How can you tell if this 1981 harley tour glide came with the side car from the factory and has the raked triple trees?
By the serial numbers. After talking to a few people I will not be running raked trees on mine. It all has to do with the way the T model Harley s have the fork tubes behind the neck of the frame. I talked to the owner of Steerite for over an hour the other day. But I am still learning about sidecars.
To my knowledge the sidecars could be ordered with the bike but were dealer installed.
The earlier Harleys had adjustable trees with 2 positions available for either solo or sidecar usage.
Lonnie
Yes you use to order them as a match set if you ordered them together at the same time. I have two friends one with an 83 HD rig and one with an 86 HD rig and by the serial numbers you can tell they are a match set. Not sure when they stopped doing this but in later years you just order them separate as I have a friend that just ordered a 2010 HD Road King with a sidecar. I have gone through my manuals from 1988 to 2009 and have yet found any listing of any adjustable or raked triple tree. I know a LOT of Harley history but just learning about sidecars. I recommend getting the numbers off both the hack and motorcycle and look them up or call a dealer. I will do some more research and if I find out more I will post it.
I think the last of the Adjustable trees went out with the Shovelheads. The Evos didn't have them anymore.
Lonnie
I think the adjustable trees went out after the 4 speeds frames as the first T models including the one here is a shovelhead T model and do to the way the T models have there fork tubes behind the frame neck. Correct me if I am wrong but does or did Harley ever make a raked or adjustable tree for the T models from he factory? A totally different set up then the 4 speed frame triple trees then the T models.
once the frame that buel designed came into being they no longer offered raked trees for the sidecars. for all frames up to 83 a adjustable raked tree can still be purchased new.
they currently offer the trees - for the trikes. - the trees they offered prior to 84 came stock on all the trikes and was a option on the bikes.
having run a bike with no raked tree for about 10k and then one with a raked tree for 4 years - ill never run one without a raked tree again...
you have to have really good upper body strength and really good wrists, no white finger, no carpal, no dropsy, none of that stuff to ride a stock hd sidecar with a stock front end. if you are young and healthy [like with me with my 79 in 79] its no big deal.
where you will really notice it is in long sweepers and on the interstate in the left lane on a right sweeper - there is a point where i honestly didnt know if my hands were going to let go or the turn was going to stop first. - 2006, sept, I 90, west of albert lea mn, truck to the right, truck behind, me and the truck behind passing the truck to the right up a hill - right sweeper at the top of the hill, doing 80+ i got clear to the white line before the turn ended - i decided that day to never! ever! ride again without a raked tree. and to tell folks the truth.. its not a requirement to have a raked tree with a hd hd rig, but the day WILL come when you realize why its a good idea - and it will scare you sh**&&^%s
in the right lane it was never a issue - but in the left lane on a right turn - whew - scary.
what causes it is that a hd bagger has about 6" of trail - so when you adjust toe in and lean out to get it to run just exactly centered down the road - the adjustment is only good for that right side crown - roads are all tapered for drainage. the right lane of a two lane road is always tapered to the right - so the lean out has to be just enough to keep the rig from heading for the ditch.. the left lane of a four lane road [or when passing] is tapered the other way - but the lean out is still set for the right side so you have to hang on with both hands to keep it from heading to the median.
reducing the trail - as hd did for all bikes prior to 84 and for all trikes then and now reduces the trail enough that you can set lean and toe in to be neutral with no real regard to the crown of the road - and its a one hand affair to ride on either side of a four lane. i was out today doing 80 in the left lane, hwy 212 in mn - just a very light one hand gentle push on the left bar is all it took. with the stock tree it was a two handed effort to do that.
to
When you say trike are you talking about the servicar? They quite making the 45 cubic inch sevicar in 1973. Yes you might have been able to get the adjustable tree up till 1984 but that was for the 4 speed frames only not the T models with the rubber mounted motor, transmission with the 5 speed. The trees between the 4 speed frames and the T models are totally different and are not interchangeable. For the most part 1984 was the last year for the 4 speed frame and shovelhead but do to a surplus of parts HD did make a limited number in 1985.
As far a raked trees I am finding out it is all personal preference and know many old riders with out upper body straight not running them with out a problem. I have talked to Smith at Steerite and others that do not recommend them on a T Harley do to the tubes on the T being behind the frame neck. Yes they say it does make it easier to steer but makes other problems. I know of about 8 people running HD sidecars and most of them are over 60 and all run stock trees.
But I do agree run what ever works for you and once I get more set time on a sidecar my opinion may change.
The original post says tour glide so I would say NO they do not come with raked trees as I do not think HD ever made raked tress for the T models. Yes they now come on the triglide but they did not make a triglide till the last couple of years.
The 4 speed adjustable trees OEM part number 45777-50, will all so fit 1949FL which is the first year of the hydra-glide front end 1950 to 1976 but first came out in 1950 and part number 45777-77, 1977 to 1984 4 speed frames only.
Thanks for all the lessons learned, guys! I am new to side cars and have not ridden this 81 H.D. t model yet. It is for sale and the gentlemen is asking $7500. My wife does not like ridding behind me anymore. She has develpoed some kind of anxiety symptoms after I go faster than 35 mph. I have not had an accident or close call with her on to make her feel this way. She thinks she would be okay in a rig. Does any one else have this problem??? I have yet to try her out in this. I have been riding on 2 wheels for almost 40 years and do not know if I could get used to the steering needed for 3 wheels. I appreciate all the feed back as I am learning more about side car rigs. I guess this week I will take it for a spin and see if it rquires more effort than I am comfortable with. I am in good physical shape and used to work out regularly. Maybe this could serve a dual purpose, work out while riding. Thanks again for all your info I look forward to reading more posts if any one has their personal story to share on my dilemma .
The steering?
Turn left to go left, turn right to go right. Same as for any multitrack vehicle whether it be a wagon, trike, quad, automobile, etc.
There are some other things that come into play such as not putting your feet down when stopped, driving in the left "wagon track" so you don't climb curbs when turning right, parking in gear. Stuff like that you pick up real quick.
Lonnie
Driving a sidecar is totally different from riding a motorcycle. I cannot stress enough to be careful, as you have to learn all over again. I my self are in the learning mod when it comes to sidecars and like you I have been riding motorcycles none stop for over 40 years. Keep in mind a sidecar only handles well if it is set up properly. PLEASE read this before you get on one.
http://www.warkshop.com/sidecarfaq.html
