Hi everyone,
I have a chance to purchase a '79 CLE Harley sidecar for $2500 in good shape. The sidecar is about 8 hours from me so I really can't measure and figure on the mounting. I have searched for information on this model car and the description I have found in an old motorcycle magazine archive was that it has a two point mount. I am really not sure whether this is an error in the article or if this car does have a different mount than the later TLE and subsequent models. Has anyone ever mounted one of these to a late model Harley (in my case an '08 FLHC)? I am familiar with mods that must be made such as rear break master cylinder,pipes, etc. Does anyone know whether this car can be mounted using the standard three point mount clamps still available from Harley? Any more info on this car good or bad would be appreciated. Is $2500 a good price for this car?
Bobdrev - 3/5/2012 12:50 PM
Hi everyone,
I have a chance to purchase a '79 CLE Harley sidecar for $2500 in good shape. The sidecar is about 8 hours from me so I really can't measure and figure on the mounting. I have searched for information on this model car and the description I have found in an old motorcycle magazine archive was that it has a two point mount. I am really not sure whether this is an error in the article or if this car does have a different mount than the later TLE and subsequent models. Has anyone ever mounted one of these to a late model Harley (in my case an '08 FLHC)? I am familiar with mods that must be made such as rear break master cylinder,pipes, etc. Does anyone know whether this car can be mounted using the standard three point mount clamps still available from Harley? Any more info on this car good or bad would be appreciated. Is $2500 a good price for this car?
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The CLE was the predecessor to the TLE. The CLE's go all the way back to the Knuckleheads even before the fiberglass bodies came out in the 1960's. There were two variations of CLE's. One was the early style with a long frame tube on the inside. That connected to the Knuckleheada and Pre-swingarm Panheads and bolted solid to the rear of the bike frame with a mount that had a large threaded coupling. The front of the sidecar frame had a similar threaded coupling nut and mount that fitted the frames which had sidecar loops. There was also an upper front mount. All HD sidecars have had three mounts, forever.
The later variation of the CLE was for the Four Speed Shovelhead frames. It had a shorter inner frame tube to connect the mount to the right rear passsenger peg mount.
The TLE was next. It came out with the first five speed rubber-mounted FL's and it had Heim Joints. Also three mounts.
Given the difference in the stature of the TLE versus the CLE, which was lower, if would be quite a task to mount one to a late FL. It can be done, in fact I've seen it done but the mounts were hand made. About 18 years ago, I got a second version CLE and adapted it to a 1993 FLHS (five-speed rubber-mount bike.) It should have had a TLE. I had to heat and bend the frame and cross bar and weld on Heim Joint threads. Man, was that a job.
As to your questioins:
1. The standard 2008 mounts will not fit, unless extensive modifications are made to the sidecar. In effect this would change the CLE to a TLE.
2. $2,500 is extremely high, given that it won't fit, it's 35 years or more old and it would have to be repainted in any case.
That's my story and I'm stickn' to it.
Thanks Gaylord for your response. Sounds like a "been for there,done that moment" for you. You just saved me from making a BIG mistake. This forum is a great tool to keep weekend warriors like myself out of trouble. 🙂
Bobdrev - 3/5/2012 2:13 PM
Thanks Gaylord for your response. Sounds like a "been for there,done that moment" for you. You just saved me from making a BIG mistake. This forum is a great tool to keep weekend warriors like myself out of trouble. 🙂
You are welcome. All is not lost, however. There are TLE's around here and there, especially on eBay. Most years of five-speed rubber-mount models could be made to fit. The only issue is that 2008 was a newer model and it's anyone's guess which mounts to use. My knowledge stops at 2007. They have changed the frames twice since since then and then quit building them after 2010 so no one knows what fits what anymore. There are also other sidecars available.
GNM
