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  1. #1
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    Default Will Harley Davidson ever bring their reverse trike to market?

    Just wondering if Harley Davidson will ever consider selling their reverse trike after seeing great success from the Spyder.
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    My crystal ball is a bit cloudy; but I wouldn't bet on the Penstar coming out of a premature retirement...
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    Honda has the funding, the engineers, and the know-how.
    If they decided to pull the trigger on a reverse trike project; there'd be a real shake-up...
    2010 RT A&C, RT-L, RT-L , Orbital Blue, Cognac, Jet Black

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    I Have to agree with you , it would be great to have some competition for BRP. The result is always positive for better service and product.

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    Very Active Member btcherm's Avatar
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    Default Will Harley Davidson ever bring their reverse trike to market?

    your so right

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    Active Member OldDog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
    Honda has the funding, the engineers, and the know-how.
    If they decided to pull the trigger on a reverse trike project; there'd be a real shake-up...
    The Spyder is a remarkable machine. My hope is that BRP will continue to refine it and make it a worry free platform. I say that with honest candor. Spyderlovers will help in that development.

    I had a Honda Shadow Sabre for six trouble free years . (granted that platform has been around for a long time with much refinement)
    I think every one of the members here that have had 100000 mile Wings and Beemers expect this kind of reliability. The Wing has been around since 1975, I think, with several iterations, it's own set of issues, and much refinement. It has become one of, if not the most desirable touring bike. My hope is that the Spyder will become that also. Honda Dealers are everywhere. My maintenance parts were always available. My service experiences were good.

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    I've owned many Honda over the years and they've all been top notch machines.
    I also did a stint at a Honda/Kawasaki dealership putting together bikes... The Hondas were actually a much better bike under the skin.
    This is no knock against Can Am... I'd like to think that they could bring their expertise to bear, and someday rival Honda in build quality.
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    Very Active Member IWN2RYD's Avatar
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    Just being an honest consumer here...

    I would not even look at a Harley Reverse Trike.

    Now a Honda or BMW... Phew... Definitely would go looking. And depending one the results/powerplant choices... It would be a very hard choice to make between either of those camps and BRP.

    That is a complement to BRP. Had a person asked me this question in 2009 I would not have given BRP a chance. They have done quite well in changing a lot of our minds. This does not remove the challenges anyone can have with any company of course...

    Heck add Buell or Suzuki to that list and let's party!
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  9. #9
    Doru the Destroyer-Spyder Photo Investigator docdoru's Avatar
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    When a rule is perceived as acceptable to be applied to a group of bikes, but is considered unacceptable (taboo) when applied to another bike is......please help, can't find that two words term...
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    Very Active Member IWN2RYD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by docdoru View Post
    When a rule is perceived as acceptable to be applied to a group of bikes, but is considered unacceptable (taboo) when applied to another bike is......please help, can't find that two words term...
    Consumers Choice


    My not wanting a Harley Trike of any type with my money is my choice. Do you see Harley Crotch Rockets? Maybe the Night Rod?? hahahaha http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US...d-special.html There are things some Companies are good at and makes their brand. Others just copy after seeing success.
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  11. #11
    Thinks out loud Jeriatric's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by docdoru View Post
    When a rule is perceived as acceptable to be applied to a group of bikes, but is considered unacceptable (taboo) when applied to another bike is......please help, can't find that two words term...
    What if - versus - reality


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    Very Active Member ARtraveler's Avatar
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    I have been saying it for years, and also mentioned it in another thread yesterday.

    I would probably not buy a HD reverse trike, since I did not like the ergo's and feel of the current tri-glide.

    If Honda were to come out with a reverse trike, I would be one of the first to test drive and check it out.

    Not sure about BMW--but would probably check them out too.

    Some competition would be good for all of the consumers.

    There I go again--never to be considered for ambassadorship--even after 4 spyders purchased.

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  13. #13
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    The "Too Kool" bikes are available now, and the V-rod version will be out in the Spring - that one I'd look at:

    http://www.tookoolcycles.com/blog/video-2/
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    Quote Originally Posted by docdoru View Post
    When a rule is perceived as acceptable to be applied to a group of bikes, but is considered unacceptable (taboo) when applied to another bike is......please help, can't find that two words term...
    Would they be "", and ""?
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rattigan_Roger View Post
    Somehow I can't see HD bundling up all the electronic wizardry that makes a reverse trike safe and not an accident waiting to happen.

    Now if Honda ever decided to do it ......
    You need electronic wizardry? I'm not sure what you're referring to in this case but I thought that a lot of other systems were running pretty well mechanically. So I'm not sure of the components your referring to in order for a static from end to be safe.

    I know a lot of touring bikes even two wheelers are running ABS and Traction control, but we all got along just fine before they were around didn't we?

    Love to hear more on that because I always consider myself a student of the game.

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    It may not HAVE to be there; but without it, BRP would not have brought the Spyder to market.
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    If HD brings a reverse trike to market, let 'em. Competition would be good. But like all their other bikes, the competition will sweep the floor with em. It'll be everything the Spyder is not: heavy, slow, old fashioned.

    Now, if Honda comes out with one... I'd be the first to try it. Honda technology, build quality, reliability, and maybe the butter smooth Goldwing motor? Win.
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    Active Member SXSMachine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rattigan_Roger View Post
    Maybe I'm missing something but could you name another modern reverse trike that doesn't have an electronic VSS system?
    Buy yourself a fish sandwich if you can. Those Chinese knock-offs don't count.

    Yes you do need electronic wizardry to mass market a reverse trike configuration.
    Without the Bosch VSS there would be more of these puppies flipped into the boonies than you could count.

    Ever wonder why no one (okay, I know there were a few tried) ever did it before successfully?
    The reverse trike is inherently unstable in turns.
    Should start at the start and that the Penstart is a "leaning" reverse trike. It was likely a bad comparison in the first place to put Penstar and Can Am in the same sentence

    I'm not sure of the fish sandwich reference.

    In terms of vertical stability systems I agree that a lot more people would have flipped Spyders because they DONT lean. So all the forces are forced Vertically and the CoG just moves further and further towards the tipping point the faster and harder you corner.

    Now in terms of systems comparative to the Penstar I haven't seen a reverse trike WITH VSS because they dont need it because they mechanically move the CoG into the corner as you turn and the tipping point is never reached.

    So companies like Tiltingworks, Tremoto and anybody else I have ever seen with a leaning system I havent seen a VSS on.

    The GG Taurus the only other static reverse trike I can think of at the moment doesn't mention any VSS in its technical or assembly specs but that's as much as I know about is but it didn't come from the BMW engine management system so I'm going to make a guess at not.

    I cant think of one outside the Spyder that does, it uses the Bosch car system, which is why I asked the question of who and what components?? So do you have a sample of a trike or quad even that uses a VSS on a road bike? I'd just like to look over the details thats all. Its not a personal challenge.

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    I was waiting for you to join the party...
    Nobody else a system like this in play; probably because it cost BRP a ton of cash to get it, and then even more to implement it...
    Last edited by Bob Denman; 10-15-2012 at 11:29 AM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rattigan_Roger View Post
    The Penstar, Tiltingworks, GG Taurus or Tremoto are very low volume products aimed at enthusiasts and not the mass market.
    I can't comment on their systems but I doubt if a major manufacturer would bring out a trike without some form of vehicle stability system due to the instability of the reverse trike configuration.

    A VSS (not necessarily the Bosch) is, IMHO, necessary on a vehicle like the Spyder if it is going to be mass marketed.
    The Harley Penstar collaboration isn't mass market??

    At any rate I agree with your statement whole heartedly that a static reverse or even static quad motorcycles are too unstable in turns for my liking as well. I do agree that Can Am wouldn't have released the Spyder without VSS and they shouldn't have either, better when breaking a market to do it more conservatively than you have to.

    I still have no idea about the fish sandwich and neither did another American I asked.

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    No Trike should, IMHO, be considered as a vehicle that has been designed for the mass market... Motorcycles on the whole are more of a niche market vehicle anyway...
    (Again; just my humble, uninformed and otherwise unintelligent opinion)
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    Active Member SXSMachine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
    No Trike should, IMHO, be considered as a vehicle that has been designed for the mass market... Motorcycles on the whole are more of a niche market vehicle anyway...
    (Again; just my humble, uninformed and otherwise unintelligent opinion)
    Oh I believe there are very big changes coming for the mass market apart from just fuels (Britain has a changover to 100% alternate fuels by 2050 in law, they dont have the oil left to do anything but). There will be wholesale changes in the next generation of the vehicles they drive so in 15 years time they'll be buying a very different type of vehicle as a secondary family vehicle at the least and some people will have a very different primary vehicle and the technology will be there to support it, in fact you dont have to look far to find that technology today. I'll leave that comment hanging but I love seeing video's like this that provoke my thinking.

    Bear in mind this video is now 3 years old so we have moved on in leaps and bounds since then.


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    Active Member SXSMachine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rattigan_Roger View Post
    Can I buy a Harley Penster?
    I don't consider an unreleased product mass market.
    In fact it looks more now like it has been permanently shelved so unless you have driven one I don't think you can make any viable comments as to the handling.

    And, my friend, I appreciate all the reasons you don't like the Spyder so you have the option of waiting for a Harley Penster or, I hope, you are in a position to purchase one of the more exotic brands you listed.

    Good luck to you & g'day.
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    Very Active Member daveinva's Avatar
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    No. Next question?

    Oh, and to re-emphasize what was written above: you only need a VSS-like "nanny" system on a *static* reverse trike, NOT a leaning trike. Alas, there may be other mechanical considerations that preclude mass-market manufacturing of a leaning trike (reliability, perhaps? ).

    That all said, I won't be surprised when we *will* get another major-manufacturer reverse trike within the next five years. Why? Because it's obviously a successful, appealing design, AND there's a growing market for trikes as motorcyclists age.

    The "leaner" is a holy grail for this niche because it removes a big chunk of the stigma that holds back traditional two-wheelers from considering adopting a trike. Sure, there will still be folks who will never give up their bikes for a trike with "training wheels" attached, but if you can make it lean, that's a huge appeal to many (even many of us, we happy merry band of Spyderlovers ).

    I know many of us are disappointed that BRP hasn't put out a leaner yet, but I would be shocked if they don't, considering it's the natural evolution of the reverse trike. If BRP doesn't put one out, *someone else will,* and the "first to market" advantage will then rest with that manufacturer.

    Considering the undisputed potential for a serious leaning reverse trike to instantly depress Spyder sales overnight, I can bet that BRP is desperate to be first to that market.
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    There was some info in here about the BURP-Leaner...
    It controlled the amount of lean that you got with electronics and mechanicals... Depending on your speed and a whole bunch of other inputs.
    It sounds just a weeeeee bit more complicated than the current Spyders; Not for this boy! Not yet!
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