Would you do it again

[Rick Kay]

Don't any of you guys ever think on building your own trike? All I read here is about who builds the best trike you can buy, or who makes the best kits. Do it yourself, it's a lot more fun and you know what you are riding. My youngest son and I built my trike in the back yard using anything we could beg borrow or...er....borrow. Took us a summer and cost a lot less than most of you paid for your rear end conversion or rake kit. AND it was a hell of a lot of fun to do!

Quite a number of members have built their trikes. But, not all of us have the skills or tools needed to build our own trike. Some don't have the room to build a trike. Some are just plain disabled, and are happy to be able to ride (again). Some trike kit manufacturers require factory trained personnel to install their kit. There are a number of reasons to have a trike built; I try to keep an open mind, because everybody's trike is special to them.

 

[bikerbillone]

I'm guessing a few, I even thought of it. Routine maintenance I do, build a trike, I don't do. I can imagine how the thing would perform if I built it. All good reasons as explained by Rick Kay.

 

[Oldmsocko]

I would most certainly do it again. I would probably buy a used HD and have a conversion kit put on it. I haven't yet rode M3's Honda/Hannigan conversion. Who knows, I might head that way.

 

[dano309]

hope to see some of you guys on the road next spring.....

 

[Bill Reber]

I am lucky to be on three the option for me is a cage , while I do miss my two wheel days.

 

[lgjhn]

I triked my Wing back in August. Went with a Roadsmith conversion kit.
I've only put 800 miles on it so far and every bit of it has all been riding 2-up with my wife on single day trips. It's really been a lot of fun to have her ride with me again. However, I've have had some serious issues with the conversion itself as well as with me "liking it". It took me about 500 miles, but I finally got used to driving it, but in short and to be brutally honest, I really don't care for the darn thing all that much. I don't take too kindly to being called an "old geezer" and I've tried to be a good sport about that...or how about being told that; "You must be too old to ride a real motorcycle, huh, Gramps?" as one of HD's finest outright insulted me with last weekend. Yep, a trike has that stigma to it. It doesn't bother most folks but it bothers me...bad. Maybe I'm just getting too thin-skinned in my "old age". But yes. I would do it again because it's the only way my wife can ride anymore. Otherwise, it would be 2 wheels for this child for a long time to come. BTW, I do plan on keeping the trike for the riding those 2-up day trips that she enjoys so much and maybe some long-distance touring with her, but I'm very seriously in the market for another motorcycle, probably a sport tourer with some punch to it this time around.

 

[dano309]

know what ya mean.....I too want to keep riding 2 wheels for awhile longer....just to keep the fun in my life......lol

 

[SMSgt]

not many leaning toward the motor trike kits?????....just wondering the reasons why not many peeps are considering the motor trike conversions....I've heard that they are one of the very best out there ..
a trike shop in my area has quoted me a figure of around $13,900 to do either the adventure or the new razor kit that they just came out with for my goldwing 1800......the newest kits have more storage space now......so I am hung with either going csc, hannigan, roadsmith or motor trike.....really do like the looks of the motor trike conversions though.......

what would you do??????

You are asking us to make your decision and we can't. We are all trike riders for whatever reason we have and all are the same but different i.e. health or spouses health, age, who knows. Only you know if you want to make the commitment to a trike. It really isn't any different than the decision you made when you decided to buy your first "real" motorcycle, not just using someone else's or something that just happened to be there and available to ride I mean your first 1000+ CC motorcycle.
Now the brand conversion you choose is as important as the installer you choose. Choose someone close and follow others recommendations. I didn't and I am still fixing things that are not right on it.
So decide what is important to you and make the jump. You won't regret it.
Ride safe and don't forget to get a rake kit when you are ordering your new trike conversion.
See you on the super slab.

 

[dano309]

THANKS DUDE.......I now have made my final decision......lol

 

[bikerbillone]

I triked my Wing back in August. Went with a Roadsmith conversion kit.
I've only put 800 miles on it so far and every bit of it has all been riding 2-up with my wife on single day trips. It's really been a lot of fun to have her ride with me again. However, I've have had some serious issues with the conversion itself as well as with me "liking it". It took me about 500 miles, but I finally got used to driving it, but in short and to be brutally honest, I really don't care for the darn thing all that much. I don't take too kindly to being called an "old geezer" and I've tried to be a good sport about that...or how about being told that; "You must be too old to ride a real motorcycle, huh, Gramps?" as one of HD's finest outright insulted me with last weekend. Yep, a trike has that stigma to it. It doesn't bother most folks but it bothers me...bad. Maybe I'm just getting too thin-skinned in my "old age". But yes. I would do it again because it's the only way my wife can ride anymore. Otherwise, it would be 2 wheels for this child for a long time to come. BTW, I do plan on keeping the trike for the riding those 2-up day trips that she enjoys so much and maybe some long-distance touring with her, but I'm very seriously in the market for another motorcycle, probably a sport tourer with some punch to it this time around.

Interesting observation, and that thought has crossed my mind. Some two wheel riders just have no class, none. They just don't freaking understand that everyone gets old at some point, nobody I know gets out of here alive. Why not enjoy the road on three wheels when two gets a bit unsafe???? I'm not a real sensitive sort, but when I get mouth like that, I'm jumping back, no matter what.

 

[tbear]

I have to say my thoughts after reading "would you do it again?". In a heart beat!! but-listening to some who said that they can't handle the comments about getting older and not being able to handle a 2 wheelers comment . well, their time as either not come as of yet or they have gotten themselves all wrapped up in this- "I gotta be a bad A__! when I am on my bike lookin bad and ridin hard". It does make me kinda of laugh at the "Wanna Be's" I have seen in the last 10 years that have takin up riding. Trikin has been around alot longer than alot of them can remember. Ride on !! my fellow Trikers !! 40+ years riding and still
loving it on my HD Trike....:vxtyaq:

 

[dano309]

yep, if everyone liked the same thing, we all would have the same ol' lady, and they all would rather have me.....think about it.......lol

 

[John Luciano]

That stigma ended when we were on a long ride and the leader got lost. They knew I had a GPS so instead of being the tail gunner I lead the pack of 6 Harley's.after about 7 or 8 miles down the road I pulled over. The guy behind me pulled up next to me and said slow down. We don't want to loose you. I said it just felt good not to keep riding my brakes following you guys. Never heard another peep. Now it is my turn to bust them.....

 

[SMSgt]

THANKS DUDE.......I now have made my final decision......lol

Well don't keep it a secret, what's it gonna be?ThumbUp

 

[pcombe]

Quite a number of members have built their trikes. But, not all of us have the skills or tools needed to build our own trike. Some don't have the room to build a trike. Some are just plain disabled, and are happy to be able to ride (again). Some trike kit manufacturers require factory trained personnel to install their kit. There are a number of reasons to have a trike built; I try to keep an open mind, because everybody's trike is special to them.

:drama: :Agree::Coffee::Trike1:

I found it preferable to use a name brand kit and raked triple tree for ease of insuring and being able to insure it for the amount i value it at!

 

[uralowner]

Don't any of you guys ever think on building your own trike? All I read here is about who builds the best trike you can buy, or who makes the best kits. Do it yourself, it's a lot more fun and you know what you are riding. My youngest son and I built my trike in the back yard using anything we could beg borrow or...er....borrow. Took us a summer and cost a lot less than most of you paid for your rear end conversion or rake kit. AND it was a hell of a lot of fun to do!

Cee Ex, I'm doing mine now and your right, it is a lot of fun! I have a thread in "Honda Trikes" titled "I Road it Yesterday" that I started 2 days ago. I'd like to see pictures of your trike.