The Harley-Davidson® trike goes from courier to cruiser
Harley-Davidson learned early on that motorcycles with added cargo space opened up whole new markets.
The Forecar
In 1913, they launched the Forecar, a "2-1" motorcycle—two wheels in the front, one in the back—with storage riding before the engine.
The Package Truck
In 1915, the Motor Company released the Package Truck—turning the sidecar into a cargo box—and a powerful new trend began.
Postal carriers and delivery businesses snapped them up, adding to H-D profits from motorcycles, apparel, and accessories. One sales brochure even compared the improved cost of a Package Truck fleet to a stable of horses. The Package Truck became the “commercial” division, companion to “pleasure and sporting.”
The Cycletow
In the late 1920s, H-D briefly offered the Cycletow—retractable rear wheels for single-cylinder motorcycles. Harley® motorcycles with training wheels. Next came the quickly abandoned single-cylinder Courtesy Car trike.
Servi-Car
In November 1931, President Walter Davidson unveiled the Servi-Car in a statement to stockholders. It was a hit—keeping a spot in the lineup for 41 years (one of the longest lifespans in H-D history).
The Servi-Car was the vehicle of choice for businesses making cross-town deliveries—mainly car dealerships at first. Dealership employees made home deliveries by hooking an optional tow bar to car bumpers. The attachment kept towing a one-man job, and the cargo box worked as a rolling advertisement.
A Ford dealer in Pennsylvania reported that home delivery time was cut in half, and they “would not accept $1,000” for their Servi-Car. The streets teemed with deliverymen in jumpsuits and neckties as other businesses joined in, using Servi-Cars to deliver anything and everything.
The Servi-Car was the first Harley-Davidson® motorcycle with an electric starter—one year before the 1965 Electra Glide® motorcycle. Structurally, not much on the vehicle changed over the years. The rear trunk became fiberglass, and the front fork turned into a Hydra-Glide front end. The Servi-Car became a fixture, relying on its trusty flathead engine until 1973.
For 35 years, the only H-D® trikes were aftermarket conversions of two-wheelers or owner-chopped bikes. The Motor Company prototyped the Trihawk in the 1980s, and the Penster in 2006, but neither made it to the showroom floor.
Tri Glide® Ultra Classic®
Finally, in 2009, H-D rolled out a trike for the everyday rider: the Tri Glide® Ultra Classic® model. With flat-tread rear tires, plenty of storage, and a full set of touring amenities, it had come a long way from the Servi-Car.
After the Tri Glide® Ultra Classic® model, the Street Glide® Trike, the Freewheeler® and the CVO™ Tri Glide® models continued to prove that a trike can hold a low, aggressive stance and still have all the advantages of a three-wheeled motorcycle.
From package hauler to custom cruiser, this big rig turned the world on its head—proving that sometimes, three wheels are better than two.
Please wait while we locate some quotes for you...