Test Drove A Goldwing Trike

[Bangorbob]

I know this has been covered before, but until you actually do it, there is no comparison. I test drove an 18 Goldwing DCT trike yesterday. WOW! Not impressed. Lots of power, but the steering, as people have mentioned in previous threads, is not good. I will keep my 2020 RTL or maybe look at a '25 RT, IF there is enough difference between my '20 and a '25.

 

[BajaRon]

The Goldwing is an excellent machine. But there is a reason Honda does not make a conventional trike - they learned their lesson with the ATC. Goldwing trikes are all aftermarket conversions. The 1 wheel in front and 2 wheels behind is simply an inferior design. It's not a dig against anyone; it's just a matter of physics.

 

[Bangorbob]

I test drove one years ago. The steering is hard to turn. When turning curves it felt like the front wheel was trying to turn but sliding thru the curve. Nothing has changed over the years. Oh, I will say the 2 reverse speeds are better than the old snail pace on goldwings.

 

[Mikey]

That is what a single wheel in the front is going to do, push in the corners. Did you ever ride a small Honda Big Red? Push in the corner and want to lift a rear tire!!!

 

[ARtraveler]

I know this has covered before, but until you actually do it, there is no comparison. I test drove an 18 Goldwing DCT trike yesterday. WOW! Not impressed. Lots of power, but the steering, as people have mentioned in previous threads, is not good. I will keep my 2020 RTL or maybe look at a 25 RT IF there is enough difference between 20 and 25.

Thank you for the update. I was interested in GW trikes back in the day. The fact that the conversions were "aftermarket" and not actually built by Honda put the kibosh on my purchase of same. They would not work on them and the warranty was immediately voided.

I test sat a HD triglide before I decided to go Spyder. All I had to do was start it up and I knew it was not for me. Throw in the bad ergos (for me) and the no deal, plus a $15K adm. fee to purchase put the same kibosh on that deal. I ended up buying seven assorted Spyders between 2008 and 2021. That's my story, and I am sticking to it. :yes:

 

[Bangorbob]

I will add that even though it was an automatic with shaft drive, it sounded noisy and shifted hard. It's a beautiful ride, but the mechanics don't match the looks. Now granted, I wasn't particularly fond of my first spyder either. But I did give it a chance and it worked out great. I could give a trike a lifetime chance and it ain't going to change anything.

 

[2dogs]

HD Try Glide is the same way. It's like driving a truck compared to a spyder. Sorry HD riders but it is what it is.

 

[rjinaz86323]

I came from a Harley TriGlide and the same as the Honda. Hard to steer.

 

[Pooch]

I came to Spyder from 2 Gold Wing trikes. One trike did not have the Easy Steer on it, the other did.... QUITE the difference!!! Put the Easy Steer on that one ASAP. Both were a complete pleasure to drive. Only switched to a Spyder because my independent mechanic retired and closed up shop.

The next closest maintenance mechanic was now 300 miles away. The Spyder dealer is only 42 miles away.

This Spyder has also been a pleasure to drive.

 

[blacklightning]

I have never ridden one, but I can see it being just as you described. The one that I would like to drive is the Stallion with the 2.3L ford engine and steering wheel. I am guessing that it is the same way.

 

[Jackhartjr]

I went to a Can-Am dealer looking at a beautiful Goldwing trike they had. The sales lady gave me a brochure for the Spyder. I also went to our local HD dealer and looked at a Tri-Glide. Total pos!
Then I read the Spyder brochure, loved the safety aspect of them and was hooked!
(I might ad that I was looking for a trike because I had just had a back operation and knew I couldn't lift a two wheeler if I dropped it!)
I'm on my second Spyder, only because the first one burned up!

 

[MNBK]

A friend had a Triglide in the early 2000's then went to a Stallion. He let me drive it and it was tough to like. The wind whips around the windshield and beats you up. When driving or parking it you couldn't tell where the front end was because of the design making it hard to figure when you're in the parking spot. I didn't like the idea of having to step over the side to get in and then sit down. I'm sure some people like them, but it isn't for me. He did sell it after 6 months and took a huge loss on it.

 

[nightfalcon]

Single front wheel trikes require a lot of rider input to steer. You have to shift your weight to counteract the dual rear wheel drive pushing the trike in a straight line. It's not a matter of just leverering the handle bars like on a Can Am, doing that will just skid the front end.

I know of a perspective purchaser of a homemade trike who was tragically killed on the test ride when he failed to take a corner and drove into a fence. He had never been on a dual rear wheel drive trike prior to the test ride.

 

[Cobranut]

Single front wheel trikes require a lot of rider input to steer. You have to shift your weight to counteract the dual rear wheel drive pushing the trike in a straight line. It's not a matter of just leverering the handle bars like on a Can Am, doing that will just skid the front end.

I know of a perspective purchaser of a homemade trike who was tragically killed on the test ride when he failed to take a corner and drove into a fence. He had never been on a dual rear wheel drive trike prior to the test ride.

Sounds like that thing may have had a locked rear axle.
The old 3-wheel ATC's were like that. You had to shift your weight outwards when making a slow speed turn.
An open differential should allow them to corner normally, allowing of course for the inherent instability of the design.