Before doing it, I'd like to know what it's like to ride bike with the sidecar removed. I de-raked the front end 5 degrees to make the steering tolerable with the sidecar attached. I don't want to change back to the OEM triple tree for the occasional ride sans sidecar.
Has anyone done what I want to try? Is the bike's handling okay with the sidecar steering mod still installed?
I did this...by mistake. My BMW /2 with Earles forks has a two position lower swing arm mount, one for sidecar work and one for solo. I took the sidecar off to do some service and forgot to move the lower swing arm mounting bolt. The bike was no fun to ride. Steering was very twitchy and the smallest input moved me from one side of the road to the other. At first I didn't know what was wrong but after a couple of hundred yards the "bulb went on" and I walked the bike back to the garage to reset the mount for solo use. Even then I missed the sidecar. Just my experience, you'll hear others.
Without the sidecar the steering can be erratic and very quick. The caster effect is gone and the bike no longer self centers, so you have to steer to remain driving in a straight line.
Lonnie
After riding with sidecar for 2-3 years,the first time I rode without it,the K-75 fell down ever time I stopped. It just refused to stand alone. Finally came up
on me to put my feet down.. Some of us are slow learners,
J.R.
Sec.
Tex. rep
As the saying goes: Been there, done that.
Lonnie
NWSC
