Jim tells me he’s developing a fiberglass nose and fenders plus tweaking some components to allow greater than 26 degrees of lean.
It’s been tons of fun to just ride and stop at just about anywhere and watch two demographics congregate, youngsters 15-25 and oldsters 55 plus. The inbetweens just can’t conceive someone would screw up a perfectly good Harley. Of course, they are not having as much fun as I am.
The video below shows him on the road, though he’s already working on a new video showing the updates. Nice work, Jim. Looking forward to seeing the new pieces in place and on the road.
Link: TooKoolCycles
Video below:
cycledave says
Hey, I’m 35 and think this is a great mod to a perfectly good Harley, especially the style of the street rod grill.
scritch says
Cool. I’d like to see it at speed, though, instead of just going ’round roundabouts. I also assume it has reverse gear, no?
JR says
…this is “at speed” for a Harley…. BAZINGA!… I kid, I kid.
Jim Kunselman says
Being into my sixties now (and several abdominal surgeries later), I’m probably just too stupid to stop riding. My grandparents had a pal named ‘Skinny’ Coleman who rode into his mid-eighties and he had always been an inspiration to me. So I’ve been sorta-kinda looking at trikes to extend my riding time into the ‘Skinny’ range.
So, I’d would love to try out the TRT trike.
Good going, Jim Harrell
PS. God bless Skinny!
Miles says
I’m trying to get over the nose, and I just can’t.
Love the rest of it.
GenWaylaid says
The mechanical components form an awkward shape out of necessity. I think he covered it as best one can.
JOhndo says
The engineering that went into this bike is impressive, but I think I’d paint it all black to minimize certain design elements, like that nose that just doesn’t quite work for me.
john says
look at the new Morgan trike
B50 Jim says
You either like the speedway nose or you don’t. It looks fine to me — Those old sprint cars were vicious machines that demanded respect and punished stupidity with ruthless efficiency. Jim’s application strikes me as an homage to those wicked machines and the men who drove them.
As for those who wonder why anyone would mess up a good motorcycle by adding a wheel — it’s a matter of personal opinion. I don’t understand the furor — you’re still riding, your’e out in the elements, you have a willing engine pulling between your feet, and you’re having fun. Two wheels, three wheels — it’s a matter of degree, and as I approach Social Security, I can see the intelligence of an extra wheel for those of us whose reflexes aren’t as sharp as they once were. Dropping a bike at a stop light is embarrassing at the least and dangerous at the worst. Many years ago when I was still young and strong I nearly dropped my XS650, and walked with a slight limp for a few days after catching it with my right leg. If it happened now I’d be under the bike waiting for someone to pul it off me.
Miles says
The nose itself isn’t the problem really, it is the whole transitional area, the square bit with the chrome, it doesn’t really mesh with the bike.
jim harrell says
B50 Jim, you are spot on in your assessment. Homage to the “doin it in the dirt” sideways in old USAC sprints or midgets is all about what the nose and grill are about. Nothing better than alky and dirt.
It befuddles me why elementary physics are not understood i.e. the dynamics of leaning into a turn versus sitting upright and trying to muscle the opposing forces on non-leaning trikes. I have tried them all and MOST CERTAINLY prefer the leaning.
After being clobbered and arriving at SS and Medicares gates it became pretty clear that the warranty on the ol bod was running out but still wanted to ride with confidence thus the third wheel and the locking mechanism for stops, parking etc.
A funny byproduct of the TRT is that if you lean it and lock it at a parked position it’s going to be a funny experience if someone tries to steal the bike. Around and around they will go with very little forward progress.
As for dropping a bike at a stop light I thought such would never happen. BUT a good friend on a brand new CVO, a smidge older than me, simply didn’t put his feet down. Ouch!!
Lots of experiences remain to happen in the future of those youngsters who pontificate with authority that their way is the only way. Don’t ya no!!!
Enjoy your comments and observations…..jim
germancarnut2 says
Love the engineering and mechanics, but not sure what the purpose is if you still have to put your feet down at the stop sign. Is there a lock or something to keep the bike upright when stopped? As I get older, the stupid stop signs are the worrisome problem, especially with my wife on board and in the spring when they don’t have the winter gravel picked up yet.
germancarnut2 says
Uh… it helps to actually go to the website and read a bit first. Bike locks upright at low speeds. Great solution! I’ll have to read some more!!
Decline says
Not to my liking style wise but lots of respect to being able to do it and getting it done. Hugely admire the work skill and knowledge to get this thing made. Would be cool to catch it out and about one random day.
Though, on a side note slightly related but more in general, there are these moments when I see some people’s bikes and I think, why didn’t you just get a car? Radio, storage compartments, trailers, air conditioning, the list goes on and on, and basically all you have done is recreate more or less a convertible or T top (depending how you want to count the helmet lol)….and often by then, with more total wheels.
paolo says
great concept,
i imagine the value is rolling to a stop and around town, just awesome not to have to put your feet down especially if your a little challenged by height, age or physical injury
i looked at the website does vertical locking happen automatically and whats the transition like? would love to know technically how its accomplished?
my only other comments would be sufficient lean angle for the safety factor, which is not demonstrated on the video and the name which is negative, neither tilting or reverse imply confidence to me but i have to say nice job and the bolt on aspect should be appealing too
Scotduke says
The looks still don’t work for me and I’m not a particular Harley fan either (well, I like the Sportsters and the XRs particularly but not the bigger models). But I do admire the engineering and I know there are a lot of grey-haired bikers (even older than me) who still want to keep riding so I can see why someone would want one of these. If the people at Harley Davdison had any sense, they’d either offer this guy a licence to manufacture approved specials, or buy the rights and pay him a small percentage with every one sold.
Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says
Numerous comments, on this post and the one when we first saw the trike, mention the nose as a poor design, but as GenWaylaid mentions above, if you’re going to cover the tilting mechanism, you have certain limitations.
I would be interested in seeing the alternative designs those who don’t like this one would recommend. Seriously, if one of you can come up with something better, a lot of us would like to take a look. The mechanics can be seen fully exposed in the first article so you can see what has to be covered.
MARK 5 says
This looks great! Cross of a hot rod and bike.Add it to a soft tail or dyna would be kool!! Can it fit on anything else? Like a Barbarian V8 motorcycle? Then best of both worlds!