What do you like about your Champion Trike?

[Trike Talk News]

OK Champion Trike owners, here's your chance to brag on your Champion Trike and tell current and future trike owners why they should buy a Champion Trike or Champion Conversion. Topics of interest will be ride, handling, features, benefits, design, fitment, service, price, styling, etc. There will be NO FLAMING or complaining in this thread towards any dealer or the manufacturer as there are other places for that.

This thread will be based on your positive experiences and why you bought a Champion and why you recommend Champion to others. Please state the make and model of your bike and the make and model of your Champion Conversion along with how long you have owned it and how many Champion Trikes you have owned total.

And please post a picture too so we can see how awesome your trike is!

 

[Bill Reber]

I rode a 2010 stage two wing after a long illness the decision was made to Trike it. Our local Honda dealer does Champion and CSC . The wife liked the looks of the Champion and the trunk while listed as smaller was in fact deeper that the CSC thus she could fit her suit case better in the Champion. The dealer also told us to buy the S.A. version due to parts cost are much less than the IR and can be purchase at the local auto store. Another point was the warranty was much better on a SA unit.

 

[pcombe]

ThumbUp This is a direct quote from Bazooka when i asked about , and before i bought the champion straight axle kit.
The Champion solid axle kit is one of the most straightforward and easiest kits to install, period. Their install instruction manual is thorough and has lots of pictures, stuff us male humans need and like! "

ThumbUp ( See sept. 2013 trike of the month on this forum)

Also Goggle- pcombe library/photobucket- i kept a photo log on the conversion.


:10: I did the conversion myself.
I am reasonably capable as a mechanic but by no means a certified motorcycle mechanic. And this was my first ever trike build!:Shrug:

:Coffee: I have since done a might of work for others also as there is no dealer/trike installer within a convenient range of where i live. Besides, I wanted to do it myself.

I did the rear end conversion in the garage within a 1 1/2 week time span including paint and pinstripe,blush: by the way i painted my rear kit using the Dupli-Color spray cans of black and clear paint bought from auto zone at about $7.00 per can, This paint is an automotive paint and its propellant is propane so it dries very near as fast as you shoot it! So you have to try and get a run in the paint! )

:AllGood:I did this entire conversion with no high dollar lifts or tools, with my motor manual at hand for reference , an overhead chain hoist, jack stands, and champion instructions at my fingertips. Also a welding machine.
:xzqxz: The instructions caused me to scratch my head a couple a couple times but i was able to work through it .
ThumbUp I also was able to talk directly to a champion installer/mechanic at the factory when i tried to over think the instructions.

:Coffee:ThumbUp:10: I got plenty of good advice from other forums members ( you know who you are), who have done the conversion themselves and Bazooka went out of his way to help me also.

:Shrug: I have COPD and Congestive Heart Failure and blood thinning medicine kept my knuckles bleeding, and i constantly had that dang portable oxygen machine in the way , and band-aid brand made a small fortune on top of my parts expenses.
(and i was in absolute heaven).:laugh:

Speaking of expensesThumbUp i got a very good deal on the kit through Bazooka on this forum, I also got a good deal from Bazooka on the raked triple trees i installed on the front myself but thats another class and not about the rear end conversion.
:Coffee: All totaled i have under $8,000 into the entire conversion.

My ride is a beautiful 1989 Harley Davidson tour Glide Ultra Classic who's next birthday will see 25 yrs. and still counting,ThumbUp :Shrug: There were only a couple of kit manufactures that offer a trike assembly for a machine as old as mine. Champion and Frankenstein come to mind and i have to admit Champion was the best looking kit in my opinion and its cost was considerably less than Frankenstein and i am on a fixed income.

ThumbUp The Harley tri-Glide is a straight axle so i reasoned that model was good enough for mine and so chose to go with it over the independent suspension.

My trike rides a little rough in town with the crappy city streets but i built it for travel and when i get it out of town it's ride smooths out and is everything i would want in a trike, I am one of those guys who puts miles on a machine and took it out on a 2500 mile trip through rugged mountains,and open plains and found my trike to be even more responsive than my buddies Tri-glide in steering and handling.

ThumbUp The motor is a stock 80" Harley with a five speed tranny and i am constantly running up behind my friends tri-glide on hills and have to back out of my cruise control and i usually use at least 1/2 gallon less fuel per fill up than he does.

The Bassani mufflers that came with my trike kit produce a very righteous deep, yet mellow tone and is the envy of my friends.

ThumbUp The Champion kit for a bike as old as mine also came with the the braces and instructions to beef up my upper motor mount, It came with everything i needed to do a complete conversion.

I absolutely love my Champion trike. ThumbUp:laugh:

 

[Nana]

I currently am riding my second Champion trike. Both were installed on a Harley Fat Boy, and both times I chose the straight axle. Initially, I preferred Champion based mostly on the appearance and price. I did talk with several owners of Champion trikes, and all gave top reviews for quality and handling, so I went ahead and scheduled the kit installation.

It took 300 miles or so to feel really comfortable with the new steering requirements, but I've never regretted the decision. I find the ride comfortable despite the straight axle, although I realize it is not quite so comfortable on the passenger seat; but as I ride solo, that is not an issue. I do find the handling in corners and twisties to be slightly quicker and "tighter" with the straight axle, and I do like that as we ride a lot on twisting country roads.

I can't speak to the difference in maintenance needs as I've never had a mechanical problem with either Champion trike or with the Hannigan IRS trike I had. In my opinion, the quality of Champion's design and manufacture is excellent!

In addition, I had both these Champion trikes built by a top-notch dealer/installer (Baxter's HD in Bidwell, Ohio). By all accounts quality of installation is the main reason for issues or NO issues with trikes. All of the major kit manufacturers have wonderful products, but if those kits are installed poorly you can have no end of problems afterward. I give much credit for my years of worry-free riding to the excellent builds done by Ben and his crew at Baxter's!

 

[Champion Trikes]

@Bill Reber - Thank you for choosing a Champion Trike Kit! We are absolutely thrilled that you and your wife are enjoying the rebirth of your GL1800. The Solid Axle kit is a great choice in terms of pricing.

@pcombe - That was a great write up and congratulations on being the Trike of the Month! I would love to see your build in the new Trike Build section here on the forums.

@Nana - We are all pleased to hear that this is your second Champion Trike. I remember talking to you on Facebook about the status updates on the production of your trike. We thank you and hope to hear back with updates on your trike.

Everyone here at Champion Trikes thanks each and everyone one of our customers for standing behind our products. At Champion where "We keep your dreams alive" our customers keeps our dreams going.

 

[pcombe]

@Bill Reber - Thank you for choosing a Champion Trike Kit! We are absolutely thrilled that you and your wife are enjoying the rebirth of your GL1800. The Solid Axle kit is a great choice in terms of pricing.

@pcombe - That was a great write up and congratulations on being the Trike of the Month! I would love to see your build in the new Trike Build section here on the forums.

@Nana - We are all pleased to hear that this is your second Champion Trike. I remember talking to you on Facebook about the status updates on the production of your trike. We thank you and hope to hear back with updates on your trike.

Everyone here at Champion Trikes thanks each and everyone one of our customers for standing behind our products. At Champion where "We keep your dreams alive" our customers keeps our dreams going.

Goggle- pcombe library/photobucket- i kept a photo log on the conversion.

View attachment 16284 View attachment 16285

 

[Shimpy]

I chose Champion based on how it looks, and other people I know that have them. I chose S/A due to the simplicity of it and like how I have two large storage spaces over each axle that I probably wouldn't if it was IRS. My wing is 2010 that I put 8,000 miles on before triking and now have over 26,000. I can't compare it to other trikes as this the only one I have owned. I'm quite happy with it. The price was a big plus making my decision. I took my bike in to be triked on a Tuesday morning and got a call Friday afternoon that it was ready, can't beat that.

 

[Champion Trikes]

I chose Champion based on how it looks, and other people I know that have them. I chose S/A due to the simplicity of it and like how I have two large storage spaces over each axle that I probably wouldn't if it was IRS. My wing is 2010 that I put 8,000 miles on before triking and now have over 26,000. I can't compare it to other trikes as this the only one I have owned. I'm quite happy with it. The price was a big plus making my decision. I took my bike in to be triked on a Tuesday morning and got a call Friday afternoon that it was ready, can't beat that.

Great choice Shimpy! The GL1800 is my personal favorite bike to ride as a trike. Its fast, powerful, quiet and smooth. I see that you have put on more then 2/3rds of your total mileage as a trike. It shows how much more fun you have on the bike as a trike. We're glad to see that you're a happy Champion customer! Please let us know if there is anything you need for your trike.

Thanks again!

Champion Trikes

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Goggle- pcombe library/photobucket- i kept a photo log on the conversion.

View attachment 16284 View attachment 16285

Those were great pictures! You're daughter is one lucky girl to get that Harley when you kick the bucket. JK hope that doesn't happen anytime soon!

 

[captdanwh]

i had my 2007 flhtc converted with a Champion solid axle kit in 2011. I looked over the other kits that were available and really did not care for them. My choice was made because of the clean sweeping lines and the lack of a rear bumper. In my opinion rear bumpers make a trike look like the rear end of a car. My trike handles really well in the twisties in Pa. in the summer and on the flat roads of Fl. in the winter. the only issue i have with the kit is when i wash it or it rains the trunk gets really wet and needs to be dried out. the seal looks fine and the trunk closes tight but still leaks. the reason i like the kits better than the original Tri Glides is looks as the kits are not boxy looking and have much better lines. if and when i buy another it will be a kit again until Harley makes one with looks in mind. Again , just my opinion.

 

[pcombe]

i had my 2007 flhtc converted with a Champion solid axle kit in 2011. I looked over the other kits that were available and really did not care for them. My choice was made because of the clean sweeping lines and the lack of a rear bumper. In my opinion rear bumpers make a trike look like the rear end of a car. My trike handles really well in the twisties in Pa. in the summer and on the flat roads of Fl. in the winter. the only issue i have with the kit is when i wash it or it rains the trunk gets really wet and needs to be dried out. the seal looks fine and the trunk closes tight but still leaks. the reason i like the kits better than the original Tri Glides is looks as the kits are not boxy looking and have much better lines. if and when i buy another it will be a kit again until Harley makes one with looks in mind. Again , just my opinion.

I have never had a problem with the trunk getting wet,i wonder if the mounting bolt holes might have something to do with it? Lifting it off and adding a rubber seal around the bolts might make a difference?
:Shrug: To be honest i cant remember if mine had seals around the bolts? My kit had six body mounting bolts, three on each side.
When i get a little time i could look at my instructions or you could look on line at champion.

 

[OSM]

I have a 2002 HD Ultra Classic with a 2013 Champion Independant Rear Suspension. Due to my dealer being involved in a serious ATV accident and his shop being closed, I assembled my trike myself, except for the paint. Converting the Ultra Classic to a trike was not a difficult job, and when I did have questions, I called Champion and was able to get clear answers to my questions. I also installed a Champion rake kit and reverse kit at the same time. My only complaint is that Champion does not offer a nerf bar style rear bumper!

Prior to purchasing the Champion kit I had researched several other brands of trike conversions with independant suspension, but liked the Champion the best. In my opinion it has the best designed suspension. I have ridden my trike about 1500 miles since completion in late September. I enjoy the ride and handling the best, my wife also feels much safer on the trike than she did on two wheels.

I recommend Champion to anyone who is considering a trike.

 

[Pappy1]

View attachment 16209 View attachment 16211

ThumbUp This is a direct quote from Bazooka when i asked about , and before i bought the champion straight axle kit.
pepper" The Champion solid axle kit is one of the most straightforward and easiest kits to install, period. Their install instruction manual is thorough and has lots of pictures, stuff us male humans need and like! "

ThumbUp ( See sept. 2013 trike of the month on this forum)

Also Goggle- pcombe library/photobucket- i kept a photo log on the conversion.


:10: I did the conversion myself.
I am reasonably capable as a mechanic but by no means a certified motorcycle mechanic. And this was my first ever trike build!:Shrug:

:Coffee: I have since done a might of work for others also as there is no dealer/trike installer within a convenient range of where i live. Besides, I wanted to do it myself.

I did the rear end conversion in the garage within a 1 1/2 week time span including paint and pinstripe,blush: by the way i painted my rear kit using the Dupli-Color spray cans of black and clear paint bought from auto zone at about $7.00 per can, This paint is an automotive paint and its propellant is propane so it dries very near as fast as you shoot it! So you have to try and get a run in the paint! )

:AllGood:I did this entire conversion with no high dollar lifts or tools, with my motor manual at hand for reference , an overhead chain hoist, jack stands, and champion instructions at my fingertips. Also a welding machine.
:xzqxz: The instructions caused me to scratch my head a couple a couple times but i was able to work through it .
ThumbUp I also was able to talk directly to a champion installer/mechanic at the factory when i tried to over think the instructions.

:Coffee:ThumbUp:10: I got plenty of good advice from other forums members ( you know who you are), who have done the conversion themselves and Bazooka went out of his way to help me also.

:Shrug: I have COPD and Congestive Heart Failure and blood thinning medicine kept my knuckles bleeding, and i constantly had that dang portable oxygen machine in the way , and band-aid brand made a small fortune on top of my parts expenses.
(and i was in absolute heaven).:laugh:

Speaking of expensesThumbUp i got a very good deal on the kit through Bazooka on this forum, I also got a good deal from Bazooka on the raked triple trees i installed on the front myself but thats another class and not about the rear end conversion.
:Coffee: All totaled i have under $8,000 into the entire conversion.

My ride is a beautiful 1989 Harley Davidson tour Glide Ultra Classic who's next birthday will see 25 yrs. and still counting,ThumbUp :Shrug: There were only a couple of kit manufactures that offer a trike assembly for a machine as old as mine. Champion and Frankenstein come to mind and i have to admit Champion was the best looking kit in my opinion and its cost was considerably less than Frankenstein and i am on a fixed income.

ThumbUp The Harley tri-Glide is a straight axle so i reasoned that model was good enough for mine and so chose to go with it over the independent suspension.

My trike rides a little rough in town with the crappy city streets but i built it for travel and when i get it out of town it's ride smooths out and is everything i would want in a trike, I am one of those guys who puts miles on a machine and took it out on a 2500 mile trip through rugged mountains,and open plains and found my trike to be even more responsive than my buddies Tri-glide in steering and handling.

ThumbUp The motor is a stock 80" Harley with a five speed tranny and i am constantly running up behind my friends tri-glide on hills and have to back out of my cruise control and i usually use at least 1/2 gallon less fuel per fill up than he does.

The Bassani mufflers that came with my trike kit produce a very righteous deep, yet mellow tone and is the envy of my friends.

ThumbUp The Champion kit for a bike as old as mine also came with the the braces and instructions to beef up my upper motor mount, It came with everything i needed to do a complete conversion.

I absolutely love my Champion trike.pepperpepperThumbUp:laugh:

 

[Roadie]

I'm triking my '08 Road * with a Champion kit and so far it's working out pretty well - am having a bit of a hard time with hooking up the stock exhaust system though and is a real bear getting the brakes to bleed - other than that, it's a real nice kit to build and should work out well when it's done.

 

[mtn rider]

What I like about my Champion trike is the ez or should I say the lack of maintaince required to maintain a quality ride. The square stance of the kit as well as the cargo space has garnered a lot of comments. I live and ride the mountains daily and have found the solid suspension handles very well.

Thanks Champion.

Jerry king aka mtn rider

- - - Updated - -

 

[jmhelm]

I have the Champion kit on my 2001 Road star. My wife is partially disabled and could not ride before. Bought the kit threw an Installer in Kentucky. DXid the install myself with very little difficulty. Wife rides all the time now. Did not do the paint myself, took it to the local body shop. Am very happy with the conversion and would definitely do it again.

 

[pcombe]

I rode a 2010 stage two wing after a long illness the decision was made to Trike it. Our local Honda dealer does Champion and CSC . The wife liked the looks of the Champion and the trunk while listed as smaller was in fact deeper that the CSC thus she could fit her suit case better in the Champion. The dealer also told us to buy the S.A. version due to parts cost are much less than the IR and can be purchase at the local auto store. Another point was the warranty was much better on a SA unit.

I sure like mine!

 

[skuuter]

Rode a Friend's "Bare Bones" Version of Your Sportster 1200 Trike Kit this week....was really impressed with it...Flicked the twisties Great, felt light, but very stable....came away with a Big Grin, and I don't impress easily unless something works/handles....a "Function over Form Guy", but the Looks of the Kit matched the Performance....Great Job.....ThumbUp

 

[captdanwh]

there are some really nice looking kits out there now to choose from and you really cannot go wrong picking anyone of them but again my vote goes to Champion. Now if Champion was smart they would start offering their faithful followers with some options with their kits. again, i am not fond of rear bumpers but i am sure many trikers would want them. they could also come out with some really nice rear fender protectors, maybe made out of polished stainless or polished aluminum. Some fancier LED lights and more of them should also be on the menu of options as you always want to be seen, day or nite. OK Champion, i gave you some good advice now it is your turn to give your followers something. if you just sit back and watch the competition they will be far ahead of you and you will have a hard time catching back up.

 

[roadking2]

- - - Updated - - -

I love the cargo space and the overall "look" my trike has. I am also very satisfied with the ride quality of the IRS. Mine is a Roadking with no tour pack like most Harleys have. I to would love to see a nice plain, simple, tubular, nerf bar type bumper, and LED options for the lights. It's simple enough to swap bulbs on the brake lights, but if all lights were LED from the get go, that would be a plus.

 

[pcombe]

View attachment 19297What I like about my Champion trike is the ez or should I say the lack of maintaince required to maintain a quality ride. The square stance of the kit as well as the cargo space has garnered a lot of comments. I live and ride the mountains daily and have found the solid suspension handles very well.

Thanks Champion.

Jerry king aka mtn rider

- - - Updated - -

Good looking trike old son! Are those lights along the outside of the fender?
I wouldn't mind seeing a closer view of the leather accents on you fenders either.
Tell me how you came across them?

- - - Updated - - -

I have a 2002 HD Ultra Classic with a 2013 Champion Independant Rear Suspension. Due to my dealer being involved in a serious ATV accident and his shop being closed, I assembled my trike myself, except for the paint. Converting the Ultra Classic to a trike was not a difficult job, and when I did have questions, I called Champion and was able to get clear answers to my questions. I also installed a Champion rake kit and reverse kit at the same time. My only complaint is that Champion does not offer a nerf bar style rear bumper!

Prior to purchasing the Champion kit I had researched several other brands of trike conversions with independant suspension, but liked the Champion the best. In my opinion it has the best designed suspension. I have ridden my trike about 1500 miles since completion in late September. I enjoy the ride and handling the best, my wife also feels much safer on the trike than she did on two wheels.

I recommend Champion to anyone who is considering a trike.

I also just like the style of the body, clean lines, a sweeping fender, just the right combination of look and function on mine.

- - - Updated - - -

I have the Champion kit on my 2001 Road star. My wife is partially disabled and could not ride before. Bought the kit threw an Installer in Kentucky. DXid the install myself with very little difficulty. Wife rides all the time now. Did not do the paint myself, took it to the local body shop. Am very happy with the conversion and would definitely do it again.

View attachment 19429

That's a great body style for your scoot. Good job!

 

[mtn rider]

You have a good looking ride my friend. The stripping around the fenders and tank are chrome body molding available at most automotive stores. The rock guards are homemade simply by going to a good upholstery shop and having them cut from leather and then taking them to a shop that does commercial sewing and get them stiched . Be sure you have felt glued to the backside so as to protect your paint. that is the only problem is with champion is you have to hand make everything.

 

[pcombe]



You have a good looking ride my friend. The stripping around the fenders and tank are chrome body molding available at most automotive stores. The rock guards are homemade simply by going to a good upholstery shop and having them cut from leather and then taking them to a shop that does commercial sewing and get them stiched . Be sure you have felt glued to the backside so as to protect your paint. that is the only problem is with champion is you have to hand make everything.

I enlarged the picture so now I see the chrome molding.
I guess you probably heated it as you went during application?
I was looking and cane only see four attachment points on your fender bras and assume they are snap on?

The top fender rails on my trike are actually the rails that were on my tour glides saddle bags. I had to do do a little careful bending to get them to fit the fender tops.

Top rails, leather fender bras, fender well trim and as you say a rear bumper would be a nice thing for champion to make.
If they could do the same quality add-on's as the trike kits and price them reasonable they would be a good attraction for kit sales.

The chrome trim I have on the top front fender wells are from kuriyakin and the lower front fender trim is a triglide fit that I had to adapt to fit mine.

 

[captdanwh]

I am glad to see a few of you added some more options that you would like from Champion. Now we will see if they offer any of them at a reasonable price in the near future. Remember Champion, there are leaders and then there are followers, which one will you be?

 

[Darth]

I recently completed a Champion kit on my wife's 2009 HD Sportster XL1200 Custom. She had a hip replacement and was not able to hold the bike up during stopped or low speeds, but didn't want to give up riding. We looked at numerous kits, and decided on Champion after reading lots of articles and talking to several trike owners. The quality of the Champion kit is top notch... the kit came well packed, with everything clearly organized and ready to go. The instructions were very good and well thought out, the hardware was all sorted with nothing missing! I took my time putting it together, but if you dedicated the time, it could be done in a day or two at the most. Once the bike was assembled, it was time for a test ride... we were not disappointed. The bike handles great (it has a 5 degree rake kit), rides smooth, and is just plain and simple "fun" to ride. Every time I look over at her riding it, she has a big grin on her face!

The bike is set up with a detachable tour pak/driver backrest and a detachable touring windshield, so you can change the look in minutes with no tools needed.

I'm currently looking for some saddlebags that will fit in the gap between the original center fender of the bike and the trike wheels.

My suggestion to Champion would be to design saddlebags that would fill the gap on the solid axle trike kits.

Here are a couple of pics of the bike...

 

[pcombe]

Looks good!ThumbUp

 

[captdanwh]

Nice job Darth, your wife should be proud of you and her ride. we converted my wifes 1200 sportster to a trike also but after looking at the Champion kit and a full bodied trike she decided to go full. we installed a CSC kit and like your wife she loves it.

 

[roadking2]

I just got back from a short ride on mine. The more I ride it, the better I like it. Tonight I traveled over some pretty sketchy roads. The patch crews have been out in force and the pavement was irregular to say the least! The IRS handled it well. Besides the ride quality, I've got to say that I've never had a bike that got so much attention and I've been riding for a l-o-n-g time and I've had many bikes. I know trikes in general grab a lot of attention, but I never expected to get the comments and the quantity of them that I get with my "new" Champion.

 

[humbone]

captdanwh Problem with water!
I have an 08 GW with Champion kit with solid axle that we purchased with 5000 mi. Only trike we have owned but would have no problem purchasing another one if I was looking. We had a problem with water getting in the kit. We finally determined it was leaking where the bottom meets the sides. A couple of suggestion to try, someone with a light on the inside and another under and look for any light coming thru. Then we took a water hose and from the outside sprayed the areas we had found and sure enough water was coming in. We filled the seams with silicon caulk at it fixed our problem.

 

[mtn rider]

Everything!!!!! I can't say I had fun building it as that chore was given to Zook. I believe this was the first Honda VTX 1800 C that he had the privaledge of building and I must say that I have had zero problems with it.
Thanks again to Zook and Champion for 3 years of great riding.

 

[Champion Trikes]

View attachment 21267
Everything!!!!! I can't say I had fun building it as that chore was given to Zook. I believe this was the first Honda VTX 1800 C that he had the privaledge of building and I must say that I have had zero problems with it.
Thanks again to Zook and Champion for 3 years of great riding.

That is a great looking trike you have there mtn rider. Thanks for choosing Champion. Zook has been a Champion dealer for many years and has a lot of happy customers, glad to know you are among them.