John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15240
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« on: March 21, 2011, 08:32:55 PM » |
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Curious is all. Also curious about cost, and if Roadsmith will sell the kit or require dealer installation. Just thinking about pandering to my hip, probably won't do it but thinking about my options for the future. The old gray stallion....he ain't what he used to be, to paraphrase an old song.
Not sure I want to be, for that matter.
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2011, 09:55:14 PM » |
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That is the Trike Shop up here in Minnesota. Well, I guess they have a shop in Daytona now.
Everything I have seen coming out of the Trike Shop has been 1st line. I don't know if they will still let ya buy the kit or not.
I know there original setup was wider than a normal trike. Way back when I was a pup, they used rebuilt VW rear ends out so Mexico. When the supply got short, they went elsewhere for a rearend. I think it is still independent suspension. With that and a tree, it is a very nice ride. EXPENSIVE as 4377 last I heard.
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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Chiefy
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« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2011, 05:03:34 AM » |
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Ask here: www.triketalk.com A few with triked dragons over there. |
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 1998 Valk Standard 52,500 miles |
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Momz
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« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2011, 05:54:26 AM » |
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One of my best freinds and VRCC member, David Montgomery has a Valk I/S with the RoadSmith kit.
It is only sold with "factory" installation. There have been occurences of shock failures that are covered for the "life" of the set-up. Brake pads are supposed to be propriety and need to be purchased through RoadSmith only. Other than those minor issues the trike seems to lower the seating position and allows for extremely good handling.
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 ALWAYS QUESTION AUTHORITY! 97 Valk bobber, 98 Valk Rat Rod, 2K SuperValk, plus several other classic bikes |
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Bad On 3
Member
Posts: 103
RIDIN THE BEAST ! !
CHICAGO IL. 60638
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« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2011, 10:25:26 AM » |
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Hi i have a 99 interstate with the roadsmith --- it is longer and wider than other kits --the handlin is great --it is independent suspension --i have mine raked 8 degrees -lot of power for a trike --i think roadsmith is the only kit with the indep.susp. for the valk. i had a 2002 wing with the champion kit --straght axel they didnt make indep. back then --this rides better and looks great ---they dont make my body anymore --went the new way --glad i have the old one --just me but i like it better --cost---anywhere from 11500 to 13500 installed --not cheep !!! depends on the installer if he is willin to deal --that was 2 years ago when i bought mine --wanted a valkyrie interstate because you see a trike and its 90% a goldwing --just wanted a BEAST --  |
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« Last Edit: March 22, 2011, 11:09:39 AM by Bad On 3 »
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Ridin Down The Road Of Life With My Friends !! What a Ride !!
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rodeo1
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« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2011, 05:23:39 PM » |
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my kid bro triked his tourer with a trike shop kit many years ago. except for a few CV joint problems from the get go, he rode it 155,000 miles and loved it.
the old trike shop kit used a dodge aspen third member cut down and V.W. CV joints, 1/2 shafts and suspension welded in. it worked pretty well, it gave trikers the independant rear end the V.W. trikes were bragging about, but had drum brakes from the V.W. adequite, but butt ugly.
around the same time, i triked a 95 goldwing using a Calif, Sidecar kit. at that time both would send you a kit and allow you to install the kit yourself. the trike shop kit was (and is) super easy. the CSC was a lot harder, but not out of the realm of a fair to good mechanic. it used a 9 inch ford, cut so the driveshaft ran straight, and had disc brakes.
the trike shop kit rode very well, mine would beat your teeth out over train tracks, etc. both handled very well after the addition of 6 degree rake kits (don't even try it without a rake kit)
the new roadsmith is a really nicely engineered kit now days, i believe they have gone to an 8.8 inch mustang third member with a really niecly engineered suspension (non VW)
while i like both kits, if i had 9 grand to toss around i would definitly go with the roadsmith and independant rear end. just plain rides better.
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rodeo1
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« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2011, 03:47:52 PM » |
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been looking into a roasmith and the facts are that they will ship the kit and allow you to install yourself, apparently no one else will, CSC lost my business because of it. my bro did his own and says its so easy a 3rd grader can do it. hmm gotta find me a 3rd grader.
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Stude
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« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2011, 04:15:34 PM » |
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John a friend of mine has one he was at InZane last year. He ownes the rootbeer brown trike that was in the bike show, I can put you in touch with him if you want. He loves his trike, he bought it on e-bay and rebuilt it from the ground up because he did not like the bump steer it had. He found the problem and fixed it, and he claims he would build another one in a heart beat................................ must be nice to be retired.  |
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15240
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #9 on: May 29, 2011, 05:42:34 PM » |
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For some reason your link to your trike comes up blank. I really like the bare bones style I see on the manufacturer website. UPDATE: Disregard, got it to work. I like that look, great job. |
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« Last Edit: May 30, 2011, 08:41:26 AM by John Schmidt »
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Chiefy
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« Reply #11 on: May 29, 2011, 06:19:51 PM » |
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been looking into a roasmith and the facts are that they will ship the kit and allow you to install yourself, apparently no one else will, CSC lost my business because of it. my bro did his own and says its so easy a 3rd grader can do it. hmm gotta find me a 3rd grader.
If you call around, sometimes you can find a dealer that will sell you just the kit. They're not supposed to, but in this economy........... Don't know about the warranty though. Might have to get something in writing from the dealer. I suspect they would lie to the manf and say they triked the bike so that the warranty would apply. I know it doesn't apply to dragons, but for future reference, most if not all of the bike manuf void their warranty if you trike a bike. |
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1998 Valk Standard 52,500 miles |
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rodeo1
Guest
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« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2011, 10:55:10 AM » |
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just had a very nice discussion with taylor young over at roadsmith. i ordered a new roadsmith kit for my valk. $8,226.00 plus approx. $424.00 shipping. that is paint ready (i'm a painter) with heavy duty sway bar, trailer wiring, and crating.
and yep ! i can install it myself.
dcc
now, if i can just find someone who can give me a straight answer as to weather a 4 degree will work, or do i need a 6 degree rake kit.
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Chiefy
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« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2011, 12:55:14 PM » |
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just had a very nice discussion with taylor young over at roadsmith. i ordered a new roadsmith kit for my valk. $8,226.00 plus approx. $424.00 shipping. that is paint ready (i'm a painter) with heavy duty sway bar, trailer wiring, and crating.
and yep ! i can install it myself.
dcc
now, if i can just find someone who can give me a straight answer as to weather a 4 degree will work, or do i need a 6 degree rake kit.
I think for a big heavy trike like yours, most like 6*. You should ask this on triketalk, a few there have triked dragons www.triketalk.com |
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1998 Valk Standard 52,500 miles |
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gabby
Member
Posts: 240
1999 Honda Interstate
Eastern Kentucky
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« Reply #14 on: June 01, 2011, 09:30:56 AM » |
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Hello John,
Just to put in my two cents worth, I had my 99 Interstate triked using a California Sidecar kit. The trike looks great and matches the shape of it extremely well. If you are looking---consider them--the rear axle is solid uses a 8" mustang II rear end. It rides good and looks great !!!! RIDE SAFE AND KEEP IT IN THE WIND !!!
Gabby
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