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Very Active Member
Spyder vs. HD Trikes
I have never ridden a trike like the HD Freewheeler. How are they different from our Spyders?
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cornering on the HD is almost scary if you ride aggressively. it always felt like when the front shock compressed in a turn that the rear wheel wanted to come off the ground. right turn , right wheel. left turn, left wheel. didn't like the ride at all!
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Active Member
HD trike test ride
My wife and i rented one when we were in Las Vegas to try it out.
She could not even steer it, way to stiff.
I put about 200 miles on it, convinced us to buy a Spyder.
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Totally different....
The only similarity is the three wheels...But like most it is in the test ryde. There are those that will not go any other way and those that can't handle them. If you are coming from nowhere I think you will lean towards the spyder. Gotta say i have met a few that only have them because they are Harley Davidson and are not all that happy with them. You might want to throw a side car in the mix cause that is a whole nother ryde.....still three wheels...
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
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Very Active Member
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I had a 2013 RT Limited and traded for a Tri-glide. Each has it's good and bad points. On the other hand the Freewheeler is not in the same class as the Tri-Glide. My wife can handle my Tri-Glide just fine but when she wanted to get back into riding her own bike I recommended a Spyder. She is now the proud owner of a 2016 F-3 and has done some short rides on it and likes it much better than the Spyder that I once had. She says the handling is far better then the RT Limited.
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Very Active Member
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HD Stock vs Roadsmith Kit vs 11 RT Limited
Stock HD! I agree about the steering it is hard and the ride is rough. Now A HD with a Roadsmith Kit that is a Horse of a different color, The Triple Tree is kicked out and that makes it almost as easy as the Spyders to control it's very lite, The ride is hands down way better the the Stock the Roadsmith is wider by 6 in and longer by ?? with independent suspension over the HD.
Better that the RT we will see My riding partner has put the Roadsmith on his 16 Road Glide so June its 7000 miles planed for our yearly ride. We both will be riding on Russel seats so comfort should be real close.
I will have a better Idea of the real difference between them after that ride.
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Originally Posted by spydaman60
cornering on the HD is almost scary if you ride aggressively. it always felt like when the front shock compressed in a turn that the rear wheel wanted to come off the ground. right turn , right wheel. left turn, left wheel. didn't like the ride at all!
We were looking at HD and Goldwing trikes but what you mentioned and some input from dealers (not even spyder dealers) convinced us to go with the spyder. Very happy with our choice. And happy I went with the manual over the semi.
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consider
How about the Scorpion converted HD? Not sure how the ride feels, but love the look of that machine.
2014 RS+ , Excel 8.8 and NGK plugs Currently pearl white, Aircraft gray after rivets installed
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Very Active Member
Sounds like I made the right choice, thanks
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Active Member
Tri-Glide
I rode a TriGlide that a friend of mine has. I only rode it about 3 miles and it felt like it would try to push me in the ditch. He told me that if his wife wasn't on the heavy side he would be on 2 wheels. I love my F3 and so does the wife. I hope to teach her to ride it this summer.
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SpyderLovers Sponsor
I've got a neighbor, died in the wool HD guy. He purchased a Tri-Glide after many years on 2 wheeled Harleys. He's got all the HD gear and he's really into it. But he does not like the Tri-Glide. He always asks me about my Spyder and the newer Spyder models that have come out. He complains to me about the aspects he and his wife do not like about the Tri-Glide but he won't even try a Spyder out. He feels like his HD 'Buddies' will disown him if he gets a Spyder.
I just think that's sad. If you appreciate the person, what difference does it make what they ride?
Shop Ph: 423-609-7588 (M-F, 8-5, Eastern Time)
Only SLOW people have to leave on time...
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Originally Posted by BajaRon
I've got a neighbor, died in the wool HD guy. He purchased a Tri-Glide after many years on 2 wheeled Harleys. He's got all the HD gear and he's really into it. But he does not like the Tri-Glide. He always asks me about my Spyder and the newer Spyder models that have come out. He complains to me about the aspects he and his wife do not like about the Tri-Glide but he won't even try a Spyder out. He feels like his HD 'Buddies' will disown him if he gets a Spyder.
I just think that's sad. If you appreciate the person, what difference does it make what they ride?
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I tested both.
Originally Posted by Rogue Hawk
I have never ridden a trike like the HD Freewheeler. How are they different from our Spyders?
Before I purchased my Spyder I test rode a 2017 Harley Freewheeler at Battlefield Harley in Ghettysburg PA. That tranny shifted like a Harley....cu-clunk, cu-clunk, cu-clunk. I owned an Ultra Classic 16 years ago and the tranny is still the same. The Harley is not water cooled , does not have an auto tranny, no ABS, no traction control and no power steering. The Freewheeler was beautiful but at $10,000 more then a Spyder AND missing those items it was a no brainer for me. Other then the Harley tranny it rode OK at best. My thoughts
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SpyderLovers Sponsor
Originally Posted by dieselengine9
A friend I ride has a neighbor that is similar to this, HD or nothing, but GET THIS, he doesn't own a bike/trike at all says they're too expensive. Doesn't stop him from making fun of spyders though...
....from his front porch
Jealousy can be a terrible thing!
Shop Ph: 423-609-7588 (M-F, 8-5, Eastern Time)
Only SLOW people have to leave on time...
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They're nothing but Poseurs...
Poseur.jpg
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A HD trike is just a glorified servi car but even the original servi cars had reverse buit right in the trans
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Something nobody mentioned. The Freewheeler and the TriGlide each have real car tires on the rear.
The 2017 TriGlide has the 107ci engine with four valves, two spark plugs per cylinder. It is a duel cooled engine. Yes, the tranny will go "clunk" when shifting gears. So did my '14 RTL. Harley made some changes to the frame for 2017 and changed the geometry of the front end. They also moved the catalytic converter farther back and routed the left tail pipe under the bike. I have not noticed any heat when riding. The TriGlide has just over 1 cubic foot more luggage space than the RTL. One major difference that I have found is the TriGlide doesn't get moved around in gusting winds. There are pros and cons with each vehicle. It just comes down to prefenence.
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Rental...
Originally Posted by Rogue Hawk
I have never ridden a trike like the HD Freewheeler. How are they different from our Spyders?
I rented a HD trike while vacationing in Sedona AZ, (one day $$$).... It was a fabulous trip and the HD trike day was a hoot... HOWEVER, I would not buy one...37K???? (model I would buy)... Nope, I fell in love with the RT the moment I sat on it.
That being said...rent and/or test drive for sure.
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The last trike I rode was a nightmare. I felt like I was always waiting for the rear tires to just keep going straight and push the front end into a ditch every time I went into a curve. Not a good day. Especially in the rain. Just hold on and hope for the best.
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