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[Dean_Nelson]

What I tell new trike owners is in the first 50 miles you learn not to put your feet down, do not need the kick stand when you stop and you must turn the bars for whear you want to go and no more leaning in the turns.

Than from 50 to 500 miles you get the hang of it and don't think about it, you just ride it.

From 500 miles and on, you just get better at it.

As for the turns and ramps, you will find out just how fast you can run in them. I can out run anyone on a FL or soft tail. If you have never been with a trike rider who has the miles under him you will be in for a shock as to how hard you can run on them.

As you ride one faster and faster in the turns, the front tire will tell you where the "limint" is. Like a car, the front wheel will start to wash out. Not much but you can "feel it". It will drift about 1/8" to the side, back off a little and it right back to going round the turn. Ramps that are listed as 45 mph you can run at 60 to 65 .

As for running the front wheel in the "center" of the lane, it has no effect on the trike.

Running in the rain is nothing, just run, as long as you can see just run as fast as you want.

If anyone is thinking of a trike, you need to try to demo one. Not for two miles but ride it for 20-30 miles.

We are at most large bike events and do demo, we take you out for 20 miles so you know how ours work in the turns, RR tracks, pot holes ect.

I have never had a reverse, we have put them on ($1500.00) good if you need one (short, legs dont work ect) but if you park them just as you would your two wheeler all is fine. On a flat you can just sit on it and us one leg to move it around.

Dean Nelson

[hard10]

This was Dad's email: "Great advice. Find out about the HD Trike."

I think he's sold on a new HD Trike.

Dean, which one do you have?

[Fired00d]

AJ,
I believe this is his company - DFT Trikes.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Dean_Nelson]

We are DFT trikes.

You can goto www.dfttrikes.com and see them.

We do 1985 and up Harleys and 1500 1800 Hondas

Cost is about $14000,15000 to convert, painted to match stock Harley bike

Or you can buy the kit for $9200 and convert , paint,buy rims and tires and do it yourself.

Their are about 50 or60 Harley dealer's that sell our kit, ask your dealer if he sells it.

On the web site is a list or our dealers.

Dean

[iski]

Harley has a trike in the development phase.  No firm production date offerred & rumors are it will be in 09.  Maybe even 08. Jim Mc Caslin, Moco president was asked about this at a meeting I recently attended & all he would say is that they are working on it.  He commented that its different when they look at possibly producing thousands of a model vs a few hundred.  Figure its in the testing phaze by now.

Since they are eliminating 5 models already for next year, who knows?

[ccr]

Thanks Dean for this explanation.  Not in the market today - although sitting here with only about 1000 miles on my bikes since Jan because of a sprained knee, I will keep my options open and when I can't hold a bike up any more between my legs, the trike option sounds more viable than I ever thought before.  Actually, I am on the fast track to recovery after surgery for my knee last Friday, but my husband is plagued with back problems, and I see his need to assistance long before me.  We will be keeping your name and information in our back pocket for future, no doubt. 

A pic of a nanner trike we saw while attending the 05 VA State HOG rally.  Factory was right next door - well kinda. 

[Dean_Nelson]

Mrs.We CVO,

No one who rides a two wheeler their whole life is in the market for a trike.

But things happen to us and than the story changes. That is where trikes can let many keep riding. The points you talk about is what we see each day on the phone. We see it at the bike events we go to.

If you are ever at a event and the DFT trailer is their, stop by and just take a look at who stops by and takes a demo ride.

They just want to keep their bike and some how keep on going, most of the time a trike will do it for them.

It is not for all of us, but the ones that need it or want it.

Dean Nelson

[hard10]

Hey Dean, How about a  few pix of your ride? TIA, AJ

[Dean_Nelson]

AJ,

Look at replay 5 and 9

9 is my current trike, 2006 USE. I ride them for two years than it gets sold and I then build a new one for the next two year run.

In replies 5 you will see my "old" 2004 SE that was sold in 05 at Sturgis and that is when I bought the 06.

It is also on the web site under "Harley kits", www.dfttrikes.com

This year the 06 will do the Harley Posse ride, as I did the last Posse ride ( all 48 states) with the 04.

It is a lot of fun on the Posse ride, each night in the next town their are a lot of riders that come up to us and say "so you are the ones on the trikes". We tend to ride them "hard" and most do not think they can go round the curves a well as they do.

I can't tell you how many times some of them see us in the mirrors, they run harder, we see mufflers down to the road in the turns, sparks that look like the fourth of July, they drift out, out, out, they back out of it, and we pull out and go around them.

But you need to keep in mind, this is after many miles of time on a trike to run them that hard.

I have aprox 75,000 miles on five trikes over time.

Dean

[JCZ]

Dean, you should briefly cover the pros and cons of DFT's independant suspension vs the one piece axel.  If I remember correctly, DFT is the only one that does the indipendant suspension?

Looking forward to your next one..........

J.C.

[SBB]

Dean, you should briefly cover the pros and cons of DFT's independant suspension vs the one piece axel.  If I remember correctly, DFT is the only one that does the indipendant suspension?

Looking forward to your next one..........

J.C.

JC

I'm with you.
When I'm older than death I see a trike for me.
But only if it leans.
Besides,  by then the motor will make so much horsepower that it will take two wheels to handle it.

 


Or maybe one of those Can Am Bombadiers trikes with two wheels upfront.

[Dean_Nelson]

JC,

I can do that, I have a lot to get done today, I will try to post it after 5:00 today when I get some time to do it.


Dean

[Talon]

JC, I don't know much about the trikes, just what a friend of mine has passed on, but I think there's a few companies making independent suspension. Here's one and a picture of their conversion for Harley's.

http://www.trikeshop.com/trikes/hdt.php

[Dean_Nelson]

The DFT Difference, US Patent #5-692-577

DFT independent suspension system starts with a differential mounted in a two piece case that is O-ringed and sealed at the drive axles and mating surfaces. This case serves as the adaption device which maintains the motorcycle's original drive location and also mounts the brake rotor. This drive spool is than mounted in a pair of main castings which are the foundation for mounting and placement in the motorcycle, lower suspension pivot points, upper shock mounts, brake caliper mount, drive spool and inner half shaft bearing bosses.

All steel components, such as the lower arms and drive shafts are T.I.G. welded and plated in zinc dichromate. The lower arem are fitted with tapered roller bearings at both the main casting and outer carrier pivot points for a long life and smooth suspension movement. The half shafts use automotive type universal joints equipped with grease fittings.

The outer wheel carrier employs a sealed, double row ball bearing hub which mounts a 5 bolt x 100 mm bolt circle, 16" front wheel drive rim available in numerous styles from many sources.

The four shocks, coil over shock system allows for maximun ride tuneability such as stance, balance and vertical position. to complete the system, a sway bar is provided to enhance cornering and steering, easily adjusted through a turnbuckle and locknut arrangement and mounted with spherical ends for quite, smooth, positive operation.

What all this means to the rider is a very verstile, highly adjustable, good handling and extremely smooth and stable three wheeled motorcycle that has minimal upsprung weight that is easily installed and abolt on package.

Nothing is cut or welded on the bike, remove the swing arm and all parts to the rear, install the bikes pully and disc system and bolt on.

Body style for the FL frame bikes has 9.5 cu feet of trunk, no Harley tour pack means less vibration.

exhaust mounting is with a flex noncnector so the rubber mount motor will not send vibration to the bike as with a sold mount exhaust pipes

Parts from a Harley dealer for your belt, pully, and rear brake system for on the road repairs if needed

Total pounds added to the bike when done is 110 pounds

Their are a lot of Harley dealers in the US that are also DFT dealers if you ever have a problem on the road.

CON:

We are about 5-6% more cost that the other MFG

Dean Nelson

[SPIDERMAN]

Dean,
       I am asking this question because with my arthritis I never know when the day may come where I need to buy one of your trikes. Do you sell outright, or do conversions or both ?  Do you take bikes in trade ?  Just curious

B B