When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello all, I'm new to the MoCo and have a new to me '18 Freewheeler. I want to make simple mods to start with but am the worst wrench spinner ever since arthritis makes it tough (not impossible) for me to use tools. So, youtube vids would be great but every search I do comes up with not so useful vids. I need "do this then do this" vids.
First, the sissy bar for the grandkids. Does the rear cowling need to be removed for installing the sissy bar?
Are there plug and play LED upgrades for the headlight?
What's a good source for a "detachable" windshield complete with hardware?
thanks in advance.
Last edited by flatbutt; Jul 18, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
"First, the sissy bar for the grandkids. Does the rear cowling need to be removed for installing the sissy bar?" NO
The black plastic caps pry off, I used my fingernail. The dock bolts in with 2 screws on each side and the sissy bar slides down into it.
What's a good source for a "detachable" windshield complete with hardware? Here's a used on right here on the forum.
Welcome to three wheels! It only gets better! I've had one for over a year and like it better every day. I am also an arthritic senior and the third wheels have kept me riding no matter the flare up. My tip is to practice smooth riding before taking passengers. "Bump avoidance" is much harder on a trike and when one of the rear wheels hits a blemish in the road your passenger gets the brunt of the impact. Tip: Use your front wheel to cushion the impact and straddle the bump with the rear wheels. You will also find that with practice the initial extra effort to steer/maneuver your trike will become a thing of the past.
My previous response was a little "off topic". A "sissy bar", rear bumper and windshield are popular Freewheeler options. These are readily available at any Harley dealership. Add a cup holder from Amazon and you're set! I am learning to be happy with stock and am spending much more time in the saddle. Harley bikes and trikes scream for for modifications and we all have an endless list. It may be time to enjoy the ride and extra time with a grand buddy instead of wrenching. My brother sent me pictures a while ago of his new headlight c/w his recommendation. I laughed when I came to the realization that I couldn't remember when, or if, I've ever ridden any distance in the dark! "Arthritis" runs the gamut on how it can impact our function. I assume you're like me and it is arthritis that motivated you to move to three wheels. I hope the best for you in managing and keeping ahead of this disease.
Been riding 2 wheels most of my life and joined the 3 wheel community this past January with the addition of this new to me 2017 Freewheeler. Always have been a "Stuff" guy and love to personalize my rides. Have done more than a dozen of the years. It's really important to me that the bike look "Show Quality" and never look like something is just "stuck" to it. I might say IMHO that I have always been happy with the results. Added 38 very classy accessories so far ... have a handful left to do. Congrats on the new ride. Have super fun with it and add what you like.
My previous response was a little "off topic". A "sissy bar", rear bumper and windshield are popular Freewheeler options. These are readily available at any Harley dealership. Add a cup holder from Amazon and you're set! I am learning to be happy with stock and am spending much more time in the saddle. Harley bikes and trikes scream for for modifications and we all have an endless list. It may be time to enjoy the ride and extra time with a grand buddy instead of wrenching. My brother sent me pictures a while ago of his new headlight c/w his recommendation. I laughed when I came to the realization that I couldn't remember when, or if, I've ever ridden any distance in the dark! "Arthritis" runs the gamut on how it can impact our function. I assume you're like me and it is arthritis that motivated you to move to three wheels. I hope the best for you in managing and keeping ahead of this disease.
Thanks Don. It's not arthritis but rather spinal cord injury. I've managed to ride two wheels for years with the disability thanks to clever mechanical mods. I like long distance riding and have always ridden out alone. But now at 71 yo my handicap is made worse by age. I had a minor get off last season and it shook me. So, three wheels it is.
Oh yeah, I'm doing the sissy bar for the grand kids, a 16" windshield for me and an adjustable clutch lever. The clutch engagement point is way too far out for me so I want to shorten the throw.
Last edited by flatbutt; Jul 24, 2023 at 09:24 PM.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
How to sources for Freewheeler mods
