Okay, we have a winner 😀
My wife just took this Burgy 650 w/Hannigan Classic sidecar rig out for her first excursion, and she came back with all positive reviews.
Since this rig was purchased to be her rig, this was the big moment.... will she 😀 it or...😞 it ?
Now that the initial ice has been broken, she is very UP about this sidecar rig.
Yeah 👍 👍 🐒 🐒
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Because many of us that own Sidecar rigs...in fact most of us...are the mechanics that not only maintain the mechanical systems on our rigs, but also do our best to perfect the driveability of our rigs, you can understand the feeling of buying a second hand bike/sidecar, then doing the initial fluid changes on the engine, and the transmission, and the rear differential.
In the case of this 2018 Suzuki Burgman 650, it was obvious that the engine oil and filter had been changed, BUT...it was also obvious that the transmission oil and the rear differential gear fluid had never been changed.
Additionally, the previous owner used a K&N oil filter on the engine, whereas I am devout at using only the OEM oil filters on any engines.
Getting to the three (3) drain/fill plugs for the transmission is not an easy job, but it had to be done, both from the mechanical need, but also for me to know with 100 percent certainty that it has now been done, and done right
Same thing with the rear differential gear fluid, it's never been done prior to this, but now it has, and done right.
Done right, to me, means not only draining the old fluids, but also a complete and thorough FLUSHING of the mechanical systems. I would choose to use an extra quart of new oil or gear fluid, to flush out any old residual fluids, than try to save a few bucks, but not be convinced that I really did FLUSH out all the old oil or gear fluid.
In some cases I will put some Marvel Mystery Oil in with the flushing oil, as its RED color is a marker for telling me that the flushing fluids are getting through.
Bike had 11,785 miles on it when I picked it up in Los Angeles. Now in my shop, it's at 13,000 miles, so it was at the mile time to change these transmission and rear differential fluids.
Now that they have been done....and I am happy with how it all went, this doesn't need to be done again until the bike hits 20k miles on it, which is only 7k miles from now, then every 10k miles after that.
The engine oil and filter will be done every 2k miles, as this 638cc parallel twin engine spins at higher rpm than my larger bike engines.
But the engine was also flushed out...twice.
The cost of engine oil is minimal, compared to the cost of engine repairs.
Yes...I will also do the engine coolant, and all the brake fluid lines.
Real sense of satisfaction knowing that the primary systems fluids have been drained, flushed, and refilled with proper fluids.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Great start. 😎 Any plans for flushing the brake & cooling systems?
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Great start. 😎 Any plans for flushing the brake & cooling systems?
Oh, Scott..... did you not read the entire post ? 🤔
Second paragraph from the end, or from the bottom. 😁
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Yep I read the post as well.
Wondering seeing as there's a rear differential....
Where the front one goes......?.?
Not being picky mind....
Yep I read the post as well.
Wondering seeing as there's a rear differential....
Where the front one goes......?.?
Not being picky mind....
Bruce, I refer to the differential at the rear wheel of the motorcycle as the rear differential, primarily because I have owned 14 Subaru All Wheel Drive cars, which have a front differential and a rear differential.
Therefore I am used to calling it a "rear differential". 😜
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
@miles-ladue If she doesn't like it at a later date, put me on the buyers list. I love scooters!
Okay MJ, you are officially # 1 on the waiting Buyers list. 😀
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
MJ @mj, just to let you know, and any others that might be interested, for any reason, I just received the new tires for this 2018 Suzuki Burgman Executive w/Hannigan Classic sidecar, and the 2 new tires for the bike are CAR tires......yes.....I will be "attempting" to install a CAR tire on the FRONT wheel of this Burgy 650.
It is quite common to install a 165/65R-14 Car tire onto the rear wheel of these bikes, especially when it is sued for sidecar duty, but it is untested (as far as I know, and have been able to research) using a Car tire on the Front wheel of this bike.
The OEM tire is a 120/70R-15 motorcycle tire, in a radial tire. But with sidecar duty, we know that the motorcycle tire doesn't get any lean...anymore...so what is the purpose of using a motorcycle tire on the front of a sidecar rig motorcycle, if the rig doesn't lean anymore?
This will be a TEST....which means I am fully accepting that I am going to TRY to do this, and if it does NOT work, then I will just toss the new Car tire in the bin, and buy a new motorcycle tire for that front wheel.
However, as I have previously claimed to be the third best mechanic in the entire World, I believe I can make this work.
Okay, having said that (gulp)....there are very few Car tires available in the 125 to 135 wide range. And very few available, or maybe none available, that are not a 80 % sidewall height, which means I had to buy a 125/80R-15...it shows as a 125R-15, but those in the know, know that it is a 125/80R-15. (EDIT...I is wrong...it is a 125/90R-15)
And, there are only 2 available on TireRack.com, and rather than choose the Vredestein, I choose to go with the Michelin X tire, which is exactly the same ones I have on my 1959 Morris Minor Traveller (although on the Traveller they are a 155/80R-14)
The ONE issue that I see in using this 125/90R-15 Car tire on the front wheel of this Burgy 650 is.....this tire is 2.5" taller in total diameter than the OEM 120/70R-15, which means it will be 1.25" closer to the underside of the front fender....but I have a plan.
"I have a plan" (famous last words of all those great inventors that came before me)
I believe I can raise the front fender the height needed to clear this new Car tire, and it should (ha ha ha) be fairly easy to do.
Right now there is at least a 3/4" gap between the top of the current tire, and the underside of the front fender....may actually be closer to a full inch clearance there, so in reality I would only need to raise that front fender approx. a 3/4", so that I have a 1/2" of clearance, between the top of the new Car tire, and the underside of the front fender.
The new REAR tire is a 165/65R-14 Car tire, and it should have no problems at all in fitment, and room for it to run in that rear fenderwell.
I specifically chose this Kumho Solus car tire (never ordered or owned a Kumho tire before) because of the treadwear rating. It is a 640 treadwear rating, whereas most other tires in this size were a 200 to 300 treadwear rating. For sidecar duty, in a tire that is not going to lean, a higher treadwear rating is good. It also has a Traction rating of A...and a Temperature rating of A...so it should be ideal for this use.
These new Car tires will get installed this Winter, when my wife is not out there piloting this rig, so I can take the time in my shop to do these tires, and SEE if the Car tire on the front wheel will work, or I need to go back to a motorcycle tire.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
This I like.
Just not the 6 months waiting timetable see if it fits then then the months after that waiting for your miserable winter to pass fo4 it to be thoroughly tested.
But I do have a question.
15 inch tires have a swap problem in that the 15 inch motorcycle rim has a larger diameter where the tire seats than an Auto tire.
It has been known to cause stress, anxiousness and even damage.
Thus a different pye equation to fit the ply.
So what is your calculations here?
Asking for a friend..... 
This I like.
Just not the 6 months waiting timetable see if it fits then then the months after that waiting for your miserable winter to pass fo4 it to be thoroughly tested.
But I do have a question.
15 inch tires have a swap problem in that the 15 inch motorcycle rim has a larger diameter where the tire seats than an Auto tire.
It has been known to cause stress, anxiousness and even damage.
Thus a different pye equation to fit the ply.
So what is your calculations here?
Asking for a friend.....
Well Bruce, I know this friend of yours, and he deals with Pi....not "pye".
Yes, the fit of the 15" car tire seating on the rim of a 15" motorcycle wheel is part of the "test".
If it goes on okay, test driving will occur immediately, as weather in my area is not as severe as some cold weather states, and I have the ideal test roads right at my doorstep.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
If the Mr.s doesn't like a car tire on the front, don't throw it away. That size tire makes the perfect garden swing for squirrels. 😉
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Just curious, aren't you concerned that a car tire on front is going to amplify the steering effort