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