UNB Customs started when Uwe Wittkamp wanted to help his mother in law, Joan, and her husband, Phil, continue to ride motorcycles into their retirement. Age, injuries, and physical limitations would no longer allow them to comfortably ride a two-wheeled motorcycle anymore. What is the purpose of a motorcycle if you aren’t having fun riding it?

In 1998 there were not nearly as many trike dealers as there are today. Finding a good used one wasn’t an option back then. (Even if it were, it’s not like Uwe would have let anyone else build this trike.) Phil and Joan were Goldwing riders. In 1998 the GL1500 was the top of the line motorcycle from Honda. Uwe found a red one for sale (using the newspaper!).

As Uwe was researching trike kits he saw the majority of the manufacturers at that time sold solid axle kits. He thought an independent suspension kit would ride smoother. His in-laws were planning on riding from Connecticut to North Carolina on this trike. A smooth ride was critical. He also wanted to be able to do it himself without having to commit to becoming a dealer.

Talks with The Trike Shop started. They had an independent suspension trike kit for the GL1500. They had a good size trunk for storage and they had a built-in trailer hitch for additional room. Very important on those 1500 mile round trips. And they would let him install it himself!

When talking with them about the trike kit, The Trike Shop mentioned a “triple tree steering kit”. It was kind of expensive. It couldn’t be that hard to steer. “I’m gonna start without it and if it’s that bad I’ll add it later”.

The trike kit was ordered and Uwe disassembled the Goldwing. When the kit arrived he prepped the body for paint. Painted the trike body to match the Goldwing. Installed the trike kit and auxiliary fuel tank. Installed the trike body and took it for a test ride.

Everything worked great except one thing. It really did steer “that bad”. There was no way his father in law would steer this for long trips without being beaten up by the time he arrived where he was going. A steering kit was soon ordered and installed.

And one other little detail. Not ALL Goldwing 1500’s came with reverse! Oops. A blessing in disguise as that is what started the custom reverses we offer on some trikes that don’t have the option from the factory.

The trike was a success. They were able to make multiple trips with the trike from CT to NC and back. The trike allowed them to keep riding without worrying about parking, or backing up, gravel or traffic.

Uwe began offering this service and has become one of The Trike Shop’s, now Roadsmith Trikes, largest dealers. Bringing on other trike lines such as Hannigan trikes, Motor Trike, Frankenstein trikes and Mystery Designs to provide great trike kit options for as many motorcycles as possible to build and deliver a trike exactly as you want it.

UNB Customs is the best choice to install your trike kit because for over 20 years Uwe has installed hundreds of trike kits. And he has serviced, painted and repaired countless more. This experience (and learning from those mistakes - you’re gonna need a steering kit if they make one for your bike!) will be passed along to you to help you find the best trike kit for your bike. And have the best trike conversion possible. We’ve been in your position and are here to help guide you through your trike conversion. We know you’ll love your trike as much as we do!

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