Hi everyone, been a little while since I posted as I took my latest rig, (VTX1800 with lowered Ural sporting a front vtx rim on hack) for a road trip around Florida (stayed warm). My rig is back in central Florida and I am back in the Keys for a month before returning to my native Ireland for the summer. I developed a flat spot on my sidecar rig and checked the pressure and found it to be slightly over inflated. I would like to have the rig checked to make sure it is set correctly before I put a needed new tire on the hack. Can anyone suggest a good individual in the central Florida area who is experienced is checking setup. Thanks a million.
Geoff.
Geoff,
I cant help with the shop info, but your statement about the "flat spot on my sidecar rig " has me puzzled?
Do you mean the SC TIRE?
If so, the tire pressure should be lower on the SC tire..around 24-26 pounds, as there is a lot less weight on the tire than on the bike.
The SC tire should last 10's of thousands of miles.. 20,000 at least.my Terraplane tire had over 8,000 miles on it and still looked like new.
over inflation could cause a worn area around the tire, if you wave a round profile tire.
excess to-in could also cause it, making the SC tire scrub sideways at all times.
Good luck with the set up. I'm sure someone in your area can help!
Yep. It's the sidecar tire and from past experience I have never worn a hack tire down. I am worried it is not the tire pressure and just want to get her checked out as I am looking at a trip to RI and NY upon my return.
Thanks,
Geoff.
Geoff,
You are using a VT rim with a motorcycle tire, I presume. The cycle tires tread areas are molded round since they are designed to lean in the turns. Therefore they have a quite small footprint and will wear flat on a sidecar rig that does not lean. You will also notice the rear cycle tire is wearing flat after a while.
Best cure is a flat tread automotive wheel and tire conversion.
Cheapest cure is to lower the air pressure in the tire.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
Thanks Lonnie. The tire is the stock vtx front tire and normal tire pressure calls for 33psi. Do you have any idea what I should drop the pressure too? The sidecar only carrys my 20lb wheelchair and sometimes a further 20lb of camping gear. I would hate to change the wheel I have but would certainly like to put an appropriate tire on there. Please excuse my spelling and sentance structure, I have drank about a gallon of coffee this morning.
Thanks,
Geoff.
Originally written by 3wheels only on 5/10/2006 12:57 PM
The sidecar only carrys my 20lb wheelchair and sometimes a further 20lb of camping gear. I would hate to change the wheel I have but would certainly like to put an appropriate tire on there. Please excuse my spelling and sentance structure, I have drank about a gallon of coffee this morning.
Thanks,
Geoff.
With that little weight I wouldn't change the rim. If adjusting doesn't fix it, do like I do. A lot of times folks stop at the local cycle shop and have both tires changed even though the back is the only one needing it. Sometimes they get a deal on a pair, sometimes preparing for a trip, and sometimes just because that's the way they think. The local shop saves nice 18" takeoffs for me and I can usually get 10 or 15,000 miles out of a free tire. As long as I have a spare on the sidecar rack anyway, I'm not overly concerned if one goes flat.
If your front wheel is 18" or 19" there are flat tread sidecar tires avalable from Avon and others. These will give a lot better mileage.
Lonnie
