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Texas sidecar expedition take 2

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(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 841
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Steve, Bruce @Brstr lives in far Western Australia, and more likely than not, he would be doing the work himself, as he is very mechanically inclined.

Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 8:20 am
sheath reacted
(@scott-h)
Posts: 604
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Congratulations!Β  Glad you made it out and back without issue.Β  Pretty cool what a change in trail makes to the enjoyment level.Β  😎Β 

Hold my keyboard and watch this! πŸ™ƒ

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 9:05 am
Steve Ives, Brstr, FlyingMonkeys and 1 people reacted
 MGV8
(@mgv8)
Posts: 181
Reputable Member
 

@scott-h and irregardless of cost, always worth it.

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 10:32 am
Steve Ives, Brstr, sheath and 2 people reacted
Quick_Cal
(@calvin-watson)
Posts: 242
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Posted by: @none

Β The trees do make a difference the steering is much lighter it will twitch at the slightest movement. i can almost steer with fingertips, easier on the left hand than the right.

Β 

So is it "TOO" twitchy? Do you regret doing it?

Β 

Did you experience any kind of wobble or shake. But the dampener should take care of that I think?

Β 

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 4:21 pm
sheath and Steve Ives reacted
Steve Ives
(@none)
Posts: 271
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Topic starter
 

Cal Too twitchy no not at all but in comparison to 'normal' its way better, at first it takes getting used to. The trees take away the need to muscle outfit driving which means far less effort. Jon suggested that i remove the damper and try it out as it might be better. The Bridgestone tire also plays a part compared to the lump of dead rubber i had on before

Walk with Joy
Steve Ives

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 4:34 pm
sheath, Brstr, FlyingMonkeys and 1 people reacted
(@sidecarusa)
Posts: 24
Trusted Member
 

@none also the old head bearings were toast so that's all fresh now too! Spent a good amount of time cleaning out metal shavings and pieces of the old bearings. Plus had to fight some bad Philips screwsΒ  on the old trees and cut one strut bolt off to remove the plastics. But with that said it is one of the cleanest gl1500 I have worked on in a long time!Β  Really happy to read that you are enjoying how it handles. The steering damper on it is very stiff. When you try it with it removed if you still want a damper we can look into something softer and find a happy medium.Β 

Stay in touch let me know if you need anything!

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 5:25 pm
Thane Lewis, sheath, Steve Ives and 2 people reacted
Steve Ives
(@none)
Posts: 271
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks Jon. Yes i will be removing the damper or at least undoing the wheel side and tying it back.

Walk with Joy
Steve Ives

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 5:28 pm
sheath, Brstr, SIDECARUSA and 1 people reacted
Steve Ives
(@none)
Posts: 271
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Topic starter
 

Jon I see the chrome covers are missing from the sidelights on the fairing 3 on each side can you pop them in an envelope for me, thanks

Walk with Joy
Steve Ives

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 6:02 pm
sheath and Brstr reacted
(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 841
Noble Member
 

Posted by: @sidecarusa

@none also the old head bearings were toast so that's all fresh now too! Spent a good amount of time cleaning out metal shavings and pieces of the old bearings. Plus had to fight some bad Philips screwsΒ  on the old trees and cut one strut bolt off to remove the plastics. But with that said it is one of the cleanest gl1500 I have worked on in a long time!Β  Really happy to read that you are enjoying how it handles. The steering damper on it is very stiff. When you try it with it removed if you still want a damper we can look into something softer and find a happy medium.Β 

Stay in touch let me know if you need anything!

Β 

Jon, I have a question for you.

Can you tell me, that brand new Bridgestone BT-46 tire that was installed by your shop onto the front wheel of Steve's bike.... what was that tire pressure set at ?

Β 

Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 6:17 pm
sheath, Steve Ives and Brstr reacted
(@brstr)
Posts: 169
Reputable Member
 

@Steve Ives .

I got a quote for the raw materials.

Pretty sure I must have fainted and hit my head.Β 

Because when I could see clearly again there was a massive bill on my credit card.

The raked trees I fitted previously to the Vstrom cost a grand US and nearly 2k $AU.

But as you now know were so worth it.

No one seemed to make any for the Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber I have though so it's DYI.

Now waiting for a steering box for my 63 Dodge At4 114 ex ambulance so I can make workshop room to strip the Guzzi..

The things we do.Β 

 
Posted : July 10, 2024 11:29 pm
(@sidecarusa)
Posts: 24
Trusted Member
 

@miles-ladue we put 36 psi

 
Posted : July 11, 2024 5:57 am
(@sidecarusa)
Posts: 24
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@none already mailed them! Hey Steve when you get a chance call Me I need to chat with you

 
Posted : July 11, 2024 7:04 am
Steve Ives reacted
(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 841
Noble Member
 

Posted by: @sidecarusa

@miles-ladue we put 36 psi

Jon, thank you for that info.

If I may politely suggest, it would be great if that tire had been set at 40 psi. It is a REAR tire, designed to carry the load of the rear of a motorcycle, and even when installed onto the front wheel of a motorcycle, in this case a 1995 Honda Goldwing 1500, and turned around backwards onto that front wheel, it necessitates using 40 psi in that front tire.

Despite what Mother Honda may have printed in the Owners Manual for that bike, those numbers were based on a motorcycle FRONT tire being used...and that front tire psi was indeed 36 psi. But in this case it is a motorcycle REAR tire that is being used on the front wheel, which necessitates using 40 psi.

In using 36 psi, the tire will scallop the edges, and cause handling issues.

Again, it is a polite suggestion, based on both Dunlop and Bridgestone hiring me to do a combined 189,000 miles of riding in 18 months (again, combined....testing tires for both companies), to specifically determine the correct tire pressures for them, all because Mother Honda is STILL printing the wrong tire pressures in the Owners Manuals.

I can certainly understand that a business that is associated with motorcycles would want to follow the printed info from the manufacturers, regarding tire pressures, which alleviates any liability issues for that business. Thankfully enough riders out there have gotten the word over the last 20 years, that they are using 40 psi in the front radial tires on Goldwing 1800's now, and experiencing better tire life as a result of that.

In this case, it's a Goldwing 1500, using a Bias Belt tire on the front wheel, but....that is a motorcycle REAR tire, and even Mother Honda stated to inflate the rear tire to 40 psi.

Again, thank you for your reply, and I hope you will give this some consideration.

Β 

Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : July 11, 2024 7:44 am
(@sidecarusa)
Posts: 24
Trusted Member
 

@miles-ladue I appreciate the info when I googled the tire it said 36 to 40 psi I went with 36. Good info thanks flying monkey


 
Posted : July 11, 2024 8:05 am
Steve Ives
(@none)
Posts: 271
Honorable Member
Topic starter
 

Well time to wrap up my little adventure. I did remove the damper from one end and tied it up. it works better without one as Jon suggested; my hands now feel balanced equally on the bars rather than the right needing a bit more effort to hold steady.There is just a little bit of very low speed (5mph or so) wobble that i am not going to worry about

On the trip back i had plenty of time to ponder the windscreen height etc. I decided to cut down the Clearview screen by about 5 inches, this does leave some height adjustment and i need to move it up about an inch or so and it should be right; good old trial and error. So i now look over the screen.

Β 

I need a nice quiet few days away, me Sam and maybe a nice stretch of water. Lots of scope within a couple of hundred miles =)

Walk with Joy
Steve Ives

 
Posted : July 11, 2024 3:04 pm
Thane Lewis, sheath, FlyingMonkeys and 1 people reacted
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