I noticed they cut the "tabs" off the lower part of your fairing. was that done to accommodate the cover the will become part of the front end?

 

Good catch, yes this to accommodate the large middle fender to cover the kit and was known they would be doing that. Hopefully my fenders will be done this week. Also note the front forks have been removed and only a center rod is coming down from the handlebars.

 

The fenders are done and installed. I'm just gobsmacked how great that looks! Watching it under construction made me question what the final product will look like but could not be happier. The painter did a super job mounting the headdress and it even lights up. I'm having to wait until the week of 21 June to fly out there as my young bride has jury duty the 16th, hopefully a one day and done. Still, thinking positive and made the bookings to travel, can always slip if needed.

 

Sandy got dismissed from jury duty (perhaps they didn't like the "Death before Dishonor" tattoos?), so we're good to travel out to Eugene next week and pick up the bike. Going to be a high of 97 on Monday there, thought we'd take a trip to the coast for our first try out. Both of us looking forward to finally getting it.

 

Day 1. Picked up the bike in Eugene this morning. Went for a short ride with Bob and his saleman, Bryson, with the tiltlock off. Just having the two wheels in the front and the hydraulics putting some resistance helps to keep it upright just by that alone. The goal was to just get the feel of the new configuration without the tiltlock. Then we went to a parking lot and started some simple maneuvers to understand when the tiltlock engages and disengages. Won’t bore you with the details, suffice to say it is not just jump on the bike and the system takes care of everything. I got the very basics and then told to practice at an empty lot. I spent two hours starting, stoping, turning, to be honest, sometimes fighting the tiltlock when I didn’t expect it to lock or unlock, finding myself and angles and places I didn’t want to be.

The video is Bob demonstrating an exercise. Starting from a stop with tiltlock on, accelerate to unlock the tiltlock, make a left turn, come back and quickly stop to re-engage the tiltlock. Note how he never puts his feet down.

Wanted to at least take some trip with my Sandy today and Bob strongly recommended leaving the tiltlock off until I get much more familiar with using it. Being 95 deg and heading to 100 in Eugene, we set out for the coast. There were a couple of times I turned it on when I wanted to back out or make a very slow, 1 mph, turn. Twice I thought I could handle the tiltlock and turned it on, but ended up on the other side of road leaning way over until it took over. The other time was coming up to start and stop traffic, turned it on and again, not understanding and eneded up leaning way over and veering into other lanes. Moral of story, don’t play in traffic until you’re ready!

I am telling all this, not because this is a bad system, I have complete confidence that given time in the WalMart parking lot back home, first practicing by myself, then on the lesser streets by myself, then on major roads by myself, then repeat with Sandy, I’ll master this. What I‘m saying, this is not a Trike or Sypder, this thing acts just like a regular two wheeled motorcycle and is not a beginner system. Still, with only two hours of practice, I was pleased overall. What really did us in was the 100deg heat.

Tomorrow will be better, high of 85 and going through the interior of Oregon.

 

Wow, that's been some adventure! Come back and tell us how it is when you've mastered it.

 

Day 2. Started out great, temperature in the 70’s. Spent some time in a mall parking lot by myself early this morning and discovered a few things I was doing. The main thing was making a sharp turn from stop and then fear I will hit the sidewalk curb and would slow down which activates the tiltlock and now your fighting trying to lean left and it is trying to straightened you out. The secret is to stop further back from the stop sign so you can get up to speed at the sign and start your turn. That is one example of the things to learn. So it’s not the system, but the operator and there is a learning curve.

My Sandy, despite my trying to dump us twice yesterday, still got back on this morning and we headed out. Both in great spirits and really enjoying ourselves. Should point out, checked the rear shock air and it was zero so pumped that up and now did not hear ‘ouch’ over every bump. Stopped at a waterfall with a steep and crowded parking lot. Turned on the tiltlock and went slowly down without trouble. On the way out, was facing uphill and had to make a right turn. Had the tilt lock off and ended up losing it, leaning all the way to the floorboards and back crash bars. We’re still on the bike, turned on the tiltlock and it brought us back up, no damage at all. In hindsight, and this is where the learning comes in, I should have just left the tiltlock on, slowly pulled out onto the road, got straight and then accelerate from there. Was feeling bad, more embarrassed than anything, when Sandy made me feel a whole lot better and said, “Hey, we recovered!”

Unfortunately, the predicated 84 deg temp again hit 95 making it once again miserable and we just headed back. Still, we both say this was a success and looking forward to many hours of practice to where I can leave the tiltlock on all the time. Got a few good photo’s before it got too hot.

Tomorrow, I will set off and drive the bike back to Colorado. Looking forward to being allowed to actually operate the gas pump on my own again. If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you’ve not been to Oregon or New Jersey.

Note below the tiltlock is on, standing up by itself.

 

Interesting! Did not think it involved such a learning curve. Good luck!

 

thank you for taking the time to share your story and the many months long journey. Please make sure to give us an update 6 months from now if whats its like to live with such a creature day-to-day.

 

Left Wednesday morning starting my trip back to Colorado. Interesting experience after riding two hours straight through twisty roads going across Oregon. After awhile, I seemed to be weaving back and forth, having a hard time keeping a straight line. I just knew I had done something to knock the alignment out or something came loose and was ready to turn back to Eugene saying something was wrong. Pulled into a station, called Bob and left a message, walked around a little, got some water and proceeded onto to Bend, Oregon. Funny thing, the system miraculously fixed itself! No, the system was fine, it was the operator and basic motorcycle skill. Bob said if you tense up, you’ll weave and indeed that was the problem. For me at least, need to take more frequent breaks. Got to Boise with no further incidences.

With a fresh day on Thursday, thought I’d try practicing some tilt maneuvers, a long, straight stretch out of the hotel, so began with exercise 1, starting and stopping and not putting your feet down. Just a couple but got me at least to try. Didn’t have any more areas to try (or didn’t think of it). Did come up to stop and go traffic on the interstate and was struggling to keep the bike in one line going slow. After the earlier learning experience (Bob got on me for using the word “failure”) finding us in the wrong lane and angle with stop and go in Eugene, was hesitant to try but since then had time to think through what I did wrong. Got the bike stopped, turned on the tilt, kept the bike either below 5mph or above 10mph not coasting between the two. Worked like a champ, drove straight and true with no struggle at all. When the traffic got moving, just turned off the tilt without having to stop. I am using the tiltlock all the time when going slow like through a parking lot or gas station. Makes parking really easy and backing up is no problem at all (unless you’re trying to go uphill in which case get out an push).

Got to Little America, Wyoming as planned. Looking at Friday’s weather, cold, thunderstorms, hail, lightning, decided to stay an extra day at Little America as Saturdays weather looked much better. Just as well, its been rather intense for me learning this new system and getting back into simply properly riding a bike again and welcomed a day of rest.

This thing is an absolute people magnet and draws a crowd whenever I stop but all in a good way, everyone thinks its the greatest thing. Had one older fellow pull up saying he was in front of me on the highway and I exited. He had to go to the next exit, come back and look for me, wanted to see it that badly. I’m starting to say two stock answers to their questions, “No, it’s not a Spyder”, “No, Indian does not make this”. I complained to Sandy that I’ll never get home having to show off the system but she said, “Oh, you love it”. Had to honestly reply yes, but I’ll never tell them that.

 

Got home just fine although the weather people flat out lied about being sunny & warm. Rainy, windy and 50 deg (tell me again about that global warming thing?). Had enough of riding and parked it in the garage. During this 'down time', worked on some projects I've been saving for when I got the bike back. Installed the Rivco trunk relocation kit, moving it back 2" and the Kuryakyn filler pad, Sandy loves the extra room. Put on the Indian driver backrest and bracket (and I really like that). Added the Captain Itch heat shield. Really shaping up to how we want the bike.

Up next will be to get a trailer to put the bike on. We'd rather trailer it to a destination and be fresh to enjoy riding two lane roads than blasting down the interstate. We're going up to Arvada this Friday to check out The Ultimate Trailers. I will continue this tread, keeping on topic of Tilting Motor Works and my learning experience using it and start a new one concerning Ultimate Trailers.

 

Got home just fine although the weather people flat out lied about being sunny & warm. Rainy, windy and 50 deg (tell me again about that global warming thing?). Had enough of riding and parked it in the garage. During this 'down time', worked on some projects I've been saving for when I got the bike back. Installed the Rivco trunk relocation kit, moving it back 2" and the Kuryakyn filler pad, Sandy loves the extra room. Put on the Indian driver backrest and bracket (and I really like that). Added the Captain Itch heat shield. Really shaping up to how we want the bike.
View attachment 639932
View attachment 639933
Up next will be to get a trailer to put the bike on. We'd rather trailer it to a destination and be fresh to enjoy riding two lane roads than blasting down the interstate. We're going up to Arvada this Friday to check out The Ultimate Trailers. I will continue this tread, keeping on topic of Tilting Motor Works and my learning experience using it and start a new one concerning Ultimate Trailers.

Interesting article, I underlined this filler for the trunk relocation, do you happen to have the part number for this filler pad, I will be looking for black, but I can’t even seem to find the pad anywhere for some reason, probably me.

 

 

Today was the worse day and the best for learning the TiltLock. Yesterday, we rode up to Arvada, just North of Denver, to check out The Ultimate Trailers. Ended up being yet another 95 deg day with stop and go traffic, was not a fun trip up, or back. I had the TiltLock off most of the trip, quite honestly, was afraid of winding up losing control. Thinking this was ridiculous, finally took the time to sit down and really read with seriousness the operators manual. Just the beginning part yesterday which had 3 important tips for your first ride:

1. Look straight ahead! When you set off, don’t be looking down at the new front end; you can’t get your balance that way. There’s nothing you need to monitor, nothing you need to do to get underway that’s any different than a regular motorcycle. Forget you’re on three wheels, look straight ahead and get your balance as you always do.

2. Use that throttle! Don’t be tentative when you’re trying it out for the first time. As with any motorcycle, you need to get under way promptly to get your balance.

When turning at low speeds, as in a parking lot, you’ll feel the extra weight. Pay close attention when making slow turns. Don’t let gravity pull you down!

3. Watch the line! If you’re used to riding the centerline or the white line on the shoulder, back it off a little bit. You can forget you’re on three and run a wheel over the line by mistake. If you catch a little gravel on the shoulder, just ride out of it. The other two wheels remain squarely on the pavement.

Took the bike today to meet a friend for lunch (with the TiltLock off) and just did not have the confidence that I would ever master turns and slow maneuvers. Was really discouraged and reveled to my friend that no way could I take this thing on the Route 66 trip we're planning in September and why not cut my losses and just sell the thing.

Got home and my wife, who has stood by me for 45 years putting up with all kinds of crazy schemes like owning our own semi and hauling freight around the country to living in Outback Australia and everything in-between, sensed I was down. We talked, she asked great questions and got me to get the manual and go through the exercises in detail with her. There are 5 pages of exercises, very direct what each exercise wants to accomplish. For example:

Starting and stopping straight

The first skill to learn is to start straight and stop straight. You will just be doing large ovals in the parking lot for this skill. The oval should be marked out with cones. Start from a standstill in the middle of the oval’s straightaway. Turn TiltLock on. After the startup sequence, the handlebar LED should be solid green; if not, see the Operating Instructions. Place your feet on the floorboards or foot pegs; you will be vertical to the horizon. Accelerate from the stop as normal and you will see the green LED turn blue as the system unlocks. Complete one full lap, slow down and come to a stop where you started. As you decelerate through 7 mph, TiltLock lock will lock and the green LED will turn on again. If you are not vertical to the horizon and leaned over as you come to a stop, the bike will lock and level you. Do this five to ten times until you are comfortable.

You no longer have to put your feet down when you come to a stop. If you are a long time motorcyclist, putting your feet down at a stop is a habit and it may take some time to get comfortable with the fact that you no longer have to put your feet down.

Sandy brought back my confidence, pushed my sorry ass out of the house and go to the high school parking lot nearby and start with lesson one. What a difference from coming home earlier. Got on that bike, turned on the TiltLock, drove out with determination and, for the most part, kept the TiltLock on to the parking lot, during the exercises and return home. Actually began to relax and suddenly not weaving all over the road, stopping straight and starting/tuning with conviction. Most of the time with my feet on the floorboards, achieving what the original goal of all this was from a year ago and $40,000 later, have an 1,100 pound bike plus 350 pounds of passengers and not worry about the bike falling over. The stability of a reverse trike but lean like a regular motorcycle.

Set out a plan to do exercises (ordered some cones to set up like recommended) in the parking lot and riding on the street over the next couple of weeks. Was a major breakthrough for me, like the light turning on, (Oh, that's how it works!) and owe it all to my young bride.

 

Well, had an 'incident' awhile back that set me back but in the end turned out for the best and just now feel up to sharing where I am on learning. With the Route 66 tour booked with EagleRider in September, I've been going out every morning and evening trying to practice more advanced moves in the parking lot. A combination of overtraining without having the basics down (both in operating the bike and using the TiltLock) led to finding myself off the pavement, stuck in mud with some minor damage to the front and left fenders. After getting the tow truck to pull me out, got the bike home and said to Sandy, "That's it, I'm selling the bike". She looked at me and said, "Selling is not an option, what are you going to do about it?"

The first thing was to cancel (actually delay as they gave me a credit to use up to two years) the Route 66 tour so that took the time pressure off. Next, I was convinced I needed to practice just basic motorcycle skills on a smaller bike. Went seriously shopping for something used in the 750cc range like the Honda Shadow or Yamaha V-Star. Found several but learned something when I tried them out, particularly trying out low speed turns. I had the same feeling (or difficulty) with these and told me I was fine just continuing to use my RoadMaster and did not need anything else.

So now, I'm going almost back to page one and working on basic motorcycle skills. To accomplish that I'm doing three things:

1) When my mornings are free, go for a simple 30 min ride just making basic moves like getting around left and right turns from stop or a 90 deg turn on a street. No 'practice' of difficult U-turns or handlebar cranked full left or right from a stop. I do one day with the TiltLock on and one day with it off.

2) Seriously reading Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough. About halfway through the book and amazing how much my turns (look well ahead to where you're going, keep power to the rear wheel, lean, use the rear brake) have improved, have not gone wide (knock on wood) for sometime now.

3) We have a Ride like a Pro franchise here in Colorado Springs and the instructor, "Jersey", provides private lessons. We spent quite some time on a zoom call having him understand where I currently am and where I want to be. We've booked 3 hours the end of next month (I have a convention to attend and he is teaching at some minor event called Sturgis or some such thing). I'm fine with waiting as I want to continue just doing simple, short duration riding for now.

I want to stress, the issues I'm having has nothing to do with the motorcycle nor the TiltLock, both are operating flawlessly, it was simply the person driving it. I will cautiously say, I honestly am starting to feel a lot more confident, really starting to nail those turns, especially willing to lean a whole lot more than what I've been doing.

I had to go through this experience to get it through my thick head that I kidded myself thinking -
1) I could get on a 1,000 pound bike after not riding for over 30 years
2) Slap a TiltLock on and ride off into the sunset

Like I said at the start, this all ended up for the best, I am now taking steps to properly learn to ride this bike from people who know what they are doing and, in turn, this helps with my using the TiltLock. All is good and looking up. Will update sometime after my first lesson with Jersey.

Would be remiss not to say what a damn lucky fellow I am to have a wife who knows when to kick me in the ass, but in the nicest possible way!

 

Jersey is a fantastic coach, if anyone can set you on the road to riding, he can.

 

Was asked by someone where I was with learning the TMW as they were on the fence about getting either a trike or TMW conversion. Thought I'd share this with the tribe, hopefully can spare others from some of the experiences I’ve been going though for those interested in getting the conversion.

Here is the main point I’ve discovered. If you’re not proficient riding a two wheel motorcycle (slow speed turns, turning your head in the direction you’re going, roll on the throttle in a curve) then you’re not ready for the TMW conversion.

It had been well over 30 years since I last rode a 700 pound Aspencade and grossly underestimated my ability to just hop on a 900 pound RoadMaster without any problem. I saw this TMW and thought, just put this on and you’re done, it will keep the bike up and still lean. Not only do you need to proficiently operate a two wheel before getting the conversion but once you get it converted, that starts a completely new training. I was unequipped and unprepared to learn how to operate the tilting motor works AND basic motorcycle skills all at the same time.

In hindsight, which is always the best, I should have bought a used 700cc or so bike and get my skills back up to speed. Once that was accomplished, buy the RoadMaster and get proficient on that. Only after feeling completely comfortable with the RoadMaster, then get the conversion and do not take passengers for months until you master using the tilt lock, although you could leave the tilt lock off and have a passenger since it drives like a regular bike, just slightly larger turning radius (25ft vs 20ft).

I had to go though some scary situations to finally convince me I was trying to do way too much, way too quickly. Fortunately, nothing that involved physical injury but all three fenders will need to be repaired, but that is just cosmetic damage, the bike and tilt lock are all just fine.

I’m back to basics, doing simple morning rides with the tilt lock off, trying out things I’ve read in the Proficient Motorcycling Book, Ride like a Pro & A twist of the wrist videos. I have my initial private lesson with the local Ride like a Pro instructor, Felix “Jersey” Claudio, end of this month and we’ll see what he thinks of my current performance and where we go from there. I do know I need a written note from Jersey before my wife, who has better sense than I, will get back on the bike.

Interestingly, some things I discovered that agree with what I read or seen from others. Two examples:

1) Jerry Palladino of Ride like a Pro talks about the Indian having a ‘lazy throttle’. When beginning to move from stop, I felt like there was a delay between twisting the throttle and the engine actually revving up. Now I get the rev’s up before releasing the clutch and my starts are a lot more in control.

2) The lean angle is limited on the Indian. Jerry Palladino really stresses having to lean in order to make those tight turns and been working on leaning and keeping the speed up along with using the rear brake. Was trying this out on a cul-de-sac and running out of room, so really leaned it over and “..SSSCRAPE..”, scared the hell out of me. Was able to get upright and stop the bike. I read others on this forum about scraping the floorboards and seems to be a common thing with the Indian touring bikes. I looked underneath and it was not the floorboard itself that scraped but the bracket that holds the floorboard. I feel good that I’m getting more lean in my turns but having to learn how far I can really lean as I’ve scraped a couple of times since then. At least I know what it is and not fear it.

So after that painfully long update, let me answer the question being on the fence getting either a trike or TMW conversion.

Path 1 - If you are proficient riding your current bike and can make those tight turns with ease but finding it harder to keep the bike upright when stopped, moving slowly around the gas station, backing up the bike into a parking space, then a TMW is the way to go. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats being able to lean into the curve. If you’re still good operating the bike when it’s moving then you won’t be happy losing the lean.

Path 2 (Where I am and should have started) – Have not ridden in a long time, out of practice, cannot make tight turns from start and getting unsteady with a passenger on board at stop. Here you can either get proficient and then go for the conversion (Path 1) or if your skills are just not coming back, go to Path 3.

Path 3 – This is your first bike, you can’t/won’t master your slow speed skills or you want a rock steady bike that won’t tip over. The trike or Spyder is the way to go. There is nothing wrong with that but you are trading off being able to lean. When I was trying out bikes before settling on TMW, I rode a trike and felt like I was fighting the steering all the time. I tried the Spyder and while the steering was easier, it felt like being in a convertible. In both cases, I was pushed to the outside in a curve.

To be clear, the Tilting Motor Works is for experienced riders, not your first bike.

My plan of action at this point, continue simple rides building confidence and trying out what I’ve been reading and viewing. Get 1 on 1 instruction from Jersey. Depending on how proficient I get, might ship the bike back to the TMW creator and installer, Bob Mighell in Eugene Oregon in late Fall. Fly out to Eugene and spend a couple of days with Bob learning the tilt lock. Then have him repair the fender damage I’ve done and ship it back giving me a fresh start. At least that’s the plan for now . . .

 

When I was trying out bikes before settling on TMW, I rode a trike and felt like I was fighting the steering all the time.

With a properly racked frontend this is an absolutely true statement. But with one a trike is a dream to ride.

 

Met with Jersey from Ride like a Pro today, don't mind saying I was on the nervous side but quite looking forward to getting some private instruction. It took about 30 minutes for Jersey to understand just what this TRiO was all about. I had no intention of having him teach me how to use the TiltLock but he felt not using it defeated the whole purpose of putting it on. His way of describing it was acting like a Spyder at slow speed and a regular bike the rest of the time. Still, I wanted to learn how to do slow circles (U-turns) and 90 deg turns to the right from stop with the TiltLock off.

Some of the major things he worked on me was:
1) I was looking in the direction I wanted to go BUT would either not look far enough and/or kept taking a quick look in front of me, both making my turn not tight.
2) Use of the rear brake, not to stop as I'm turning, but just the slightest pull against the bike that helps stabilize it. I knew about this from reading and watching videos but never used it and at first was too heavy with the braking but started to lighten up as the morning progressed.
3) Posture. Was leaning with the bike in those slow turns and that was too much top heaviness causing me to go faster and wider to keep from falling over. The correct posture was sitting up straight, not leaning with the bike, like counter-balancing.

Jersey was actually liking the TRiO by the end of the session saying that the fact it can do 3 mph turns holding itself upright was 75% of the course right there and said not using it in those slow turns, puttering around in a private lot or gas station actually goes against the design of the bike, with this modification.

Was a long 3 hours and he really gave me a workout, very encouraging and extremely helpful. Have a lot to practice now but with a lot more confidence. Have nothing but praise for Jersey and Ride like a Pro. You can read books and watch videos all day long but really need to have someone actually coach you through it for real to know if you can do it properly.

Up next, still planning on shipping the bike back to Eugene this Fall and get some quality time with the designer, Bob with the TiltLock on, putting everything I've been learning together.

 

.

 

Thanks @BritishJim for sharing all of your “lessons learned”!

I’ve ridden Spyders, and if the time comes to switch to a 3 wheeler, I’d definitely choose the TMW!

I always equate the Spyder to riding a snowmobile on wheels😆

 

Today, took the bike up to Brighton (outside of Denver) and dropped it off at the terminal for Motorcycle Shippers to begin its trip back to Eugene.

We'll see how MotorCycle Shippers compare to HaulBikes (you can read my HaulBike experience earlier in this thread). They have given me a date range of Sept 24 - Oct 8 for delivery in Eugene. The main reason I'm shipping it back has to do solely with me and my level of comfort riding this bike. Ever since getting some private instruction from Jersey of Ride Like a Pro on basic slow speed motorcycle skills (which made a world of difference in my motorcycle control), I've been having the tilt lock system on 100% of the time now. There are a few areas I'm having difficulty with, for example making left turns from stop, the system seems to lock for a second and release, don't have that issue with right turns. Don't always have that problem so I know it's me and not the tilt lock. I will be able to have the designer, Bob Mighell, spend time with me just like Jersey.

As a secondary reason, will have them repair some damage I did to the front fender. Possibly, providing the fellow who does the paint work for Bob does airbrushing, might get something painted on the saddlebags, possibly. Currently planing on flying up there middle of October. For now, let's see how MotorCycle shippers perform.

 

Update on Motorcycle shippers. Currently in Boise, Idaho making its way to Tualatin, Oregon (outside of Portland). Looks like we're still good for a delivery to TMW in Eugene by 8 October.

 

Jim, you are a persistent fellow. I read every one of your posts on this. About the time it forced me into the oncoming traffic lane I would have parked it and walked away. I used to jump out of airplanes and helicopters, now I have problems walking down a flight of stairs. I moved to my home up north full time from sunny North Carolina. I slipped on some ice really hard last winter here in Maine and really hurt myself. I did not go to the doctors and my ankle did not heal correctly. I am in the process of correcting my idiotness at the present time with an orthopedic surgeon. I also am exploring options such as you described to assist me holding up the, drum roll please-2016 Roadmaster. I have not been 100% comfortable in some situations. I mean no disrespect whatsoever and I hope you get many, many years of enjoyment from your purchase. As for me I think I will go back to a time tested sideca. To be perfectly blunt, that thing looks/sounds really dangerous, at least to me. I did watch the video's and I am an experienced rider and have ridding since I was 15 years old in the 1960's. Admittedly I have never ridden one but I doubt I ever would based on your commentary. I have had sidecars in the past and have never been pushed into the opposite lane with potentially oncoming traffic. Even in a learning curve that could have been fatal. Again, I have nothing but respect for your decision, and your perseverance and Bob and I hope this contraption works for you my friend. And like a wise man once said,"Two things can be true at the same time".

 

Great reply and take zero offense. When I started this thread, I made it clear that this was the direction I decided to go and it's super each of us have choices on trikes, Spyders, TRiO, Slingshot, LegUp LandinGear and sidecars (I think I got them all). I do want to state, that the TRiO conversion has worked flawlessly and it is 100% operator error/inexperience that caused any problems. After getting private instructions with Jersey on basic slow speed handling, I had been riding that bike with the tilt lock on continuously and would say I'm about 90% in being able to ride it like a two-wheel bike when moving and going through curves then holding up like a Spyder when slow or stopped, to me best of both worlds. Going to get some 1 on 1 training with Bob to take care of that last 10%. It was (and continue to be) a learning curve, some like Jersey caught on in 30 minutes, me, it's taking a bit more (months in my case).

Interestingly, you expressed your concerns, rightly so, about ever trying this TRiO and I will admit, riding a bike with a sidecar scares me. Just like what is best, Harley - Indian or, dare I say it, type of oil, we each make our own decisions and paths. I'm not trying to convince a single person a TRiO or any other conversion is THE way to go but sure would have liked to have known before I started all this what I know now. That is what I like about this Indian community, just about every topic under the sun you can find and someone will have experience with whatever question you have. Thought I would do my part in sharing my twisted tilted journey.

 

Thanks Jim-I appreciate the complete and detailed review. It certainly covered every event you experienced. Sidecars ain’t that bad, as long as they are set up properly. Again, my comment was made with the upmost respect and I hope you ride the tyres off it!
Pete

 

As we last left our saga, the bike was on its way back to Eugene via MotorCycle Shippers. The advertised arrival date was to be 8 Oct and was actually delivered 13 Oct. It was at the terminal in Eugene since 1 Oct so could have been easily picked up there if needed sooner but we were not in a rush. With everything in short supply and lack of workers, going by MotorCycle Shippers was the right choice. If you are able to use their terminal to terminal service it goes really quick. Once the bike left Colorado it got to the terminal in Eugene in a matter of days. Will definitely be using them to ship the bike back when done.

Up next in my TRiO adventure, we're waiting for the weather to get better before flying up to Eugene and getting some private instruction from the TRiO designer, Bob Mighell. Seems Oregon is currently celebrating their annual rain festival.

On a side item, saw on 'another forum' talking about getting a 1901 Indian Head penny which I thought was neat. Went on Ebay and got one for $4.30 (including shipping). Now need to think what to do with it, if anything, eh? That's a picture of the actual coin I got, looks good!