If you’re thinking about getting a Harley Davidson trike, then congratulations! Trikes can be a lot of fun and many riders wouldn’t think of going back to two wheels after seeing the world on three. A Harley Davidson trike can be a fantastic touring and cruising option for bikers looking for a different kind of Harley riding experience. Seasoned Harley riders will notice a lot of similarities between Harley trikes like the Tri-Glide and the two-wheeled hogs they’re used to. Still, there are a number of differences that you’ll want to become familiar with before becoming a full-time trike rider. There are advantages to trikes just as there are advantages to two-wheelers. While we can’t say definitively that one option is better than another (we love all Harleys equally) we do suggest taking some time to learn the differences and weigh the advantages to all options.

Stability

The major difference between a trike and a two-wheeled motorcycle is stability. As you probably assumed already, a three-wheeled motorcycle is less prone to tipping. Many ridersespecially those with knee or hip issuestake comfort in being able to get on and off the trike with ease and not having to put their feet down at stops or constantly lean back and forth (more on that later). Riding a trike can give you the freedom and excitement bikers thrive without the worry of tipping or losing control.

Along those lines, you’ll want to make yourself extra aware of the size of your trike. If you’re cruising amongst a group, it can be easy to forget that you’re trike is much bigger than your two-wheeled counterparts. Though it might sound simple, you’ll want to acclimate yourself with the wideness of your trike as you make your way through parking lots and other areas where obstacles are prevalent.

Braking

Braking on a trike can take some getting used to. If you’ve only ever ridden two-wheeled motorcycles, you might notice a difference when it comes to braking on a trike. When approaching a stop, you’ll want to give yourself some extra distance to brake safely. As trikes are substantially heavier, you won’t be able to stop as quickly as you could on a two-wheeled motorcycle (however, a third wheel’s worth of brakes will minimize the difference to some degree). Generally, you’ll want to use the rear brakes to stop or all three if necessary, but never the front brake only. Doing so can cause you to lose control.

Turning

Chances are that this will be your first time on three wheels since you were a young child on a tricycle. In this instance (or the instance of a bicycle with training wheels) you’d use the handlebars exclusively to turn in the direction you wanted to go. Once you got a little older and graduated to a two-wheeled bicycle, you learned to lean into turnsa technique that, as the adage goes, you’d never forget. And if you’ve spent any time at all on a two-wheeled motorcycle in your adult life, you’ve certainly used this same approach.

But on a three-wheeled motorcycle, leaning is once again obsolete and you rely exclusively on your handlebars (though depending on your level of experience on two wheels, you might still find yourself instinctively leaning one way or the other). Because of the difference in making turns, many riders find operating a trike more comparable to driving a car than riding a motorcycle. Along those lines, it’s important to take curves slower and wider than you would on two wheels.