I took a Demo ride on a Harley trike - much prefer my RT!

[vito1943]

I went with my son to a local HD dealer where demo rides were being offered. He wanted to try their “Adventure” bike, so I signed up for a ride as well, on a 2023 trike. Short story: I much prefer my RT.

The HD does give a more traditional-like motorcycle experience with the single wheel in front and traditional shifting of the 6-speed transmission. But it has several drawbacks in my opinion. Heat on my right leg from the big v-twin engine was severe and very uncomfortable after a few minutes. Turning effort was far more than the Spyder. Much, much noisier. High handlebars were okay at first, then tiring before 30 minutes was up.

No question in my mind that I made the right choice in getting a Spyder.

 

[SLICE]

I test rode a HD trike and in simple terms it sucked, as a life long HD owner I was shocked HD could put out such ill handling garbage every turn felt like it was going to flip.

Maybe if I rode it at a normal pace it would have been acceptable, but normal is not in my vocabulary.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I test rode a HD trike and in simple terms it sucked, as a life long HD owner I was shocked HD could put out such ill handling garbage every turn felt like it was going to flip.

Maybe if I rode it at a normal pace it would have been acceptable, but normal is not in my vocabulary.

:agree: .... except for " stable at normal speed " .... to me any speed is normal as long as it remains on the road ...... JMHO .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[pcaffrey]

Owned a 2014 Tri-Glide now have a 2017 Spyder. Didn't keep the HD long it literally sucked.

 

[ARtraveler]

That was also my experience in 2010 when the RT first came out. Test sat the HD trike, did not like the ergos. Started it up...did not like the noise and shaking. Checked out the pricing. They wanted MSRP PLUS a $4500 (adm) fee. Bye!..........

 

[PaladinLV]

Until HD redesigns the front end it remain an OVERPRICED POS TANK.

AJ

 

[old Timer]

Do not forget that the initial 3 wheeled ATV's were cancelled due to the simple fact of Physics, the conventional Trike platform (one in front and two in the back like HD's) is inherently unstable in a turn. The various Spyders and other like 3 wheelers are called 'Reverse trikes' and they are a much more stable and safer platform!

 

[C. Lee]

Conventional trike riders will tell you they switched to 3 wheels because "it was the only way they could stay in the wind". They never talk about how fun they are to ride. Chris

 

[Peacekeeper6]

I went with my son to a local HD dealer where demo rides were being offered. He wanted to try their “Adventure” bike, so I signed up for a ride as well, on a 2023 trike. Short story: I much prefer my RT.

The HD does give a more traditional-like motorcycle experience with the single wheel in front and traditional shifting of the 6-speed transmission. But it has several drawbacks in my opinion. Heat on my right leg from the big v-twin engine was severe and very uncomfortable after a few minutes. Turning effort was far more than the Spyder. Much, much noisier. High handlebars were okay at first, then tiring before 30 minutes was up.

No question in my mind that I made the right choice in getting a Spyder.

I also belong to www.hdforums.com, and they would beg to differ, LOL.

 

[sledge]

I went with my son to a local HD dealer where demo rides were being offered. He wanted to try their “Adventure” bike, so I signed up for a ride as well, on a 2023 trike. Short story: I much prefer my RT.

The HD does give a more traditional-like motorcycle experience with the single wheel in front and traditional shifting of the 6-speed transmission. But it has several drawbacks in my opinion. Heat on my right leg from the big v-twin engine was severe and very uncomfortable after a few minutes. Turning effort was far more than the Spyder. Much, much noisier. High handlebars were okay at first, then tiring before 30 minutes was up.

No question in my mind that I made the right choice in getting a Spyder.

i have owned a lot of bikes in my life , and in last 10 years I owned 5 Goldwing's in a row ... 1 of them was a Trike , I bearly rode it 600 miles and sold it . i never liked it at all and there is nothing like a Spyder on a 1 front wheel trike.

 

[fredgal]

my F3L has something my 1500 vulcan classic never had........FUN FACTOR......hyea:

 

[pegasus1300]

I put 40,000 miles on a Goldwing trike ,but did not really enjoy it like I have my Spyder. I always felt like the front end was going to just keep going straight in a turn. I go into Harley every year at demo time to ride a TriGlide. I am always disappointed at the end of the ride.

 

[ARtraveler]

my F3L has something my 1500 vulcan classic never had........FUN FACTOR......hyea:

I had one of those. Very nice bike, but as you said, not as much fun as the F3L which I also have. :yes:

 

[Quickdraw]

I put 40,000 miles on a Goldwing trike ,but did not really enjoy it like I have my Spyder. I always felt like the front end was going to just keep going straight in a turn. I go into Harley every year at demo time to ride a TriGlide. I am always disappointed at the end of the ride.

That's the one thing I didn't like with the Gold Wing trikes is that the fairing doesn't move into the turn. The HD trike does but I've read it's not that comfortable and the steering can take a toll on long trips. I do like the look of it though.

 

[fredgal]

friend of mine is big harley guy, he had a HD trike for a yr or so, he sold it last yr. bought a used RT , loves the RT, trike was rough riding he said..

 

[ES44AC]

Back in 2015 I test rode a HD trike and in 5 minutes I knew I didn't like it.

I still say if the Spyder was a HD Spyder there would be 3x as many on the road .

 

[grumpyoldretiredcop]

I took my wife to the local HD dealer's Demo Days and rode a Tri-Glide just to see how much had changed since 2010, the last time I tried one (and passed on it). For what it's worth, my solo ride is a 2022 Street Glide. I thought it was a big improvement over the first models although the power and handling was nowhere near as good as our F3T. I didn't find the steering effort much, if any different from the Spyder. My wife liked the ride and the seating (and she's had plenty of miles on Gold Wings, Voyagers, Ventures, Electra Glides and now the F3T) but I wouldn't buy one unless it was going to be my only ride. Our F3T would leave that Tri-Glide in the dust without even trying. The only thing the Tri-Glide had over our Spyder is luggage space. I wish BRP would make an F3 sport tourer with luggage capacity worthy of mention.

 

[askitee]

I went with my son to a local HD dealer where demo rides were being offered. He wanted to try their “Adventure” bike, so I signed up for a ride as well, on a 2023 trike. Short story: I much prefer my RT.

The HD does give a more traditional-like motorcycle experience with the single wheel in front and traditional shifting of the 6-speed transmission. But it has several drawbacks in my opinion. Heat on my right leg from the big v-twin engine was severe and very uncomfortable after a few minutes. Turning effort was far more than the Spyder. Much, much noisier. High handlebars were okay at first, then tiring before 30 minutes was up.

No question in my mind that I made the right choice in getting a Spyder.

Interesting. I tested a HD trike and the best term I could come up with Agricultural.