The Touring Trike Built For Riders Who Refuse To Slow Down
Baggers and full-dressers are the best when it comes to cross-country touring. But look closely, and you’ll realize trikes edge ahead with their self-balancing setup and the added comfort via the large dimensions. These factors have also helped trikes rise in popularity in the market, which is why brands have whipped up some grin-worthy trikes (even with V8 engines). One Harley-Davidson trike hits the right spots and delivers a grin-worthy, luxurious ride for riders who refuse to slow down.
Why Trikes Might Be The Best Touring Companions
The secret to trikes being the best touring companion lies in their extra wheel. The three-wheeled setup offers unmatched stability, maximum comfort, and plenty of extra storage space on long road trips compared to two-wheeled touring bikes. Natural balance is present here, making it easier to maneuver through challenging conditions, even with a pillion and loaded with luggage. The added stability also helps with high-speed handling.
There is less physical effort required to ‘control’ a trike. Riders with bad knees, backs, or hips don’t have to give up their love of riding and can keep going in the utmost comfort. The larger dimensions also help with smoother cruising comfort thanks to bigger wind deflectors and more durable suspension than standard motorcycles. Furthermore, trikes offer superior pillion comfort with more seating surface area and larger storage space, including a tiny trunk at the rear. Given the layout and focus on comfort and practicality, performance often takes a back seat, especially with motorcycle-derived trikes.
Only A Few Trikes Bring Flagship Performance, Though
The most powerful trike on sale today comes from a brand many might not even have heard of. The Campagna T-Rex RR is a sporty-looking trike with two wheels up front. It is powered by a Kawasaki ZX-14R-derived four-cylinder engine that produces a grin-worthy 208 horsepower. Next in line is a more popular brand—Polaris, which is famed for its sharp-looking trikes. The Slingshot R is one of their powerful offerings, packing a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 204.1 horsepower. Both of these are closer to cars, though.
BossHoss is the only trike-maker that offers insane performance without relying on the reverse trike layout. Powering this gigantic trike is a repurposed General Motors LS3 V8 with whopping 445 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. But as much as we love it for making tire-burning American muscle, this Frankenstein-style creation has reliability and repairability downsides. The cost of admission is shockingly high, too. That leaves us with a Harley-Davidson that wears the CVO badge and has flagship VVT performance.
The Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide 3 Limited Balances Performance, Comfort, And Charm
Price: $54,999
The CVO Street Glide 3 Limited is Harley’s way of beautifully replicating age-old American big-twin charm in a more mature, practical trike setup. Viewed from the front half of a side-profile crop, no one would tell it’s a three-wheeler. That’s how well the seasoned touring-bike design is integrated into the mix. This is based on the standard Street Glide 3 Limited trike, which has proven it can be a calm, composed long-distance companion.
The CVO model adds exclusivity and top-spec technology. For the notably premium pricing, you get the most powerful Harley V-twin ever fitted to a factory trike, an entirely new rear suspension for added comfort and stability, and exclusive paint jobs and trimmings on the already gorgeous old-school design to help them stand out.
Real American Muscle Courtesy Of The Milwaukee-Eight 121
A massive Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 V-twin powers the CVO Street Glide 3 Limited. This 1,977 cc (121 cubic inch) mill introduces variable valve timing to Harley’s age-old Milwaukee V-twin line. On this trike, the mill produces 114 horsepower at 4,500 RPM and 138 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 RPM. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.
The VVT is said to widen the usable powerband and help this trike feel alive from low down to the redline. Torque is also vital here, especially with the added heft of the three-wheeled setup. Its broader torque curve (thanks again to VVT) should help with fewer downshifts on inclined roads, stronger acceleration when merging or overtaking on freeways, and smoother progress along winding mountain roads, even with a fully loaded rider-passenger setup.
Underpinnings Designed With Rider Feedback For Utmost Stability
A solid rear axle was a staple on Harley-Davidson trikes for nearly 20 years. But this crude setup hampered riding comfort, as it transmitted bumps into the seat because both rear wheels stayed locked to the same shaft. That changes now, courtesy of an updated De Dion-style layout that doubles wheel travel from 2.3 to 5 inches and shaves 68 pounds of unsprung weight.
The rear also gets a Watts linkage and sway bar that help keep the chassis planted along corners. Suspension duties are taken care of by 1.9-inch Dual Bending Valve front forks. The twin rear shocks have hand-adjustable preload beneath the passenger footboard. Dual 300 mm discs, paired with four-piston fixed calipers, handle braking. The rear gets 300 mm discs on each wheel coupled to a floating piston integrated with a parking brake.
Comfort And Convenience Of The Highest Order
Luggage-wise, this Harley CVO trike gets a standard Grand Tour-Pak and trunk combination that, beyond the added storage and comfort benefits, also dials up its muscular visual appeal. The new Grand Tour-Pak storage solution alone offers an impressive 7.1 cubic feet of luggage capacity. That’s ample space for two occupants to enjoy a lavish extended vacation without compromises.
As a CVO, even the luggage compartment gets cool features like power-locking, integrated LED lighting, and a passenger backrest liner for added pillion comfort. Standard dual-zone heated seats and heated grips highlight long-distance comfort. An adjustable rider backrest and highway pegs further boost comfort and luxury, making this Harley trike an easy companion for 500-mile riding days.
Top-Spec Technology Features Are Abundant
An equally sizable 12.3-inch TFT screen sits in the large cockpit. It runs on Harley’s Skyline OS infotainment system and supports wireless Apple CarPlay, integrated navigation, and over-the-air software updates. It also flaunts a Rockford Fosgate Stage II audio system with six speakers and more powerful amplifiers (claimed to be twice the power) than any of its stablemates. Harley offers a slew of ride-enhancing and assistive technology features on its flagship CVO trike. Electronically linked braking, a drag-torque slip control system, and cornering-enhanced versions of ABS and traction control are all present.
This Luxury Harley-Davidson Trike Motivates Riders To Keep Riding
The CVO Street Glide 3 Limited fuses top-tier big-twin performance, uncompromised riding stability, riding comfort, and top-spec technology to offer a mature yet fun-inducing trike that won’t go out of style. The rider also won’t outgrow it for years, thanks to its timeless muscle and aesthetics. This Harley-Davidson trike fuses form and function while embracing the heft and dimensions of a trike. This exclusive trike is the only one of its kind, and that is this Harley’s greatest flex.
Source: Harley-Davidson
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