Has anyone ever ridden one of these?

[JJ]

HD Trike - They say the new ones have independent suspension and are a much better ride than the older ones.
Eagle Rider HD Rentals has these...I have never ridden one and would be curious to see what its like...

[Siamese]

One wheel in front and two in the back is inherently less stable than two in the front and one in the back.  Either their engineers don't know that, or they can't figure out how to do it? 

The other trick with a three wheeler, at least here in Michigan, is avoiding potholes.  Compared to a motorcycle, you have three times the chances to hit one.  At least with a Miata, you only have two times the chances. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Has anyone ever ridden one of these?

No. 

[BillinPA]

I have ridden one. Friend had one as she couldn't hold up a bike, bad leg. She had a wing trike kit, and older HD trike kit and jumped on the triglide when it came out. She loved it. I road it a short bit, it was very nice, comfortable and ran well. It wasn't my cup of tea,  but they aren't junk.

[stormshearon]

 Just remember, as with a sidecar rig - I did own one for a few years, they do not steer like a solo bike. Leaning won't do much of anything, as you steer by turning the handlebars. Plus, they are not as stable in corners as a solo and have a tendency to lift the inside wheel on a corner if you are going too fast - rather like a side car rig likes to lift the chair wheel on right handers if you are not carefull.

That said, I have seen a number of them, two up on travels out west. Look comfortable and have decent luggage capacity. Rent one and let everybody know what the experience was like.

[JJ]

One wheel in front and two in the back is inherently less stable than two in the front and one in the back.  Either their engineers don't know that, or they can't figure out how to do it? 

The other trick with a three wheeler, at least here in Michigan, is avoiding potholes.  Compared to a motorcycle, you have three times the chances to hit one.  At least with a Miata, you only have two times the chances.

* I know all this...
* Have completed the USA Sidecar Association Class a few years back in Seattle, WA, had fun doing that...
* Have ridden several Can-Am Spyder...I did'nt really like that feeling, even with two stable wheels in the front...
* Rode an older Lehman Trike Goldwing conversion...and that was scary, especially in the twisties...might have had a solid axle (??)
* But never a modern an HD Trike (???) which now has independent rear suspension...
* Eagle Rider Rentals has them here locally, so I guess I just have to rent one and see...will file a report if I do...

[JJ]

Of course, these days, many other 3-4 wheeled options out there!!
(From American Bike & Trike, Chandler, AZ)

[Canuck750]

Like you have noted, the 'new' type of trike kits are IRS, a huge step forward from the original Lehman kits using a cut down Ford rear end (Lehman started in a small town north of where I am before going big time and moving to South Dakota)



I have read that these reverse trike kits are very good and the trike leans into corners preserving the motorcycle experience

https://www.tiltingmotorworks.com/bike/harley/

the tilting reverse trike kit is $14K + the dealer installation cost and you provide the donor bike.

[Tom]

Piaggio MP3 would work for me.     The 500.

[Canuck750]

Piaggio MP3 would work for me.     The 500.

Good Call!

[Tom]

    Hard not to want one after riding one.   

[Huzo]

avoiding potholes.  Compared to a motorcycle, you have three times the chances to hit one. 

Yes but, you have twice the chance of missing..

[zebraranger]

I've been thinking about three wheelers myself over the last couple of years. A couple of months ago I added this 2020 Ryker Rally to the stable. I've been enjoying it so much that I've only been on my two wheel bikes a few times since buying it. It does feel strange going back & forth though from two wheels to three wheels because the ride experience is so different.

The Rykers were never intended for touring, But, I added some saddlebags and a few other things to it for my October trip to the Smoky Mountains, it should be fun. I think the pothole issue is a little overblown. There's two feet between the rear wheel and either of the front wheels, so as long as the pothole isn't over 2' wide, its easily straddled at any speed. 

[Huzo]

They probably do everything you want very well..
But I’m reminded of the old adage..
“Whatever you do
Don’t look down..”

[ridingron]

On the 4 wheel vehicles above, are they considered motorcycles?

[Tom]

Yes although getting it registered should be a rat maze game.   

[moto-uno]

 Riding them somewhat aggressively on twisty roads gives your upper body a workout . They are not for the weak if you live where motorcycles are fun to ride . Peter

[JJ]

Good Call!

YES!!  Those are cool!  Gilera used to make a 3-wheeled 500 Maxi-Scooter called the FUOCO!!

[twowheeladdict]

* I know all this...
* Have completed the USA Sidecar Association Class a few years back in Seattle, WA, had fun doing that...
* Have ridden several Can-Am Spyder...I did'nt really like that feeling, even with two stable wheels in the front...
* Rode an older Lehman Trike Goldwing conversion...and that was scary, especially in the twisties...might have had a solid axle (??)
* But never a modern an HD Trike (???) which now has independent rear suspension...
* Eagle Rider Rentals has them here locally, so I guess I just have to rent one and see...will file a report if I do...

You should be able to go down to the local dealer and take one for a test ride.  If they have a used one they should have no problem letting you put some miles on it.  New ones they like to keep the ride down to 10 or 20 miles unless they have a demo one. 

I ride motorcycles for the two wheels and the way they go through the curves.  I have no desire to have a non-leaning trike.  If I still want to ride but can't hold a bike up, I will do the tiltingmotorworks conversion. 

[twowheeladdict]

Piaggio MP3 would work for me.     The 500.

If I understand this bike correctly, you have to manually engage the mechanism to hold the bike upright as you come to a stop, and then disengage once you get moving?

Yamaha should add this feature to the Niken GT. 

[bigbikerrick]

I have had a Gold wing trike with IRS for over 12 years. I use it just for 2 up riding with my wife when we want to take a longer highway trip. It has a DFT ( darn fine trikes) conversion,and the rear suspension works very well, using progressive air shocks plumbed into the wings air compressor system, so you an vary the stiffness of the suspension.
 They provide an upper body workout in the twisties, but you get used to it. A front end rake helps with steering, but my GW has stock rake, and its not too bad.
  There is no leaning at all on this setup, its all about push/pull on the bars!
I bet that new Harley rides real nice, with that milwaukee 8 motor!
Rick.