My first impression was wow!  It’s clean.  It’s not cobbled together, and looks just like a factory machine right off the assembly line.  Growing up on Oklahoma Sand dunes, you see a lot of home-built, jerry-rigged machines.  Trust me, I have even built a few.  But Bill's bike is just awesome to look at.  It was done right, and thought out.  Nothing looks rushed, and nothing is out of place.

I rode the bike on the day the wind was blowing 40 mph with gusts to 50.  It was hard to find a place to catch some big air, even on my YFZ that I am used to launching over dunes and flying 60-80 feet.  So being unfamiliar with Bill’s bike, I didn't want to launch off a dune to have the wind catch me and risk tearing his machine up.

So I did some slow and high speed turns and power launches to see how it handled more than just open throttle rippin ass.  I don't think I ever got into 5th gear.  The first thing I told Bill was: it’s hard to whip the back end around.  It wasn't the machine.  It was the knobby (front tire) he was running when I rode it with the addition of the comp cut sand skates.  I suggested changing it out to the mohawk and he promptly did.  Keep in mind now, I haven't ridden a trike in 2 years or so, and I was used to having 2 front sand tires.  The difficulty to whip the ass end around was not the machine's fault in anyway. It was a combination of knobby front and the rear hooking up really good.

Bill’s bike looks tall, looking at it, but once you’re on it, you feel very comfortable.  I'm 6' 3" and didn't feel too big or too small for the bike.  It’s very comparable to my YFZ.  The front end feels light but not out-of-control light feeling.  I'm a wheelie lover, and I loved how the bike responded when I would get on it.  The bike didn't feel top heavy, and I felt very comfortable and safe when I was riding it. The suspension is set up perfectly. When I was jumping with Bill (he was on his) and what little air we could catch when I went with him, we were going neck and neck.  The bike launches smooth and flies evenly.  It’s not front or rear heavy. It’s perfectly balanced.  The suspension felt like it was set up for duning, it was smooth and predictable.

Over all, between the ride and the fit and finish I would agree: this trike is perfect.  And, even though its hard for me to admit it because it’s a Honda, it’s the best trike ever built.

If I ever have the extra money, I would gladly have Bill build me one but using a Yamaha" 

Neil Olivier 

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