I read on a different topic about an adjustable triple tree that J&P cycles has for sidecar people. Will this work on my fathers 03 ultra classic. They don't plan on having the side car on all the time but if this makes the ride better for when it is on then they would likely get it. Any info on it would help. Here is a link to what I am talking about.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/230-084
The adj. trees will work in older flh- softails as they both have the same cast fork neck. They can be modified and used on fxr's sportys-but due to a behind the neck change( relocation of the fork tubes) they won't work on a late mod. dresser. That said-- you can make anything work if you spend enough miney/time on it -- but practical no.
Sorry about the lousy spelling --should read money not miney. Problem is I read Claude's book on typing-lol.
The part from J&P looks to be a reproduction of the lower triple tree unit from 1949 up through the 80's. It also required the front portion of the lower tree that mated with the part shown. There was also a special upper tree with special tops for the fork tubes that permit swiveling.
If you could modify all of the parts to fit, then you could modify your fork trail for solo or sidecar work as needed. In any case, I don't think it would fit and you would also need the rest of the missing parts.
Ok, thanks for the help.
there is no way to have it both ways on a bike from 84 to present - its either a solo bike with over ~5" of rail or a sidecar bike with ~2" of trail.
nobody ever wants to hear it - but you are better off with two bikes - one set up for a sidecar with a raked tree etc and one set up as a solo bike - its the rare mechanic that will actually take it off and put it on a couple times a year.
its also a fact that the lean and toe can only be perfect for a particular crown in the road - with the stock front end - with a raked tree the crown in the road just does not matter.
none of this matters at all for a bike rarely ridden - if its only going to get 300 miles a year - then who cares? but if its going to get 10000 miles a year - do it right or dont do it.
that said i know there are folks that put a sidecar on to go to sturgis and take it off when they get home - i have seen one go through here a couple years in a row and saw it at the gas station once - brakes not hooked up, turn signal not hooked up - just the marker - they use it to haul the camping gear and rode on the bike - im SURE they never read the manual where it says more wt IN the sidecar than on the back seat. with no brakes and no lights it probably is possible to have "easy on, easy off"
there is another one i see every so often that has only half of the lower front mount - the guy didnt get the whole kit w the used sidecar so he didnt have the brake bits - so he has half the mount bolted to the frame 2" above where its supposed to be so it clears the brake master cyl - thinks its just fine - it will be fine till it breaks the frame - then it will crash all at once. and again no sidecar brake.
what ive been seeing with tle's is that 2 out of 3 ive looked at with my own eyes that were bought used - are missing parts, cobbled together, mis mounted, no brakes, just a mess. to be blunt a lawyers paradise.
then there are two local rigs that are all hd, all set up right - probably run 250 miles a year or less - ive talked to both of them - say they would ride more if there arms didnt hurt so much.
its depressing.
its also the real reason they stopped making them - in the stock condition you have to be strong and you have to have good zero pain wrists and no signs of carpel tunnel to ride them or it hurts. i know, been there done that, never again.
pre 84 ie from the beginning to 83 it was possible to remove and install the car and have it work perfect on the bike both ways. its after 84 where there are ... difficulties.
now it does not matter because all they make is a trike with a proper raked tree and 2" of trail.
to
timo482 - 12/2/2010 6:57 PM
there is no way to have it both ways on a bike from 84 to present - its either a solo bike with over ~5" of rail or a sidecar bike with ~2" of trail.
nobody ever wants to hear it - but you are better off with two bikes - one set up for a sidecar with a raked tree etc and one set up as a solo bike - its the rare mechanic that will actually take it off and put it on a couple times a year.
its also a fact that the lean and toe can only be perfect for a particular crown in the road - with the stock front end - with a raked tree the crown in the road just does not matter.
none of this matters at all for a bike rarely ridden - if its only going to get 300 miles a year - then who cares? but if its going to get 10000 miles a year - do it right or dont do it.
that said i know there are folks that put a sidecar on to go to sturgis and take it off when they get home - i have seen one go through here a couple years in a row and saw it at the gas station once - brakes not hooked up, turn signal not hooked up - just the marker - they use it to haul the camping gear and rode on the bike - im SURE they never read the manual where it says more wt IN the sidecar than on the back seat. with no brakes and no lights it probably is possible to have "easy on, easy off"
there is another one i see every so often that has only half of the lower front mount - the guy didnt get the whole kit w the used sidecar so he didnt have the brake bits - so he has half the mount bolted to the frame 2" above where its supposed to be so it clears the brake master cyl - thinks its just fine - it will be fine till it breaks the frame - then it will crash all at once. and again no sidecar brake.
what ive been seeing with tle's is that 2 out of 3 ive looked at with my own eyes that were bought used - are missing parts, cobbled together, mis mounted, no brakes, just a mess. to be blunt a lawyers paradise.
then there are two local rigs that are all hd, all set up right - probably run 250 miles a year or less - ive talked to both of them - say they would ride more if there arms didnt hurt so much.
its depressing.
its also the real reason they stopped making them - in the stock condition you have to be strong and you have to have good zero pain wrists and no signs of carpel tunnel to ride them or it hurts. i know, been there done that, never again.
pre 84 ie from the beginning to 83 it was possible to remove and install the car and have it work perfect on the bike both ways. its after 84 where there are ... difficulties.
now it does not matter because all they make is a trike with a proper raked tree and 2" of trail.
to
Yep. I agree with all of the above except for the possible reason why HD is quitting sidecars. It's only a business decision. They simply don't sell very well. They have been orders only for many years and they are strictly a "back burner" type of product.
Also you are correct in that all of the things you mention made sidecars less "user friendly" than solos and now trikes. The trikes are all set up, proper rake and trail and nothing to hook up. I've ridden one on a demo ride and they are a nice product. Of course, I'm not going to buy one, mainly because I already have a nice rig, properly set up to the last nut and bolt, too. Also, $35,000 dollars plus tax is simply out of my league for any sort of sport machine. It's not in the cards.
Regrds to all and Happy Holidays! 🙂
