I finally got this pig done!! Just thought I'd share my initial impressions.
There are no wobbles at any speed. Not even when taking off or at 35mph. I could take my hands off the bars at any speed if I wanted to. But I just loosely let go of them and no head shake.
I do get a pull to the right under acceleration, and a pull to the left while braking. This can be changed with the lean angle, speed, and how hard I accelerate. I guess this is normal?
I know nothing about handling,,,lol. It seems to ride ok. I guess I'll just leave all the shock settings as is and hopefully I can get a volunteer at Flint Hills to ride it and say it's ok, or it's crap.
I LOVE the low speed ease of turning. I can turn this thing on a dime. Well left hand turns that is. I'm still too nervous to take a right hander very fast in fear of flying the chair,,,lol. Maybe with time. I did pull into a big parking lot and do a slow speed very tight right hand turn just to see if it would lift. It did. Scared me a little. But at least I was expecting it.
Out on the highway at 65mph I can't say I love it. It is VERY responsive. Too easy to turn. I can see swerving to miss something and something bad happen? I don't know. What would happen? Could you flip the rig? Would you guys recommend a steering damper just to slow the responsiveness down? Or is that just counter productive?
My brakes are crap. They are very spongy. I put new oem pads on both sides of the front and installed speed bleeders. I bled the hell out of the front and rear. I do seem to have ok stopping power on just the front hand brake. But I'm not happy with the rear. I guess I need to swap out the lines to stainless steel line? I know I can tie the lever down overnight and it firms it up.
Here's the long, TMI part.
After a bit a test riding I drove past a new local tire shop and seen they were open and not crowded. I pulled in and asked how much to mount, balance, and new valve stem on my sidecar tire. They said $25. Only $5 more than I normally pay and I was glad to pay it. Thought I'd help out the new shop so I went home and got my tire.
Then my day ALMOST went to hell. The guy mounted the tire with no issue. I was chatting with the gal running the register. I had to show her Wilton's picture. She said she had a girl dog that looked just like him. I asked were they looking for a date,,,lol. She said her dog was in heat and we could breed them. I was all excited for Willie. Then she hit me with a $40 bill. WTF!! I said what happen to $25? She said the guy said it needed a cross over valve stem. I heard him tell her that but didn't pay attention. Never heard of it. She said it was $15. I think it was code for SCREW this guy over. I was going to say something but figured it would be an argument. I was in too good of a mood to ruin my day over that. So I let it go. On the way home I realized the guy didn't even balance the tire. I was standing there the whole time. I googled cross over valve stem when I got home and all I seen was something for dually rear wheels. So it looks like I got screwed and Sidecar Willie aint going to.
I need to install the left saddle bag that I had off to bleed the rear brake. Other than that I think I can call it mission accomplished! Thanks to everyone for all the help.
Sounds like progress! 😎
When I first read your comment regarding $40 I was thinking Willie was being invited to a brothel. 🤣
You could always follow Miles lead, and pour in a couple of ounces of balance beads through the valve stem to balance the assembly.
Bet you get used to the steering pretty... err... quick. Ease of steering, and limited pull during cruise makes for a nice long distance experience.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
By Crossover I assume that means right angle valve stem? If so, I can see the higher price. You won't regret it (as long as it's pointing to the left side). Plus, It'll never have to be replaced.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
By Crossover I assume that means right angle valve stem? If so, I can see the higher price. You won't regret it (as long as it's pointing to the left side). Plus, It'll never have to be replaced.
If that valve stem was pointing to the left side I think it would be awful hard to air up the SIDECAR TIRE,,,,lol. You must of missed that part,,,lol. 
It's just a cheap rubber straight valve stem that everyone gives you as part of a mount and balance. I even asked for a metal one and he said all he had was these. He's the one that gave the price quote of $25 for everything. I should complained but like I said I wasn't going to let it ruin my day.
Calvin, Caretaker of Sidecar Willie....the handling, braking, accelerating....all sounds correct and normal.
Good on you for a successful installation of that Leading Link, and....for the wise decision of which battles to choose to fight, regarding the bad tire shop.
Yes, it would appear to most people that the sidecar tire should have the valvestem pointing to the RIGHT, but the Shrek-man @thane-lewis is just naturally backwards, so don't think that he read your post wrong.....it's Shrek being a Shrek.
Question: specifically, what tire pressures are you running in each of the 3 tires ????????????????????
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Question: specifically, what tire pressures are you running in each of the 3 tires ????????????????????
I am running 40psi in the175/16 Austone car tire that is on the rear. I am running 40psi in the 140/70/18 BT-46 REAR tire mounted backwards on the front. I told the tire shop to put 35psi in the 145/80/13 all season car tire I put on the sidecar. Guess I better check it. Are these ok?
I just went for a ride on a different 2 lane road. It had expansion joints=speed bump every 20 or 30 feet. The front end hit those pretty hard and jard the bike. Should I try changing the preload on the front shocks? Would I want to go with a harder or softer preload?
On this sidecar wheel the valve stem points straight out. So no need for an angled valve stem. All though a metal one would have been nice. How many oz of counteract beads should I run in this 145/80/13?
Calvin, Caretaker of Sidecar Willie....the handling, braking, accelerating....all sounds correct and normal.
Good on you for a successful installation of that Leading Link, and....for the wise decision of which battles to choose to fight, regarding the bad tire shop.
Yes, it would appear to most people that the sidecar tire should have the valvestem pointing to the RIGHT, but the Shrek-man @thane-lewis is just naturally backwards, so don't think that he read your post wrong.....it's Shrek being a Shrek.
Question: specifically, what tire pressures are you running in each of the 3 tires ????????????????????
Yep, my bugaboo - sometimes reading too quickly between other events.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
I am running 40psi in the175/16 Austone car tire that is on the rear. I am running 40psi in the 140/70/18 BT-46 REAR tire mounted backwards on the front. I told the tire shop to put 35psi in the 145/80/13 all season car tire I put on the sidecar. Guess I better check it. Are these ok?
I just went for a ride on a different 2 lane road. It had expansion joints=speed bump every 20 or 30 feet. The front end hit those pretty hard and jard the bike. Should I try changing the preload on the front shocks? Would I want to go with a harder or softer preload?
On this sidecar wheel the valve stem points straight out. So no need for an angled valve stem. All though a metal one would have been nice. How many oz of counteract beads should I run in this 145/80/13?
Calvin, Caretaker of Sidecar Willie, the front and rear tires on the bike are right, or...that is what I would have set them at...40 psi each.
That sidecar tire is "okay" at 35 psi, but I would have set it at 30 psi, because that is a lightweight sidecar, only carries a 3 ounce little dog.
I would put only 1.25 ounces of Ceramic balance beads in that sidecar tire, which means....use a 2 oz plastic bag of beads, and when all is said and done, you will successfully get 1.25 ounces of the beads to actually get into the tire, so, .75 oz of beads will be all over the shop floor, so make certain that Sidecar Willie is not running through the shop, as it will look like he is skating on ice.
As for resetting the front shocks on that Leading Link....I may be wrong here, but I think you need to set the front shocks to be softer...not harder.
What do others have to say on that ?????
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
I'm interested in the answer to your inquiry also. I'm thinking it may seem counter intuitive, but thinking you need to calibrate them to a harder setting. At least that's what I did on my Triumph Bonneville and it seemed to make the ride much better. Or maybe at 189 lbs dressed out I was too heavy and it needed it tightened up. Suspension is still, after several years riding, a bit of a mystery to me. I'm not sure where it will shake out once I attach a rig to it in the near future. It seems to me, the more preload you dial in, the more the suspension compresses, providing a better spring back to keep the tire planted on the road. Not sure if that makes any sense.
Well, Sir Walter may indeed have a point there, ^ so.....since it is SO easy to adjust those shocks on a Leading Link, what Calvin may want to do is write down where the shocks are adjusted to right now....then adjust then to a softer setting....write that setting down...take the rig for a 31 mile test drive, then come back to the garage, write down your findings from that 31 mile test drive, then adjust the shocks to a harder/firmer setting than what they originally were set at...write that setting down....take another 31 mile test drive, come back to the garage, and write down those findings from that 31 mile test drive, then....gather up Sidecar Willie, and then................compare notes.
Which test drive felt better, the softer setting, the firmer setting, or the original setting ? What does Sidecar Willie say about it ?
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
My thoughts for what they are worth:
Use preload to set the sag correctly, not adjust for ride. Set it to where about 30% of possible wheel travel is compressed with the bike sitting still, on front, rear, and hack wheel. If this is not possible within the range of preload, consider swapping heavier (or lighter) spring rate springs to achieve this. So if total possible wheel travel is 6 inches, resting, loaded sag with you on the rig should be maybe 2 to 2.25". (I am on my third set of springs on the LL's, and finally feel like I have it dialed in to perfection.)
If the shocks offer damping adjustments (Compression and Rebound) maybe lighten up the compression damping a bit (less damping, turn screw out a few clicks) ride and see what you think.
What shocks are on the LL? Do they offer any adjustments other than preload?
Just for a frame of reference, this shock has an "H" screw at the top of the reservoir for high speed compression damping (sharp hits like rocks and stuff) and "L" screw for low speed damping (stuff like waves in the road, dips, etc.) and a blue collar at the bottom for rebound damping (how fast the wheel can drop down into a pot hole or return to the road after a hit on a rock or something.)
It also has a collar that can spin to change pre-load on the springs for setting sag.
My goal has been to get about 30% sag with me on the rig and the junk I usually carry in the hack AND have the rig level at this setting. I typically put a digital angle finder on a horizontal frame rail to check this.
I have fooled with the damping quite a bit to get it dialed in for the compromise between dirt and pavement that I do. Soft for rougher stuff, firmer for twisty pavement. There seems to be a sweet spot for each setting that is a good compromise position that I don't have to adjust to go from one type of riding to the other. If I am going to spend the day on one type of riding exclusively, I might shift the HS compression damping up or down a few clicks accordingly, but generally just leave it alone, these days.
Just thought I'd update with a couple of pics. I'm ready to do a test load out.
I had an upholstery shop sew a tail onto the top to make it longer. It's not perfect. But it's usable finally.
I can't even tell the trailer is back there. Of course there's only a 60 pound bag of concrete in it,,,lol. I have to re-think my tent. I want to take my 10x14 canvas. But it alone is 100 pounds. And the bag the poles are in is longer than the trailer,,,lol. I think my little 3 man might be too small for my air mattress. Getting ready to set it up now and do a test load out of camping gear.
Speaking of camping. I just drove through a local campground to scope out a spot, and I met this guy. He's from Canada and has lived in his van full time for the last 5 years. He just travels North America with his adv bike on the back of the van ready to go off roading at anytime. Funny thing is he's never heard of the advrider website. Doesn't care about the internet. Good on him,,,lol.
That Bushtec trailer you have is the best.... period !
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
That Bushtec trailer you have is the best.... period !
Ya. That's my $100 trailer. It's like the rest of my stuff, and me. Old and beat up,,,,lol. It's a very early model, 1984 to be exact, so it's smaller than all the newer ones. Which also translates to less cargo space. But ummm,,, I am on a GOLDWING WITH A SIDECAR,,,,lol. So I got room. Except for that dam 10x14 tent. I guess I could lay the bag o'poles along the sidecar frame? Naaaa.
I know you were concerned about crossing the center line with it. But on my test run today I found the the trailer is exactly as wide as the mirror on the bike. The only way the trailer will cross the line is if the mirror does.
You ever try setting up a tent with a little dog that want to help! We set up the little 3 man in the living room. Willie was all excited to get in it. My air mattress just barely fits. So it's going to work. I have to double check what the temp rating is on the tent. I know it's only a 3 season and I don't want to get cold.
Now I can't get him out of the tent to take it down,,,,lol.
![IMG 1372[1]](https://sidecar.com/wp-content/uploads/wpforo/attachments/8723/1173-IMG13721.JPG "IMG 1372[1]")
![IMG 1373[1]](https://sidecar.com/wp-content/uploads/wpforo/attachments/8723/1174-IMG13731.JPG "IMG 1373[1]")
Sidecar Willie is definitely a Ramblin' Man! lol
Looking great Cal. 😎
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
