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Tri Glide Trike Leads Harley Davidson's 2009 Lineup

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By Hal Licino

Yes, folks, you read it here first (or maybe second or third) but the heartily awaited conventional Harley Davidson Lehman Trike is now officially bearing a Harley Davidson title as the world's first Tri Glide!

Although it is a traditional Lehman Trike with two wheels in the back, instead of the long rumored leaning trike with one wheel in the back and two in the front Revolutionary Trike, this motorcycle is amazingly significant as it represents Harley Davidson's first formal foray into trikes in well over two decades.

This true Harley Davidson Trike will be sold at official Harley dealers and of course carry the conventional warranty. The single most significant aspect of this motorcycle is that the entire frame of the Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide has been modified to become a trike, unlike conventional trikes by Lehman and other manufacturers which take a basic motorcycle frame and chop it up to add the different rear end. This frame lends itself to a completely different geometry which is optimized for the handling characteristics of a trike instead of a two wheeled motorcycle.

The forks have been extended by 1.78 inches, and the rake increased dramatically from 29.25 to a full 32 degrees to aid stability in steering. The rear axle assembly features an aluminum center section with steel axle tubes, it bears a Hayes Brake dual disc brake system, and it is suspended by dual air adjustable shock absorbers. The belt final drive is carried over from the Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide and should do a superb job of transmitting all that power and torque from that Twin Cam 103 cubic inch V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) through that 6 speed Cruise Drive transmission and onto that shiny new rear end!

The Tri Glide even has a lever actuated integrated parking brake! I can't believe how badly I want one! Now all I have to do is find someone to lend me $29,990!

That's the really great news about the 2009 Harley lineup as some long time favorites have disappeared. In a highly questionable marketing move, Harley Davidson is eliminating the base-model 883 Sportster as well as the Wide Glide. The VRod line is losing the Night Rod (er... yah... so what...) but gaining a new model called The Muscle which cleans up the ugly bugly lines of the VRod a bit, but still makes it look like something that might have come from the Lifan or Hyosung styling departments.

Harley's Buell Motorcycle Company has the added the 1125CR which is proof positive that my old Daytona drinkin' bud Willie G. Davidson reads my Hubs and agrees that the number one motorcycle on the 10 Ugliest Motorcycles List should not be one of his bikes. The 1125 CR is the nicest looking and most conventionally styled Buell in years, and although I could live without the whatever the heck scoopy thingy that protrudes out the front of the bike over the front cylinder and looks like a leftover prop from The Dark Knight, the rest is borderline aesthetically acceptable.

Harley needs to go farther to update its lineup for today's new realities. Although the Tri Glide is a great first step, they still have a long way to go! Are you reading now, Willie G.?

 

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starcatchinfo profile image

starcatchinfo  says:
16 months ago

GREAT DESIGNS WOW!!

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
16 months ago

I agree... all but the VRod though... :)

mecola  says:
16 months ago

coolness how alsome!!

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
16 months ago

The Trike is definitely Hal-some! :)

OrangeCast profile image

OrangeCast  says:
16 months ago

What I love about Harley is they give Americans what they want. Old School!!! It sells.

I wonder when they'll come up with a sidecar again . . .if that is even legal!!!

Great coverage of Harley's newest.

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
16 months ago

Sidecars are widely available from aftermarket manufacturers for all sorts of motorcycles, including Harleys and I am quite certain they are street legal in all states.

rkat profile image

rkat  says:
16 months ago

Great pics, harley is an excellent bike, their extended warranty service providers are excellent!

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
16 months ago

I've been a lifelong HOG myself, but I do wish Harley would use their engineering prowess to come out with an electric or diesel or something that got 100 mpg+... :(

scooterguy profile image

scooterguy  says:
16 months ago

Great Design... I am gonna buy one :)

mahasson  says:
16 months ago

I love motorcycles! I like your ideas.

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
16 months ago

I love that Trike. Just don't love the $30K price tag though... that will buy you a fairly nice house in some parts of the country these days.

VibrantViews profile image

VibrantViews  says:
16 months ago

Two, please :)

pixelspotlight profile image

pixelspotlight  says:
15 months ago

A fairly nice house... let me know what part of the country... and I thought houses were cheap in the midwest....

fourseasons profile image

fourseasons  says:
15 months ago

great picutres, I love this bike, but not available in india

Jenice  says:
15 months ago

Cool!! I need a triking buddy :)

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
15 months ago

pixelspotlight: Just let your fingers do the walking around some realtor websites in places like Youngstown, OH. You'll likely come up with some decent three bed houses for half the price of the Tri Glide.

fourseasons: Hopefully, this trike will be available in India soon, but at an expected price of around one and a half million rupees, I don't think it will be supplanting Marutis anytime soon! :)

VibrantViews and Jenice: As long as you're paying, I'll be glad to come along for the ride! :)

adeshwar profile image

adeshwar  says:
15 months ago

now thats what we call a ride. hi HAL LICINO, can u include some of the older bikes by harley, its just a request.

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
15 months ago

Sure, Adeshwar. There are literally thousands of models in Harley's history, but I'd be glad to provide whatever info you'd like. Please go up to the top of the page and click on

Request a hub from Hal Licino

Enter whatever you'd like to see and I'll be happy to write up a Hub to suit! :)

Pete Michner profile image

Pete Michner  says:
15 months ago

Awesome bike! Hey, on the way to work a couple of weeks ago I was passed on the highway by a motorcycle with one wheel in the back and two up front! Have you ever seen one of those before? Great hub, thanks!

guidebaba profile image

guidebaba  says:
15 months ago

You seem to be a True Biker with great knowledge of Bikes.

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
15 months ago

Well, I've been riding since I was knee high to a grasshopper! :)

Cliff  says:
11 months ago

Why would someone want to paint a trike blue or black?

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
11 months ago

Personally I prefer fire engine red, or some nice retro flame paintjob! :)

J_Eds profile image

J_Eds  says:
11 months ago

Wow I love the new designs, if only they didn't cost the earth!!

Hal Licino profile image

Hal Licino  says:
11 months ago

There are quite a few foreclosed houses you can buy for the price of a new Trike! :(

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