I bought a set of Harley Trike trees to gain a bit of trail on the bike a few weeks ago. I started putting them on Sunday and finished up this morning. If you decide to go this route have a machinist handy as they do not simply "go on" as one would think. The only thing I didn't modify was the stem diameter, clutch cable and throttle cable length, as it was the same as my 87. Everything else, cables, brackets, fairing inner and outer, front brake line(s), fairing mounts, and the majority of the bolts that held everything together on the trees were different.
If you decide to go this way let me know and perhaps I can help you out on some of the trickier pieces, and I did make one specialty tool you'll need to locate a couple of bolt holes that hold the ignition switch in place, plus some photos of the front of the fairing modifications I made to accommodate fitment.
Since it has been below zero here for the last couple of weeks I've only had it in the snow and ice moving the bike from one area of my shop to another. As soon as it thaws a tad I'll give a report on how it handles with the increased trail.
Lovely project though!!
Be well
Steve
Steve, I do believe that the trail was reduced.
Actually increased rake increased trail. Increased trail makes a two wheeler more stable in a straight line but can be more difficult to turn. Trike trees are about 3 degrees more rake - thus the trail is increased - unless I'm reading the material wrong.
It appears that increased trail makes a sidehack easier to turn -
http://bikearama.com/theory/motorcycle-rake-trail-explained/
Be well
Steve
Steve
Increasing the rake through the trees without changing the neck angle reduces the trail. Trail is the distance behind the actual steering angle (or line) that the tire contacts the road surface. A lot of trail means the tire contct point is way behind the actual line that the fork is rotating about. More trail equals more force holding the fork straight. Find a drawing that shows trail and it will make more sense.
Mark - Ah soooo - I looked at the drawing I referenced above and in my simple mind it appeared to be increasing trail - now I see that I was reading the material backwards - some days I wonder about me -
Thanks all -
Steve....Thanks for the heads up. I've been contemplating the same mod to my 90 FLH.
Steve
I am looking at doing the same modification to my 2005 Electra Glide. I hope it's easier on the newer bikes.
Mark,
I was told that the fairing from the trike is the only one that will fit with the trees. I disagree as with a few modifications it can be done quite simply without destroying the fairing or its appearance. Takes a bit of patience and a dremel with a cutoff wheel for parts of it. The rest I used a file and some sandpaper to clean it up. But it does require modification - - when you get the trees you'll see what I mean -
The Harley-Davidson trike also uses fork tubes that are something like 2" longer to keep the machine level with the trike triple trees. If you plan to keep the sidecar rig as a permanent unit, the decreased rake would be beneficial.
In that event, you might also want to consider automobile tires with appropriate rims.
Thanks to Steve and the others for additional info. If I bite the bullet and do it before spring arrives I'll record the process with photos and post them. It may help others who want to attempt at home in the shop.
Thank again!
And Mark when you do it let me know and I'll send the tool I made for locating the switch mount holes - freeby as I'll never use it again - - -
I thought about filming the process - but by the time that thought hit me I was way past where it would do anyone any good - - so Good On Ya Mark if ya do!!
And how I wish there were auto tires for my 87 - but it's just to narrow for them.
Steve
J&P Cycle has a wide tire kit (690-789) in their paper catalog for the 02-06 HD touring bikes. You get a new swing arm etc. Takes a 5.5 in x 16" wheel. I'm not sure what the width of the stock wheel Vs the newer wider rear wheel HD uses where guys can mount car tires. I'm not sure how all that would work out. You don't get the wheel but I'm sure a wire wheel could be laced up. Problem is it requires a 20mm belt and the stock belt is probably stressed with the sidecar as it is and $1,500 buys a lot of rear tires.
Maybe someone has info on the rear wheel size for the older and newer HD touring bikes and will post it.
Markh00 - 1/25/2013 3:05 AM
Steve
J&P Cycle has a wide tire kit (690-789) in their paper catalog for the 02-06 HD touring bikes. You get a new swing arm etc. Takes a 5.5 in x 16" wheel. I'm not sure what the width of the stock wheel Vs the newer wider rear wheel HD uses where guys can mount car tires. I'm not sure how all that would work out. You don't get the wheel but I'm sure a wire wheel could be laced up. Problem is it requires a 20mm belt and the stock belt is probably stressed with the sidecar as it is and $1,500 buys a lot of rear tires.
Maybe someone has info on the rear wheel size for the older and newer HD touring bikes and will post it.
Changing the swing arm on a later model FL Harley is a monumental task. Besides that, any swing arm you would get from J&P would likely be from somewhere in Asia. Although some aftermarket parts are OK, I have to say that the later Harley swing arms are incredibly well built. They had a lot of trouble with them and finally cured the problem. I wouldn't want to take a chance on changing to an unknown quantity, but that's just me.
It's not worth the money or the work to change it out. I'm moer than competent to do the work but that kind of cash would let me get to Australia to visit old friends! And my experience with Asian parts is not good either. One of my clse friends owns a bike shop and I get my tires fairly reasonably - I can buy enough good tires that will most likely last longer than I will for that kind money. But I appreciate the referral - maybe I'll win the lottery - -
Be well
Steve
If your HD has a 15" rim you might want checkout the 165/80R -15. It's 1" taller, same width as my 140/90 15 I was told by my tire guy that it would mount up on my 3" wide Virago rim~ we'll see once I get that far
