Reason for trike

[jayhawkokie]

A friend of mine in his 70s had never been on a bike in his life, but he decided he really wanted a trike, so he bought a very nice low mileage 1500 Goldwing and had it converted to a Motortrike, he rode it every day until he had a stroke 2 years ago. He kept the trike with the goal to get where he could ride it again, which he was able to accomplish 6 months ago, he has trouble getting on it but he's riding again.

 

[werewolf]

In my 20s, 30s and half the 40s, I was a good boy and didn't ride for the most part.
One day, the wife and I are headed home from Mom's and there is this wilmac
sitting on the side of the road for sale.
As I remember, someone rolled her eyes and said, we got the money, if you want
it, buy it.
Now for a NON MOTORCYLE, NON RIDING person, she does LOVE the trike.
With the Kansas side winds and her need to move/fidget on the back.
Three wheels is a wonderful thing.

Hopefully in the next year, we will be upgrading to a motorcycle based trike.
I do not have the interest that is required to tinker with the VW engine.

 

[Shimpy]

Many when thinking of triking or have triked, first feel they have to justify the decision by telling you they have ridden X number of years on 2 wheels. I guess it's a macho thing and I can really understand. No one wants others to think they never could ride a 2 wheel motorcycle.
I triked almost 3 years ago not because of a physical condition that kept me from riding on 2 wheels but because I got tired of the stress of keeping up the 900 lb bike at stops or handling it in gravel, especially with my wife aboard.
I enjoy riding and feeling everything I did on 2 wheels except the lean and sometimes feel the flat cornering is more of a thrill. It's like a sports car with the outdoor feel of a motorcycle.

 

[jayhawkokie]

I triked almost 3 years ago not because of a physical condition that kept me from riding on 2 wheels but because I got tired of the stress of keeping up the 900 lb bike at stops or handling it in gravel

My biggest reason too Shimpy.

 

[dirtdobber]

Some time ago I ran into a situation I was forced into. Due to me doing what was asked I ended up with several bullet holes, lots of shrapnel with some bones that were severally damaged. I have had a great ride on 2 wheels. 50 years of it minis my government work, LOL.
I first built a mystery fender kit, sport version. Had a ball on it. I just came back from a trip on my street glide, my wife loves taking the house with her. During out trip I had difficultly (several times) at stops and uneven ground. I purchased a 2008 gl1800 roadsmith trike. New build and the bike has 23,000 miles. Now I can finally relax when we ride. I'm still good on my lighter bikes, for now any way.

 

[livelyjames]

I practically lived on bikes in my 20s and 30s but gave up riding when my job took me to Dallas, always planning to buy a Goldwing when I retired, which I did. I just never got completely comfortable on the Goldwing plus my wife said she would ride with me if I got it converted to a trike, best thing I ever did, I feel totally at home on the trike and my little woman can go with me now. My only regret, I should have done it 7 years ago. orag:

My story exactly...except I was the one not comfortable with the wife on the back....no problems in town or on highway but I never got comfortable doing a tight u turn on the wing...did not wanna drop the bike with her on it...got a trike and never looked back!

 

[Phu Cat]

Sadly, starting to have balance issues. Also wife couldn't handle our old Ultra if something happened to me as she's only 4-11. The Tg may be hard for her to ride but she's one tough, determined little woman.

Phu Cat

 

[skuuter]

Reason for Trike, besides Passenger Comfort........


FUN...epper:epper:epper:

 

[Phu Cat]

Guess I'm just gettin to be an old fart. I get dizzy when I stand up too fast, which is almost all the time. And I'm stating to have balance issues. One day the wife and I were were stopping for a red light, the bike started to go to the right a little, I nudged it to the left, but not hard enough and over to the right it fell. After that happened a couple times I figured I was loosing enough sense of balance, besides what had been happening around the house, it was time to get off two wheels before I caused my dearest to get hurt.

Phu Cat

 

[rmrc51]

Although I've always liked the appearance of a trike, over the years I've found that I need the stability three wheels offers due to a hip problem that's only getting worse as the years pass by.

The inherent motorcycle sitting position in which your legs are spread apart causes intermittent sharp pains/spasms in my hips. On two wheels, this could very well result in an accident effecting my sense of balance when those spasms hit. The trike seemed to have rectified this for the most part in the beginning. But as of late, I've also been noticing this on my trike as well. Although I can't dump the trike when this happens, the pain can be quite uncomfortable (like a knife being shoved in the leg/hip socket). This situation recently made me re-think getting my 'Dream Bike', a new Indian Vintage model. I'm just hoping that it doesn't get any worse because if it does, the trike will be out as well.

 

[jaxbobg]

Absolutely right. I quit riding my 2 wheeler about 14 years ago because I had leg & back pain and couldn't keep my balance at a stop.

Four years ago, after back surgery, a friend talked me into looking at trike. I now ride every day and just love it! No more balance issues, can pack for a week on the road without bungee cords and duffels on the back rack. And... I ride the TN and NC mountain roads several times a year. I have to slow down to keep from running over the 2 wheelers in the twisties. (Ha ha ha, ROTFL)

I'm getting my third trike in about 3 weeks and think I have talked my neighbor into going trike as well. I'm close to 70 and hope to ride for many more years.

 

[ironguy]

I've been on 2 wheels since the early 60's, that's 1960's, like most of you.
I had a German brand bike until 2 weeks ago when it ate a timing chain and left me stranded on the side of the road in Wyoming. I got it to the dealer where I bought it 2 years ago and traded it for 2014 Harley TriGlide. The dealer is also a HD dealership-quite handy I must say.
At age 67 I'm still able to ride a 2 wheeler but the "boss" has been talking trikes for sometime so here I am and really enjoying the change. Oh yeah, Mom likes it too!!

 

[Doug D.]

Two bad knees put me on a trike. I'm hooked for life! epper:epper:ThumbUp

 

[the paparazzi]

We each have a story to tell as to why we converted, some for practical reason, some medical and of course some out of just pure curiosity and I'm sure there are many more. I can remember on occasions on two wheels while in a curve I use to tell my wife through our head sets, who is always my passenger in a humble loving voice" I love to ride" she would respond with "I would have never guessed".

Well after several (close calls) over many years of dropping the damn thing do to what ever the reason, and missing those beautiful vista point turn outs do to gravel, pot holes and what have you, I asked her one morning at breakfast if she ever thought of riding on back of a trike. Her response was what about the " I love to ride thing". At the time I think I said something to the effect of "Nothing ventured nothing gained". So both of us at the age of 71 years decided to take the next step and we triked our Yamaha RSV. Last month we put on just over 4,000 miles traveling to Anacortes Washington and Canon City Colorado. Early next year we'll both be 74 and with the man upstairs blessing we be heading toward the East coast, something we have always wanted to do on two wheels, but now we'll do it on three.

And our response to reason for trike? Well, we still "love to ride", even into the curves and who but a triker would have ever guessed.

 

[sparky1597]

Loved my Root Beer colored Ultra Limited. Had close calls with low speed turns, especially with drainage dips(front wheel catching, getting jerked), wife couldn't sit still, holding up 900lbs+, bad knees, hips, back surgery. Didn't put but 3k on it one summer due to back problems, or healing from same. Never had that problem since getting 2013 Tri Glide. Have gotten the Harley air seat for even more comfort. Got caught in rain storm on TG, with 2 wheelers. They were fish tailing, while I just motored on, cautiously.
wife feels more confident on the back of TG.

 

[whitefatboy]

When friend returned from Az. with his, 1998, I was sold. Med issue came in 2000 w a head on meeting :AGGHH:. Bought the fatboy in 2002, trike came in 2005, never looked back ThumbUp.

 

[grimm]

My reason for a trike is unfortunately a medical one. Lost the right arm courtesy of a drunk driver back in '06. Trikes are fun and have allowed me to keep riding, but I'd give my other arm (not really lol) to be able to ride two wheels again.

 

[CaCruizin]

I was enjoying Ducati ownership and the social that went with it until '06 when an idiot in a Range Rover decided to pull out on me.

I ended up losing my left leg above the knee two years later because there was no improvement.

Now I have a prosthetic and use a Klicktronic gear change and a trike instead of two wheels is a no-brainer.

 

[Wingrider44]

Many when thinking of triking or have triked, first feel they have to justify the decision by telling you they have ridden X number of years on 2 wheels. I guess it's a macho thing and I can really understand. No one wants others to think they never could ride a 2 wheel motorcycle.

I triked almost 3 years ago not because of a physical condition that kept me from riding on 2 wheels but because I got tired of the stress of keeping up the 900 lb bike at stops or handling it in gravel, especially with my wife aboard.

I enjoy riding and feeling everything I did on 2 wheels except the lean and sometimes feel the flat cornering is more of a thrill. It's like a sports car with the outdoor feel of a motorcycle.

When I read this, Shimpy, I saw exactly the reason I went the trike route. Only difference? I just did it a month ago. Put over 2000 miles on since and I too love the flat cornering thrill. You experience the pure physics of Mother Nature at work.

 

[tom w]

I am a biker and always have been. I had seen trikes before and thought they looked cool. rode and owned a few atv 3 wheelers but rode motorcycles too.

I have some medical issues but if I still rode 1 up my feelings would still the same, I would be on 2. I went to 3 for the wifes safety. not that this was a bad thing.

I have found a new and different side to riding. for longer trips, 3 is the way to go. you can relax more . set the cruz and go. keep the speed down and let the world go by if they want.

I miss my 2 wheeler for 1 up riding, in town riding, and to work and back.

at some point I will have another 2 wheeler for that.

for me and long trips 3 is the best way to go. (this is still a motor-cycle not a crutch)

 

[Sully]

If you have to explain to someone why you ride a Trike, Then they just don't understand the benefits of riding one. epper:

 

[Tazmanken]

I just like the look and I dont have to worry about holding us up anymore.

 

[Darth]

I put a Champion trike kit on my wife's bike last year after she had a hip replacement and was having issues holding the bike up. I have ridden the bike a number of times, and it is just plain fun to ride. This past summer we did a week long bike trip, and she had more fun on the trike than she ever did on two wheels... less stress, more control, the comfort and stability. I'm seriously thinking of triking my bike... can't let her have all the fun!

 

[SteveMac]

My reason, well to make a long story short.
Old injury encouraged me to go to 3.
Then,,, new ball joints this year.
First new set of ball joints failed.
Second set has a bit more hardware holding it!

:xzqxz:Translated: Two new right hips this year. Latest one looks like a hardware store...LOL

 

[fastfreddy2015]

Here's my reason for going with a trike this time around. Been down three times on my motorcycles, 1st two weren't to bad third one really hurt. Real lucky (didn't break nothing) bike was totaled out by ins. I had actually been thinking about a trike for a while now I know for sure my next bike will be a trike.

 

[oldprowler]

Just because I wanted to.

I finally admitted that I am not going to get any younger. I know that at some point in the future either the wife or I will not be able to continue riding on 2. We not ride on 3 and I really do believe I enjoy riding more now that she is on the seat behind me.

 

[Byker Triker]

Why I bought a trike

My wife said she'd leave me if I bought a motorbike. Whilst I was tempted to accept her kind offer, I gave in and bought a trike.

Love it to bits. Can't wait to get back on it again.

Happy Holidays.

Pete.

 

[Nurzo]

Why I switched to 3 wheels

I had a bad crash on 2 wheels 2 years ago, smashing my pelvis on a sports tank (open book fracture) Didn't feel safe on 2 wheels, when my good friend gave me a test ride on his Spyder. I was hooked it felt like a well sorted side car rig that could turn both ways.<br />
I bought one and after 12 months of riding I noticed that my Harley had only done 200 miles in that time.<br />
A decision had to be made sell or keep and convert to trike. I converted to Mystery Design IRS and now I have both with the Spyder being the one up for sale. Have ridden only 1 month out of the last 5 because after 20 months of pain and suffering it was found my pelvis repairs hadn't taken and the only thing holding me together was 1 loose screw, the other had broken. 2 surgeries later the sacroiliac joint and pubic joints are making the reconnects and my pelvis is becoming stable again.

 

[Miken]

Trike

I have a hard time riding two wheelers because of neck issues. Two years ago I bought my freinds 2007 Honda VTX1800 and a trike kit made by Roadsmith which I purchased from Zook. I'll tell you it's the most fun I've had in years, the trike is a beast, drives like a two wheeler and has more than enough horsepower. It's so nice to sit at a light with my feet off the ground not having to worry about dropping the bike and also listening to the music cranking without a care in the world. Just this riding season my brother in law dropped his brand new Harley Ultra just by hitting a small patch of gravel. Anotheyer woman rider I know dropped her brand new Harley trying to negotiate a real small turn, as much as I like two wheeling, I'll stick to three and I am having a blast, also my wife really enjoys riding on the queens throne now.

 

[Sully]

My first motorcycle was in High School, just a few years back :laugh: It was a Cushman Eagle Scooter, remember those :Shrug: I've had a motorcycle always, many different types and models. I went to a trike to be seen better on the road bigger than a two wheeler, to have an easy ride, to have less stress, to carry more stuff, to not worry about gravel on the road or all those road snakes. To be able to ride with one hand off and on, to use both hands to adjust my helmet, yea I know, thats not safe, but it's safer with a trike. I have no reason to go back to two wheels. Ride Safe my friends ThumbUp