New 1800 and a trike kit

[Tricycleman]

It will be interesting to see what the big dogs come up with on their trike kit to convert the new 1800. I'll be curious on how they will handle the front forks that are now missing to try to make a rake.

Also heard a rumor that Honda is coming out with a third 1800 model in 2020 which will be Honda own trike. Thus one of the trike kit makers I've been talking with said they're not putting much emphasis or studies into making a conversion for this new 1800 there in a wait-and-see mode.

 

[Lucky]

Lot of rumors making the rounds. Be interesting to see what shakes out.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Originally Posted by Tricycleman

It will be interesting to see what the big dogs come up with on theit trike kit to convert the new 1800. I'll be curious on how they will handle the front forks that are now missing to try to make a rake.

On another thread I guessed that they would cut the lower forks, lengthen them and change the angle. I talked to an engineer buddy and he agreed that would be the easiest and most cost effective way to go. cut the forks where the dot is in the diagram below for "Front Fork" below the holder, lengthen the fork to keep the same ride height, change the angle at that spot and you've got a set of raked forks without changing any of the upper suspension assembly. This would probably have a whole new front fork casting, but that is a lot cheaper of a modification than changing the upper suspension assembly.

Also heard a rumor that Honda is coming out with a third 1800 model in 2020 which will be Honda own trike. Thus one of the trike kit makers I've been talking with said they're not putting much emphasis or studies into making a conversion for this new 1800 there in a wait-and-see mode.

Interesting. I was told that Honda will not make any kind of 3 wheeler because of the safety problems the 3 wheel ATV's had. That was long ago, and a whole different kind of machine, but that is what a friend that works in a Honda shop told me. Of course, they didn't know anything about new 1800 before anyone else, so who knows?



If the trike kit makers are taking a wait-and-see attitude with this rumor it will considerably set back the timeline for getting a new 1800 trike another few years if Honda doesn't make a factory trike.

 

[Tricycleman]

Originally Posted by Tricycleman

It will be interesting to see what the big dogs come up with on theit trike kit to convert the new 1800. I'll be curious on how they will handle the front forks that are now missing to try to make a rake.

On another thread I guessed that they would cut the lower forks, lengthen them and change the angle. I talked to an engineer buddy and he agreed that would be the easiest and most cost effective way to go. cut the forks where the dot is in the diagram below for "Front Fork" below the holder, lengthen the fork to keep the same ride height, change the angle at that spot and you've got a set of raked forks without changing any of the upper suspension assembly. This would probably have a whole new front fork casting, but that is a lot cheaper of a modification than changing the upper suspension assembly.

Also heard a rumor that Honda is coming out with a third 1800 model in 2020 which will be Honda own trike. Thus one of the trike kit makers I've been talking with said they're not putting much emphasis or studies into making a conversion for this new 1800 there in a wait-and-see mode.

Interesting. I was told that Honda will not make any kind of 3 wheeler because of the safety problems the 3 wheel ATV's had. That was long ago, and a whole different kind of machine, but that is what a friend that works in a Honda shop told me. Of course, they didn't know anything about new 1800 before anyone else, so who knows?



If the trike kit makers are taking a wait-and-see attitude with this rumor it will considerably set back the timeline for getting a new 1800 trike another few years if Honda doesn't make a factory trike.

I think it will all come down to dollars and sale with this new style 1800. In my opinion it looks like they're trying to market the younger generation rider which is sadly fading away. If indeed sales aren't what they expect they are going to have to appeal to the older generation rider which is becoming more and more trikers each year.

Honda's biggest challenge will be the price tag it will have to be considerably less than the option of buying a kit. They don't want to make the mistake HD did and taking a Lehman kit and putting HD emblem on it and adding 20K to 30k on the price. tag

 

[txtriker]

Seen after my post

Being relatively new, I saw all the comments after mine.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

OMG ... another rumor

 

[trike lady]

It takes money to develop a new conversion and a lot of R&D.

None of us know what is happening with R&D at Honda in Japan and who knows they may be experimenting with trike designs, they do have the Neowing leaning trike.