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Dec 10, 2023

10 Reasons Why Trikes Aren't For "Old People" Anymore

Good things come in threes The trike has come a long way since Harley-Davidson

Good things come in threes

The trike has come a long way since Harley-Davidson first debuted it in 1931 as the "Servi-Car", a service vehicle used to transport goods, auto parts, and equipment across towns. Since then this three-wheeled motorcycle has made tremendous changes through its evolution into the technological marvels we see today. Generally, trikes were aimed at a certain demographic of customers that were starting to get up there in age, but still wanted to experience to joys of riding without having to physically exert themselves. That is where the trike comes it to make that wish a reality. But as the times change, so do the demographics as a lot more prospective customers have their eyes on trikes, and they're not even old!

More and more riders of various ages are choosing to go with a trike as their motorcycle of choice. Before, they were seen as a rider's last hurrah before journeying into the big freeway in the sky. But these days, you don't need to have an AARP card to justify having a trike anymore. Some may have an injury that could affect their riding ability on a regular motorcycle. Some people like all the new tech features. Others want something big that makes them feel safe, yet look cool. Then some want a trike because, why not? So let's take a closer look at why the trike is no longer your grandpa's bike anymore.

Related: Here's Why The Trike Suddenly Became Cool

As mentioned previously, the trike market had cornered a very niche portion of the population. If you've seen someone on a trike, chances are they are at least 50-years-old, possibly retired, and they have a passenger at the back with them at all times. This is the model for couples approaching their golden years, and after spending decades of hard work at their jobs and raising families, it's time for them to have their fun on a motorcycle and not pull a muscle or throw their backs out while attempting to maneuver a full-dresser motorcycle. While this portion of the trike's customer base still rings true, many younger riders are getting in on the action too. Some may include those with back injuries, while others are women who don't feel comfortable on a two-wheeled motorcycle and would prefer not have to worry about balancing it. As soon as they hop on a trike, problems solved.

For the longest time, the trike only came in two styles: the Freewheeler and the Tri-Glide Ultra. The Freewheeler was the simplified model of a trike that covered all the basics, like three wheels, a two-up seat, floorboards, forward controls, electric reverse, parking brake, and a trunk. Meanwhile, the Tri-Glide Ultra had all the goodies equipped straight from the factory like a batwing fairing, a full speaker system, touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, additional storage, a full travel-pack with a backrest for the passenger, and much more. But until 2023, Harley-Davidson added a new member to the trike family... the Road Glide 3. As the Road Glide throttled itself to the front of the pack as the most popular touring model, its signature shark nose fairing made its debut as a trike by offering the same benefits and styles its fellow Road Glide predecessors offered, which included a more commanding presence and ideal wind protection. Suddenly everyone talking smack about trikes lost that energy when the Road Glide 3 showed up.

The previous generation of trike riders probably said things like how they had to walk to school through 20 miles of snow uphill both ways, and would refer to jeans as "dungarees." These were also people that saw little to no need of modern technology or the internet, which would explain why they still had a telephone with a landline. But these days, it's impossible to go an hour without immediate access to a smart device. With many new cars, trucks, and SUVs adapting Bluetooth technology, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto into their touchscreen infotainment systems, it only made sense that motorcycles would do the same. This much is true for trikes like the Tri-Glide Ultra and the Road Glide 3, which both feature the same BOOM! Box GTS 6.5-inch color TFT touchscreen infotainment system that comes equipped with turn-by-turn navigation, radio, smartphone compatibility, the ability make and receive phone calls, motorcycle info and status, and much more.

Related: Top 10 Best Trike Motorcycles You Can Buy In 2023

Even though trikes handle differently than regular motorcycles on the road, the operation is still very much the same. Anybody of any age can theoretically ride and control a trike. They just come with a couple extra features specific only to these three-wheeled models. Aside from the regular manual transmission (one down, five up), trikes come with a parking brake. So whenever one turns a trike on and off, they must always make sure the parking brake is enabled. Otherwise, if left in neutral, it can simply roll away. The other attractive feature found on trikes is the electric reverse button. On regular motorcycles, whenever you want to back up, you have to shift into neutral and walk it back on your own. But because a trike is so big, physically moving it is out of the question. That is why many modern trikes have adapted the use of a separate electric motor specifically used to reverse a trike like you would any four-wheeled vehicle. Operating a trike really is that simple, and you don't need a single gray hair do qualify!

As a different variation of a touring motorcycle, trikes are built with one primary purpose in mind... comfort. Whether their riders are young, old, or somewhere in-between, a big motorcycle like a trike is meant to feel like a couch on three wheels. This means that whether a trike owner is taking it out across town, to a few towns over, or even on a cross-country road trip, they are happy and relaxed no matter how long they've been riding. This bike's large frame evenly distributes the weight seated on it with no cost to the main rider or the passenger. The same can be said for its floorboards, which are ideal for relaxing your entire foot on a large surface. Because nothing says "bad timing" like getting a foot cramp on a motorcycle. Not to mention the improved suspension system these bikes have that allow them to eat up all the cracks and bumps in the road for breakfast.

The trike's primary emphasis on comfort is further extended to passengers, as they are more likely than not, to part of the purchase as well. Whether they are seated on the basic stock seat of a Freewheeler, or the full-dresser setup of the Tri-Glide Ultra, keeping the passenger happy and comfortable is just as important (if not, more so) as the individual operating the bike. And if there's one thing bikers don't want, it's a cranky passenger. Thankfully, these bikes have excelled in this department so much that many passengers will confess to falling asleep in the back while the trike is still in motion. And for when they are wide awake, they provide plenty of opportunities for snapshots from the road, as well as the chance to operate the radio from the rear!

Another winning reason why more people are gravitating towards trikes is the fact that the need to worry about balancing the bike is no longer a concern. Some riders move to trikes because they are worried they may no longer have the physical strength required to handle a large touring bike. Then there are new riders that will aim directly for trikes because they are too terrified about falling off a motorcycle. Both concerns are valid, and both are solved thanks to the trike's self-balancing design. Because it is already standing on its own on three wheels, kickstands are a thing of the past. Engineered to remain on all three wheels at all times, it is very difficult for one of these motorcycles to tip over. Unless the rider is taking a tight turn at a high speed, and/or hops the curb, falling off a trike is a very unlikely scenario.

Touring bikes come with at least two saddlebags perfect for carrying emergency equipment, tools, snacks, clothes, camping equipment, and anything else you might need on a big road trip. With trikes, the amount of storage you get is equally impressive, as it is probably the only kind of motorcycle that comes with an actual trunk! Freewheelers and the Road Glide 3 have a weatherproof rear trunk with a top-mounted door that makes loading and unloading items a breeze. Meanwhile, with the Tri-Glide Ultra, that amount of truck storage is significantly increased to 4.4 cubic feet and a capacity 50 pounds, while the additional Tour-Pak luggage carrier has 2.4 cubic feet of storage, totaling the cubic amount of storage to 6.8 feet. Certainly more than enough room to carry everything you need for a weekend getaway.

Related: 2019 - 2020 Harley-Davidson Freewheeler

Part of the fun of purchasing a motorcycle is the ability to add manufacturer and aftermarket parts to your ride, making it uniquely yours. Even though there are CVO trikes out there that do all the customizing for you, any stock trike can be personalized to your liking. Maybe you've got your hands on a Freewheeler, and you want to make it a little more comfortable for yourself and your passenger. You can add some taller handlebars, a cushier seat, a backrest/detachable travel pack, windshield, and a stronger suspension to turn this motorcycle into a three-wheeled cloud. Or maybe you're more of a tech-savvy rider, and you want your sound system to be heard from blocks away. There are loads of bass boosters, aftermarket amps, and loads of other flashy accessories to turn an average Tri-Glide into a real head-turner.

As we've established earlier, the trike may well be the most durable touring motorcycle to ever hit the highway. It has the sheer size, large fuel tank, large touring frame, comfortable touring seat, and endurance to last hours and miles on the highway for long periods of time without any rider fatigue. Even though it can easily go out for a relaxing afternoon cruise around town, a trip to your favorite restaurant, and a visit to the grocery store, this motorcycle truly thrives when it is on the highway. Because if you are going to start checking off the road trip box on your bucket list, it might as well be on a model that will keep both the rider and the passenger happy. So rather than worry about balancing and holding up the bike, you can concentrate more on taking selfies in front of the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Niagra Falls.

Anthony has been a longtime motorcycle enthusiast for ten years where he doubled as one of the top sales associates for Harley-Davidson in New England. Aside from motorcycles, Anthony moonlights as a stand-up comedian and amateur bodybuilder. A Swiss Army Knife of a human being.