reliable , so far. Too old to build one but if younger would attempt a IRS converstion, brand? Don't know. Good luck with your descistion.
 
have a 2010 with mods done to it. I have ridden a Independent rear suspension Triglide and liked it better.
so, a Tri-glide of any model year with IRS and Reverse is the Ticket.:Coffee:
 
My wife and I are very happy with our decision and spend many enjoyable hours on it. Subsequently I get no chaff when I want to spend money on farkles. Getting back to the subject we would buy another.
 
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Must say I like the conversion trike best, checked out and test rode the Tri at the dealer. Nice riding trike just a little to factory for me. Not enough 3rd party stuff for them yet. In answer to your question I plan on buying a S&S motor new or pulling this one for a full up grade toward spring. I like the straight axle just fine but would get the IRS if I was to get a new kit. Would like Hannigan next time like the reviews they get. Fully plan on keeping this FLHS well into the classic years. Everyone more or less likes what they own, or the would not have bought it.ThumbUp
 
I would prefer to build my own.
Non fuel injected Evo Electra-glide, rebuild the engine and upgrade it.
Drop in mechanical reverse, upgrade the charging system and go with LEDs.
Paint the inner fairing, send the radio out for an upgrade and have custom rims.
IRS for a smoother ride.
In order to build a new trike I need to win the lottery. :laugh:
 
Sherry and I love our trike and we think we made the right decision going with a Hannigan Transformer conversion. I'm also happy with the mods done so far on it: Vance & Hines exhaust system,Corbin seat, Zook's 5deg triple trees,Intro Rockman 17x7 rear wheels & Michelin Pilot Sport tires,18" H-D Reaper front wheel & Dunlop tire,8" LRS windshield,H-D Auxiliary front lights,Vtwin Goodies front & rear floorboard extensions,H-D chrome fork kit,Memphis Shades fairing winglets,Ness Deep Cut Flat shifter rod,H-D Edge Cut Billet heel & toe shifter,2015 Rushmore air cleaner,H-D fork wind deflectors (fangs),and H-D 30 tooth front belt pulley & 68 tooth rear.

Kinda wish I had kept & installed the 2014-16 H-D Chopped Tour-Pak we bought for the bike.(never painted or installed)
 
If I had it to do all over, I'd have went through with my original plan. I had line on a cherry 2006 Ultra Classic, it was white with only 2,500 miles. I was going to build a 113 or 120 then have Hannigan work their magic on it. I also tossed around the idea of a Goldwing, ended up buying a 2010 Triglide. The Triglide was ok, just couldn't trust it after seeing what my dad went through with his, and what was starting to happen with mine.

When I got rid of the Triglide in favor of my present Hannigan wing. The Triglide had 22,000 miles on it. In those miles, it had a start button fail, the rear brake light switch failed causing the back brakes to fail, the brake switch was part of a recall. When I traded it in, the compensator was bad, the stator was leaking and it had some electrical gremlin going on which almost stranded me 700 miles from home.

The funny thing about the electrical gremlin was I had nothing extra, it wasn't like I was a light whore or something. I don't add extra lights, figure once you start cutting into the wiring, your asking for trouble down the road. I've seen bikes at the dealer with electrical issues caused by owners cutting into the wiring so they can add extra lights and other do dads. It cost those owners big bucks for the dealer to troubleshoot and repair the damage.
 
If you were to be able to build/buy your trike again, what differences would you make?

Would the conversion guys buy a Tri-Glide?

Would the Tri-Glide guys buy a conversion?

Would you use the same conversion kit? If not...which one

IRS or solid axle?

Build the Harley motor? or put a SS/Jims/HD120 in it?

Electric or Mechanical reverse?

skinny or fat front tire?

There is a guy that is really wanting to buy my trike. I told him I would give him an answer in a week.

I would really like to hear from you guys on what you like and what you would change if you could

I am a Harley guy, not really interested in the Harley vs the other brands


Wow did you open a can of worms with those questions.

I built my first trike an 07 Road king Police into a Road Glide with a Champion conversion. Loved it Rode it for 60k miles. The only issues was that whenever a normal wear problem serviced and I was on a trip the Harley dealers would work on it but I always had to be there to advise how things were put together. Not a big deal but still a hassle. I sold it and purchased a 2013 TRI. I feel both trike rode about the same and I have made them perform the same. I loved that conversion but I love my TRI as well. When I have had a problem on a trip I just drop it off and they know what to do.

The Champion conversion was a great one for the person that was going to do the work themselves.

IRS vs Straight is a personal preference depending on how and where you ride. I've ridden both and I'm quite happy with the straight axle on the TRI as was on my Champion also.

Harley built motor vs after market again personal but the Harley modified motor is easier to get serviced if need at a Harley dealer. I do about 12k of road trips a year so that is important to me. S&S motors are a great motor.

I had mechanical reverse on the Champion and the TRI had electric. Both did the job. I would go with the mechanical if I needed to make the choice.

skinny or fat tires is a personal looks item. There are plus and minuses to both.

Good Luck
 
I think I'll just keep my 2016 Tri Glide with a few mods. The wife and I are very happy with it.
Now if I had the money I would like to have as a second trike a Boss Hoss just to play around
with and smoke the tires. Had a old VW trike back in the 80's it was fun but just not what I was
looking for, sold it for 2k.
 
have a 2010 with mods done to it. I have ridden a Independent rear suspension Triglide and liked it better.
so, a Tri-glide of any model year with IRS and Reverse is the Ticket.:Coffee:

TriGlides have only straight axle suspension. No IRS has been made available yet.
 
I bought a 2009 Tri-Glide when they first came out and currently ride a 2011 FLHXXX (Street Glide) trike. I rode/ride the hell out of them. I would still have the 09 TG, but being a first year production model, it had to many mechanical and or electrical issues for me to handle. If I had to do it over again I think I'd switch to a GoldWing with a California Sidecar conversion kit. The primary reason I'd switch is that Hondas are way more reliable (and faster) than Harley's. My uncle traded his 09 TG in for GoldWing trike and he's put 30K miles on it without a mechanical issue. Not to mention it doesn't throw off heat like a TG or SG trike.

Bubba
 
if I were to do it again

Had a 2010 street glide flhxxx nice bike but underpowered had a lot of compensator problems that Harley could not fix. finally got an indy to fix it right.
Had back problems for a while so had to sell it. Now have a 2015 freewheeler. Great bike, really like it but it gets dirty very easily and hard to clean underneath. going to get a better front fender so water and muck will not be kicked up on the motor as much. Other wise could not ask for a better bike BUT if I could do it all again I would find a 1999 evolution fatboy, put a S&s V111 engine in it and add a Frankenstein kit. No body to worry about real hot rod looking, way lighter and from what I hear bullet proof (I know of two people with over 100,000 miles on them and not a problem also if I need more storage it would have plenty of power to pull a small trailer. Also goodbye to the heat issues
 
I have actually extended my 14 Tri front fender with a piece of stainless and got rid of the aluminum piece that was on there. it probably ends about 4" above the ground. I do think it helps to block debris. will decide this winter what to do about painting it as the extra length of shiny SS kinda looks out of place.
 
I converted my '10 Road King with a Motor Trike conversion. Medical issues required that I either "go to 3" or nothing. Tri-Glide cost made it out of the question. Went back and forth, RoadSmith or Motor Trike. Chose MT cause a friend has one and after riding it I knew it had a good ride and sharp handling. But I've come to the belief that all of the conversions are good products, and it really comes down to availability of installer, style, and the design elements that make the most sense to you.
 
I have actually extended my 14 Tri front fender with a piece of stainless and got rid of the aluminum piece that was on there. it probably ends about 4" above the ground. I do think it helps to block debris. will decide this winter what to do about painting it as the extra length of shiny SS kinda looks out of place.

Hey NHBAGGER, could you post a pic of your fender extension?
 
Hannigan Roadg;ode

I think I've got the best of both worlds, the stability of a frame mounted fairing +5 degree rake with 103" engine with mild mod on a Harley RoadGlide. From what I've been told, I do have the first Hannigan Roadglide Transformer? not that it matters but just saying! I had 62K miles on it before triking it. Have 1200k on it as a Trike and learning everyday. Love the IRS better than HD Triglide. JMHO:pepper:

- - - Updated - - -

Sherry and I love our trike and we think we made the right decision going with a Hannigan Transformer conversion. I'm also happy with the mods done so far on it: Vance & Hines exhaust system,Corbin seat, Zook's 5deg triple trees,Intro Rockman 17x7 rear wheels & Michelin Pilot Sport tires,18" H-D Reaper front wheel & Dunlop tire,8" LRS windshield,H-D Auxiliary front lights,Vtwin Goodies front & rear floorboard extensions,H-D chrome fork kit,Memphis Shades fairing winglets,Ness Deep Cut Flat shifter rod,H-D Edge Cut Billet heel & toe shifter,2015 Rushmore air cleaner,H-D fork wind deflectors (fangs),and H-D 30 tooth front belt pulley & 68 tooth rear.

Kinda wish I had kept & installed the 2014-16 H-D Chopped Tour-Pak we bought for the bike.(never painted or installed)

Hey Clint, did you get the 30T counter installed? How is it working out in 6th gear?
 

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