Silverwing With a Tow Pac Trike Kit

Due to some health issues my wife was having, I had to put on hold purchasing a replacement for my Helix.

Now that she is better, I have restarted my search. I have found a 2009 Silverwing that has a Tow Pac Trike Kit installed by the dealer, with 12" wheels,  who sold the Silverwing. The bike has approximately 8,000 miles on it.

I know there are some members here who have a Triked Silverwing and was wondering how they like it and if any of them ride 2 up. Also any other quirks or info about them

My wife has expressed interest in riding with me and with her hip issues, thinks she would feel safer on a Trike. We looked briefly at the GW Trikes, but just can't justify the cost right now.

Thanks for any input.

Radio

She would be safer in sidecar.

Don't know about a Tow Pac on a Swing but a trike drives completely different than a 2-wheeler. You'll have to relearn a lot of things.

There's one listed For Sale in GA on the Yahoo Silverwing site.

Thanks for the heads up on the Silverwing Trike for sale in Georgia.

I do have a questions. One of the Trikes I am looking at is a true Trike, real wheel removed, not a kit.

Any advantages or disadvantages?

Thanks

Radio

My 2¢

The advantage of a kit s that it can be removed and the scoot used or sold off as designed. Then maybe you could also sell off the kit seperately.

The trike will be a trike forever. Darn expensive to buy but worth-less when it's time to move on. Very limited market for used trikes  --almost a buyers market.

If I needed a trike, and was sure that that's the way I wanted to go, I'd be in the market for a true trike. Not training wheels.

YMMV.

Tim

Anyone who converted to a trike must have all the parts to convert back (unless they are a moron). I just think that 570-some cc's is not really enough to haul two people and the extra weight of a kit. If you're on flat ground all the time it's probably fine. I'd start looking for a used Can Am Spider - that's just me.

Good thought on extra weight of trike kit and passenger---as min. shorter drive train life,,enough braking power? steering damper? Used CANAM probably cheaper in long run/safer! dealer in Chattanooga.

Thanks for all the input.

In between patients today, I was trying to see if I could find how much increase in weight the trike kit added, but was unable to find any numbers.

Have given some thought to the Spyder, but a couple of co-workers have them and really like them, but they seem to have regular problems, mostly with the electronics and repair times seem long.

Radio

Not wanting to sway you from the Silverwing fold, but if you're sold on a trike, the Piaggio MP3 500 rides much more like a scooter than a trike. It will carry two at highway speeds and has the features you would look for in a scooter. Not a Honda, but from a respected manufacturer. Just saying...maybe worth a look!

Anyone know where I could find Tow Pac brackets for a S/wing Insta trike kit.
I found a Insta trike assembly in a dealers lot. Made a price & brought it home. I tried tow pac - no success. In perticular the bracket at the center stand and the one that the rear bottom to top brackets bolt onto.
THANKS joe

Have you tried the manufacturer?
http://towpacusa.com/

The lady I sold my '07 Silverwing to has converted her scooter to a Towpac set up. She's been riding it for about three years so far with the kid installed. It looks good in the pictures and she says it handles well for her.

I sold one of the Silverwings I had to a lady who lived in Mesquite NV. She triked it and took to Florida when she and her husband moved there. She's still riding it after seven year and rides it daily. Really likes it. It looks great too, she had it painted a bright red.

I looked at a Spyder for a friend but wasn't impressed. Rough on the corners, heavy steering, too expensive and overly complicated. Worst of it all it wasn't a Honda.

I had my 08 SWing triked out a couple of years ago and have no regrets with it.

It was a bit expensive tho. About $8,000 total for Motor Trike to make the kit and ship it to Besser's Bike Barn in Sauk Rapids, MN and for them to install it.

It was a learning curve getting used to riding it as there's no leaning into curves or turns. It sure felt strange at first but now I'm used to it. It handles highway speeds very well and I only lost a couple mpg on the road, a bit more in town with stop and go tho. I don't ride two up so that's not a concern.

I put a Towpac on my 2009 Silver Wing and love it. It definitely handles different than a two wheel, but for me, it was worth it after a wipe out on two wheels. I still wanted to ride but didn't have the confidence without the stability. Find a good dealer in your area. It was a first for Trike It which is in my area but they did an amazing job and even got rid of the wipe out scars...

I am very happy with the purchase, installation, and maneuverability!

radio1960 wrote:

... snipped ... I have found a 2009 Silverwing that has a Tow Pac Trike Kit installed by the dealer, with 12" wheels,  who sold the Silverwing. The bike has approximately 8,000 miles on it.

Thanks for any input. Radio

Radio, below is a link to a true trike conversion listed on Autotrader in Quebec, Canada.  It's been for sale for a while.  Asking USD$7,300.  

Trike on Autotrader.ca

Here's the French translated into English version (Google Translate).

** NEW ** 3-WHEEL CONVERSION KIT FOR HONDA SILVERWING 600 SCOOTER FROM 2003 TO 2009 FOR ONLY CAD$9999 TURNKEY: COMPLETE PAINTED KIT WITH RIGID AXLES, WHEELS AND TIRES OF 14 INCH SUSPENSION SYSTEM AT SWING ARM, INSTALLATION INCLUDED 3 YEAR GUARANTEE FOR MORE INFORMATION PATRICK AT GOULET MOTO SPORTS DE STE THÉRESE TRIKE CONVERSION SPECIALIST FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS 450-435-2408 Warranty: FULL 3 YEAR WARRANTY

You'd have to jump through a few hoops to import it into the USA but I've done it in reverse 6 times ... it's just process and paper work.  Also, the speedo would be in KM' ... you'd likely want to replace it with an American MPH meter.

Do these conversions alter the front forks ?  My bike to trike conversion (like most others)had a new top yoke to change the steering geometry, how do they accomplish this on the SWing which has only a single yoke (triple tree ?)

My Voyager trike is fine for me, but not for my wife as a rider. Can not get it to ride as smooth as a two wheeler. I don't think that your wife will be comfortable as a pinon especially because of her hip surgery. Take her for a test ride on the trike you are looking at. Test on roards, streets, and highways you plan to use your trike on.
There are a lot of variables I have tried to adjust the bounce of my trike. The trike kit itself has pre-loading settings which depends on how much weight you add. Then there is the air pressure in your front, rear, and side tires. And you still have to adjust the pre-load on the rear shocks.
Good luck in finding a trike to your liking. You might consider test riding a Goldwing trike.

Doesn't anyone with one of these trikes hate open chains?

john grinsel wrote:

Doesn't anyone with one of these trikes hate open chains?

Why are you asking?
Dale has a trike with open chain. Anyone with a Motor Trike conversion should have an open chain system.

I may remove my trike kit and go back to two wheels. My only concern is that I went to the dark side thinking that I would be keeping the trike kit. Not sure if I would like to continue riding on two wheels with a car tire. Maybe I'll get another rear non-ABS rear wheel and install a MC tire. Then I can swap between trike and two wheels.

Easyrider wrote:

Maybe I'll get another rear non-ABS rear wheel and install a MC tire. Then I can swap between trike and two wheels.

Hmmm, that may well throw up an ABS error as the rear sensor will have no sector ring to 'look at'

The Bern wrote:

Easyrider wrote:

 Maybe I'll get another rear non-ABS rear wheel and install a MC tire. Then I can swap between trike and two wheels.

Hmmm, that may well throw up an ABS error as the rear sensor will have no sector ring to 'look at'

My 2004 Swing is non-ABS

While I was doing 65% I traded for gasp! Burgman Motortrike which I still own. The wife and I cruise at 70mph no problems and there is reserve. Can't see how a Silverwing wouldn't work nicely as it is only about 8 horse less. I would bet Motortrike uses an appropriate sprocket. I have heard of short chain life but I suspect good rear end alignment and chain adjustment came into play. As for the ride it wasn't good and then I adjusted the rear tires to about 21#. Not much weight for car tires. It rides great! Handling is opposite of a 2 track. Lean out in turns and apply gas (within traction/gravity limits) and it pulls you right through. Riding like this I could keep up with 2 wheelers riding briskly (1 up). There is one more wheel to steer around obstacles and that's the down side. A Tow Pac ads another wheel.
I still own my Sling.

My wife makes 70 next month and I make 70 in August. Her lower back hurts when we go over bumps. Not so bad if we were younger.

Easyrider
Glad you two still like to get out in the wind.
When the wife comes along it's on the trike.

Easyrider wrote:

john grinsel wrote:

Doesn't anyone with one of these trikes hate open chains?

Why are you asking?
Dale has a trike with open chain. Anyone with a Motor Trike conversion should have an open chain system.

I don't mind the open chain. It's about the same as some of my older bikes that were chain drive. The axle area does get a bit dirty but it's easy enough to clean off when oiling the chain again.

hankster wrote:

Don't know about a Tow Pac on a Swing but a trike drives completely different than a 2-wheeler. You'll have to relearn a lot of things.

I have an 04 SW with a Tow-Pac trike kit it's posted here in this forum and I get along with it ok but I dont do over the road riding. When the Northern riders get down here I will ride with them in the winter time. My opinion is I think a true trike would be the way to go for over the road  or cross country riding more stability. The group I ride with we will ride out 20 to 30 miles for breakfast then if you want to go for an open country ride you can or do what ever you would like to do. Kupid

The previous owner of my 2004 Swing with a Voyager trike rode it from central Washington to Sturgis. My wife and I rode it from Coeur d'alene Idaho to Vancouver and Victoria. Handled just fine. Had to do small repairs along the way. I like the option of removing the trike kit and riding on two wheels.