By Greg Drevenstedt | Photos by Kevin Wing
Harley‑Davidson has given its Trike platform the biggest revamp since launching a line of factory‑built three‑wheelers in 2009. The three models for 2026 are the Road Glide 3, Street Glide 3 Limited, and CVO Street Glide 3 Limited, which all feature a revised chassis with a new rear suspension system that significantly improves handling, stability, and comfort.
The trike’s previous live (solid) axle has been replaced with a de Dion‑type suspension. This design uses a cast‑aluminum axle connected via a spherical joint, allowing vertical movement with minimal impact on the chassis. If one wheel moves, the other follows with reduced disturbance to the rider and passenger.
A Watts linkage centers the axle, and a stabilizer bar controls roll during turns. Power is transferred from the differential to the rear wheels through left and right half‑shafts, each with inner and outer CV joints. The final belt‑drive sprocket has been relocated from the axle to the chassis‑mounted differential, which removes its weight from the suspension and simplifies maintenance. A new reverse drive system eliminates the weight of the previous electric reverse motor mounted on the rear axle.
The redesigned rear chassis reduces unsprung weight by 68 lb. Rear‑wheel travel has more than doubled, from 2.3 to 5.0 inches, allowing the trike to better absorb bumps and reduce side‑to‑side bump roll. The lighter weight allows the use of softer springs and shock damping settings to make full use of the increased suspension travel.
To allow riders to experience the difference the new chassis makes in terms of handling and comfort, Harley‑Davidson set up a demo area during Bike Week in Daytona. Riders were able to ride 2025 and 2026 trikes back‑to‑back through a short handling course that included tight turns through cones and a series of staggered and sequential bumps that only impacted the rear wheels.
Riding through the course at slow speeds, the 2026 trike turned more easily than the 2025 model. But the biggest difference was felt when riding over bumps. On the 2025 trike, the solid rear axle caused the rear wheels to bounce over the bumps, causing the handlebar to wrench back and forth. The 2026 trike rolled over the bumps smoothly, which was much less jarring.
After the demo, we took some 2026 trikes on a ride around Daytona Beach, and I opted for a Road Glide 3 in Blood Orange. Since it was Bike Week, we spent lots of time idling in traffic while never having to take my feet off the footboards. We endured the slow parade among all the gawkers on Bethune Boulevard and Main Street, then we sat in more traffic.
Riding over pavement seams and speed bumps and navigating turns and intersections was a breeze. We finally made our way to Bellevue Avenue, which hugs the south side of the airport and has some of the best (and fastest) curves in the area. Traffic was light, so we were able to push our pace a bit, and the Road Glide 3 remained planted and stable around every bend.
Harley’s new trikes are a major leap forward, and the biggest beneficiaries will be passengers who will get jostled around much less than before. If three wheels are on your radar, you should try one out.
Base Price: $35,399
Price as Tested: $37,849 (Blood Orange w/ black trim)
Website: Harley-Davidson.com
Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles
Engine Type: Air-/liquid-cooled, transverse 45-degree V-Twin, OHV w/ 4 valves per cyl. & VVT
Displacement: 117ci / 1,923cc
Bore x Stroke: 4.075 x 4.5 in. / 103.5 x 114.3mm
Horsepower: 105 @ 4,600 rpm (factory claim)
Torque: 129 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm (factory claim)
Transmission: 6-speed w/ reverse, cable‑actuated wet slip/assist clutch
Final Drive: Belt
Wheelbase: 67.7 in.
Rake/Trail: 26 degrees/3.8 in.
Seat Height: 27.9 in. (unladen) / 26.5 in. (laden)
Wet Weight: 1,184 lb (factory claim)
Fuel Capacity: 6 gal.