My take on TG road test

[jaxbobg]

Went to dealer today with checklist in hand of things I'd like in a touring trike. Salesman had a 2013 TG for demo ride. Didn't ride very far because I was uncomfortable with it.

My first time in the seat of a TG, so I took a few minutes to ask questions and check things out. Nice looking trike with lot of the features I'm looking for. But several things bothered me right away.

1. For some reason, the PO put on mini ape hanger bars, so my hands were at shoulder level, which seemed unnatural. I ride the North GA, TN and NC mountains a couple of times a year and just can't imagine riding the twisties like that.

2. After-market mufflers were too loud for me. I like a throaty rumble, but this was a bit much. Don't want to endure an 8 hour ride with so much noise in my ears. Guess I'm just not used to it. Do you guys wear sound cancelling head sets?

3. TG had floor boards with heel toe shifter, which was hard for me to manage. I wear a size 11 and the pegs were too far apart for me. Had to keep changing foot position. Never tried a heel toe before. Is there a special technique you use?

Just went around the block in moderate city traffic and came back. I've been riding trikes for 6 years and didn't really feel in control.

Tomorrow the salesman will have a 2014 for me to ride, with standard bars and factory mufflers. He also has a FW to ride if I want to try it. Will report again tomorrow afternoon.

 

[ray6576]

I have never gotten the hang of the heel/toe shifter thing. When I had a 2007 Electra Glide I removed the heel shifter and just had the toe on it.

 

[pcombe]

Went to dealer today with checklist in hand of things I'd like in a touring trike. Salesman had a 2013 TG for demo ride. Didn't ride very far because I was uncomfortable with it.

My first time in the seat of a TG, so I took a few minutes to ask questions and check things out. Nice looking trike with lot of the features I'm looking for. But several things bothered me right away.

1. For some reason, the PO put on mini ape hanger bars, so my hands were at shoulder level, which seemed unnatural. I ride the North GA, TN and NC mountains a couple of times a year and just can't imagine riding the twisties like that.

2. After-market mufflers were too loud for me. I like a throaty rumble, but this was a bit much. Don't want to endure an 8 hour ride with so much noise in my ears. Guess I'm just not used to it. Do you guys wear sound cancelling head sets?

3. TG had floor boards with heel toe shifter, which was hard for me to manage. I wear a size 11 and the pegs were too far apart for me. Had to keep changing foot position. Never tried a heel toe before. Is there a special technique you use?

Just went around the block in moderate city traffic and came back. I've been riding trikes for 6 years and didn't really feel in control.

Tomorrow the salesman will have a 2014 for me to ride, with standard bars and factory mufflers. He also has a FW to ride if I want to try it. Will report again tomorrow afternoon.

"Is there a special technique you use?"
"Had to keep changing foot position."

That's the special technic, it irritates me when I ride a bike that doesn't have heel toe shifting.


That there toe shift stirrup might autta put a crack in the mirror shine oh ma new Justin boots. and ah likes em to have a high shine when ahm on the dance floor so's ah kin have a look see and tell what color bloomers she has on?


Course onct a little filly made a fool outta me and ah thought they was a crack in em?:AGGHH:


Shoot she warnt even warin no bloomers!

 

[clint44]

I have never gotten the hang of the heel/toe shifter thing. When I had a 2007 Electra Glide I removed the heel shifter and just had the toe on it.

Our trike doesn't have the heel shifter,either. I do need to order a longer shifter peg since installing the floorboard extensions,though.

Bob,going from a Wing or Beemer to a Glide will take a little getting used to because they feel so different,ergonomically and otherwise. It would be the same for us H-D owners test-riding a Goldwing for the first time. I've ridden two GW bikes and while appreciative of their turbine-like smoothness and power,I just couldn't get over how "sterile" they felt,kinda like a high performance refrigerator. A Harley is a little rough around the edges,it seems,with more character and soul,at least to me. Not better,just,,different.

 

[rhino 2]

I only use the heel part of the shifter to pop it into neutral... All my shifting is done with the toe, Like all the bikes I've had over the years..:Shrug:

 

[consitter]

Heel-toe shifter thing...

If you have foot pegs, of course you're just gonna have a toe shifter. And it's really easy to use, because the peg acts as a natural fulcrum in the middle of your foot. You have more leverage that way.

I have come to prefer a heel toe shifter on any bike that has a full size floorboard, because to shift, you have to rock completely back on your heel to shift up if there's just a toe shifter. Much harder IMHO. Very little leverage.