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#1
02-20-2012, 06:12 PM
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From two wheels to three...motorcycle thread.
Well, time has finally caught up with me...motorcycle-wise at least.
Due to various problems with degenerative and traumatic arthritis in my legs, knees, hips, and left wrist, and lingering problems from my broken back, I realized if I wanted to keep riding I'd have to start looking at a trike of some sort. While for the most part I do ok, there are times, especially when I've been riding more than two or three hours, that my legs don't always do what I want them to do when I come to a stop. It's worse on the V-Star than it is on the M50 (a fairly large difference in bike weights will do it), and much worse when I have my wife with me. No, I haven't dropped any bike, but I've come closer than I like when I have someone on the back. It was pretty bad in St Martin, especially on the sand road going to one of the beaches. That being said, I think I'd be ok for the next couple of years, but talking with my wife (and orthopedist), I decided that now might be the time to look and see what's out there. My wife agrees and, I'm pretty sure, would be happier riding pillion on three wheels than two. So we started doing some research into trikes...a LOT of research, once we got going. That and a lot of test riding. While going to a trike will lose the leaning into a turn...a major part of the joy of riding...I'd rather that than stop riding all together. Judging from the number of trikes I see on the road these days, a lot of riders agree with me. Anyway, after much reading and riding, we came down to these three trikes. The Lehman Crossbow, based on the Victory Vision:  The Harley-Davidson TriGlide:  And the Can Am Spyder RT:  We've already made up our minds and, in fact, will take delivery on our new "bike" within a week. I'll then ride it down to Florida. But, just out of curiosity, if you had to go to three wheels, which would you pick? Doesn't make any difference if you ride our not...I'm just curious of what others think. Have at it. I'll let you all know what we got in a bit. BTW...anyone interested in an '07 V-Star 1300 Tourer in blue with some upgrades and less than 14k miles? You'd get a pretty good bro-deal! 
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Phil Playing guitar badly since 1964. Some Taylor guitars. Three Kala ukuleles (one on tour with the Box Tops). A 1937 A-style mandolin. 
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#2
02-20-2012, 06:15 PM
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The Can-Am "trikes" are some of the coolest things I've seen on the road, period....
That would be my choices, hands-down, no-contest... Of course, my opinion is based on owning one of these : 
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Larry Pattis on Spotify and Pandora LarryPattis.com American Guitar Masters 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists Steel-string guitars by Rebecca Urlacher and Simon Fay Classical guitars by Anders Sterner Last edited by Larry Pattis; 02-20-2012 at 06:24 PM.
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#3
02-20-2012, 06:26 PM
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I ride a 'Glide, but I'm not big on the HD trikes.
The Vic looks interesting, the Vision sure offers a lot of bells and whistles. I believe if it were me, the Can Am would be the one.
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It's upside down and backwards
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#5
02-20-2012, 06:29 PM
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I guess the engineer in me would go for the one that is most stable in sharp turns so that would be the Cam-Am. I think the Cam-Am presents a bigger light presence at night so i would find it easier to spot one behind me at night or inclimate weather. Ok, i like the different look of the Cam-Am ... so strike three ... its Cam-Am for me.
Ken
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#6
02-20-2012, 06:32 PM
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I've been thinking about a Can-Am for awhile now. They scream "comfort" to me, which is critically important for a touring bike.
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Robert "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
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#7
02-20-2012, 06:39 PM
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As a Harley (Road King) rider, although I've never ridden a trike, I'm partial to the TriGlide. I don't like the Victory or CanAm at all (I'm not sure if the CanAm even classifies as a motorcycle, more like a car without a roof -- I'd buy a Miata first). I know you've already made your decision, but did you consider the kits that turn a motorcycle into a trike? Do a search, they look pretty cool. With some, it's hard to tell that the back wheel is there. I'm not sure, but some may even allow for fairly easy conversion between 2 and 3 wheel riding depending on your circumstances.
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Tom '21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI My original songs
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#8
02-20-2012, 08:52 PM
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I'd probably go with the Can Am phil. (Which I suspect was your decision
 ) Wish you were a bit closer the V-Star sounds nice. (To be honest I am considering selling my bike as I too have had a lot of "issues" in the last few years.) Looking forward to the reveal. 
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Steve
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#9
02-20-2012, 08:55 PM
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Sorry, Phil. I can no more pick a trike based on one picture of each of three than I could pick a guitar best suited for me with that little information. I'd probably want to do at least the same amount of research as you've done, maybe even more, since I'm not a biker.
I have to admit, though, that for touring, something like this really catches my eye.  http://www.trikeshop.com/shop/produc...adsmith-trike/ cotten Of course, sometimes one might need a bit more storage space than even this machine allows, so I might be interested in one of those sleek little motorcycle trailers I see sometimes. Something like this? 
Last edited by cotten; 02-21-2012 at 08:35 AM.
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#10
02-20-2012, 09:38 PM
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I'd go with the Can-Am. Less likely to tip if you get into a corner too hot.
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#13
02-21-2012, 08:06 AM
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.......................
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Unimogbert Last edited by unimogbert; 03-08-2023 at 04:04 AM.
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#14
02-21-2012, 03:08 PM
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And the winnah is...
The Can Am Spyder RT-AC. FAR more stable than any other trike we rode and just plain comfortable. The one we're getting (a left over 2011) has all the standard bells and whistles like traction control, linked ABS, semi-auto trans, am/fm radio with speakers front and rear, electronic adjustable windshield, adjustable ride, heated grips front and rear, mp3 connection, blah, blah, blah. We're also having XM radio installed and even getting the CanAm trailer built specifically for it. And we're getting it at an amazing price! We liked both the Lehman and the HD, but the two wheels in the front just made it a joy to ride. And it's in a very nice blue... 
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Phil Playing guitar badly since 1964. Some Taylor guitars. Three Kala ukuleles (one on tour with the Box Tops). A 1937 A-style mandolin.
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#15
02-21-2012, 03:11 PM
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Quote:
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