No Trike In My Future By gorj (Read 469 times)

[gorj]

For several weeks now I have been cruising the scooter trike forums hoping to get some feeling about scooter trikes. A few years ago I sold my Honda Goldwing Motortrike. Two months ago I purchased a used Linhai 260 scooter because I wanted to let the wind blow through my body again! I have enjoyed the scooter, but I felt like I would enjoy a trike even more. Now I am not to sure about the scooter trikes. It seems like, as a whole, they are more trouble than they are worth. I owned my Goldwing trike for about 10 years and never had any issues with it. Nothing came loose, nothing fell off, gauges always worked, no belts to replace, etc. It rode down the road smoothly and it could do well over 120 MPH if I wanted to do so. Of course we are talking about a ride that cost me about $18,000 as compared to a $5000 scooter trike. But if I were to spend $5000 I would expect it to run correctly the first day and continue to do so for a long time. The idea of having to loctite all the nuts from the git go says something about the quality of the build! I fail to understand why so many scooter trike owners put up with these crappy machines. Thanks to the scooter trike forums for saving me $5000!

[rapidjim]

Big difference between a $38,000 plus Goldwing and a $5000 Ice bear. Besides with the Goldwing all the assembly and inspections are done for you. If you think they don't use locktite think again.

[crwford]

wow I have 3 trikes and love them for the money they can't be beat. And yes locktite is a real\\ must my wifes have close to 10,000 mile mine has about 8,500 and valve overs have never been off run as good as day the showed up at door of house.

[ellpee]

Wish I could say the same, much tribulation with mine at only 1700 miles, two carburetors, enricher, temp sensor, brake pad failed, air box bracket failed, chronic cracking any time I remove the rear deck plastic, not to mention almost total unwillingness by repair shops to even touch it. But -- knock wood -- all seems okay right now. Won't know for sure until I can put some more road miles on it, but hoping. My advice, buy only from a nearby dealer who will also service it when necessary, otherwise avoid Chinese like the plague unless you're a really competent and patient mechanic

[crwford]

Let see HD trike fact 47,000 friends bike cost him plus finesse charge over 7 years my 3 trikes 13,700 cash. Mine cost all 3 13,800 cash and my friend will tell you I have went everywhere he and his wife has been. Now I can't tell who did your first service and from then on that could have been the problem or you just got one lemon. But in all fairness they are just a simple 4 stroke engine with a cvt. Oh yes mine has automatic and for 47,000 he has to shift and sometime he stalls LOL

[gorj]

Like a popular ad for a Japanese motorcycle, "different strokes for different folks." But the HD trike can be repaired at most cycle shops. Hardly any shops will work on a scooter? 

[ellpee]

May 12, 2017 11:08:28 GMT -6 gorj said:

Like a popular ad for a Japanese motorcycle, "different strokes for different folks." But the HD trike can be repaired at most cycle shops. Hardly any shops will work on a scooter? 

True dat, hence my advice to anyone considering Chinese. If you have a Rapid Jim clone nearby, plus at least a little mechanical savvy for the basics of day to day maintenance, go for it, the price is right. But I talked to a dozen different shops and individuals in and around Tucson, a city of half a million plus, and as soon as the word Chinese was spoken they made the hex sign. Only one willing to do even the most fundamental diagnostics was the Kymco shop, and as described in another thread, they recently disappointed me greatly. crwford, if I understand it correctly, does his own work and is a happy camper; that's probably the optimum situation.