Three wheelers, are we there yet?

[Loafer]

I tried a Roadsmith three wheeler at Americade. It was weird, I was putting to much input at the handlebar, and it moved abruptly 1-2 feet left or right. As I released my hard grip on the bars it handled much nicer. Thought it was scary in the corners. And I'm sure with some practice, that would get better.
As we age, is this the option we will be looking for?
What say you...

[fatrat45]

well for me yes i think this will be fine but my wife said that when we get to this point it is a convertible. so we'll see. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Loafer]

Tell her how boring a convertible is, compared to the really open feeling of a trike and that you would feel disappointed. Shed a tear, that should work.

[cactusjack]

When you said three wheeler, I didn't know if you meant one of those abominations like the Can Am Spyder or a trike like a Tri Glide.

I suppose if it meant I could continue riding - as opposed to having to give it up, I might decide to go with a trike. I can't see myself on a Spyder.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Nothing wrong with a nice Trike. I could definitely see myself riding one. It is just the dollars that scare me.

[unwind2]

You know like everything else I'm sure not all trikes are created equal. We have a friend who has a reg Goldwing and a Goldwing trike. His wife rides pillion and would rather ride pillon on the 2 wheeled bike...she says the ride on the trike is rougher/bumper.

The one trike I road at a bike demo was a Boss Hoss and it was completly boring..3 gears, drive, overdrive and reverse and it was a rough bumpy ride.

I'll hold out as long as I can before having to go to a trike, will probably go to a smaller lighter bike first if have to when I get to where I'm having difficulties.

One bike they don't make anymore that I thought was a great touring bike that is lighter was the Honda Shadow Ace Tourer. I guess they quit making it as it was competing with their own other makes..the Valkyrie tourer (at the time) and of course the Goldwing.

[Loafer]

When you said three wheeler, I didn't know if you meant one of those abominations like the Can Am Spyder or a trike like a Tri Glide.

I suppose if it meant I could continue riding - as opposed to having to give it up, I might decide to go with a trike. I can't see myself on a Spyder.

I haven't tried the Can Am, two of my sons have, and they say they shouldn't be classified as MC. They thought they handled like a snowmachine.
I also have tried the Stallion three wheeler, it has a steering wheel. I think the staff said it had the drive gear of a Ford Focus.
It was really fast and stable. It was also extremely hot inside, it had A/C but it wasn't enough to keep you cool. Put a helmet on and don't stop moving, that 's the only way to enjoy it.

[Loafer]

Has anyone seen the training wheel style. The ones that drop down at 5 mph for slow maneuvering and stopping and lift up when you drive off?

[Top Cat]

If it ment riding a Can-Am or Trike to stay riding, that's wahat I would do.
It would bother me a little that CJ thought I was riding an abomination ;) But I would just stay out of Arizona. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[cactusjack]

If it ment riding a Can-Am or Trike to stay riding, that's wahat I would do.
It would bother me a little that CJ thought I was riding an abomination ;) But I would just stay out of Arizona. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

It's probably best that you do! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[fatrat45]

already tried the tear and it didn't work she just laughed and went on. said a convertible cost less that a good trike anyway so their. how do you deal with that?

[virg]

Hey guys...was at the Davis Rally in New Hampton and was looking at the road smith trikes...pricey for sure...also checked out the legs up unit on line...interesting concept....drove the stallion also...girlfriend had to keep pulling my shirt down...windy ...shirt kept going up arnd my ears....also big bucks...Im getting to that point in life trike or give it up...legs are worn out bad hip and arms .. and have trouble balancing both of us...should have not let her ride the first time...Oh well....had a Vtx and didn't have much trouble but the nomad rides better...Later Virg

[Blue Rebel]

My wife really likes the trike and would rather have me trade the nomad for one. Unfortunately, I'm just not ready to do that yet!

[timebandit]

already tried the tear and it didn't work she just laughed and went on. said a convertible cost less that a good trike anyway so their. how do you deal with that?

Get a sidecar.....you get the bike ride and she gets to sit in a convertible ::)

When I get to that point, a very long time away, I'll go with side car before trike

[Loafer]

already tried the tear and it didn't work she just laughed and went on. said a convertible cost less that a good trike anyway so their. how do you deal with that?
My wife gets to pick out a sporty ride for herself, I get the MC of my choice.
Looks like your looking at buying a trike and a ragtop.

[jandreu]

I can see a trike in my future. Personally I like them but it would have to be a full custom. The stock trikes are just too ugly. Plus, I've been looking into a full independent rear so the trike can lean a little in corners. I have a hopped up HD Sportster that I hardly ride anymore so it may be the mule for the trike conversion. Already bought the wife a convertible, Miata, so shes happy.

[Loafer]

I can see a trike in my future. Personally I like them but it would have to be a full custom. The stock trikes are just too ugly. Plus, I've been looking into a full independent rear so the trike can lean a little in corners. I have a hopped up HD Sportster that I hardly ride anymore so it may be the mule for the trike conversion. Already bought the wife a convertible, Miata, so shes happy.
The trike I tried was a Goldwing 1800, loads of power, seating position "for me" was horrible. I should have tried the HD.
Someone at a show 4-5 years ago, had developed a suspension for a three wheeled conversion. It allowed the bike to lean in corners and the two rear wheels had independent suspension.
Pretty cool stuff.

[cyclecat]

I've ridden a 1800 Wing with a TowPac and it really was not a good thing to ride. The seating position on the Wing is nasty, to say the least, and my Kawi quad actually steers better. The ride on the Wing was quite rough and with no leaning involved it completely takes away from the thrill of riding a motorcycle. I also rode s regular HD trike a few years ago and while better than the TowPac, it was still not to my liking. I don't know if the ride on a regular trike has been improved but I remember it being quite rough.

I've also ridden a Spyder and they are a very cool machine. Steering is different than the quad, different than a snowmobile, and really different than a motorcycle. The one I rode is the fancy RT and it actually corners better if you lean a bit.

Brian and I have discussed this subject many times as the time for me to quit riding the 900 pound cruiser gets closer and closer. After riding a couple of the 3 wheeled options available, we will be looking at lighter motorcycles as compared to more expensive trikes.

[redjay]

I doubt I will ever have the money to buy a trike. I think my only option when the Nomad becomes too heavy to handle is to buy something smaller which will have to have similar ergonomics as the Nomad for my aging body. The rides are going to become shorter and will be more cramped for me and the wife. The wife will eventually stop going on the smaller bike because it wont be comfortable for her. Thats why we bought the Nomad in the first place. Our old bike (Yamaha Virago) was physically just too small.

[Loafer]

I've seen the kit where the bike sits in a frame with two outrigger wheels. I don't know what it is called, but it looks like you keep your stock bike and add the kit. So would that be cheaper than buying a trike? Anyone know who the company is?

[cyclecat]

Tow Pac or Voyager has the extra wheels and the back wheel still drives.

[wheelie]

If I were to add more wheels, first choice would be a side hack and then a Voyger kit. Both can be removed when the need for two wheels calls. With a side hack I think Deb would still ride behind me and fill the hack up with stuff she finds and shops along the way.

[Loafer]

If I were to add more wheels, first choice would be a side hack and then a Voyger kit. Both can be removed when the need for two wheels calls. With a side hack I think Deb would still ride behind me and fill the hack up with stuff she finds and shops along the way.

Fatrat45, here's one you could add to your list. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[skeeter]

If I were to add more wheels, first choice would be a side hack and then a Voyger kit. Both can be removed when the need for two wheels calls. With a side hack I think Deb would still ride behind me and fill the hack up with stuff she finds and shops along the way.

LMBO! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Bull Durham]

Met a guy in his 80's with the drop down wheels on his Goldwing at the Wing rally in Ashville, NC about 9 years ago. He was also pulling a pop up trailer and was travelling cross country. Think he was 83 at the time, said he went to the drop down wheels a few years earlier cause he couldn't pick his bike up anymore if it fell over.

Looked like the perfect way to go when the back and legs start giving out on you. Don't know if they make it for the nomad.

[cyclecat]

The only problem with the Retract-a-Trike kit, besides being ugly, is the fact you have to push a button to raise and lower the wheels. If you forget to push the button to lower them, you're gonna fall over and if you forget to push it to raise them, you can wreck them once you get over 10 mph. They work on a hydraulic system so that is one more thing to have problems with and if the hydraulics ever leak, what a mess you could have.

[Loafer]

Thanks everyone! Good reading, hopefully I won't have to go that way ever. But we never know what's in our future. Ride safe, stay healthy.

[fatrat45]

ya loafer my wife would look at it just like wheelies wife just a lot more storage, for yard sales on our rides thats when i put in my ear plugs. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Yellow Jacket]

There's also one called the "Landing Gear". Much less obtrusive looking than the Retract-A-Trike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOhP1HTZQwY

[Bull Durham]

That's the one, the Landing Gear is what the guy had on his GW. Very slick.

[Loafer]

There's also one called the "Landing Gear". Much less obtrusive looking than the Retract-A-Trike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOhP1HTZQwY

That is a very cool system. Thanks for sharing that. :)