Tilting Motor Works

[DK Custom Products]

I was at Bumpus HD a few days ago and saw this-

Been seeing videos and photos of the Tilting Motor Works conversion for years.

This is the first time I've seen one in person.

It is quite a bit narrower than the Tri-Glide and Freewheeler.

While I did not do a test ride (no time when I was there), I do plan on doing one soon. It seems like an alternative for those that need/want 3 wheels, but still want to be able to lean over in the curves.There is a switch on the handlebars-

When it is turned on, the hydraulic system goes on, and anytime the bike is under 7 mph the hydraulics bring the bike straight up.

You can mount the bike when it is on the jiffy, push the button, and it will bring it up off the jiffy, and hold it up until your speed exceeds 7 mph.

It appear to be of solid construction, & has independent suspension...

...if the bike has ABS, the front brakes tie into it, so all three wheels are ABS.

I remember first looking at these 7-8 years ago. Good to see they finally got it to market.Looking forward to a test ride.

Kevin

 

[frostbite51]

Is Bumpus going to be a dealer, or was that a trade in?

 

[ultrafxr]

Bumpus is an authorized dealer as of last year. Don't know if they have sold any kits or not. Talked to the owner, Tim Bumpus, at length before I bought my Tri-Glide. As best I can recall the kit and install on my 2017 CVO Limited was about $12k and that did not include matching paint which would add maybe another $2-$3k. And the best part - it will void your Harley factory power train warranty. So that alone was a non starter for me.

And as Kevin said they have a system which will hold the vehicle upright once it dips below a threshold speed. Without this optional kit it can fall over just as a two wheeler can. Personally I would not trust it. I can envision it working flawlessly and trusting it until one day you come to a stop and have an oh chit moment when something malfunctions and next thing you know you are on the ground. No thanks!

I have a friend who put the outrigger wheels on his Street Glide. They deploy below a certain speed also. Until one time they did not. Anything mechanical/hydraulic/electrical can and will fail. And of course there is not guarantee that this company will be successful and you will be left in a lurch with a system with not parts or service availability.

I choose the Tri-Glide and would not consider this conversion interesting as it is.

 

[1dn5up]

Seems that all the design focused on the tilting suspension. However not enough thought went into looks or aerodynamics.

As in my MP3 , it needs more front tupperware with a fixed fairing. Personaly, As is ,it looks real fugly to me , and looks sells.

Other than that you forget about the training wheels and just ride the same as 2 wheels . BTW, I tried riding my MP3 while the front suspension was locked, you will definitly dump it.! Proably has a seat sensor as you can not rev throttle unless your on the seat to prevent the tilt lock from unlocking with out its rider aboard.

Good posting Kevin .

 

[bronxbill]

Interesting, but I just can't get past the look of the front end

 

[frostbite51]

I think on a bike without the fairing it would look kinda like those old style Indy race cars...

 

[roadking2]

To each his own, but it sure isn't my cup of tea. Don't like the front end at all. What is the purpose of the grill? Does it just cover up the linkage, etc. on the front end or is there a functional purpose for it? The whole "I still want to lean in the curves" stuff IMO is over rated. I don't know anyone that has a trike that misses that part of 2 wheeling. Probably there are some that do miss it, but I don't know any of them. Riding a trike has it's own set of thrills and chills in the curves that for me, makes up for any leaning over that I don't do anymore. Seriously think about it. Do any of you trike riders really miss leaning over? Inquiring minds (mine anyway) want to know.

 

[rhino 2]

To each his own, but it sure isn't my cup of tea. Don't like the front end at all. What is the purpose of the grill? Does it just cover up the linkage, etc. on the front end or is there a functional purpose for it? The whole "I still want to lean in the curves" stuff IMO is over rated. I don't know anyone that has a trike that misses that part of 2 wheeling. Probably there are some that do miss it, but I don't know any of them. Riding a trike has it's own set of thrills and chills in the curves that for me, makes up for any leaning over that I don't do anymore. Seriously think about it. Do any of you trike riders really miss leaning over? Inquiring minds (mine anyway) want to know.

Do i miss leaning....Na, But i do miss the zig-zagging around pot holes...That said if someone needs a Trike that leans, But doesn't want a Two wheeler, Than that means that they are scared to lean cause they might fall, So why would they need a Trike that leans and can't fall, Half the fun in leaning a Bike is the fear of dyeing, And the machoism of how far you leaned on that last ride and brag about not falling, But eventually' Fall some will...

 

[roadking2]

Do i miss leaning....Na, But i do miss the zig-zagging around pot holes...That said if someone needs a Trike that leans, But doesn't want a Two wheeler, Than that means that they are scared to lean cause they might fall, So why would they need a Trike that leans and can't fall, Half the fun in leaning a Bike is the fear of dyeing, And the machoism of how far you leaned on that last ride and brag about not falling, But eventually' Fall some will...

I will say that I miss being able to avoid things in the road. On a trike, steer to miss it with the front tire, and one of the rear tires gets it and having 2 up front won't solve that problem. You can't swerve around things on a trike like you can on a bike and you can't straddle them like you can in a car. I had an encounter with a dead skunk. Did my damnedest to miss him to no avail. Missed having 2 wheels, or a car, for that one. Thank goodness most of the "stank" was already gone from him. I think he had been laying there for a while.

 

[Marc H]

This kit has been popping up on several facebook forums lately.Alot of folks that have never rode a properly set up trike seam to think its the stuff cause you can lean.Course these are the same ones that say they would get a convertible car rather than ride a trike cause they can't get past not leaning.

 

[ultrafxr]

Leaning is overrated imo. I do enjoy the thrill of riding curvy roads especially in the mountains but I find doing it on my trike is just as satisfying . . . and I've only got about 3k of trike riding so I'm pretty new. Been riding two wheelers for well over 50 years but I can honestly say I really like the trike and wouldn't go back to two wheels.

 

[Papa Zook]

I enjoy both trikes and bikes for different reasons and will always own and ride both until I can no longer safely ride a bike, but hopefully that will be a long time from now. I'd say probably 95 percent of trike owners are like me and did not buy a trike because they cannot physically handle a bike, they bought one because it adds a new dimension to motorcycle ownership.

Trikes are safe, comfortable and in many ways more appealing than two wheelers for a number of reasons. In my opinion, riding a trike is much more relaxing on the open road. Just set the cruise control keep it pointed straight and you can actually look around at the scenery without driving yourself off the road. With this one, you'd have to be more conscious of not steering where you're looking, so that advantage would be lost.

As a trike dealer, the number one reason I hear from those looking to convert their bike is so their wife will feel safer than they do on a two wheeler.

 

[RedOregon]

I drove behind one of these things for a couple hours on my way back from Strugis in 2015. Watched it skitter back and forth from one side of the lane to the other. Finally stopped for gas and went over to the guy and asked him what it was like riding it, did the skittering back and forth bother him or was it something you get used to, etc.

He looked me straight in the face and said it was rock solid, didn't skitter or skip around at all. Dude I just spent several hours watching you... what the hell, I guess you get used to it.

I'll pass...

 

[Chaplain Hardcase]

no longer safely ride a bike

I enjoy both trikes and bikes for different reasons and will always own and ride both until I can no longer safely ride a bike, but hopefully that will be a long time from now. I'd say probably 95 percent of trike owners are like me and did not buy a trike because they cannot physically handle a bike, they bought one because it adds a new dimension to motorcycle ownership.

Trikes are safe, comfortable and in many ways more appealing than two wheelers for a number of reasons. In my opinion, riding a trike is much more relaxing on the open road. Just set the cruise control keep it pointed straight and you can actually look around at the scenery without driving yourself off the road. With this one, you'd have to be more conscious of not steering where you're looking, so that advantage would be lost.

As a trike dealer, the number one reason I hear from those looking to convert their bike is so their wife will feel safer than they do on a two wheeler.

After nearly 50 years of mini-bikes, dirt-bikes and many, many road bikes I went to the a trike 3 years ago when my back and sciatica no longer would support me safely riding on 2 wheels with my wife. Oh I could have S.O. S. disease (Stuck on Stupid) and be all macho and crap but I would much rather be in the wind, be a Patriot Guard, serve on RFTW and the like. The one thing I really miss is the lean (countersteer) that my Goldwing trike does not provide. This seems like a possible option. Like someone mentioned it would likely void any OEM Harley, Honda or Indian warranty getting a low mileage used '16 - '18 maybe the way to go with an aftermarket warranty.