Trike wannabe

[trooper113]

Some of you might know me from other forums. I'm 62 years old, a retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol LT and have ridden for about 43 years. I currently have a 2007 HD Shrine Ultra which I am considering trading for a HD Tri-Glide or triking using a Motor Trike Gladiator kit at a dealer. The only reason I'm considering triking is because I have a seriously blown knee (two arthroscopies) and likely a knee replacement in the future.

Any thoughts re: Tri-Glide vs. Motor Trike Gladiator?

BTW, I was referred here by pasadenajim.

Thanks,

T113

 

[Nana]

Welcome to TrikeTalk, T113! The Triglide is an excellent trike, but if you have a great bike in good condition, already adjusted and accessorized to your liking, I would recommend you add the kit and a rake kit instead of starting from scratch. There are a number of changes you would likely want to do to the Triglide, and making your current ride into a trike could save you a lot of $$ and time!

 

[adaptolife]

Welcome! Take a TG for a test drive to make sure you want to give up that 2-wheel experience. I love my Ghost Wheels!

 

[trooper113]

Thanks for both your posts. My wife and I have plans to test ride a new Tri-Glide the first nice Saturday. She has said for years that she'd ride more and feel more secure on a trike. While I'm not sure about that, who are my knee and my brain to argue with SCHMBO? I'd love to have my wife riding with me more.

T113

 

[RSW]

You might read over this thread before your test ride.

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/harley-trikes-6/why-just-plain-why-10349/

 

[trooper113]

I think I'm looking pretty hard at a Roadsmith conversion.....unless one of you knowledgeable souls has information why I shouldn't.

As always, thanks for any help.

T113

 

[Nana]

Roadsmith is an excellent choice (as are several others ). They have a great reputation for quality. The most important thing you can do is find a top notch, well experienced installer. Even the best quality kit can be terrible if not installed correctly!

 

[Gorilla]

Some of you might know me from other forums. I'm 62 years old, a retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol LT and have ridden for about 43 years. I currently have a 2007 HD Shrine Ultra which I am considering trading for a HD Tri-Glide or triking using a Motor Trike Gladiator kit at a dealer. The only reason I'm considering triking is because I have a seriously blown knee (two arthroscopies) and likely a knee replacement in the future.

Any thoughts re: Tri-Glide vs. Motor Trike Gladiator?

BTW, I was referred here by pasadenajim.

Thanks,

T113

Welcome aboard T113. Like Nana says it depends on your attachment to the present ride. I triked my 2007 Police Road King and have not regretted it a minute.

 

[Gorilla]

Just noticed you changed from a Motor Trike to a RoadSmith in 8 hours. The Motortrike factory is alot closer. Just a point.

 

[BigIslandBoy]

Roadsmith is an excellent choice (as are several others ). They have a great reputation for quality. The most important thing you can do is find a top notch, well experienced installer. Even the best quality kit can be terrible if not installed correctly!

That last part is why I ended up trading our trusty Softail (which I loved) for a TG instead of converting it. I was seriously looking into a Tiltster conversion, but in this tiny community there was no one I trusted to do it right and I wanted something I could ride, not a project. Well, of course it'll still be a bit of a project tweaking it to my liking but at least I'll be able to ride my project.

 

[427dave]

I had a 2010 Ultra Limited with 22,000 miles and looked at the Roadsmith. I liked the Roadsmith as I have a friend that owned 3 Trike Shops and could also get me a good deal on the kit. I was going to do the installation myself, as I have built race cars and hot rods for many years. I then checked with a few Harley dealers on trading for a new Triglide in 2011. Trading ended up being cheaper than doing the kit. By trading I then ended up with a new bike with a complete warranty. The kit would just have been another year on the bike and Roadsmith warranty.

Also my wife loves the Triglide alot more than the Ultra. She feels safer on the trike. Last summer we took a trip to Niagara Falls on it for 8 days and she loved it alot better than the Ultra. She likes riding around home more also. We are in our late 60's and I am having a knee problem and had fallen over a few times with her on the back, now she does not worry about that. No matter which way you choose to go, you will definitely have fun on the trike and she will like it more. We now have 16,000 miles on the trike and have had it 11 months.

I have ridden bikes about 55 years and never saw me riding a trike. It did take a few miles and some interesting experiences before getting use to steering and being wider.

 

[trooper113]

Just noticed you changed from a Motor Trike to a RoadSmith in 8 hours. The Motortrike factory is alot closer. Just a point.

You're right....I did fairly quickly change search directions. There's a dealer/installer for Roadsmith and Hannigan trike conversions just north of me. I talked to him at length today and he sounds like he's got it together.
He said he personally slightly prefers Hannigans, but Roadsmiths are as good.

While I'll look into conversion, I'm still going to go to my HD dealer with my much finer 1/2 and test ride a new Tri-Glide as a starting point. For all I know, a Tri-Glide might be perfect for us.

Thanks for all your replies.

T113

 

[Gorilla]

You're right....I did fairly quickly change search directions. There's a dealer/installer for Roadsmith and Hannigan trike conversions just north of me. I talked to him at length today and he sounds like he's got it together.
He said he personally slightly prefers Hannigans, but Roadsmiths are as good.

While I'll look into conversion, I'm still going to go to my HD dealer with my much finer 1/2 and test ride a new Tri-Glide as a starting point. For all I know, a Tri-Glide might be perfect for us.

Thanks for all your replies.

T113

Now your cookin. The installer will be the most important person in your decision process. If they do a good job you will have a good trike.

 

[trooper113]

My wife and I went by a dealer today and test road (drove?) a 2012 Tri-Glide 103". We were pretty impressed. The engine and low end power were great compared to our '07 Ultra 96". I thought the ride okay....she loved the ride and feeling of security. Now, if I can only find $17K (including TTL) to trade.

I guess $17K doesn't look too good lining one's casket, eh?

T113

 

[41inWV]

Hearses don't have trailer hitches

 

[skuuter]

WELCOME to TRIKE TALK.....ThumbUp

 

[trooper113]

Okay....after a bunch of research (and input from several of you) I finally decided what to do. I'm having my '07 Ultra triked with a Hannigan kit. The dealer is about 30 miles or so north of me and runs a nice op. I put my deposit down, the kit is ordered and should be here and done in mid to late March.

With my kind of "senior status", new right knee and stretched ligaments in my right ankle from a broken ankle a few years ago, I finally decided it was time to add a third wheel. My wife also says she thinks she'll feel more secure on the trike and will ride with me more, so that's enough by itself.

T113

 

[icedad]

Welcome Trooper 113 from s/w Ga. Glad you got your mind made up. I'm sure you'll enjoy life on 3 wheels. It's easier. Don't fret the knee replacement, it's only 6 weeks of hell and then it's all uphill after that. Mine's still going good after 10 years. Good luck to you and your new trike.

 

[White Knight 04]

Go with the Gladiator I have one and love it L.T. !!!!

 

[Ohio Eddie]

Welcome to Trike Talk from SW Ohio.

 

[trooper113]

My Ultra is now due to go to the Hannigan dealer in late March...about a week later than expected due to a delay from Hannigan. I'm really looking forward to the conversion....mostly because my lovely wife will ride with me more.

T113

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Welcome T113 to the trike world from Southeast Missouri. I'm sure you will love the new trike and having the wife on will make it that much better. My knees aren't that bad yet but it is one of the reason I went with a trike several years ago.ThumbUp

 

[87Trike1200]

You made a good choice and you'll be riding and telling us how great it is in no time at all. Good luck and best wishes for your "project".