I will admit to a certain bias since I prefer sidecars and have never owned a trike. I have ridden the Harley Servi-car Model G's quite a bit. though.
One issue that wasn't touched on so far is the cost. The typical kit, prior to paint match for a trike such as a Lehman is around $10,000. That puts the trike at the top as far as cost.
Additionally, as mentioned above, trikes are for all practical purposes a non-reversible conversion after all of the cutting and chopping necessary to convert a solo bike into one. I also don't see it as a smart business move for HD to get involved with Lehman or any other trike manufacturer.
I'll just stick with my sidecar.
[I'll just stick with my sidecar]
Amen!!
Amen for sure! 'Taint nothing like a sidecar even for us newbies!
Back to the original question - I have read two articles on Harley submitting a patent application on a trike that looks similar to the can-am spyder (2 wheels in front, one in back). The patent is not for a conversion job, but an out-of-the-factory 3 wheeler with a Harley engine. Being a Harley, it will most likely cost twice as much as the spyder, have half the power and a quarter of the spyder's handling capability 🙂
that design was a HD subcontract to a design company back in 1990. HD wanted them to be built by HD, the contractor wanted THEM to build them, then hand them off to HD to sell. No agreement was reached. Three prototypes exist, they were sold off. Very nice looking product, but it was doomed due to HD owning sales rights, and the design company owning all of the technology rights. It'll never see production.
The trikes that HD is going to be selling are Lehman trikes. Pretty farked up that NOW they will allow someone else to do their production, but not in 1990.
Originally written by welnet on 11/23/2007 6:28 PM
Back to the original question - I have read two articles on Harley submitting a patent application on a trike that looks similar to the can-am spyder (2 wheels in front, one in back). The patent is not for a conversion job, but an out-of-the-factory 3 wheeler with a Harley engine. Being a Harley, it will most likely cost twice as much as the spyder, have half the power and a quarter of the spyder's handling capability 🙂
It's possible that they might have applied for a patent. That won't necessarily cause them to market such a product, however.
As you probably know, HD is very conservative in making model changes. They are faced with lots of old-timers who love the traditional designs such as air-cooling and pushrods. They have yet to take over the Sport Bike crowd, many of whom are under 21 and aren't impressed by HD's relatively low HP and relatively high prices. I'm not bashing HD here, just pointing out the facts as I see them. No one likes a Harley any more than I do.
I think they might team up with Lehman but I really can't see why they would build or market an unconventional vehicle such as you mention. Sometimes a company will file for a patent to keep someone else from building something as described in the patent. Lord knows HD's got enough money for patents.
My 2 cents.
Lunatic - I think the one you are referring to is the old trihawk design. In late 2006 - early 2007, Harley submitted a patent for a "three wheel leaning trike". Here is a link to one of the articles: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/01/harley-davidson-leaning-trike-patent-application/ and another: http://hubpages.com/hub/Revolutionary_Harley_Trike_Has_2_Front_Wheels_That_Lean
Don't forget the fun factor. Sidecarsare a blast, Trikes are dull .steer left go left ,steer right go right.ho hum
NOpe, not that one. the one I'm thinking of was on display at the Sturgis rally when we went in the early 90's. Though I don't remember the name of the design company they had working prototypes, not just drawings. The prototypes looked production ready. Very nice.
Originally written by BMWGROSS on 11/24/2007 12:52 PM
Don't forget the fun factor. Sidecarsare a blast, Trikes are dull .steer left go left ,steer right go right.ho hum
seems to me both ster left go left lol
With a sidecar, speed can elivate the fun factor in right handers .Try left handers flying a trike wheel.For the most part trikes will not fly a wheel. ho hum
Originally written by BMWGROSS on 11/25/2007 6:33 AM
With a sidecar, speed can elivate the fun factor in right handers .Try left handers flying a trike wheel.For the most part trikes will not fly a wheel. ho hum
I myself don't do any flying. I've done it so I don't feel the need anymore.
In any case, I prefer the feel of a sidecar. It preserves most of the feel of motorcycling for me. I've ridden a couple of trikes and they feel too much like a small automobile.
They are typically geared rather low and this has a negative effect on fuel mileage. I lowered my gearing slightly with new sprockets but the mileage is still in the mid to high 30's.
Setting aside the cost of a trike kit for the moment, I also can't imagine modifying a motorcycle to the extent necessary to install a trike kit. There are lots of modifications that make such a change non-reversible so I wouldn't care for that at all.
I suspect that the trike forums (fora) would be rather negative on sidecars also.
To each his/her own.
