Non Tri Glide HD Trike Owners

[OldFart]

After 43 years of being a devoted HD rider I purchased a 2010 Tri-Glide and was very disappointed with it. The four main issues I had was:

1. Excessive heat on my right thigh and passenger right leg.
2. Insufficient power to pull hills, I had to downshifting to much.
3. Hard to steer.
4. Rough ride.

I became so disgruntled that I sold it and bought a GL1800 CSC. I am very happy with it, but its not a HD.

How many of you have a HD trike that has been triked by a third party(not a Tri-Glide) Which brand conversion? Are you happy with it? Would you do it again?

 

[jaxbobg]

Several members here have gone with the Hannigan Transformer and seem pretty happy with it.

Afraid you'd still have to put up with the heat and steering issues, but these can be made better with some straight-forward mods.

The power issue is a trike given, since we're adding another 350 or so pounds to the weight of the standard bike.

Rough ride depends on the rear shocks psi and the rear tires psi. Depends on what kind of roads you ride. Tri Glide straight axle will be a little rougher on bumpy roads than the IRS of a Hannigan or other conversions, but then again most riders don't even notice the difference after a while.

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Motortrike Trog kit with a solid rear axle. Onboard air ride suspension that uses air bags along with coil over shocks. I can adjust my suspnesion on the fly and love how it rides.

Power can be improved upon the 103" but a drop in S&S 124LC engine can give you more than enough for what you need. More overall power no matter what you end up doing to a Harley requires other things that need to be addressed which means more money

A good tune and ceramic coated headpipes can reduce some of the radiant heat felt

Steering on any trike is all push/pull. Raked triple tree and handlebar changes to fit you can improve it


Bottom line, its going to cost money.

 

[Gorilla]

After 43 years of being a devoted HD rider I purchased a 2010 Tri-Glide and was very disappointed with it. The four main issues I had was:

1. Excessive heat on my right thigh and passenger right leg.
2. Insufficient power to pull hills, I had to downshifting to much.
3. Hard to steer.
4. Rough ride.

I became so disgruntled that I sold it and bought a GL1800 CSC. I am very happy with it, but its not a HD.

How many of you have a HD trike that has been triked by a third party(not a Tri-Glide) Which brand conversion? Are you happy with it? Would you do it again?

You can look at conversions. There are many good ones out there. The longer wheel base and IRS suspension might be more up your alley. If you get true dials and a good baffle to restore the torque that will eliminate much of the exhaust heat.

A 103 motor with cams like the TTS-110 and a good tune will provide all the power you will need.

Finally because it is a conversion you can put 4.5 to 6 degrees trees on it which will make it steer like that GW your are riding.

Good luck

 

[clint44]

After 43 years of being a devoted HD rider I purchased a 2010 Tri-Glide and was very disappointed with it. The four main issues I had was:

1. Excessive heat on my right thigh and passenger right leg.
2. Insufficient power to pull hills, I had to downshifting to much.
3. Hard to steer.
4. Rough ride.

I became so disgruntled that I sold it and bought a GL1800 CSC. I am very happy with it, but its not a HD.

How many of you have a HD trike that has been triked by a third party(not a Tri-Glide) Which brand conversion? Are you happy with it? Would you do it again?

1. This can be reduced greatly with exhaust & induction mods.
2. 2010 TG still had 32 tooth front belt pulley. Change to 30T pulley would offer a significant improvement.
3. Adding a lift kit would help improve steering effort.
4. Aftermarket rear shocks can make significant improvement.

Hannigan Transformer conversion done on our Street Glide. Extremely pleased with it. Yes,wouldn't hesitate to do the conversion again.

 

[trikermutha]

Find one already converted and saves a ton of cash..I liked my HD DFT conversion which I still have and my SPYDER

 

[cavie]

My 1300 VTX has more than enough power. I don't understand that issue??

 

[msocko3]

After 43 years of being a devoted HD rider I purchased a 2010 Tri-Glide and was very disappointed with it. The four main issues I had was:

1. Excessive heat on my right thigh and passenger right leg.
2. Insufficient power to pull hills, I had to downshifting to much.
3. Hard to steer.
4. Rough ride.

I became so disgruntled that I sold it and bought a GL1800 CSC. I am very happy with it, but its not a HD.

How many of you have a HD trike that has been triked by a third party(not a Tri-Glide) Which brand conversion? Are you happy with it? Would you do it again?

Almost sounds like my experience with the 2010 I used to own. Your number one, I had to change the head pipe and tune. Your number 2, I had to install cams and switch to the 30 tooth transmission sprocket. I never had a problem with the steering which is your number 3. Your number 4, well, I didn't know how much better a trike could ride until I started riding a IRS Hannigan.

My 2010 Triglide started showing signs it was going to be a problem child. The compensator was in need of replacement, the stator was starting to leak and I had an electrical gremlin starting to rear its ugly head. I choose to get rid of the Triglide in favor of a 2012 Wing. I road the wing for a year as 2 wheels and then had Hannigan work their magic on it, the best thing I ever did. I still own a Harley which I ride around town. But when I travel, its on the Hanniganized 2012 Wing, much smoother and way more comfortable IMO.

If you're dead set on another Harley, I'd give Hannigan the nod. The problem is, you'll still have some of the same issues as others have stated. You'll still be lacking power, it'll still be hot. The steering and ride are easily solved. A rake kit will fix the steering, the IRS will make the ride like a Cadillac. The power and heat will take some $$$ to solve, it'll still be warm, its air cooled.

 

[roadking2]

I'm on a 2000 Roadking with a Champion kit on it with IRS, raked tree, and mechanical reverse. The only thing that changed noticeably was my gas mileage. The power went down a little but not enough to make much of a difference. I just use a little more throttle than I did before to get it rolling along. Hills and merging into traffic are no problem at all. I already had a 95 kit, cam, pipes, etc. on my bike before the conversion. I had no heat or power issues before or after converting. As has been mentioned, there are many mods you can make to get a Tri up to snuff. When I was shopping I test rode several trikes and in all honesty, the Triglide was the roughest riding and the poorest handling of the trikes I tested. I tried a Lehman conversion (straight axle) that wasn't any better than the Tri. I liked the IRS trikes better and the wider and longer the trike was, the better it rode. Some like the CSC were very smooth, long, and wide, but I just couldn't get past the look of the extended wheelbase. I also liked the additional trunk space most conversions offered too. Converting my bike was the best mod I ever made to it.

 

[J.T.M.]

I ride a 2010 96 cid Ultra Classic with a Hannigan Transformer conversion. The ride is super, the handling is great. The heat is a problem. I have done nothing to the motor or exhaust YET. I would buy another Hannigan conversion for sure but not another Harley.