I agree a smaller diameter tire, if available for your wheel, would be the easiest option. There are some smaller motorcycle tires available, but they are suggest for narrower wheels. There also appear to be some auto tires that would be a good option, but that would entail the expense of a new rear 15 inch custom wheel.
FYI, I geared my otherwise stock 883R Sportster down about 4% by changing the front belt pulley. That simple change, really helped its performance as a tug. 1st, 2nd & 5th gears are much better. 5th gear was almost unusable with stock gearing. Now the bike runs 60ish mph at the 3200rpm sweet spot.
However, driving South down I-49 to Natchitoches last Friday into a constant 20+mph headwind, loaded with maybe 75lbs of cooler & stuff, I could only muster 52-54mph uphill in 5th gear. Wind is tough on our rigs. A new breather kit would likely help the Sportster, but that would likely result in too loud of pipes for the sidecar.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
You might also inquire on a model specific forum. I seem to recall reading something about different gear sets for different years of Shadows. You may find that an earlier or later one will fit and make a difference. You might find something like I did, that was a bolt in conversion.
I ride a 1999 Moto Guzzi. It would normally use a gear set consisting of an 8 tooth pinion matched to a 33 tooth ring gear. By bolting in a 7-33 set from an old 4 speed bike I made a world of difference. Before I had problems getting past third gear if I had a full load, and now I can pull a trailer down the Interstate in fifth.
SidecarMike - 4/8/2010 11:23 PM
You might also inquire on a model specific forum. I seem to recall reading something about different gear sets for different years of Shadows. You may find that an earlier or later one will fit and make a difference. You might find something like I did, that was a bolt in conversion.
I ride a 1999 Moto Guzzi. It would normally use a gear set consisting of an 8 tooth pinion matched to a 33 tooth ring gear. By bolting in a 7-33 set from an old 4 speed bike I made a world of difference. Before I had problems getting past third gear if I had a full load, and now I can pull a trailer down the Interstate in fifth.
I have asked at my local honda dealer but they are no help.
do you have any idea where I might look otherwise for this info?
rmoriss2 - 4/10/2010 8:06 PM
SidecarMike - 4/8/2010 11:23 PM
You might also inquire on a model specific forum. I seem to recall reading something about different gear sets for different years of Shadows. You may find that an earlier or later one will fit and make a difference. You might find something like I did, that was a bolt in conversion.
I ride a 1999 Moto Guzzi. It would normally use a gear set consisting of an 8 tooth pinion matched to a 33 tooth ring gear. By bolting in a 7-33 set from an old 4 speed bike I made a world of difference. Before I had problems getting past third gear if I had a full load, and now I can pull a trailer down the Interstate in fifth.
I have asked at my local honda dealer but they are no help.
do you have any idea where I might look otherwise for this info?
It's my understanding that Honda never made any rear end units (commonly called "Pumpkins") with different ratios for their road bikes. They test their machines for power, rpm, fuel mileage, pollution and reliability with a specific gear ratio and part number for the rear end unit. Their position is that each machine fits in a certain portion of ther spectrum of production. There would be no need for such a change.
In any case, they would never have contemplated the Shadow as a sidecar machine. That's not a criticism. It's just a fact of Honda's approach.
With the exception of Sport bikes and some smaller road bikes with chain drives which are seldom considered for sidecar use, the only machines they have ever built with the possibility of gear ratio changes are the X models for Off-Road use. There, they have few worries about road use, rpm, fuel mileage or much in the way of EPA issues. The machines are for racing and in that regard are exempt from road rules.
If you've ever had a copy of the Honda "Red Book" showing all of the many models that Honda makes, you would see that they are busy enough making road bikes to bother with accessories that would have such a limited usage.
None of my thoughts here should in any way be considered a cricitism of the Honda Shadow. They are a great bike. As I said previously, I owned one. The big problem that I had with mine was the overall high ratio and only four speeds. Some of the earlier ones in the 1980's had six speeds and would probably be more suitable for sidecar since they could be run in fifth gear. I don't know how many gears they have nowadays.
Also, as I said earlier, the gear ratios on Harleys are not exactly suitable for sidecar work, either. Fortunately, they can be changed.
Happy Trails.
🙂
I'm hoping to be able to find a rear gear set from a bike like yours which was a 4 speed and with any luck might bolt directly on to mine as it could change the gear ratio at the final drive to give me more torque and use all 5 of my gears. Just like sidecar mike. I haven't looked into the final gear ratio of 5th as it still might not work if its a true overdrive gear like 1 to 1.2 etc. I went on a long ride with 2 passengers today total load 800 lbs and was able to do 55MPH with reasonable gas mileage so all is no lost! Just beginning to be a sidecarist! If I can make it better I will. I would Like to get a better highway gear if possible because I intend to go to the east coast of Canada this summer and that will require me to do a fair bit of freeway.
The other part of this that is beginning to eat a t me is that the side car dealer really didn't give me any heads up as to possible issues I might face. I guess I should have research this more before buying.
My Ural had a top speed of about 60 and 55 was about as fast as I ever wanted to go on her anyway. The solution for me was to take the road less traveled and enjoy the ride. It is nice to have highway capability, like I have on my present rig, but I find I still enjoy taking the back roads more than driving the superslabs.
