Liberty sidcar question?

The Harley cars rock. The sidecar body is the only thing on them that has suspension.
I'm putting a Liberty on my '10 Street Glide. They have full suspension and a sprung boat.

Lonnie

Thanks for the quick reply. Lonnie, I have read many of your posts and it is apparent that you have much experience regarding hacks. Your comment that you are installing a Liberty sidecar on your Streetglide is a serious recommendation.

Thanks, Sam

Sam,

I have a 2001 Liberty car on my 1978 FLH. Have driven over 30,000 miles with it. My wife loves it, she now talks about going for drive, never before as a passenger on the cycle before the hack. She has never complained about any rocking. I have yet to ride in it. Some trips have been up to 3500 miles in a week of driving. The most important thing is to have it set up right. Easy to do by some one that pays attention to what they are doing. Mine is very easy to drive, has a stock steering neck damper plates on it. I have a slight tightening tension on the damper plates. No steering problems, have had it up to 85 MPH with easy steering.

Mike

Thanks Mike for the info. I am certain that you are right when you said that it must be set up right. I have talked with Liberty and if I make the big jump I will take the bike to Seattle, WA and have them install. I wish they were closer to CO, it would make it easier. The great thing is my wife really supports the idea of a sidecar. I thing she will feel more comfortable in a hack than on the back.

Sam

Hack'n - 7/5/2010 9:38 PM

The Harley cars rock. The sidecar body is the only thing on them that has suspension.
I'm putting a Liberty on my '10 Street Glide. They have full suspension and a sprung boat.

My HD sidecar doesn't rock. I added a friction damper. It rides perfectly flat all of the time. Harley needs to add something to dampen the tub.

As to the Harley frame, it's very stable in corners. I prefer it that way.

 

Hack'n - 7/5/2010 9:38 PM

The Harley cars rock. The sidecar body is the only thing on them that has suspension.
I'm putting a Liberty on my '10 Street Glide. They have full suspension and a sprung boat..

My HD sidecar doesn't rock. I added a friction damper. It rides perfectly flat all of the time. Harley needs to add something to dampen the tub.

As to the Harley frame, it's very stable in corners. I prefer it that way

109,
Everyone has their preferences and I'm not dismissing yours but,
have you driven both the TLE and the Liberty Classic to make a valid comparison?
I've found that sometimes works better than an educated guess.
Both are fine sidecars, They just work a bit differently. One has full suspension and doesn't need two friction dampers.

Lonnie

I've got a Liberty on my '96 FLH. Wouldn't trade it for anything and you won't find anyone anywhere better to deal with than Pete and Patty at Liberty.

109,
"Everyone has their preferences and I'm not dismissing yours "
This is where I started my last post.
"Both are fine sidecars, They just work a bit differently."
Was included so we're not at odds as I see it.

Oh Yeah, It's OK to keep posting without admiring a Liberty car. I do admire your Harley sidecar savvy and appreciate your input on these cars. I've had Harleys for over 64 years but only a few had Harley sidecars.

Cheers,
Lonnie

Cheers

I did not intend to start a discussion about which sidecar is best, I am sure there are many great makes and kinds and one is as good as the other. That being said, each of us has our own perceptions about what we like or dislike. I like the looks of the Liberty and the HD sidecar. I have read comments about excessive rocking with some sidecars that have leaf spring suspension, ie the liberty and I needed some advise from you experts. I did not want to make a very big investment and then regret what I had done.

I am 70 years young as some like to put it and I am thinking that a third wheel might be a good idea. However, I do have a sport bike that goes like ---- and I may have to keep it around, much to my wife's concern. I began my two wheel riding when I was 12 and have ridden ever since, (many, many miles). I have never driven a hack and living in very rural south west Colorado I just don't have an opportunity to drive one. In fact I have seen only one sidecar in the last several years and that was during this past Memorial Day.

I appreciate the input from all of you, this is a great forum and I am learning much about the sport of hacking. I have admired sidecars for as long as I can recall and think they look so "cool".

My apologies to any that has ruffled feathers, remember you own and drive the best sidecar, no matter which one it is.

Sam

Claude,
Your sidecar "Rocks"

Sam,
We sometimes get a bit chauvinistic with our opinions here but no fur flies and we soon mellow out.
A lot of good (and perhaps other) advice changes hands and we are all striving to help others here with our comments and suggestions.
Just keep the salt shaker handy, let your common sense prevail and one can sepatate the wheat from the chaff.

Enjoy the ride,

Lonnie

I really don't think any feathers were ruffled here.
Gotta say that even though we do manufacture our own aluminum bodied sidecars as shown in the pics I posted you WILL NOT go wrong with Pete Larson's Liberty sidecar at all. He does a fantastic job with a ton of attention to detail!!!

I have a 2001 Liberty and Road King Classic. My wife likes the ride very well and I love the Vintage LOOK.