Is there a measurement or another obvious way? 2000 Gold Wing.
Tom, the easiest way is to look the distance between the rear of the front tire and the radiator on a stock GL1200, then look at the bike in question. With modified steering, i.e. EZ steer or similar, the front tire will be kicked out further away from the radiator.
Hope that helps.
CCjon
Thanks CCJON. Everyone I ride with has an 1800 as do I. The only 1500 I see is my sidecar rig.
I have a 99 gl1500. I can just get my fingers between the rear of the fender and the radiator
cowl. My steering is stock. I have a steer rite modified tree to install this winter.
fly
Tom, I did the EZ Steer mod on my 1500, unless you have two identical bikes sitting side by side to test the steering resistance with and without the mod, the only way I could tell was by the larger space between the tire and the radiator. I never measured the difference so can't give you that piece of data, sold my 1500 last Spring, sorry.
Look for a stock 1500 for sale on Craigslist, then ride over there and compare your rig to that bike. You'll se the difference if the mod has been made.
Was glad I did the mod, not cheap, but was well worth it if doing all day Iron Butt rides.
The 1500 makes a great sidecar rig, better than the 1800 IMHO.
So Fly and CCjon, by looking at this picture with the almost 3" gap between the fender and the Cowl can I assume that I have the Mod? Please disregard the dirt....LOL
Big Tom
I have a 4.5 rake on my 1500 and it is the same measurement as what you have there so I would say your tree's has been changed
Is it possible to ask the previous owner or whoever set the rig up?
I bought it from the second owner. He said it had the Mod. He also said there was nothing wrong with the rig. He also took the licence plate bolts with him when he dropped it off. Nuff said?
I sold my 1500 this last summer and can't measure it now but I think it measured about 4 inches clearance with a 6 degree E-Z Steer. My 1800 has about 3 inches clearance with a 4 and a half degree. While the 6 degree steered easier, I like the stability of the 4 and a half.
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2002 GL1800/Hannigan Astro Sport
1998 Ural Sportsman 650/W 2 wheel drive
1989 Kawasaki KLR 650
Hello Tom.
I would make a simple test: You have a solo Goldwing that might be of different engine, but framewise it should be somewhere comparable to the rig.
I would sit on top of the solo, brake the back, move the handle bar from one end stop to the other and with a second person and a measuring tape check how far the steering head will move towards or away from the wall. In order to avoid human error you can use a masons level on top of the tank for to be sure not to tilt the solo bike.
Then I would put a ice cube under the sidecar wheel (eventually first a flat surface might be needed) and make the same procedure. The ice cube on a flat surface (p.ex. a ceramic floor) will take out all the friction of the sidecar wheel.
The measurement difference between a modified front and a not modified front should be about half to 2/3 of displacement of the steering head.
In principal what you do this way is to move the bike around the wheel contact points front and back to the ground and use the lever of the steering system for to sway the bike frame around it.
Let's say originally the solo might have 125mm lever and the modified rig lets say 75mm. Then I guess a sideway movement of the steering head of the solo might be roughly 60mm and a modified rig 36mm. If both are nearly the same, then your stearing joke did not recieve any modification.
All You need is patience, a second helper, a masons level and a measuring tape.
Have fun.
Sven
Peter Pan - 10/31/2016 2:09 PM All You need is patience, a second helper, a masons level and a measuring tape. Have fun. Sven
And an ice cube!
Pura Vida!
Yupp,
and a ice cube.
I forgot that one, as I have to pour it out of my beer glass each time in the local restaurants.
Kulturbanausen.
Pure life.
It is 3" on modified sidecar rig and 1 1/4" on 2 wheeler.
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