| The rumor mill never seems to slow down when it | | | | asked about the relationship between Lehman Trikes |
| comes to Harley-Davidson and its future bikes. I | | | | and Harley-Davidson we were told that Lehman is |
| guess that kind of passion and curiosity is what | | | | actively involved in the process, but the Harley Tri |
| drives the MoCo. The rumor of a factory | | | | Glides are quite different than Lehman's own |
| Harley-Davidson trike making a comeback after more | | | | Ultra-based trikes. While the Lehman version uses a |
| than three decades is true. The new Tri Glide Ultra | | | | modified stock Harley FL frame and one-piece rear |
| Classic will be available at your local Harley dealer in | | | | body section, the Tri Glides use unique, purpose-built |
| limited numbers as a 2009 model. | | | | frames and separate rear body sections and fenders. |
| Let's start with what the machine is and isn't. It is a | | | | Harley assured us the current association with |
| genuine Harley-Davidson covered by a full factory 2 | | | | Lehman is not based on a buy-out or a joint venture. |
| year warrantee. It is manufactured by Harley in | | | | Harley views Lehman as a supplier. |
| association with Lehman Trikes of South Dakota. It | | | | OK, so what else is unique or unusual about the Tri |
| lists for $29,999 (in the US) and is available in the 48 | | | | Glide? We have already touched on the |
| contiguous US states and Canada. It is well | | | | specific-to-this-model frame with increased fork angle |
| engineered, looks good and is a blast to ride. It isn't a | | | | and less trail for better steering effort. It has an |
| warmed over Lehman trike. I don't know why this | | | | electronic hand control to activate the optional |
| project was internally nicknamed "Boomer" but it | | | | electric reverse motor. The front forks are longer |
| was, and now you know. | | | | than those on the two-wheel Ultras and have an |
| What's involved in riding a trike verses a bike? Well, | | | | external steering stabilizer for a more consistent ride. |
| let's just say that they are exactly the same only | | | | The front wheel is a 16 inch hoop, the rears are 15 |
| different. Quite different. Same throttle, clutch, shifter | | | | inchers. The wheels and brake rotors all match. |
| and brakes. But the handling is more like a car | | | | Machines with this much weight need good brakes, |
| because trikes don't lean, they steer around turns. So | | | | and the front dual Brembos are up to the task. The |
| get used to pulling on one side of the handlebars and | | | | 103 cubic inch engine mated with a heavy duty |
| pushing on the other through the turns. And, thanks | | | | police-style clutch offers sufficient power to get |
| to all the extra weight out back, you'll have to slip | | | | down the road quite smartly. The Tri Glide has a |
| the clutch a bit more and give it a bit more throttle | | | | unique transmission case and rear mounts are also |
| coming off a stop than with a bike. Plus you can | | | | different from the stock Harley Ultra two-wheel |
| keep your feet on the floorboards all the time, even | | | | version. There is a standard oil cooler to help keep |
| at a full stop. And always remember that your | | | | engine temperatures down, and the new for 2009 |
| machine is a lot wider than a bike, even a bagger, | | | | mufflers compliment the modified header pipes. |
| when going through narrow spaces. And just because | | | | The Tour Pak is rated for up to 30 pounds of cargo, |
| you missed the pothole in the road with your front | | | | and the trunk, featuring hidden hinges and a lockable |
| tire doesn't mean you'll miss it with your rear ones. | | | | latch, can handle an additional 50 pounds in 4.3 cubic |
| And. . . well you get the idea. Trikes and bikes are | | | | feet. We like the rear fenders are separate from the |
| simply different. | | | | trunk and attached to it. Typically the trunk and rear |
| Out on the road the Tri Glide is impressive. I have | | | | fenders on most trikes are built as one unit making |
| ridden several old and new trikes over the years and | | | | repairs or replacement quite expensive. |
| feel this is the best of the breed. Superior handling, a | | | | Apparently Harley management had been considering |
| healthy power train and top notch fit and finish - and | | | | the possibility of adding a trike to the line-up for |
| this was on a pre-production model! The low and high | | | | some time but there were many issues to deal with. |
| speed handling is more neutral than I expect from a | | | | These included safety concerns, marketing options, |
| trike. I suspect the purpose-build frame and specific | | | | and manufacturing challenges. When we asked about |
| fork geometry and rear suspension has a lot to do | | | | the stability of a Tri Glide in various real world riding |
| with that. Once you get used to slipping the clutch | | | | conditions, one of the Harley engineers responded by |
| slightly from a dead stop and push/pull steering on | | | | saying they designed it with several goals in mind. |
| the handlebars, riding the Tri Glide is a blast. I predict | | | | "We wanted it to slip" he said, "before it would tip." |
| these machines will sell out quickly with a waiting line | | | | 2 critical measures the trike had to pass were the |
| once word is out on how much fun they are. Anyone | | | | lane change maneuver at highway speeds, and the |
| who has ridden a two-wheel motorcycle will quickly | | | | steady state turn (in tight circles at increasing |
| take to the Tri Glide and will be confidently cruising | | | | speeds). The trike accomplished both with room to |
| the highways and slicing through zig zag turns on | | | | spare. Harley management ok'd the project when |
| back roads in no time. | | | | they realized the Ultra-based Tri Glide can go faster |
| In our discussions with Harley's marketing and | | | | and corner harder than a stock Harley Ultra |
| engineering staff we heard how the main goal for | | | | motorcycle "so we felt a comfort zone there." |
| the Tri Glide was "to extend riding access" which we | | | | All the 2009 Tri Glides will be based on Ultra Classics. |
| took to mean extending the riding season (trikes | | | | But Harley isn't saying whether this might change in |
| handle better in snow, ice and rain than bikes do) as | | | | the future to expand across other models using |
| well as making people more comfortable riding a | | | | V-Rods, Dynas or Sportsters as the base. However, |
| stable three-wheeler than a less stable two-wheeler. | | | | given the fact that Harley considers the Tri Glide a |
| The Harley staffers told us their target customers | | | | new separate model platform, I'd bet there are more |
| tend to be more experienced riders. One of the | | | | variations in the works. Personally, I'd like to see a |
| senior people confided in us "A lot of people who try | | | | water-cooled V-Rod powered trike. |
| a Tri Glide for the first time are pleased and surprised | | | | Harley is planning on building only 2500 Tri Glides for |
| with the ride." After we put some miles on one we | | | | 2009 in three color options - Vivid Black, Dark Blue |
| have to agree. | | | | Pearl or Red Hot Sunglo, and plans are for them to |
| Unlike any other current model Harley-Davidson that I | | | | be available in Harley dealerships in August 2008. |
| am aware of, the host portion of the new Tri Glides | | | | MSRP is $29,999, which is significantly less than a |
| are built on a new assembly line in the York factory. | | | | similar Lehman Harley Ultra, and the Tri Glide comes |
| It is then shipped to the Lehman factory in South | | | | with a 2-year factory warrantee. Want one? Better |
| Dakota to be finished. From there, the complete | | | | get your name and deposit to your dealer ASAP. |
| machines are shipped to Milwaukee where they are | | | | They are going to go fast. |
| forwarded on to the dealer network. When we | | | | |