What next, with no experience?

[smilinjohn]

I have been reading, reading and reading some more this past week. I'm beginning to think that I should not immediately get into a trike large enough (1400 to 1800cc) to carry rider and passenger without, first getting some smaller (rider only) trike experience......750 to 1200cc category.

Background: I'm a beginning motorcyclist, without any experience other than the Basic Motorcycle Riding Skills class, several years of 4-wheeling and snowmobiling experience. I have an Aortic Annurism, so I cannot strain or I'm in big trouble. My age is 69. I'm afflicted with Ataxia......stumble when walking, lose balance while standing, stagger as if drunk.....I carry identification, so police can realize I behave this way all the time. I'm 27 years sober (AA member). I have a good driving record.

My wife and I fanticise, "us riding two-up on a Tri Glide or Honda 1800 conversion trike". What should my next, first step be?

John

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Get a Wing w/a Hannigan conversion and a raked front suspension. Then start with short rides and gradually increase the length and frequency of these rides.
To be blunt-you should practice (sitting still) collapsing forward on the bike and your wife reaching to the handle bars and the kill switch for the bike to bring it to a safe stop in case you become incapacitated given your health issues. Sorry, just being realistic.
Wife and I do that as I have had quad by-pass and am diabetic. She knows the kill switch and front brake. Once you and she have become confident doing this sitting still,
Find a large parking lot and practice this moving. This could mean the difference in both of you surviving you having an episode of some kind.
Don't be swayed-you only live once-go get that trike and enjoy.
Dawg

 

[trikeleader]

The strain a person puts out is almost the same on a 750cc or 1200cc trike and an 1800cc trike. The Goldwing probably would be better in your case because there is far less vibration. You will find the comfort level better on the larger trike. The reason many pick the small bikes is because they are easy to hold up when stopped. This is not a factor on a trike. Your analagy for bikes compares to you choosing a small compact car over a comfortable sedan. In this case smaller is not better.

 

[jim peacock]

All of the above,but also see if you can find a trike class some where.
If you get a gold wing which I would recomend,you might want to consider joing the gold wing road riders association,very good orgnzation.
Go to gwrra.org.Better yet call them at 1-800-843-9460.
I have been a member since 1996.
:wtg::wtg::wtg::wtg:

 

[Gorilla]

John congrats on having the will to get out there and enjoy life. The comments above are all right on. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Nauga Mok]

I had a quadrouple by pass 9 years ago & an aorta-bifemoral bypass 3 years ago. All that hasn't stopped me yet. When the Ultra still had 2 wheels I had to pick it up & had no problem with that either. I didn't switch to trike 'till one of my knees gave out. Much less stress on the trike -- especially riding 2 up. Wife has osteoperosis & I was always afraid of breaking her if I dropped it when it was 2 wheels. Now, no worries. The vibration factor on the modern HDs is nill unless you're lugging the engine. Even then it's nothing like the old Harleys. Infact, your wife might enjoy it! :innocent: So if you want a Harley Triglide, go for it. Buying a smaller trike to start with would be a waste of money IMHO. Just go slow at first. As others have said, find a parking lot & get the feel of your new machine. I rode about a 1000 miles before we did any serious 2 up riding as trike even though I had the "feel" for it much under the recommended 500 mi.

NM

 

[KRUZR]

There is nothing like being on the rode on two or three wheels. The Trike is a great way to go. It takes some practice and there is a lot of Trike Riding help all over the internet and this Fourum. Like one of the folks said in an earlier post, since you don't have a Trike now, get the one you want, Harley, Honda, or other brand, learn how to ride it and enjoy. I'm a Harley Gut,, Ride Safe!!

 

[Blondie Gal]

ScalpHunter had a quad bypass three years ago and I had two small TIAs, and yet we still went coast to coast last year on our 08 Goldwing 1800 CSC. I recommend it highly for back-seat comfort for your lady - not even a tired tush after a day's ride. We're going to be in Maggie Valley for the second year in a few weeks, and really anticipating every mile! Kruzr was right - try as many big ones/dream ones as you can and get the one you really, really want. There's no feeling like the reassurances you will have on a trike - the stability, the freedom and the joy of being on a big machine that will take you wherever you want to go! Enjoy the feeling; life's too short for anything else!

 

[screwball]

DON'T BUY THE 'LITTLE' TRIKE TO PRACTICE!!! They ride just like the "BIG" ones, you will just have a hell of a time unloading it. I'm 66. Just sold my 2 wheeler after open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement. That and bad ankles put an end to 50 years of 2 wheel motorcycling. Wife also rides a trike after Chemotherepy deadened her hands and feet. We've been around the Grand Canyon twice, ride to dinner / breakfast / lunch in the middle of nowhere on the trikes. DO IT! Have fun, you meet the nicest people on the road. Oh, we opted for Harley Tri-Glides. One manufacturer in case something goes wrong.... (it hasn't yet) besides it is fun being a gray haired bad ass on a Harley (wink wink)

 

[smilinjohn]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll take your advice to heart and aim for the 1400 to 1800 trikes. I just don't yet see my way clear to purchasing a larger engine trike, as they are pretty spendy. I could see my way spending about $15,000 for a trike, but that will only net me a smaller trike, with lots of miles.

How many miles will a 1500 / 1800 Honda or H-D go before required overhaul, given good maintenance? A 1200 H-D? A 900 Kawy? A 750 Ridley?

John

 

[Gorilla]

John for the money that you are looking at a GoldWing 1500 trike would be a good choice. They have got great drive trains I hear all the time of them rolling up 150K+ trouble free miles. Look hard you should find something. Watch on e-bay and craigslist. Also they come across on this forum also.

 

[smilinjohn]

John for the money that you are looking at a GoldWing 1500 trike would be a good choice. They have got great drive trains I hear all the time of them rolling up 150K+ trouble free miles. Look hard you should find something. Watch on e-bay and craigslist. Also they come across on this forum also.

Thanks, Gorilla! I'll start looking tonight.

If anyone has a 1500 Honda Trike for around $15K, send me a PM..

Of course, I'd be willing to pay less.

Thanks, John

 

[Bob Witte]

It's been awhile since I posted the link to my "How To Ride A Motorcycle Trike" write up, so here you go:

The Trinity Trike

Just double click on the icon and download the PDF to your desktop and/or print a copy. It is six pages of sage advice gleened from all over the place. Enjoy!!:Trike1:

Bob Witte
The Trinity Trike

 

[Seatec]

I would say start with a Burgman650 and trike it. Would be half the cost of a GW and you would have automatic. Shifting is a pain in the ass for me, would not have a bike if I had to shift.
Wayne

 

[Rowdy]

Having owned two 1500 goldwings, one trike and one "two wheeler", I agree that a 1500 trike would be an excellent choice for you. They are very reliable and a good low mileage one can be purchased well within you budget.

 

[smilinjohn]

I would say start with a Burgman650 and trike it. Would be half the cost of a GW and you would have automatic. Shifting is a pain in the ass for me, would not have a bike if I had to shift.
Wayne

Wayne, I would like to investigate further your idea of triking a Burgman. But who makes a trike conversion for it? I can then take my pick of a Burgman-triked or the Kymco Super 8 150 (149.7cc) scooter, with CVT that I already have in my garage. I don't relish shifting, either.

John

 

[Seatec]

Go to the trinity trike web site, they are on here. I make the body for them to fit the Burgman 650 and the Silverwing600. I'm sure Bob Witte will answer all your questions.
Wayne

 

[Bob Witte]

Wayne, I would like to investigate further your idea of triking a Burgman. But who makes a trike conversion for it? I can then take my pick of a Burgman-triked or the Kymco Super 8 150 (149.7cc) scooter, with CVT that I already have in my garage. I don't relish shifting, either.

John

Guess it is time to change my banner ads here on TrikeTalk so folks know that we trike out a whole lot of bikes you can't get elsewhere!!

Not only do we do genuine true trike conversions for the Honda Silver Wing and Suzuki Burgman 650 super scooters, right now in our shop we are in the final stages of triking a Suzuki GS450A automatic shaft drive and a 1982 GL500 Silver Wing VTwin motorcycle. I normally don't recommend triking bikes that old, but in the former case it is for TrikeTalk's own JG122 in NJ. He is the bike's original owner and the ride only has 3k miles on it. In the latter case, the GL500 is my personal mount and has long been one of my favorites. I personally prefer the sub-1000cc bikes over the big, heavy iron. You can check both of those rides out if you are interested by clicking here: Trinity Trike

Anyway, getting back on target -- here's the link to the website pages for the super scooters: Trinity Trike Roadster

The first thumbnail takes you to the Honda section, next is the Burgmans. The last two will show you Wayne Langille's fantastic body creations for the CVT super scooters. I can say that freely since we've put one of these bodies on locally -- and Trinity has no financial stake or benefit from Wayne's product. We feature it on our site solely to benefit our customers who might want such an arrangement.

Drop me a PM with your email and I'll send you a couple dozen pages of information, links and pictures that may help you in your research or decision process. (anybody else interested in more information can do the same of course!)


Bob Witte
The Trinity Trike

 

[JG122]

I'd like to share just a couple of the current "earfuls of wisdom" I've been getting from my 2-wheeled compadre's :

nothing but naysayers !

"John, you're nuts"

"don't plan on taking a turn faster than 35 mph"

I could go on & on...

I'm on the fence about a body kit, but otherwise I'm fully confident that this is going to turn out great -- I've always wanted a trike, and had the perfect donor (for me) already in my garage. Not everyone will be in this sitch, and that's ok ! If a 'matic is what you really want, feel free to PM me with any questions -- there are more of them out there now, and with regards to the ones of the past, I've got lots of experience to offer

 

[Bob Witte]

I'd like to share just a couple of the current "earfuls of wisdom" I've been getting from my 2-wheeled compadre's :

nothing but naysayers !

"John, you're nuts"

"don't plan on taking a turn faster than 35 mph"

I could go on & on...

I'm on the fence about a body kit, but otherwise I'm fully confident that this is going to turn out great -- I've always wanted a trike, and had the perfect donor (for me) already in my garage. Not everyone will be in this sitch, and that's ok ! If a 'matic is what you really want, feel free to PM me with any questions -- there are more of them out there now, and with regards to the ones of the past, I've got lots of experience to offer

If I had listened to the naysayers, you would NOT be getting yours triked right now. They told me I had to have a body. So against my better judgement, I've had one available for 2.5 years -- with only 2 lookers and no takers. Of course, that was before Wayne Langille did the custom unit for the super scooters. A body for a tupperware loaded super scooter does seem more natural!

Anyhow they also said nothing less then a 1200cc was trike-able. And we have done dozens below that "minimum" including a passle of 250cc rides. In fact, we've built 14 250cc rides for MSF schools already this year.

Don't listen to them. Do what you want to do. Your conversion is coming along very nicely and for my money, leave it in the fender-roadster model. A vintage bike like that screams for fenders, not a body!

Bob Witte
The Trinity Trike

 

[Jimsjinx]

Go out and get yourself a good used 1500 trike. The newer, the better. If it was cared for, it'll outlast most of us! I found my 99 SE motortrike for 16,000 bucks with only 26,000 miles on the ticker. jimsjinx

 

[JG122]

Bob,

left you a voice-mail...

 

[BlueTrinity]

Not to cast any pall on the posts from all the Wingnuts

but there are some very good alternatives to the Wings.


Here's an excellent example posted just shortly before your question.


H-D Sportster Roadsmith Trike
ladyff1481

 

[smilinjohn]

I would say start with a Burgman650 and trike it. Would be half the cost of a GW and you would have automatic. Shifting is a pain for me, would not have a bike if I had to shift.
Wayne

I, yet, don't know how to include more than one quote within my present post, as several of your responses certainly qualify.:yes:

Wayne's first response (above and on the previous page) piqued my interest, since I previously had been investigating Ridley 750's, "triked". I had lost some interest when Derek of Genuine Parts (Tel. 417-358-8441), who has been refurbishing several Ridleys of late, told me he was getting in an original factory 2008 Ridley black trike. He is probably refurbing it this week, for those interested. He thought that that the refurb's price would be in the neighborhood of $20 to $21K + freight from Oklahoma to Minnesota.

So, in response to Wayne's suggestion, I took a leave to investigate Silverwing 600, Burgman 400 / 650 and Majesty 400 employing Trinity Trike, Danson, Tow-Pac and a few others that led me down one path or another. None of the Japan scoots fit my long legs. I decided to utilize the scoot that I purchased two months ago, 2009 Kymco Super 8 150 (149.7cc, 8 bhp.), with CVT, 14" cast alum wheels front and back and 550 miles on bike.

I chose Tow-Pac of Aroma Park, Illinois, partly because of their cost......they seem to be at the same level of engineering innovation as MTC-Voyager and other good outfits......we all probably know who they are. Tow-Pac does not list the Super 8, as having a kit. Since, they have struck-out borrowing a Super 8 from one of the local Kymco dealers. I plan to ship my scoot to them. Tow-Pac are to adapt either their Mini Trike 12" alum wheels or their Insta-Trike "B" Kit, also with 12" alum wheels. Then install on my bike. When complete, the Super 8 "Triked, with its training wheels" will have a curb weight of approx 470 lbs. I'm on the fence, as to whether I should have them install electric reverse, using a second on-board 12V wet cell. I do plan to have them install lighting in the fenders and skirting. I'm projecting costs to run, as follows:

$1300 2009 Kymco Super 8 150 (used, a done deal)
$1000 freight (round trip)
$200 my share of Engineering expense
$400 electric reverse, installed @ N/C
$200 lighting pkge, installed @ N/C
$4000 +0 / -$400, installed @ N/C (the training wheel pkge)

I decided to scrap the "Kymco-triked plan", altogether, as $1,050 cost of shipping to Tow-Pac and return, with no guarantee that they would be able to come up with a kit for the Kymco.

Meanwhile, I can continue to look and pray, that I will stumble upon a low milage 1500 GW - triked, for the right price.

Thanks for all your help. John / I'll check back from time to time to tell of further developments.

 

[Papa Zook]

Id suggest you forgo the $400 electric reverse because IMO you wont need it. It will be a breeze to maneuver....Just Flintstone the thing back, point it, twist the throttle and GO...:Biker:

 

[smilinjohn]

Id suggest you forgo the $400 electric reverse because IMO you wont need it. It will be a breeze to maneuver....Just Flintstone the thing back, point it, twist the throttle and GO...:Biker:

Hi, Randy!

Thank you for quick response. Should I cut, scrape, gouge my lower legs, the injury takes a long time to heal.....requires several weeks of care by the "wound care clinic", 40 miles from home. I plan to wear motocross shin guards, besides zip-up leather chaps. I don't want to expose my legs to potential mishaps. I'm going to order Tow-Pac's "Insta-Drive", electric motor driven forward/reverse for parking in tight places,.....an example being our 1-1/2 car garage. I decided to hold off to make sure I actually need the electric reverse. I can add at later date with a reverse adapter kit for $500, only $100 more than if ordered with the Mini-Trike, with 8" wheels.

John

 

[Nana]

That is an excellent reason for the reverse, John! The trike will be easy to push, as Randy said, but with the health concern you describe it isn't worth taking the chance!

 

[wa.bound]

The strain a person puts out is almost the same on a 750cc or 1200cc trike and an 1800cc trike. The Goldwing probably would be better in your case because there is far less vibration. You will find the comfort level better on the larger trike. The reason many pick the small bikes is because they are easy to hold up when stopped. This is not a factor on a trike. Your analagy for bikes compares to you choosing a small compact car over a comfortable sedan. In this case smaller is not better.

:Agree::Agree::Agree: Yes yes yes! I also have physical challenges. It's why I turned to a trike. Smaller is not always better -just as trikeleader stated. Go for it, ejoy.