Test rode a new Harley Tri-Glide

[Eviltwin]

The local HD dealer had the Demo truck in for this weekend, so I thought I would go over and ride something different. I'm not a cruiser guy, I've never been comfortable with the feet forward position or the handebars on their bikes, but it is always nice to be able to get some seat time on something I wouldnt normally aspire to. I got there on Sunday around 1030, hoping to avoid crowds and while there were quite a few folks there, it wasnt too bad at all. After registering and getting my little black "Harley card", I asked one of the ride organizers what was there to ride. I had figured Sportster since its the only one with mid controls, but even sitting on it didnt make me anxious to try it out. Just for S&G I asked about a trike and she said they did have one, but I had to watch a video of it first. I figure what the heck, lets do it.

Video was about 12 mins long, going over all the new features of the bike, oriented to folks who never rode 3 wheels before. I half paid attention, just wanted to hear how to put it in reverse and put the parking brake on. Those parts were covered in the end. By the time the vid was over, I was introduced to to an older gent who would lead my one bike ride.

Bike is big, seat is comfy. I couldn't figure out where the start button was. Turns out its also the R button. Hold R in for a second and it goes into reverse, otherwise it starts the bike. Got the bike started, not too loud, but way louder than my 10 year old RT. Clutch in, parking brake off (on the left behind the floorboard) and it clunked into first. Pulled out and immediately noticed how tough it was to turn the handlebars. We took off and turned on to the road. Same thing, this is a beast to turn when its going slow and you have to make a sharp turn. Got on the on ramp and same as the RT, it wants to throw you off, but thats normal. Highway ride was fine, you dont notice the heavy steering and the motor has tons of torque low down. Don't think I ever got above 4th gear. Took a while to figure out that the gear position is on the LCD screen, but it is so small you hardly see it. And this is a bike for older folks to ride?

Got back to the dealer and I had to back it into a spot. Reverse is run off an electric motor and as long as the bike is in N, once you hold it long enough to get R to display, then you press the same R/start button to engage the motor. Very herky jeryky action. Vid says you cant go back too far or you will run down the battery, nor can you back uphill. Also noted that the transmission is fairly clunky, very hard to find N. Apparently that is fairly normal for Harleys. Good amount of heat coming off the motor after the ride too. And this was a nice 65 degree day, probably not so nice when its 90 out.

Overall impression: I'll keep my 10 year old RT, this bike doesnt come close. And for 35K, you are paying for the privilege.

It is a pretty bike though:

 

[cruisinTX]

Nice report.

 

[Bensonoid]

Just as I suspected.

 

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for the report. Not much change since 2010 when I went and looked at them. I ended up choosing the 2010 RT instead.

 

[rjinaz86323]

I came from a Harley TriGlide and agree with EvilTwin. But I will say the electronics on the HD are much more intuitive to use than the Spyder, and the seating is more comfortable (could be because of my big ass)

 

[PawPig]

I went from a 2017 RT to a 2018 TriGlide and last week I went back to a 2021 F3 Limited . Many differences but I'm very pleased with the F3 !!

 

[JayBros]

Good report. The big question, as reported somewhere here on SL, do you think it drove like a dump truck?

 

[RICZ]

I have had two Tri-Glide owners tell me they wish they had bought a Spyder instead. That sez a lot.

 

[RayBJ]

I agree! That is a very expensive paper weight.

 

[BajaRon]

My neighbor is a dyed-in-the-wool HD rider. He recently purchased a new Tri-Glide. One day when I was zipping past he flagged me down on the return trip. (Decelerating into my driveway approach instead of accelerating away from it). The 1st thing he said was; 'I didn't know the Spyder was that quick!' I didn't tell him I was taking it easy!

He said he and his wife were not overly thrilled with their Tri-Glide and they were thinking of maybe looking at a Spyder. They asked me a number of questions about the different models. He complained about the same things referenced in this post. He really didn't like the electric reverse. Turns out they went on a group ride stopping at several locations where they were backing into parking places and he ended up having to get a jump near the end of the day.

This was the middle of last year and I haven't heard any more about it. I think it may be more of a peer pressure thing than a satisfaction thing. They are still riding the Tri-Glide.

 

[pieman9155]

my wife test road one hated it

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I think it may be more of a peer pressure thing than a satisfaction thing. They are still riding the Tri-Glide.

Maybe it's a money thing. I wonder how much of hit he would take trading it in on a Spyder?

 

[rjinaz86323]

my wife definitely liked the backrest on the TriGlide better, since it wrapped around a little more, so she felt more secure back there. We looked at the BRP armrests for the Spyder and it appears that they would hit her legs, so they are a no go. The aftermarket ones look 'cheesy' to me (and her). Fast forward to 2022: W eventually found someone close buy that had the armrest for her to try. They were fine.
We just finished our second long trip (good portion through the mountains). Here comment. 'They are worth every penny'.

 

[Eviltwin]

Good report. The big question, as reported somewhere here on SL, do you think it drove like a dump truck?

I haven't driven a dump truck, but I can say once underway it wasn't that bad. Not my usual route that I like to ride with mostly country backroads, this was mostly highways with some secondary roads. Only twisties were in the on and off ramps. That being said, I don't think it rode all that bad for what it is, a very heavy machine (over 1200 lbs) made for highway travel in mostly straight lines. If that is what you do, than any of the big Harleys are probably a good choice.

My biggest surprise was how heavy the steering was in turns. It makes sense just by the nature of the caster of the wheel wanting to resume a straight line and the only thing that stops that is your hand on the bars. The video made a point of saying that you must pull on the bar in the direction you want to go, and they werent kidding you have to pull on it fairly hard. If I was really interested in this bike, a longer ride on some back roads with curves would be a better test. I didn't get much feel for the braking either, the ride lead was taking it real easy, so I mostly coasted to a stop.

I thought the fit and finish on the bike were great. It feels expensive. And heavy.

 

[trikermutha]

I jumped from a tri to the spyder and don't see me going back. They would have to make several changes for me to even consider another Harley.

 

[JayBros]

Thanks for the additional information, Eviltwin. When I was shopping for my Spyder I stopped in at the local Harley dealer, just looked at the Tri, but had no desire to test ride when I saw the price. It was a finely finished machine though.

 

[Plarimer]

I too took a look at the Triglide since I was Harley rider for many years. But like you it was big, bulky and I feel a road bike only. And of course, it was way too expensive. Thanks for the report.

 

[BajaRon]

Maybe it's a money thing. I wonder how much of hit he would take trading it in on a Spyder?

You could be right. Had not factored that angle in.

 

[wingit3611]

I would add that on my Triguide test ride at the first curve i came to at my normal sled I didn't think I'd make it. Turn around and took it back. Unsafe!

 

[rjinaz86323]

You could be right. Had not factored that angle in.

Spyder dealers are not very generous on a TriGlide trade in. I sold my 2016 TriGlide to Barnett Harley in El Paso, TX. They came and go it in Chino Valley, AZ and gave me over $6k more than the local Spyder dealer would give me on trade.. I agree with other comments about the quality of the TriGlide. It is first class, but that is also why it ways 250 funds more than a Spyder.