rear hatch on HD sidecar?

I just got my answer in a private message from gnm109. Looks like my hack has been hacked. This side car body is apperantely modified. Thanks to gnm109 for the fast reply from his great bank of sidecar knowledge.

Hey thanks for that gnm109! I was going nuts trying to remember ever seeing or hearing of a TLE with a rear opening hatch.

Dr. Todd, How about posting some pictures of the modification. Sounds interesting.

Sure. The bike is at the dealer, I'll post some picks and look for opinions on If I should leave it that way. I actually didn't like the idea it is modified. I just picked up another used sidecar body on line. I plan to have the car painted to match my bike- once I have the set up sorted out. Now Ill have to decide which body is better. Thanks for the feedback.

Dr. Todd - 1/24/2012 6:58 PM

Sure. The bike is at the dealer, I'll post some picks and look for opinions on If I should leave it that way. I actually didn't like the idea it is modified. I just picked up another used sidecar body on line. I plan to have the car painted to match my bike- once I have the set up sorted out. Now Ill have to decide which body is better. Thanks for the feedback.

As I mentioned to you when you raised the issue to me earlier, HD never did an outward opening trunk. All of the CLE, RLE and TLE;/TLE Ultra sidecars I've ever seen had the trunk access by moving the passenger sear forward. Even the early metal-bodies tubs were built that way.

All of the plastic-bodies models are generally similar with the exception of the TLE ultra with its better seat and handholds. The handholds caused the windshield to be slightly different to clear them. Also, the bolt pattern for the windshield on the TLE Ultra is different from the TLE as is the tonneau cover and snap pattern for the Tonneau. The Ultra seat has a high back and the tonneau matches that.

I wouldn't be happy with a modified tub like that. I'd get another tiub now like you did, while they are still available.

GNM

gnm109 - 1/24/2012 10:24 PM ... I wouldn't be happy with a modified tub like that. I'd get another tiub now like you did, while they are still available. GNM

As a purist, perhaps not. Just the same, the first time you have to get something small out of the back while your wife is napping up front, you will appreciate the separate opening trunk. I remember how upset she was with my Dnepr for just that reason. I switched to a Ural sidecar and all she could talk about was how much nicer and bigger it was, even though they had exactly the same interior space.

I also found times when I traveled alone and had the sidecar full of clothes, coolers, and sleeping bag, that I would have to unpack half of it to access something I was sure I would not need.

It all has to do with what you want and how you will use it.

SidecarMike - 1/25/2012 7:56 AM

gnm109 - 1/24/2012 10:24 PM ...  I wouldn't be happy with a modified tub like that. I'd get another tiub now like you did, while they are still available. GNM

As a purist, perhaps not.  Just the same, the first time you have to get something small out of the back while your wife is napping up front, you will appreciate the separate opening trunk.  I remember how upset she was with my Dnepr for just that reason.  I switched to a Ural sidecar and all she could talk about was how much nicer and bigger it was, even though they had exactly the same interior space.

I also found times when I traveled alone and had the sidecar full of clothes, coolers, and sleeping bag, that I would have to unpack half of it to access something I was sure I would not need.

It all has to do with what you want and how you will use it.

The real issue is that the HD sidecar tubs are not very strong. Having repaired several of them, including removing all of the rivets to split the halves, I have to say that cutting into the top of the tub is a bad idea. It would weaken the tub to a great extent.

So it's also a safety issue, besides the fact that the resale value woudl be impacted since hardly anyone would want a sidecar that had been "hacked up. Pun definitely intended here. 🙂

I wouldn't even look at a unit that had been modified in that way.

gnm109 - 1/25/2012 The real issue is that the HD sidecar tubs are not very strong. Having repaired several of them, including removing all of the rivets to split the halves, I have to say that cutting into the top of the tub is a bad idea. It would weaken the tub to a great extent. So it's also a safety issue, besides the fact that the resale value woudl be impacted since hardly anyone would want a sidecar that had been "hacked up. Pun definitely intended here. 🙂 I wouldn't even look at a unit that had been modified in that way.

That's kind of subjective. I used to know a dealer who would not take a bike in trade if it had any engine work of any kind. He felt they destroyed the integrity of the machine and ruined it's resale value. He also got angry if you parked a chopper in front of the shop as he felt it portrayed an element he didn't want the brand associated with. Five years later, the factory was pushing the Big Bad Biker image in it's commercials and selling Screaming Eagle modifications.

Perhaps you have seen it up close. I have not. I've seen some very good work done on them and I've seen them butchered. I wouldn't condemn it without seeing it up close and personal.

SidecarMike - 1/25/2012 8:19 AM

gnm109 - 1/25/2012 The real issue is that the HD sidecar tubs are not very strong. Having repaired several of them, including removing all of the rivets to split the halves, I have to say that cutting into the top of the tub is a bad idea. It would weaken the tub to a great extent. So it's also a safety issue, besides the fact that the resale value woudl be impacted since hardly anyone would want a sidecar that had been "hacked up. Pun definitely intended here. 🙂 I wouldn't even look at a unit that had been modified in that way.

That's kind of subjective.  I used to know a dealer who would not take a bike in trade if it had any engine work of any kind.  He felt they destroyed the integrity of the machine and ruined it's resale value.  He also got angry if you parked a chopper in front of the shop as he felt it portrayed an element he didn't want the brand associated with.  Five years later, the factory was pushing the Big Bad Biker image in it's commercials and selling Screaming Eagle modifications.

Perhaps you have seen it up close.  I have not.  I've seen some very good work done on them and I've seen them butchered.  I wouldn't condemn it without seeing it up close and personal.

It's only a matter of your perspective. For my part, if someothing is modified, I simply don't want it. I carry that onto my other pursuits. I also collect (and play) vintage musical instruments, in particular guitars, banjos and mandolins. I won't even consider an instrument that has had extensive repairs or any modifications whatsoever. The reason for this is that, even though I seldom sell instruments, if they are modified, they become unsalable to other collectors, except perhaps for parts.

With regard to motorcycles and cars, I learned to weld when I was a mere child. I learned by welding up holes and replacing sheet metal that had been drilled, gounds, filed, hacked, cut, dented, banged, modified and otherwise screwed, blued and tattooed by previous owners. I got rather sick of fixing other people's "artwork".

JMO.

Ok. I,ve got my rig back from the dealer and am having a great time with it. I also bought a second used body. I eventually would like to have sidecar painted to match the bike. Now I have to choose between the modified and stock body. At this point I will likley go stock, but will have fun with it like this for a while.

Someone asked for some picks above so here is a link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/111724465107233596690/SidecarHatch

Thanks for the feedback.

Great looking rig!

Bob Hunt - 1/30/2012 7:48 PM

Great looking rig!

Sure is! And look, the rear storage area opens up. 🙂

Looks good. Apparently it was done neatly. I just prefer OEM items.

Say, while I'm here,.......what's that white stuff on the ground in those pictures? They used to have that about five months of the year in Chicago. That's why I left. LOL.

somebody spent a bucket of bux on that. but it seems like a LOT of work to make it so you dont have to get the passenger out of the sidecar to get at the luggage...

hoever there is ONE mod id go for....

a few years ago i saw a hd tub that i really want, a complete convertible top on a hd tub. it had a metal windshield frame and attached to the ultra handles, then a main hinge set just aft of the seat back and it folded up and over to the windshield and had velcro side curtains...... my wife would love it. i have never been able to find the source.