Three's A Charm - Gold Wing Trike Conversions

Afraid you must give up riding your Wing because of physical difficulties or the accursed effects of age? Defeated because you are too short or slight to handle a Gold Wing? Good news! There is no reason to miss out or give up riding thanks to trike conversions for Gold Wings and Valkyries. You can extend your riding or start riding a heavyweight tourer! Converting from two to three wheels eliminates the limitations imposed by lesser size or strength.

Before the 1990s, trike choices were limited to a few custom units, but when pioneers like Lehman and the Trike Shop developed conversion kits targeted for the massive Gold Wing, the three-wheeled market dramatically changed. Trike conversion kits allow the motorcyclist to have his bike and ride it easily too!
The growing popularity of conversion kits even challenged established sidecar companies like California Sidecar and Hannigan to apply their established three-wheel engineering expertise in the trike conversion kit market, which both have done successfully.
In the four years since Wing World’s last trike comparison article, the number of trike kit manufacturers this writer has researched has doubled! Although some of the newest companies are not included in this article because they lack a Gold Wing conversion kit, just their increased numbers prove the trike trend is thriving.

Key Questions
Once you have decided to convert your Gold Wing or Valkyrie to trike status, you have to choose a conversion company. Hopefully this trike conversion comparison will help. Engineering, style and price information are included here, but consider some additional matters too. How is your motorcycle’s warranty and insurance affected by conversion? What are the differences in engineering between the different companies’ kits? Will you need some retraining in riding techniques? How can you check on a company’s product support? What are the resale realities? Will storing your now-less-than-svelte-ride pose problems? These key questions aren’t meant to discourage you from buying or converting to a trike; they’re just a “heads up” so you can avoid any surprises.

Honda Warranty And Dealer Service
American Honda doesn’t condone adding anything to its products, whether it’s a sidecar, trailer or trike conversion. If you are considering converting your Honda to trike status, talk to the owner of the Honda shop you patronize about your warranty if it’s still in effect. Also clarify if they might balk at working on a converted machine. While the motorcycle parts not affected by a conversion might not be a problem, it is good to know if your shop is trike-experienced and trike-friendly. Also determine what the conversion company warranty covers; you don’t want problems to fall in a crack between warranties.

Manufacturer Support
One of the considerations when choosing a trike conversion company is its track record of customer support. Authorized installers for the various trike kit manufacturers are proliferating around the country, so customer service access has greatly improved over the past few years. Assess the current situation in your area, as local installation and service can be a major advantage.
Also, talk directly to the manufacturers. Supportive communication with the manufacturer via toll-free phone number may be all it takes to straighten out any post-installation glitch. Does the company have staff capable of helping you within a reasonable response time even during their busiest season?
Back up your research by seeking referrals and recommendations from local GWRRA Members who are trike owners. Good or bad reports about the kit’s handling, the company’s warranty and its service should be factored into your decision. Invest ample time visiting trike vendors’ displays at GWRRA rallies. This is a chance to personally assess the company, and in many cases, schedule a demo ride.

Rider Education
GWRRA’s Rider Education classes for trikes are increasingly available as our triking membership continues to grow. An excellent testimony for the benefits of taking the trike course comes from GWRRA Executive Director, Mike Wright. He rode the GWRRA DFT trike to the Western Regional Rally in Pocatello. The route to the rally included some mountain twisties, and he reported feeling apprehensive trying to keep up with the two-wheelers in the group. After taking the trike course, Mike’s ride home was remarkably different based on his use of the techniques he learned in the Rider Ed course. “The course focused on the basics like clutch and throttle control, braking and swerving,” Mike said. “With the center of gravity changed and the big rear wheels adding to the mix, there’s much to be learned, yet by the end of the class I was feeling a good deal more confident. The proof came on my ride back to Phoenix. I had much less trouble keeping up with the two-wheelers, and the curvy roads were now more fun than they had been. I felt much more proficient as a triker after having taken the trike course.” See your Educator for a course schedule and locations.

Licensing, Insurance & Tolls
Check with your state or province’s vehicle registration offices to determine if trikes are classified differently than two-wheelers. Likewise, compare insurance company’s coverage of trikes to determine if you’re looking at increased policy premiums. If there is a huge range between company’s offerings, be sure to have the agents check with their underwriters. Trike coverage is still relatively new, and many insurance agents and government offices may not have addressed these issues before. Also, be aware that some toll roads or toll bridges charge more for a three-wheeler than they charge for a bike.

Conversion Kit Engineering
Each trike kit manufacturer has developed and applied different engineering solutions to trike conversion challenges. You may need to become conversant about such technicalities as internal versus external swing arms, independent or rigid rear suspensions, OEM or replacement shocks and other differences. Some manufacturers replace or modify the motorcycle’s drive shaft; others don’t. Some recommend adding a front-end rake kit for better handling; other say it’s unnecessary with their kits. Compare the specifications. All of the companies will have you believe their engineering solutions are the best, but demo rides are the way to find out for yourself what feels best to you. Take your time to make sure you like the way the trike looks and feels. Theoretically, you can convert your machine back to two wheels, but chances are you won’t.

Storing and Packing
Remember the story about the man who built a boat in his basement? Have you measured your garage to make sure the trike of your choice will fit? Parking and transporting a trike can be like garaging or moving a small car, so anticipate your needs based on this increase in size.
Another factor is the loss of the bike’s OEM saddlebags. Although most manufacturers provide replacement cargo room even to exceed the original, it might be best to check into the various options. Just as the shape of saddlebags can affect how easy they are to pack, check to make sure the trike’s storage spaces appeal to you and your Co-Rider.

Resale—More Is Less
The trike resale market is likely to be smaller than exists for unconverted two-wheelers. Be patient when it’s time to sell, price reasonably and don’t be pressured into selling too cheaply. Remember that you have a unique and expensive item; with persistence, you can find the right buyer.

We hope this article presents good material to add to your trike purchase checklist. It is literally a weighty decision, and if you explore the available choices you can avoid buyer’s remorse.
Wing World receives many letters and stories from long-time two-wheeler riders who’ve converted to three. These letters have a common theme. Much to their surprise and delight, most of these dyed-in-the-wool hard-core motorcyclists report their trike has become their favorite ride and they’ll never go back to two wheels. Isn’t carefree riding while preserving the essence of its sense of freedom what it’s all about?