Well I've got about 2000 miles on the rig now and have it dialed in pretty good. Was able to remove the steering damper and only have a small amount of wobble at around 20 mph. All in all, I'm very pleased with the way it handle's and looks.
I just posted some photo's in my album. Have a look.
Thanks, Dick
nice sensible SC rig!! great looking. you will be much happier than with a HD SC.
enjoy!
Originally written by Bob in Wis on 4/11/2007 4:05 PM
nice sensible SC rig!! great looking. you will be much happier than with a HD SC.
enjoy!
I looked at his pictures also and it looks like a nice rig. However, it didn't occur to me that he would "be much happier" than with a Harley sidecar.
Would he also be "much happier" with his present rig than with a Liberty sidecar?.......or is it just Harley that is no good?
Please explain? What is it that makes one Happy with a certain model of sidecar? Sounds pretty subjective to me.
Come on guys, can't we just talk about something else. The world revolves around supply and demand. If everyone liked the same sidecar then there would only be one to buy. It's a nice rig!
not trying to be rude at all, but I really think the HD sidecars lack of suspension is a big shortcoming, Especially since the rig costs so darned much more than rigs that have suspension.
Originally written by Joyce on 4/11/2007 5:28 PM
Come on guys, can't we just talk about something else. The world revolves around supply and demand. If everyone liked the same sidecar then there would only be one to buy. It's a nice rig!
Like the old song says, "Wouldn't it be a shame if we were all the same..."
Thanks for the nice coments.
Truth be known, it's a pain in the butt to get in and out of. But since "she who rules" only rides every once-in-a-while, it's OK.
I had quite abit of interest in the rig down at Daytonia bike week.
Originally written by Lunatic on 4/11/2007 5:32 PM
not trying to be rude at all, but I really think the HD sidecars lack of suspension is a big shortcoming, Especially since the rig costs so darned much more than rigs that have suspension.
The Liberty has suspension and is the same price (more or less) as a Harley TLE. (We're talking mid $7,000's) I'm sure that here are other, smaller, sidecar units that have suspension on the frame for the wheel.
The Harley does have spring units on the sidecar tub, but perhaps you didn't notice that.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending upon your bias, the Harley sidecar is one of only two sidecars that look right on a Harley-davidson motorcycle, however. The other one is, of course, Liberty, which is a copy of the early Harley Tub, affectionally called the "Dutch Shoe".
Happy Trails.
i flipped back and forth between a harley and liberty sidecar for quite a bit. they are about the same price all in all.
liberty:
for - wheel suspension, 4 point mounts, full fender, extra head light, looks cooler.
against - one weld on nut, cant adjust bike ride ht, hard to finance, negative warranty implications,
harley:
for - warranty includes r&r of sidecar if needed, dot approved, easy to finance, ultra wiring, higher / easier resale.
against - no wheel suspension, 3 pt mount is purposely springy, not as cool looking as the liberty.
wash:
dealers are ignorant, 3 of the mounts are the same, body is on its own springs so both tubs ride like a 50 caddilac - my wife has 5 bad disks & she can ride in the sidecar all day with no pain.
Well lets start out with not comparing apples and oranges because the ones of us that like apples your not going to covince that a orange is better.Myself I am more than happy to give a few bad things about the Harley verses the wind blast that some of the other sidecars put right in the face of the bike rider.They all have good and bad so lets be open minded about it.If its got wheels I love it.
Originally written by gnm109 on 4/12/2007 10:53 AM
Originally written by Lunatic on 4/11/2007 5:32 PM
not trying to be rude at all, but I really think the HD sidecars lack of suspension is a big shortcoming, Especially since the rig costs so darned much more than rigs that have suspension.
The Liberty has suspension and is the same price (more or less) as a Harley TLE. (We're talking mid $7,000's) I'm sure that here are other, smaller, sidecar units that have suspension on the frame for the wheel.
The Harley does have spring units on the sidecar tub, but perhaps you didn't notice that.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending upon your bias, the Harley sidecar is one of only two sidecars that look right on a Harley-davidson motorcycle, however. The other one is, of course, Liberty, which is a copy of the early Harley Tub, affectionally called the "Dutch Shoe".
Happy Trails.
and, there are a lot of other, larger SC's out there more suited to passenger comfort.
yes, the Harley SC's have springs...they need them....like old west buckboards, and a ride for the passenger akin to a waterbed...if you like that.
as far as 'looking right' what is the criteria here? everything a Harley rider buys has to come from Harley to 'look right'
they need Harley sidecars, herley Wallets, Harley purses, Harley Bags, Harley trunk...heaven forbid a Harley rider show up at a groip gathering with a honda or Kaw part on his bike!!!
when they group ride, ever see harley rider wearing an armored jacket and pants, full helmet..noooo...It doesnt 'look right'!! not the Harley image..
if BMW, Honda, KAwasaki, whatever ,started making sidecars for thier bikes I guess all the owners got to buy the Honda, Kaw, SideCars, cuz it looks right....
Harley owners are the most Biased of all...
I am very happy to see some harley owners with other brands of SC's on their bikes..goes to show they are open minded, and not concerned with being a poser.
PS... I like Harleys...from a distance....HAD 4 of them....
I've loved every HD I've owned. Nine of them at last count. Unfortunately any mention of any sort of design flaw is taken as an attack on the MoCO.
If I had a rigid framed bike, then an unsuspended sidecar would be of no concern, but on a suspended bike I really want a suspension under ALL of the wheels of the rig. Much like my pick up truck, I run springs and shocks on all of the wheels, not just the ones on the left side. My concern is that on rough surfaces and/or potholes the direction of travel can be influenced by the sidecar wheels inability to absorb road imperfections. The sprung body on the HD sidecar is fine for passenger comfort, but does not help chassis suspension. That is simply not any sort of snub of HD, and deserves discussion. If you ride on clean, pot0hole free pavement, then a suspension under the hack might not be so much of an issue. I live in SD, and this state lacks the tax basin to pave roads, or even fix the potholes on the few paved roads we do have. For that reason and no other, I would PERSONALLY never use a HD sidecar, on a HD or any other suspended bike, if the bike itself was a rigid, then yes a rigid chassis under the sidecar would be fine.
I'd love to have a Liberty Sidecar but probably won't see that happen anytime in the near future. I'll just keep on having fun on what I've got.
Bob in Wis - I'm a member of HOG and ride with the local chapter here in S. Ill. I drive a sidecar, wear an armoured jacket (when I need a jacket), allways have a helmet on and I really don't give a rats a-- what the other harley riders think.
D
Originally written by Bob in Wis on 4/12/2007 9:38 AM
Originally written by gnm109 on 4/12/2007 10:53 AM
Originally written by Lunatic on 4/11/2007 5:32 PM
not trying to be rude at all, but I really think the HD sidecars lack of suspension is a big shortcoming, Especially since the rig costs so darned much more than rigs that have suspension.
The Liberty has suspension and is the same price (more or less) as a Harley TLE. (We're talking mid $7,000's) I'm sure that here are other, smaller, sidecar units that have suspension on the frame for the wheel.
The Harley does have spring units on the sidecar tub, but perhaps you didn't notice that.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending upon your bias, the Harley sidecar is one of only two sidecars that look right on a Harley-davidson motorcycle, however. The other one is, of course, Liberty, which is a copy of the early Harley Tub, affectionally called the "Dutch Shoe".
Happy Trails.
and, there are a lot of other, larger SC's out there more suited to passenger comfort.
yes, the Harley SC's have springs...they need them....like old west buckboards, and a ride for the passenger akin to a waterbed...if you like that.
as far as 'looking right' what is the criteria here? everything a Harley rider buys has to come from Harley to 'look right'
they need Harley sidecars, herley Wallets, Harley purses, Harley Bags, Harley trunk...heaven forbid a Harley rider show up at a groip gathering with a honda or Kaw part on his bike!!!
when they group ride, ever see harley rider wearing an armored jacket and pants, full helmet..noooo...It doesnt 'look right'!! not the Harley image..
if BMW, Honda, KAwasaki, whatever ,started making sidecars for thier bikes I guess all the owners got to buy the Honda, Kaw, SideCars, cuz it looks right....
Harley owners are the most Biased of all...
I am very happy to see some harley owners with other brands of SC's on their bikes..goes to show they are open minded, and not concerned with being a poser.
PS... I like Harleys...from a distance....HAD 4 of them....
I've read your posts for some time now. You are just another Harley Basher with no point.
Blah, blah, blah.
i drive an 02 harley flh/98 harley tle rig. mounted it last may. the only other sidecar i have owned was about 19 years ago. an 1100 honda shadow with a jawa sidecar. the harley rig is exceptional. with the exception of a drastic loss of speed. it tracks great,rides nice,is comfortable for passengers, and very stable. i just ordered a 5 degree raked triple tree from pete larsen of liberty sidecars this morning. getting 2 new tires,changing all my oil,screaming eagle carb kit & jets. for my 2 wheel fun i am buying a suzuki hayabusa. i am 60 years old and just had triple by-pass surgery 2 weeks ago. live to ride!
