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[Older Guy]

At age 75 I still have no problems handling my 2011 street glide ,the problem is my wife rides with me 95% of the time. Some times I have to watch where I park so I can get out, and stopping for in tight places.Thinking maybe time for to look at going to a trike. My dealer tells me since I only have 4,644 miles on the CVO I should trike it and have a CVO trike. He is telling me the coast would be around $ 15,000. Should I spend that kind of money or sell it and just buy a new one for around my bike and $5,000?
            Thanks for your input
                     older Guy

[ultrarider123]

Would have to say a CVO trike would be unique (there's a member here with one already) but the money to convert may be a stopping point.  Still, wouldn't be something you would see very often...   Plus, you have a great color that would convert to a trike very nicely.

[SOTLucky]

A buddy of ours was about to do his street glide down here in Texas and I think it was going to cost $11k.

[Older Guy]

I think the paint is what is costing more.

[ultrafxr]

Not that you would do it with thought to sell but at some point you will. If you have factory warranty or ESP triking your bike will void those. With new or used factory trike you will/can have factory warranty and/or ESP. I think resale on a factory trike would be better/easier.

[Buy early]

First off, congratulations on still being an active rider at 75! Here's hoping you have another 25 years in the wind!

Have you checked out this thread:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=86469.0;all

I've given a fair amount of thought to trikes as well. I've even wondered what my WG2 would look like triked out cause I love this bike so much and can't imagine selling it but can imagine a day when I might have a problem handling it.

Fact of the matter is I'm just not crazy about the standard trike format from a looks/functionality standpoint. No problems with anyone that owns and rides one. Think they're great for keeping people in the wind and I believe we'll see more and more trikes on the road - that's great! Just not sure a trike is for me. I like the physics and looks of the Can Am better but don't like the limitations when it comes to options and motor choice. I know HD has looked at the 2 wheel front one back format but assume they can't figure out how to make it a Harley.

The whole sidecar concept still intrigues me tho. I saw a beautiful VRod with a sidecar in Sturgis last year. Simply a stunning rig! and the RG rig from the post link above has to be one of the nicest rigs of any kind I have ever seen!

Currently my wife rides her own bike but when I told her she could ride in the sidecar and hold one of our dogs, she said "sign me up". At some point, she is going to transition away from riding her own and the sidecar route just seems more acceptable to both of us. Perhaps it's because the bike still looks like a bike and the sidecar is an interesting conversation piece.

Whatever you decide, just be sure it includes riding in the open wind, however many wheels or whatever configuration that takes - enjoy the ride!

[Older Guy]

Rode a Harley with a sidecar,VERY TRICKY. tough to handle. I am not sold yet on a trike either steering all over the road. I guess like anything takes getting used to. I see a lot of people doing 65-70 staying up with our group and no problems. Time will tell. I intend to rent one for a day and see how that goes. don't just go for looks but how do you feel riding it.
          Older Guy

[phato1]

The February issue  (#020) of HOG had an article about riding the trike in it which gave a pretty good description of the differences of riding a trike versus being on two wheels. I have taken the HD trike out on demo rides a few times, during Laconia, Americade and several dealer "demo days" when the factory demo truck shows up.
Riding the trike is different and takes some getting used to, the hardest part for myself and the BSR was the fact that trikes don't lean so it feels weird taking corners until you learn to "turn" or "twist" your upper body from the waist up (just a little - you don't have to hang off the thing) in the direction you want to turn instead of just moving your head to "look" where you want to go.

We actually enjoyed riding the trike  - just not ready to give up the traditional two wheels yet.

[Sidecar Dan]

Have you considered a Sidecar?  Cheaper....and there are benefits:  More luggage capacity, room for 3 (2 on bike 1 in sidecar), legs aren't wrapped around you all day (sometimes a negative), etc.....I've ridden them for years.  Here is a thread on my new rig.  I'd be happy to answer any questions.  This Sidecar was about $10,500+/- vs. 16K to start on most trike kits.  It can be removed too.  Just my 2 cents:  http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=86469.msg1153584#msg1153584

Good luck with your decision!

[Sidecar Dan]

Rode a Harley with a sidecar,VERY TRICKY. tough to handle. I am not sold yet on a trike either steering all over the road. I guess like anything takes getting used to. I see a lot of people doing 65-70 staying up with our group and no problems. Time will tell. I intend to rent one for a day and see how that goes. don't just go for looks but how do you feel riding it.
          Older Guy

I noticed someone had posted the other thread about my sidecar (didn't read the thread completely....OOPS!). 

To answer your question:  Unless you ride with maniacs....I'm usually trying not to run people over in a group!     It's a new set of skills....and you would need to learn a few things, but there are Sidecar safety classes out there....which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.  There are trade offs, but the common issues on 2 wheels are far more common (low side, rear wheel lock up, gravel, slip and fall, etc...) accidents than the issues a sidecar or trike can prevent.  My issue is a bad leg and not being able to hold up the weight reliably. 

[Sidecar Dan]

The February issue  (#020) of HOG had an article about riding the trike in it which gave a pretty good description of the differences of riding a trike versus being on two wheels. I have taken the HD trike out on demo rides a few times, during Laconia, Americade and several dealer "demo days" when the factory demo truck shows up.
Riding the trike is different and takes some getting used to, the hardest part for myself and the BSR was the fact that trikes don't lean so it feels weird taking corners until you learn to "turn" or "twist" your upper body from the waist up (just a little - you don't have to hang off the thing) in the direction you want to turn instead of just moving your head to "look" where you want to go.

We actually enjoyed riding the trike  - just not ready to give up the traditional two wheels yet.

This simple way to describe this is "You DRIVE a 3 wheel vehicle" vs. ride it.  LEFT IS LEFT....RIGHT IS RIGHT.  There is no counter steering per se and you are correct, there is no LEAN.  

You have to unlearn a few things and learn a few new tricks. Trikes are "balanced" in that they are equal width on both sides.  A Sidecar is not.  Usually the Sidecar is about 1/3 the weight of the bike.  There are a few issues (I won't go into here in detail) with physics you need to be aware of when riding, but with this Sidecar (Hannigan) there isn't a lot chance you will "lift" the sidecar like a MoCo "baby buggy" or older sidecars did.  It will come off the ground if you really try...but I ride as aggressive as anyone and I've never been off the ground/out of control yet.  

[JCZ]

A member of this forum, Dean Nelson, with his friends at DFT Trikes has done several CVO conversions to trikes over the past few years.  I know that I took and posted photos of a couple of them but just can't find them.....but did find this...

Using the search feature on this forum:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=2963.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=7899.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=4297.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=1522.0

[JCZ]

By the way, $15k sounds like an awful lot to do a trike converson.  JMHO

Another of Dean's CVO trike conversions.....   http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=12759.msg199198#msg199198

[Sidecar Dan]

By the way, $15k sounds like an awful lot to do a trike converson.  JMHO

Another of Dean's CVO trike conversions.....   http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=12759.msg199198#msg199198

Trikes take a ton of mods....Most I've talked to spend over $16K, and that's not a CVO conversion by a LONG shot!  I would seriously doubt that TODAY a DFT would run under $15K painted and installed like those links....(from 2007)

On this one the base price is only $8,800 here for example:http://www.hannigantrikes.com/products/harley-davidson-flh-conversion/   

That doesn't include: 

Paint:  1395 + for a CVO
Install:  1595 
Any options:  (Just keep peeling off $100 bills)

You're at $12K without any upgraded wheels and tires, extra parts painted, add ons, etc.....If you've ever seen a trike being built you'd understand why they are so expensive. 

MoCo's trike is $30,999 with no options. I can tell you that the trike kit they use is VERY basic compared to many of the aftermarket kits that are out there. 

It's an expensive proposition to add either Trike or Sidecar.

[NETacoma03Fatboy]

or this....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Harley-Davidson-Other-RICHLAND-ROADSTER-MOTORCYCLE-TRIKE-CONVERSION-KIT-ONLY-COLOR-MATCHED-/251305207952?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3a82f52890&vxp=mtr