I too have taken the plunge after nearly a year of wanting one to pair with my 1999 Road King. I was lucky enough to find a used Harley TLE with the proper mounts for my bike on Craigslist at a very reasonable price. All I need is a new tire, windshield, and paint to match the bike. And I only had to drive 600 miles to get it! My experience is limited to short drives on a friends BMW R90/6 about 20 years ago. Hopefully it will all come back to me once I get the rig attached. Looking forward to some sidecar touring in the near future! This site seems like a great resource. I'm sure I'll have many questions in the future.
Welcome to the world of Sidecaring. Take it slow at first and get to a class if you can.
post a pix or two
if possible thanks
Will do. The tub and fender is going to the shop for paint tomorrow.
Thanks
Welcome aboard, hope to meet you on the backroads!
Thanks for the welcome!
A little update on my installation progress. Not a rant, I'm not really complaining, I knew it would be an adventure. I've got all the mounts and electrical connections for my bike but need a couple of things for my year of Road King. A longer clutch cable and a remote reservoir for the rear master cylinder. I went to the large HD dealer in my area and they just looked at me like I had two heads. Apparently they don't have access to Harley's parts info, I had to come up with the part number for the installation kit. Then when I asked them to show me the parts I needed (The whole kit is about $900), they really didn't want to exert that much energy. They came up with a $500 figure that included things I don't need. They wanted me to drag the sidecar in even though nothing I'm asking for even touches it.
Then I went to Texoma HD in Sherman TX. About an 80 mile round trip but worth it. Rich the service manager was great. He pulled up the sidecar info on something called a computer, printed out the parts list, went through the parts asking what I had and needed, placed the order, gave me a copy of the installation instructions and made me very happy. Great place, friendly people and very knowledgeable.
those are the parts most likely to be missing with a used sidecar
for a 99 i dont think you need the rollover switch. but the brake res you do need. by the way the newer sidecar brake res is a better deal than the older one - its easier to work on.
you may want a raked tree - i use a liberty tree but there is a rumor afloat that the hd tree is actually cheaper - the same guy who actually gave a hoot and helped you will be able to help with those issues too. i ran for two years without and then finially got one - id never run without a raked tree again.
its really worth the while to get a service manual for your rig - you want the manual that is the year of which ever unit is newer. if the bike is a 99 and the sidecar is a 04 you want the 04 manual. alignment is critical.
to
The Harley trees are cheaper steel ones but as with most Harley stuff they come as part of a front end kit that includes new fork tubes and they still want a steering damper used.
So the end result may not be as inexpensive as installing the Liberty trees which need no damper.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Thanks for the good advice guys. I'll get it on the road and then make a decision about the raked trees. Makes sense to have them. I don't plan on taking the sidecar on and off. The Manual is on order. The guy I bought the sidecar from never hooked up the brake, said it didn't need them. That just doesn't sound right to me??
If it's a Harley sidecar I would hook up the brake since there is a lot of engineering history regarding the compatibility of the H-D sidecar brake and H-D bike brakes operating together.
Lonnie
Originally written by Fastblueheeler on 8/19/2009 2:31 PM
Thanks for the good advice guys. I'll get it on the road and then make a decision about the raked trees. Makes sense to have them. I don't plan on taking the sidecar on and off. The Manual is on order. The guy I bought the sidecar from never hooked up the brake, said it didn't need them. That just doesn't sound right to me??
You definitely need the sidecar brake. The bike is around 750-800 pounds and the sidecar is another 275 plus the rider and passenger if any.
The brake cylinder kit is really just from the 1980's FXR. The longer clutch cable goes under the crankcase to clear the lower front mount.
So long as you have the three major mounts, you won't have to spend too much more money. Most HD dealers do not have any in-depth product knowledge regarding their sidecars so it would help to have the sidecar manual. [P/N 99485-year]
I also recommend a parts book for your bike. The sidecar parts are in the rear of the book.
Good luck.
Hey Out there I too am joining the heck crowd. I tried the trike thing and my Wife hated it, I picked up a Texas Sidecar a couple of years ago but for health reasons haven't mounted it yet. If things settle down I would like to mount it to either one of two bikes, one is a 06 HD Ultra Classic E/G and the other is a Honda Valkyrie Tourer which would be a better choice.
2001 Road King Classic and Liberty Sidecar.
Your observation of the Harley dealership and sidecars is not an isolated event. My local HD dealer won't even talk to me with any sidecar issue because I have a Liberty sidecar. Get the manual like someone said . It will save you big bucks and you will know that the work is done correctly.
Liberty trees are well worth the $$$ in my opinion. Straight forward installation and your rig feels like it has power steering. I got mine for $500 bucks used but they are near impossible to find used.
One thing that no one has mentioned is engine knock. I have had some trouble with this lately and attribute it to the extra load imposed by the hack and passenger. Also I live in a rural area where there isn't much demand for hi test fuel, so I have ended up using an octane boost. If you get a sound like clanking chains in 5th gear going up hill you will want to use an octane booster.
You will love this rig!! Congrats .!!
Thanks for the advice. I'll be listening for engine knock! Everything is still at the painters. I'm anxious to get it back and get on the road. The bike is 10 years old so I'm taking this opportunity to have it painted as well. A guy dropped a BMW on it in a parking lot last year and left a dent in the fender and tank. It'll be nice to have that fixed. I have the manual now and after reading it cover to cover, feel much more knowledgeable about the rig. I've replaced all the bolts with new, grade 8 ones and the frame is being powder coated. I hear you about the used, raked trees. I think the chances of finding them are slim. Everything should be ready to take advantage the cooler, Texas fall weather!
Originally written by scrinch on 8/30/2009 5:44 AM
2001 Road King Classic and Liberty Sidecar.
Your observation of the Harley dealership and sidecars is not an isolated event. My local HD dealer won't even talk to me with any sidecar issue because I have a Liberty sidecar. Get the manual like someone said . It will save you big bucks and you will know that the work is done correctly.
Liberty trees are well worth the $$$ in my opinion. Straight forward installation and your rig feels like it has power steering. I got mine for $500 bucks used but they are near impossible to find used.
One thing that no one has mentioned is engine knock. I have had some trouble with this lately and attribute it to the extra load imposed by the hack and passenger. Also I live in a rural area where there isn't much demand for hi test fuel, so I have ended up using an octane boost. If you get a sound like clanking chains in 5th gear going up hill you will want to use an octane booster.
You will love this rig!! Congrats .!!
If you are getting knock or pinging, it might be a sign that you have the 3.15:1 gearing. I changed my bke to 3.37:1 gearing and I never have any pinging, even on 87 octane. The later twin cams are simply geared too high for a solo and with the stock gearing, they tend to lug.
