Motor Trike new Sportster kit

[WindyOne]

I was nosing around today and found that Motor Trike has a new trike kit out for the HD Sportster. The kit doesn't have a steering kit or reverse. The cost including an onboard air compressor, color matched, carpeting, fender bras is $10,764.95 installed. the installer told me Sportsters don't need a steering kit as the rake is already good. I am not concerned about reverse as my timberland's are equipped.
Anyone think this is a bad/good deal or something to stay away from. I am still kicking around the idea of converting mine.

 

[WindyOne]

I always think Dyna's and Sportsters look alike.

 

[Papa Zook]

Thats the Dyna, but the kit is basically the same, same body, etc. I'd recommend the Motor Trike conversion. Been selling them for years and like em.

 

[White Wall]

I rode a Dyna Superglide for years! My wife still rides a Sporty. They have about as many similarities as comparing a Dyna to a Soft tail. Dyna's and Sportsters are totally different. I wouldn't trike out a 883, but a 1200 with the top end done would make a great trike for someone! You might want to give it a taller gear if you are looking to ride HWY or long trips. I'm not trying to sound smart ass, but I pride myself on my Harley-Davidson knowledge.

 

[WindyOne]

When I said sporty's and Dyna's looked a like I didn't mean performance wise, just as a quick glance kind of thing. But this is only my opinion and I don't know a lot about bikes.

Ultraboy you are right I was told they would be released in 4 weeks. This is a new product for this year. I think it is great because of the trunk space usually being 1.5 cu ft. on the Lehman kits, and this is much larger. I like the design a lot. The only thing I would like to improve is the amount of fuel tank size from 4.5 to 6 gals. I found out about these kits and a dealer close enough that installs them by doing a search for bike dealers in a neighboring town. I was looking for something totally different. The installer has a good reputation and has been in business for some years. He is a genuinely nice guy to speak with and has an endless amount of patience for questions.

Would you agree that the Sporty doesn't need a steering kit?

After looking for a few months at different conversions and nearly doing a new 2010 tri glide deal I am thinking this would better suit my requirements for a trike. It is affordable, offers a reasonable amount of trunk space and looks pretty nice.
My riding plans were always short trips mostly within a 150 mile radius. The air suspension is a plus for comfort and I will be upgrading to a Gunfighter seat with driver backrest from a Mustang Vintage Solo seat. I think in addition I will be adding floorboards to help relieve back tension.
The additional length of the kit and air shocks should make this a much more comfortable ride. My sporty is a '09 1200XL Custom with stage one upgrade.
I am getting psyched about this. I think this is doable and glad I held off on the other purchase. This way I get to keep my HD and be active within the HD local group,I enjoy that for the activities.

 

[WindyOne]

Won't that make your dental tech happy at cleaning time?

Motortrike doesn't offer a steering kit for this conversion. According to the dealer I just spoke with he said they felt it wasn't needed on this bike. He says they are very thorough on their research so I have to go with them on this.

 

[Papa Zook]

The Trike Shop offers a 6 degree rake for the Sporty if you wind up wanting one.

 

[WindyOne]

I received some pictures today from Motor trike of a Sportster conversion they had done. These pictures show dual exhaust which is no longer able to be done for this kit. What they are using is a Python 2 in 1 pipe. I am not familiar with these or the concept of only having one exhaust. The axle was a problem with the install of the exhaust system and this is why they made they change. Overall I think the kit installed looks very very good.

I put the pictures in my gallery under album titled Motor Trike.

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/members/windyone-albums.html

 

[White Wall]

A friend of mine runs a 2 into 1 VH. His bike sounds awesome. There are different baffle set ups for it if you don't like the sound. Have fun. "I love when a good plan comes together."

 

[Gorilla]

Windyone I'm going to echo much of what Dave and Randy have said. With the trail of the Sportster I would not expect any problems with steering. Motor Trike has been in business a long time. They know what they are doing in the trike conversion business. As far as the gas tank, If you are only planning on 150 mile excursions fuel should not be an issue. I had a 06 1200 Low and it got 50 miles to the gallon. I would suspect as a trike it would get in the 40+ range. That should give you about a 120 mile range before getting serious about finding a gas station. That's about 2 hours of saddle time. Time to stretch anyway.

 

[Gorilla]

Sporties are GREAT bikes. and should make a great trike given the proper mods. Dave your right on the seat I had forgotten about the stiffness after a long ride.

 

[BlueTrinity]

Oh yeah, UB...I had one of those too! We were probably the original "Iron Butts".

That may have been a a 75miler from a comfort standpoint, but I'll bet that, like me, you had many, many rides that were a heck of a lot longer than that. In fact, come to think of it, there weren't very many that were that short.

As for the 150 mile tank, most times the ol' backside was mighty glad it wasn't any longer than that.

Thanks for the memories!

 

[ben721364]

I recommend a test ride to determine for yourself if raking is needed, ...for you.

Motor trike might post MSRP for the kit and installation on it's web site.

I was nosing around today and found that Motor Trike has a new trike kit out for the HD Sportster. The kit doesn't have a steering kit or reverse. The cost including an onboard air compressor, color matched, carpeting, fender bras is $10,764.95 installed. the installer told me Sportsters don't need a steering kit as the rake is already good. I am not concerned about reverse as my timberland's are equipped.
Anyone think this is a bad/good deal or something to stay away from. I am still kicking around the idea of converting mine.

 

[drvndbus]

ill try again

 

[WindyOne]

I saw your picture album some good looking pictures in there of your trike. You've done good.

 

[drvndbus]

As far as fuel on the sporty i put a 2007 dyna tank on mine and fuel isnt a issue any more. It didnt take any major modification to install and over all looks good to me anyway. But i always like to play with differant ideas. I recently installed a stereo on my sporty trike with a mp4 player with am/fm radio its the size of a open pack of matches and took the amp out of a pc amplified speaker works on 12 volts .Its inside of my headlamp to waterproof it and hide it from clutter. The speakers are harley passing lights with waterproof speakers inside and a grill i cut out of a 6x9 speaker cover. Sure beats the 329.00 rumble road speakers out there. Enjoy what u do and ride in comfort and safety.

 

[drvndbus]

i had bought mine at a swap meet for 5.00 so it was a must buy after a little bodywork 60.00 now its like new

 

[John Luciano]

If I already had the Sportster I would go 4 it. If I had to purchase one new then do it, I would go with the larger Harley, for the extra few $.. There are some great deals on used bikes now. the difference between the 1200 and 1400 would make me go with the 1400. The HP for a 1200 is what compared to the 1400? I feel you need the 1400 or better to push the extra wheel. Talking to a guy that triked a Sportster( don't know what he used for a kit maybe self made even ) he said great around town one up but not good at all double or HI way.

 

[Nauga Mok]

1200 gets 79 ft lb torque and about 60 hp -- the TC 88 (1450cc) got 72 ft lb torque & about 58 hp -- both in stock configuration. To get the 88 to run right, it needs to go to the stage 2 configuration -- 95" (1550) with cams which will get it to 85 ft lb & 80 hp. Put that much money into the 1200 with a few Buel goodies & you've got an easy 100 hp. Don't sell the Sporty engines short!! Why do you think they've been racing 'em all these years? The V Rod was supposed to take over the racing duties, but there are STILL a BUNCH of Sporties out there running strong!

NM

 

[drvndbus]

I agree the sportster is a gr8 bike and is often not looked at as a good bike for taking double on the highway. As a trike i took mine after i built it for suggestions at the jebby shack in Epharta pa and thats all he does is sportsters and trust me when i tell ya they can perform as good if not better than the big twin bikes out there. besides as long as your happy with what u have stick with it. I dont really like riding the same thing as everyone else be differant and let ur heart take over if u love it then do it just my 2cents worth

 

[drvndbus]

If I already had the Sportster I would go 4 it. If I had to purchase one new then do it, I would go with the larger Harley, for the extra few $.. There are some great deals on used bikes now. the difference between the 1200 and 1400 would make me go with the 1400. The HP for a 1200 is what compared to the 1400? I feel you need the 1400 or better to push the extra wheel. Talking to a guy that triked a Sportster( don't know what he used for a kit maybe self made even ) he said great around town one up but not good at all double or HI way.

i take my sporty trike out on 222 north here in pa the speed limit it 65 and with the wife and i we have no issues with highway driving and we goto the beach on the trike and that 200 miles one way but to each there own And as for comfort the heritage seat replace the passenger seat on a sporty so comfort is not a issue anymore

 

[phil_c]

Roadsmith does encourage a steering kit for the Sportsters, because their kits extend your wheelbase. Staying the same wheelbase, you may not need to rake the front. It's all opinion though.