Greydog, Here's a little inside scoop as to my thinking when I was doing exactly what you are doing right now. Hope this reflection helps even if a little.
To start with I've ridden bikes since I was 16, I'm 53. Stopped when I was raising my kids then got back to riding however I did not stop hanging around biking. I did, however, make a deal with a good friend of mine that worked in the Harley industry to buy another one if he too would get back to riding after a bad accident he had. Well, you can guess the rest.
Now with that said and several bikes later I accidentally ran across a 07 Ultra Peace Officers Special EG that was for sale. Rode it for about a year and found it to be a little too heavy for my taste and with safety issues when two up. I'm not the strongest or youngest stud in the wall. I quit riding it or just didn't ride it much unless there were a group of people I knew headed for an overnight-er or long ride in the mountains.. hang on, I'm getting there.
The Wifey rides a bike now so there was really no more safety issue with me being able to handle the two up issues but I still found the Ultra was a bit bigger than I wanted/needed. Wifey didn't like to ride long distance either sooooooo.. you guessed it. The trike was the answer. Read all posts and on line info that I could for which conversion and why others convert. Read the "after" and how so many liked their trike and all the attention one gets and head turns while riding. OK, this sounded like a plan.
I worked on my POSE and starting to make the power changes before the trike conversion. (Cams, Dyno, Duals, gearing and such) Just seemed easier for me to do this first. Time was not an issue. I picked Motor Trike for a couple good reasons. 1. I liked the body configuration more so than the Champion such as the fender flair. (it was a personal thing, nothing wrong with Champion) 2. I had a Motor Trike contractor within 45 minutes from my house so I checked out his performance and reputation. This is a HUGE part. If you don't get a good installer then your trike will not be much fun as you are fixing their screw ups instead of riding and will always have that "doubt birdie" tweeting in your ear when riding.
So now, the moment of truth. I put it off then it was back on then I put it off again and again. Money wasn't the issue it was more of "my pour POSE will never be the same again". (any of this sound familiar?)
I sucked it up and just did it one day. Now it's all done. I pulled the trigger like so many of us here and truly enjoy tooling around on the trike. No more safety two up issues, Wifey likes to ride on the back. Last week she rode it in a parking lot and I'll be lucky now to get it back.
It is very enjoyable and I, for one, really didn't regret the decision.
Yes, there will be days of reflection. Yes, there will be days of "I miss my old bike, look what I did to her".. but as soon as you mount the trike that goes away, crank her up and get down the road a little and you'll forget all about it because you will be on your TRIKE ! Whoooo Hooooooo Yeah man, Trike baby....
It will take a little getting used to the new feel but after about 500 miles you'll be cruising around like an old pro remembering how wide the back end is now so you don't hit a gas pump or curb or even another bike that you pull next to at a light. Yes, I came close once because I forgot. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades right?
Just about done here and I know I've gotten long winded but someone just can't give you this kind of info in a few simple words. We have several bikes and the trike so when I get the jones for two wheels... poof, I'm gone but it's on a solo seat Harley and that advantage keeps me grinn'n too. The trike can be, sometimes, a little big just to hop on and enjoy a short ride but remember I said "sometimes".
We are all different and for some the decision is a challenge but for those who took the chance and converted their bike or who purchased a new or used trike the feeling of exhilaration is the same. Grab your toothpicks honey, it's time to cruise! Soon it will become a passion that you just can't resist filled with meeting new friends with the same.
Cheers.... get'r-done :yes:
To start with I've ridden bikes since I was 16, I'm 53. Stopped when I was raising my kids then got back to riding however I did not stop hanging around biking. I did, however, make a deal with a good friend of mine that worked in the Harley industry to buy another one if he too would get back to riding after a bad accident he had. Well, you can guess the rest.
Now with that said and several bikes later I accidentally ran across a 07 Ultra Peace Officers Special EG that was for sale. Rode it for about a year and found it to be a little too heavy for my taste and with safety issues when two up. I'm not the strongest or youngest stud in the wall. I quit riding it or just didn't ride it much unless there were a group of people I knew headed for an overnight-er or long ride in the mountains.. hang on, I'm getting there.
The Wifey rides a bike now so there was really no more safety issue with me being able to handle the two up issues but I still found the Ultra was a bit bigger than I wanted/needed. Wifey didn't like to ride long distance either sooooooo.. you guessed it. The trike was the answer. Read all posts and on line info that I could for which conversion and why others convert. Read the "after" and how so many liked their trike and all the attention one gets and head turns while riding. OK, this sounded like a plan.
I worked on my POSE and starting to make the power changes before the trike conversion. (Cams, Dyno, Duals, gearing and such) Just seemed easier for me to do this first. Time was not an issue. I picked Motor Trike for a couple good reasons. 1. I liked the body configuration more so than the Champion such as the fender flair. (it was a personal thing, nothing wrong with Champion) 2. I had a Motor Trike contractor within 45 minutes from my house so I checked out his performance and reputation. This is a HUGE part. If you don't get a good installer then your trike will not be much fun as you are fixing their screw ups instead of riding and will always have that "doubt birdie" tweeting in your ear when riding.
So now, the moment of truth. I put it off then it was back on then I put it off again and again. Money wasn't the issue it was more of "my pour POSE will never be the same again". (any of this sound familiar?)
I sucked it up and just did it one day. Now it's all done. I pulled the trigger like so many of us here and truly enjoy tooling around on the trike. No more safety two up issues, Wifey likes to ride on the back. Last week she rode it in a parking lot and I'll be lucky now to get it back.
It is very enjoyable and I, for one, really didn't regret the decision. Yes, there will be days of reflection. Yes, there will be days of "I miss my old bike, look what I did to her".. but as soon as you mount the trike that goes away, crank her up and get down the road a little and you'll forget all about it because you will be on your TRIKE ! Whoooo Hooooooo Yeah man, Trike baby....
It will take a little getting used to the new feel but after about 500 miles you'll be cruising around like an old pro remembering how wide the back end is now so you don't hit a gas pump or curb or even another bike that you pull next to at a light. Yes, I came close once because I forgot. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades right?
Just about done here and I know I've gotten long winded but someone just can't give you this kind of info in a few simple words. We have several bikes and the trike so when I get the jones for two wheels... poof, I'm gone but it's on a solo seat Harley and that advantage keeps me grinn'n too. The trike can be, sometimes, a little big just to hop on and enjoy a short ride but remember I said "sometimes".
We are all different and for some the decision is a challenge but for those who took the chance and converted their bike or who purchased a new or used trike the feeling of exhilaration is the same. Grab your toothpicks honey, it's time to cruise!
Soon it will become a passion that you just can't resist filled with meeting new friends with the same.Cheers.... get'r-done :yes:
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