Thinking about a Valkyrie Trike

[flamingobabe #44]

Some of ya know the problems I have had with my new 2013 Spyder....the latest is the O2 sensor blew out of the exhaust .....so I copied and pasted this to share....we are thinking I need a Valk trike......Well,   when the O2 sensor blew on my Spyder a few weeks ago I was not a happy Spyder owner…..posted on facebook that my Spyder was the “BRP Trailer Queen” and/or “The Devil Spyder” simply cause Mark had to drive 666.1 miles to pick me and my Spyder up….there was a lot of negative responses to the post, against BRP and their treatment to me. BRP called me, picked up the Spyder from my house, dealer replace the O2 sensor and determined it was most likely installed, miss threaded from factory. I appreciate the help of picking up my Spyder, and dealer working to repair promptly. But………….
During the first conversation with BRP service rep he wanted me to go to facebook and spyderlovers and say nice things about BRP and how they are jumping on the wagon to help me. During that conversation the rep wanted to know how BRP could compensate me for all my troubles. I suggested something and he agreed as long as I never told anyone that BRP did this for me, I agreed……Now I’m happy with BRP and thinking BRP really does care about repairing and working towards fixing the 2013’s heat issues…but……..
Once the spyder was fixed, I go pick it up…call BRP and the rep tells me that I am mistaken…BRP never promised me anything….we went back and forth on a few emails.   As a 2-time Spyder owner, and  loyal customer  I feel I have been 2-timed….when BRP thought there was negative comments on them….BRP will say anything just to make you think they are trying to help….. and then will not stand and keep their word on what they say…NOT happy with BRP...we know what we get when we have a Valk...

[Jess Tolbirt]

well now go back and everywhere you posted nice things about BRP you can recant your post..then post this post...

[Hoser]

Have you seen these? I don't think they are in production yet, but, it is interesting.  Hoser 
www.ido-endeavor.com

[Gavin_Sons]

Yeah i would go back and bash them every chance i got. Even give the names of people who 2 timed you. They may just change their attitude and make things right. Or maybe not. But whatever you decide to do, other buyers need to know who they are dealing with and not to trust them.

[BF]

The Valk is a wonderful machine, and I love mine dearly, however, if I was wanting a trike, I think I'd be more inclinded to shop around for a Goldwing trike. 

More amenities, more aftermarket options....and reverse.   

The Harley Tri-Glide looks interesting to me as well.  However, from just looking at a couple of the Tri-Glides, they seem a little smaller to me than a Goldwing trike does.   

[Sorcerer]

Humm, F6B deluxe trike? Or heven forbid NEW Valkryie triked? Be the first.

[..]

Hold vewy, vewy tightly 

http://thekneeslider.com/gg-taurus-bmw-powered-reverse-trike-is-coming-to-the-usa/

[flamingobabe #44]

My friend is bringing the GG Taurus to America.....Miami April 5th....I was planning to go...hoping for a test ride....but that's the weekend of GOTF....another set of friends has brought the Reverse trike for Goldwings...there will be a F6B and a new Goldwing at Daytona....but hard to buy 1st production...but I would be happy to be their female test rider

the GG Taurus can be repaired at any BMW bike shop......

[Gavin_Sons]

that is a cool BMW

[rainman]

The Valk is a wonderful machine, and I love mine dearly, however, if I was wanting a trike, I think I'd be more inclinded to shop around for a Goldwing trike. 

More amenities, more aftermarket options....and reverse.   

agree with BF I think a valk trike looks great only two things to look at in a trike to me gas mileage
and having reverse.  I had a 96 1500 Goldwing trike and I loved it sold it cause things was starting break off the body parts. the mileage on a 1500 trike is only on the best day about 28 mpg the 1800 is some where around 32 to 36 mpg and a lot more power or you might even look at the new F6B custom that would make a great looking trike. But there again NO reverse
good luck  

[solo1]

Forty years ago I was wanting to buy a 1957 Chevy in nice shape.  The salesman gave me a verbal price which was on the mark. When I tried to finalize the deal, he said "Oh no, you misunderstood"

I told him what I thought.   The way that you were treated sends the wrong message.  It might be time to change.

[R J]

FB, if you get a Trike, get an independent suspenion, like Road Smith.

That is what I have under MGM, BUT, if my reverse doesn't ride with me then I got to get off and push it back out of where stupid assed me rode into.



Yes, that is a HD tour box on the rear.     I hated the looks of a Valkyrie I/S box and the builder of these kits told me of their HD box conversion.  Liked it and went with it.

[flamingobabe #44]

RJ that looks good...Mark is liking the Roadsmith.....we are on the line about reverse....probably really need it....

[RDAbull]

When I started thinking about going to a trike, I guess it never occurred to me to look for anything but a Valk.  I loved my I/S, but it was time.  There seem to be a few out there available.

[paul246]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

[Lil D]

Sorry to hear about your experience.  Stinks. You've put a lot of time in it.

If you want to take a valk trike out........road smith kit.....come to New York.....oh...when the snow melts......

[Lyn-Del]

Or you're welcome to give mine (Lehmann, not RoadSmith) a test ride ..... and I'm closer!!

[hotglue #43]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

Actually..Flamingobabe pushes me through the twisties on her spyder..  I'm dragging hard body parts and about to lift the rear wheel... and she is on the cb asking me why I'm slowing down....  That is not the issue we are having with the spyder....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

I know a lady in Virginia that I would bet my next check on that you couldn't hang with her and her Valkyrie trike in the twisties.... Dude you just got passed by a girl.

[Reb]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

I know a lady in Virginia that I would bet my next check on that you couldn't hang with her and her Valkyrie trike in the twisties.... Dude you just got passed by a girl.

I second that statement.

[cookiedough]

Doesn't your fairly new 2013 spyder have a factory warranty to honor that fix or has it expired already?  I would think if in warranty for sure, problem should be fixed free of charge.  If just out of warranty,  negotiate at least they pay for parts if you pay for labor.  

That is what I did on my kids can am ds90cc atv only about 400 miles on it but just out of 6 month warranty by only a few months when it blew a crankcase seal leaking oil only drove it that first year guessing 6-7 times out on the trails.  Can Am (BRP) blamed me for putting in 1 qt. of oil when it calls for 1.2 qts. of oil and was NOT overfilled like they claimed it was.  Even if it was overfilled by at most 1 ounce, that little bit of overfill in the filler neck should not have caused the gasket seal to fail/leak.  I argued with dealer and told dealer to call can am and honor warranty.  We agreed they pay for part and me for 1 hour labor, better than nothing I guess?  

I still think Can AM (BRP) is a piss poor company when it comes to honoring their warranty and when stuff goes wrong just outside of warranty, they darn near refuse to pay for anything.  Technically,  they don't have to do a thing, but total lack of customer service is a joke and their dealerships won't stand up for you unless you argue with them asking them to call can am up to see if they can help you out which is the right thing to do.

[hotglue #43]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

I know a lady in Virginia that I would bet my next check on that you couldn't hang with her and her Valkyrie trike in the twisties.... Dude you just got passed by a girl.

Lady D will do that to ya!!!!!!

[flamingobabe #44]

The warranty is good for 5 more years......but what BRP will cover is a different story....just an example....at about 10,000 miles there was a bad exhaust leak.....I had to argue for about 3 days that I never took the exhaust apart....when the dealer finally took it apart...the gasket was burned down to copper wire.....BRP did not want to warranty it I had to argue again until they replaced it free......there are many more stories....but I'll look at valks and goldwings...really do want reverse....

[HickoryNCInterstate]

I love my Valk roadsmith kit. Reverse is ok but if remember you have to back out of that space, maybe another space easier to get out of would appeal to your brain!! Had a 1500 GW trike and
I never used the reverse, just my 2 cents worth. I only miss cruise from the GW. Better half after her heart attach had to park the VTX, she brought home a new Spyder RT. She loves it, pushes me hard on the snake. Must be a thing with BRP about mis-aligning bolts, she was riding along and oil starting blowing all over here, at the 867 mile mark on the way for the $240 service at dealer. Brunt the bottom of the motor up, 3 weeks in shop, new bottom end under warranty. Still had to pay for the oil change   Come ride mine at Inzane this summer!!

[gabby]

I agree that Lady D will leave you in the dust. When I got my 99 I/S triked I looked at her trike just to imagine what mine was going to look like. I even carried a picture of hers to show my fellow riders what was coming.  When I did get on mine, I was so thrilled that it was more than I could have hoped for. Excellent ride, comfortable, good gas mileage, heavy enough that I was not blown all over the road by trucks, and best of all---IT LOOKS GREAT. I was really surprised to have mine sit beside hers at Tazewell on the Hillbilly Ride on Rt. 16 and the Corbin Ride last year. Mine is solid axle converted by California Side car. Pix are at the bottom of my post.

Gabby

[Karen]

FB, my 99 Interstate has been triked since 2000, around 100k (there was that year when I used a bicycle speedometer rather than fix the stock one). I have great local service guy who has kept it in good order; replaced the ladder bars 2 years ago, and it's like new. Motor Trike conversion, solid axle. Not a great ride when hitting the ruts that run across the road that you hit with both wheels at the same time. I'm sure the independent suspension has a softer, kinder ride, but what matters more to me is the stability I have in the curves and corners. Lifted the inside rear wheel twice, first time said my prayers, second time, no big deal. If you're aggressive, you may want to trade the stability for the comfort. Reverse,  needed help a couple of times early on, but learned to be careful where I park. I can straddle-back it up on the level, for uphills, just stand along side & push on the fender. I don't have the front fork extension that makes turning easier, can still manage the effort needed, and like the feedback the bike gives me in a turn. At 71, will probably never get a different trike. Sorry for the problems with the Spyder, if you get to New England, you're welcome to take it out for a spin, but you might want to wait a few months. I spent too much time during the springs cleaning & repainting the underside after joyfully riding in the snow. Not this year.

[R J]

RJ that looks good...Mark is liking the Roadsmith.....we are on the line about reverse....probably really need it....

The RoadSmith add 9" to the overall length.

If ya need a reverse, get an 1800 Gold Wing and Trike it out.

Buy the kit from the Trike Shop in Daytona or Mpls.  Tell them the color of your bike and it will be delivered already painted.

It is very easy to put the kit on the bike.  The rear end bolts on solid, and then proceed from there.

[paul246]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

I know a lady in Virginia that I would bet my next check on that you couldn't hang with her and her Valkyrie trike in the twisties.... Dude you just got passed by a girl.

and where in my post did I say anything about how some people could outrun somebody else on their trike??  I don't care if you can be passed by your grandmother on her trike.

I was addressing riding dynamics of the machine... being unable to lean being my main dislike of a trike configuration.

[Thunderbolt]

Sorry for your woes FB.  I know that you have been almost their poster girl and they treat you wrong.   I would think that if I were going to a trike I would favor the Gold Wing for the reverse and the fact that you could still buy lots of pieces and parts for it.  You can do a quick search and find lots of them for sale already triked and at good prices.  Good luck.

[Rams]

Sorry about the Spyder problems.   I've never been attracted to one but, my neighbor has one and he really enjoys it.   Although I've invited him to ride along with us numerous times, he's never been able to.   

All I can say about a Valkyrie trike is I fell in love with a specific Valkyrie trike and then the owner (a very fine young lady) let me ride it in St Louis last year.   Since that day, I've been saving my extra cash so I can buy another Valkyrie and trike it out.    I still love my two wheels but, that trike was a lot of fun..

Thank you for that experience.   You know who you are.   

[hubcapsc]

Actually..Flamingobabe pushes me through the twisties on her spyder..  I'm dragging hard body parts and about to lift the rear wheel... and she is on the cb asking me why I'm slowing down....  That is not the issue we are having with the spyder....

She can safely rage cross-country on a thing configured like the spyder, that's a pretty important thing to consider.

A trike would be... all different. I bet there would be a big learning curve before someone could ride a trike like LD...

-Mike

[LandElephant]

I know someone in South Houston with a well used and well maintined GW who would give you great price if you want to trike it. I mean a REAL great price. He want to buy some more accessories for his other motorcycle. Seeing how you wrapped the other two spyder's I don't think paint color is important.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Disco]

I saw one of these at Wing Ding some years back and thought it was really cool.  However, at the time, Hannigan said they were not going to produce it because the feds considered it to be a car.

[flamingobabe #44]

Charlie we may need to talk...Disco...friends of mine have brought the reverse trike from Netherlands to USA....but 18k for the kit

[LandElephant]

I looked on the internet and there are some kits for around 4 - 6k. If Mark supplies the beverage we could do the same with the kit as we did with my Ural. Three wrenchers talking sh $ t and taking however many hours to to put the kit together. Plenty of riding stories were told.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Spirited-6]

If the day comes that I'm forced to consider 3 wheels the last thing I would get is a Can-Am, mainly due to price and lousy ride dynamics, it can't be banked through a turn. Neither can a triked motorcycle, you will always be tossed to the outside of a curve, especially if there are road surface imperfections. I would rather spend that money on a used roadster such as a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata.

However, my money would be on a Piaggio MP3. Saw these in Europe and man they perform. They track beautifully over rough surfaces, bank way into a turn, super stable even on wet cobblestone. And they go!  Probably get two of these for the price of a trike conversion.

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500.html

Plus me. What a great on paper machine. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Check this out ... He's on the VOAI , I'm not sure if he is a member of the VRCC as well.... He's been doing these awhile now and is starting his on business.

http://www.ido-endeavor.com/

[solo1]

Not exactly what we're talking about but my Valk/Motorvation sidecar rig was very easy to push around.
I just got off and pushed. I never needed reverse.

I know nothing about trikes but maybe they push harder because of the wider tires and more weight.

I'm the odd ball here.  I needed to bank in curves. The rig wasn't for me.   If i wanted the convenience and easier to handle of a trike or rig, I'd just add a fourth wheel and buy another Miata.

[thedon]

FB, Barbo's trike is a California Side Car kit. We bought it from Crazyhorse. Very nice riding. The kit is right around 10K. It uses a Mustang rear end. If you go on their site you can get all the specs. We will have it at Inzane this year.
Thedon

[Jeff K]

Doesn't your fairly new 2013 spyder have a factory warranty to honor that fix or has it expired already?  I would think if in warranty for sure, problem should be fixed free of charge.  If just out of warranty,  negotiate at least they pay for parts if you pay for labor.  

That is what I did on my kids can am ds90cc atv only about 400 miles on it but just out of 6 month warranty by only a few months when it blew a crankcase seal leaking oil only drove it that first year guessing 6-7 times out on the trails.  Can Am (BRP) blamed me for putting in 1 qt. of oil when it calls for 1.2 qts. of oil and was NOT overfilled like they claimed it was.  Even if it was overfilled by at most 1 ounce, that little bit of overfill in the filler neck should not have caused the gasket seal to fail/leak.  I argued with dealer and told dealer to call can am and honor warranty.  We agreed they pay for part and me for 1 hour labor, better than nothing I guess?  

I still think Can AM (BRP) is a piss poor company when it comes to honoring their warranty and when stuff goes wrong just outside of warranty, they darn near refuse to pay for anything.  Technically,  they don't have to do a thing, but total lack of customer service is a joke and their dealerships won't stand up for you unless you argue with them asking them to call can am up to see if they can help you out which is the right thing to do.

Having a warranty doesn't make a bike reliable. It's still broke down on the side of the road... again... but you get a chance to argue about whose fault it is.

No thanks