Trike to buy?

[jayhawkokie]

I am also shopping around for a good trike builder, I just talked to Kevin with Horizon in Clarksville, AR, they do CSC, Hannigan, Motortrike and Roadsmith. They build an average of 5 trikes a week, have all the kits in stock so they don't charge for freight on the kits. I'm pretty sure they are who I will go with, horizontrikes.com. They have a nice web site where you can spec the build of your trike and they give you a turnkey price right there.

 

[sekanbob]

Local dealer is probably out. I had explained my circumstances. They didn't have a tire which was understandable but they told me it would be over a week before they could work me in. I have spent many thousands of dollars there not that makes any difference but feel they could find time to help someone get back on the road.

 

[gadgetguru69]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>jayhawkokie</strong>
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<div class="message">I am also shopping around for a good trike builder, I just talked to Kevin with Horizon in Clarksville, AR, they do CSC, Hannigan, Motortrike and Roadsmith. They build an average of 5 trikes a week, have all the kits in stock so they don't charge for freight on the kits. I'm pretty sure they are who I will go with, horizontrikes.com. They have a nice web site where you can spec the build of your trike and they give you a turnkey price right there.</div>

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</div>jayhawkoie just wanted to let you know I think you will be very happy with the guys at horizon we just picked up our new trike today. We bought it through honda of Russellville but horizon does all their trikes. We had custom paint and lost of options add and they did great job. Chris is horizons painter and he did top notch job. The whole gang did bang up job and was done when they promised too.

 

[FRR]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>sekanbob</strong>
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<div class="message">I stopped in to the local Honda dealer today for a few questions regarding warrant issues and cost of converting to a trike. They do Champion. They said under 10,000 (is that somewhere in the ballpark for not being IRS or not raked?) and discussed IRS and straight axel. He said they didn't do IRS as among other things that there is less problems with straight axle. We talked about raking it and he advised not raking it until riding it for a while because you have better control of non raked and have to continually be correcting for rake. As far as warranty he said that they don't mention to Honda that it is a trike unless they ask or want t send someone to check it out. (Mainly engine and transmission problems but said it was very rare to have any problems.<br />
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From looking at many posts on here that most are sold on raking and IRS. (Don't like that abbreviation) I still think I like the looks of Road Smith and CSC better but also discussed the ground effects and he didn't have a good opinion of them either as they are easily damaged. Please comment.</div>

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</div>Let me just say this; from what you report about the advice this dealer gave you I would certainly recommend that you keep looking. I don't feel this dealer either know anything about Trikes, or has had much in the way of experience with them.

Either way, it sounds like you would be much better off to find an installer that is knowledgeable about the products

 

[tfdeputydawg]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>sekanbob</strong>
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<div class="message">I stopped in to the local Honda dealer today for a few questions regarding warrant issues and cost of converting to a trike. They do Champion. They said under 10,000 (is that somewhere in the ballpark for not being IRS or not raked?) and discussed IRS and straight axel. He said they didn't do IRS as among other things that there is less problems with straight axle. We talked about raking it and he advised not raking it until riding it for a while because you have better control of non raked and have to continually be correcting for rake. As far as warranty he said that they don't mention to Honda that it is a trike unless they ask or want t send someone to check it out. (Mainly engine and transmission problems but said it was very rare to have any problems.<br />
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From looking at many posts on here that most are sold on raking and IRS. (Don't like that abbreviation) I still think I like the looks of Road Smith and CSC better but also discussed the ground effects and he didn't have a good opinion of them either as they are easily damaged. Please comment.</div>

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</div>Go to the Champion web sight for a real price! I almost positive you will not be happy w/one that is less than $10K.

Ask to ride one!<br />
Less trouble w/straight axles is a not so true statement!<br />
Rake kit is a must for most.<br />
Road Smith over a CSC!<br />
Ground effects or foot fairings are not easily damaged if one pays attention! <br />
Again, if you are looking for the smoothest ride and most comfort then a conversion that is IRS, extends the wheel base, has weight bearing foot fairings and a rake kit is the way to go.

 

[sekanbob]

I am going to check out a 2014 Lehman trike tomorrow. Want to check out all trikes.

 

[Rosy]

Just like anything else, good shops, OK shops, and shops you wouldn't take a dog to! It is wise to review the statements made about shops from our members near you to see if it is worth you pay a visit. I have several shops my area, but travel about an hour to go to the shop I trusted. I did travel further to have my Goldwing serviced, but he recently passed away. As I did, I have a shop for the Goldwing and a shop for my trike kit work. Some times you can get lucky so your shop does both.

Rosy

 

[jayhawkokie]

When we get back from California, I want to go to Russellville and check out the three brands thy sell.

Drop the folks at Heartland Honda in Springdale, AR an email and see what kind of deal they will make you, I just ordered the Roadsmith HST kit for my 2010 Goldwing conversion, they came close to matching Horizon Trikes price, I went with them because they were 2 hours closer to home,

 

[Razor]

I bought my 2012 1800 from a dealer 2 miles from my house as a dealer demo. I put 3500 miles on it before having the Motor Trike Razor kit installed. The more miles I ride it the happier I am with my choice. Last week Bob and me got on the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Parkway and rode to the North end of Sky Line Drive and enjoyed every minute of the ride. <br />
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The reason I triked it was because I could no longer trust my 2012 Can Am Spyder RT with only 4900 miles on it. I went to my Honda dealer and ask if they would honor the warranty and was told they would honor everything but the transmission. I found a local trike installer who also sells Indian and Victory motorcycles. I went to thier mechanic and ask him what was his thought on the best trike kit. He sold me on the Motor Trike Razor. They had Motor Trike, Hannagin, CSC and a couple of other manufacturer kits onsite.

In my opinion I could have just tossed a coin and pick the right one. They are all very good manufacturers. Its just a matter of personal taste.<br />
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I like the short wheel base which is very maneuverable it tight areas. The trunk space on the Razor is big enough to carry all we need for a one week trip. I also like the look with the two tone paint. <br />
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What would I do differently? For starters I would buy a Goldwing without the useless navigation system. Next I would get the emergency brake and the axillary gas tank. I'm not sure about this but I think I would like to have a slightly lower gear ratio to bump the RPM maybe 2 to 300. I also like the look of the new Hannigan front end.

It would be about $2k more than the 4.5 rake kit I had installed. I'm not sure how that would look with the Razor kit though. <br />
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On another note, we ran into a problem two days after our trip. Bob injured her back again. Boy was the doctor ticked off that she had just spent six days on the trike. He thinks the MRI will show that surgery is the only option this time. She's trying to devise a way to ride with me while in traction. This lady loves to ride. Her heads bobs all over the place looking around. About every 30 second I get poked in the ribs and she yells Squirrel.

I told her on this trip if she did not stop it I would wind up with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Imagine riding three feet from a 1000 foot cliff on a 35MPH curvy at 45MPH and getting poked in the ribs while she yell LOOK AT THOSE FLOWERS! (five hundred times a day). <img src="images/smilies/AGGGH.gif" border="0" alt="" title="AGGHH" class="inlineimg" /> She's my Sweetie. I hope everyone has one just like her. <br />
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Good luck on your search. No mater what you choose you can't go wrong.

 

[sekanbob]

I understand that on CSC, the aqua shields will not support weight but on RoadSmith they will. Is that correct?

 

[jayhawkokie]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>sekanbob</strong>
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<div class="message">I understand that on CSC, the aqua shields will not support weight but on RoadSmith they will. Is that correct?</div>

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</div>A friend of mine has the Roadsmith HTS with Wing Guards, the same as aqua shields, and they can support your weight, I didn't order them with mine, hope I'm not sorry later.

 

[Roadsmith Trikes]

FYI, all Roadsmith Trike running boards are 100% weight bearing and can be stood upon while getting on or off the trike.

 

[sekanbob]

Thanks, That is one of the reasons I am leaning towards a Road Smith. I like the looks but also want them to be functional.

 

[jayhawkokie]

Thanks, That is one of the reasons I am leaning towards a Road Smith. I like the looks but also want them to be functional.

I had always thought I would go with Motortrike since there is a builder just 10 miles away, but and old friend of mine who just bought his third trike got the Roadsmith HTS, and he raves about the ride because of the longer wheel base, that is what convinced me, plus I like the look.

 

[gadgetguru69]

I had always thought I would go with Motortrike since there is a builder just 10 miles away, but and old friend of mine who just bought his third trike got the Roadsmith HTS, and he raves about the ride because of the longer wheel base, that is what convinced me, plus I like the look.

We were i a similar boat we live in Overton TX which is only about 20 miles from Troup TX which is were Motor Trikes factory is. After riding both the MT and the RS my wife really liked the ride of the RS much better which i think was due to the longer wheel base. I don't think any one could go wrong with either just personal choice really.

 

[bikerbillone]

Yes, I checked out the MT as well since the shop is way closer to me, but the rear wheels are directly under the passenger, which I felt would be a rougher ride. On a trike riding two up, you want to avoid rougher if possible.

 

[craiglarmon]

Thanks, That is one of the reasons I am leaning towards a Road Smith. I like the looks but also want them to be functional.

My experience in test riding a Goldwing Roadsmith and a Goldwing Hannigan, the Hannigan floor boards were noticeably more solid. The Hannigan ride was also noticeably better.

 

[sekanbob]

How does the aux fuel tank work? Can one be added to a trike that doesn't have one and it can, how much would it cost? Thanks for your help.

 

[Solidbob]

How does the aux fuel tank work? Can one be added to a trike that doesn't have one and it can, how much would it cost? Thanks for your help.

Works very easy, there is a toggle switch and two red lights mounted on the RH Lower Dash by your knee area... I use the tank two ways, 1st is if I'm not riding out a full tank I wait til I get back to a station by my house that I know keeps fresh fuel and about 10 miles prior to that I flip the toggle switch to turn the pump on visually watching the fuel needle move up and when it gets to within a couple of marks of full I turn the switch back off. Then when I pull to the pump I put the fresh gas back in the reserve tank. The second way is as your riding and get close to empty or hit the reserve light I turn the switch on and keep riding, the pump will automatically turn off once the reserve is empty and then when you pull in for fuel your refill the reserve and if traveling I top off the main tank.

A word of caution if you use my #1 method and don't monitor the fuel guage you will overfill the main tank and pump fuel into the vapor canister and your Bike or Trike will act like it has water in the fuel, immediately turn the pump off and continue to ride your ill feeling machine, eventially the condition we'll clear but you will think you are going to be stranded if you can gradually pick your speed up on the highway that will also help... don't ask me how I know this / just don't do it - I was blaming all my poor fuel choices til I saw the light still on.

But yes the aux. tank is well worth the investment if for no reason than peace of mind.

Installation after the fact requires body removal and is very costly...FYI Hope that answered your questions.....:Coffee:

 

[tfdeputydawg]

How does the aux fuel tank work? Can one be added to a trike that doesn't have one and it can, how much would it cost? Thanks for your help.

To answer this, first, we need to know the make of trike conversion on what brand bike and the model years of both??
Also, you can google your trike brand to see the cost of the aux tank. Bear in mind, since the trike is already built, the body has to come off for the install.

 

[sekanbob]

Yes, thanks, it answer the question. If it doesn't have one on existing trike then you can't afford to add one. My mc pulling a trailer only has about 125 mile range before hitting empty but still has around a gallon left in the tank when I fill up. I haven't run out of gas but have at times worried after ridding a long time after hitting empty with no gas station in sight.

 

[jayhawkokie]

My friend has the extended tank on his 2013 Roadsmith and wouldn't have another trike without one, I didn't order it with my kit, I don't have the stamina anymore for Iron Butt rides , and my friends and I like to stop about every hour for a break and it's usually at a gas station so we can get a snack.

 

[jayhawkokie]

Re: Trike to buy? Update

I got an email from Roadsmith today, trike will be in the paint shop this week, kit will ship next week The Honda Dealer/Installer wants me to bring my bike over this Saturday and they will start the teardown next week and they are expecting the kit to arrive there end of next week. Won't be long now and I'll be on 3 wheels. Pictures will be posted as soon as I get some taken. WOO HOO :Santa:

 

[sekanbob]

Great! Haven't ordered a new vehicle since my wife's 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and she drove me crazy during the 6 weeks so I know what the waiting is like. I know you will enjoy it for years to come.

 

[sekanbob]

In looking at a 2003 with 2014 RS trike, are there any problems with 2003 GW?