I rode a tri glide this week end my comparison

[r1100rider]

I spent 2 hours on a tri glide this weekend solo and with passenger
1 the passenger is less noticeable with the weight on the solid axle on the tri
2 the kickback and steering effort are far greater on the tri
3 the brakes are better on the tri
4 the feeling of control especially in corners is much better on the spyder
5 the tri doesn't feel that powerful with so much weight
6 the tri is very clunky in shifting and feels and is much slower than the spyder
7 I don't like being blocked of road view by windshield tri and it was hot
8 the seating position isn't comfortable for me at 6ft 4 in tall all my weight is on my but and I'm leaning backwards and holding myself with my arm not to fall back
9 I melted my boot on the pipe you can't respond to brake or shift near as fast with forward controls on the tri
10 the gear indicator only tells your when your in 6th not lower gears on the tri
11 fun factor way more on spyder
12 tri was impressive but defiantly not for me

[Grandpa Spyder]

Thanks for the review, I also drove one prior to buying my spyder and thought the steering was very difficult.

[Dan McNally]

Good review . . . thanks. I almost bought one instead of the Spyder . . . rode both and went with the RT Limited . . . not a single regret!

[Bob Denman]

The Tri-Glides just feel different...
I felt pretty much at home on the one I rode; the roll-on power in thrd gear was righteous!
But the controls just felt a bit less... refined.

[bullant12]

I rode a Tri, a Goldwing and a BMW trike. The Goldwing and BMW were a LOT better riding experience than the HD, but all 3 gave me a reason to like my more... they have a BIG behind!

[PrairieSpyder]

Thanks for the report. I've never tried a tri, but if I hadn't already decided on a Spyder I might have gone that way. At least I could get it serviced locally, and being ignorant of anything better I might have been happy. But now I'm spoiled by my

[bruiser]

I test drove one prior to the Spyder. Although I didn't melt a boot your other observations were pretty much what I felt.

[Tango]

I spent 2 hours on a tri glide this weekend solo and with passenger
1 the passenger is less noticeable with the weight on the solid axle on the tri
2 the kickback and steering effort are far greater on the tri
3 the brakes are better on the tri
4 the feeling of control especially in corners is much better on the spyder
5 the tri doesn't feel that powerful with so much weight
6 the tri is very clunky in shifting and feels and is much slower than the spyder
7 I don't like being blocked of road view by windshield tri and it was hot
8 the seating position isn't comfortable for me at 6ft 4 in tall all my weight is on my but and I'm leaning backwards and holding myself with my arm not to fall back
9 I melted my boot on the pipe you can't respond to brake or shift near as fast with forward controls on the tri
10 the gear indicator only tells your when your in 6th not lower gears on the tri
11 fun factor way more on spyder
12 tri was impressive but defiantly not for me

I test rode the RTSE5 and Tri Glide back to back about 30 minutes apart last month.

Sterring effort much easier on the Spyder.
I found the brakes on the Spyder to be superior than the Tri
Power on the Tri was lacking in all gears
Clunky shifting, yup.
The rear pipe did give off plenty of heat
All the controls of both bike fit me good.
I was way more impressed with the Spyder!
The Spyder felt like a sports car. The Tri? Well, a truck.

[Chupaca]

They are different beasts. I agree with your review one other factor is the road conditions with weather. Although the roads here are great in rain the center tends to be slippery. Found the trikes to be a bit squirrely and the spyder loses some traction. Rather lose the traction. Both have their followers but I find many tri riders are more true to the brand than happy with it..jmo...

[quickster47]

I find many tri riders are more true to the brand than happy with it..jmo...

Couldn't agree with that statement more. They are mostly loyal extremists. Used to be one myself then I was converted.

Carl

[OldCowboy]

Spyder vs. Tri-Glide is 21st Century technology vs. 20th Century technology. The current Harleys are simply refined 1950s technology. Not to knock the Harleys. I owned one and loved it. But the nearest thing to modern on it was fuel injection.

[moslopoke]

I owned several big Harleys, a sportster as well.

I rode the triglide, I found it okay, but the price was above my reach. I found the spyder to be nice and in my price range. I am learning daily, only have had it for 5 days now. They are different rides and suit different people... So far I am very happy with my choice...

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for the great write up on your TG test ride experience. I also looked at them when it came time to purchase the 2010 RT-S. I did not make it to the test ride though--the ergos just did not fit me--so that was a quick and easy decision. Price was another factor here. The dealer wanted $7,000 over MSRP.

Speaking of TG's: Sunday we went riding up to one of our favorite places--Hatcher Pass. Halfway up the ride, we pulled off at a rest stop. We encountered two very nice ladies and their Tri Glides. They were 50+ and dressed in full HD regalia. One had an anniversery edition and the other a standard. They came over to where we were parked and we started talking motorcycles. They asked us a few questions about the 's--but there was no way we were going to sell them on it. Turned out they had never ventured beyond this point to the top of the pass. We encouraged them to follow us up. They obliged, and we had a neat convoy of three wheelers for awhile. Two with two wheels in the front, and two, with two wheels in the back. When we reached the top and were sitting in the parking area--we all got a lot of lookers and questions from those who were there.

[boborgera]

Having owned a Spyder for 3 three years, And now a Tri-Glide for Two years, You don't buy a Spyder to be a Tri-Glide, Or a Tri-Glide to be a Spyder, Two different machines for two different missions....One's not better than the other, Just different.. Each one has it's own quirks... Its just that the Spyder has it's two wheels on the wrong end...

[SpyderDen]

Having owned a Spyder for 3 three years, And now a Tri-Glide for Two years, You don't buy a Spyder to be a Tri-Glide, Or a Tri-Glide to be a Spyder, Two different machines for two different missions....One's not better than the other, Just different.. Each one has it's own quirks... Its just that the Spyder has it's two wheels on the wrong end...

Ill race you in reverse.
Isn't there a TriGlydeLovers.Com site?

[Buttsy]

You don't buy a Spyder to be a Tri-Glide, Or a Tri-Glide to be a Spyder, Two different machines for two different missions....One's not better than the other, Just different.

Me thinks he be wise man who know his stuff.

[boborgera]

Ill race you in reverse.
Isn't there a TriGlydeLovers.Com site?

Yep; It's called Trike Talk.com, And they even welcome those funny Trikes with the wheels at the wrong end in....

[Oldmanzues]

I stopped at a HD Dealer a couple days ago, while on my Spyder. The Salesman was very nice and asked if he could do anything. I could see the Spyder out the window. I said, I was not really looking to buy one, just wanted some information. He answered all my questions. His price seemed way lower then a lot of what I have heard. But then a person here said, a Dealer wanted 7K over MSRP. He seemed fairly assertive about a real "Tri-Glide" being different from a conversion. I know there is a huge differnce in opinion between different trikes from Wing riders.
It was a very beautiful metalic blue one, we were looking at. HD has always had beautiful paint.
As I was leaving he invited me back to a upcoming event, then saying, Not what you ride, but do you ride.
Oldmanzues