Father bought a 2003 Harley Unltra sidecar and needs to mount it to the 03 Unltra Classic Harley. It has all the mounts as it came off a dealer mechanics bike that the guy just didn't want it anymore so he took it all off. Question is I am 750 miles from home and don't know how to mount anything but a Hitchhiker sidecar and they don't want to pay the $600 the dealer wants to charge to mount it. Is there any instruction manual or a online writeup or something to help them out.
Harley has a factory manual available. Dealer should have one for sale. My dealer sold me one for about $50. Was very helpful with the install. If this rig has already been on a bike, part of the set up is already done. You'll still need a few parts for your master cylinder, if it's the same as my '01.
The manual is a 99485-03 for your bike.
Where are you at? If you are close I could offer up a manual and some help.
The bike and sidecar are near St. Cloud Minnesota. Your help would be appreciated. Thanks for the manual number.
Well, we found one of the last service manuals around. They may be a few more out there at dealers but they stopped making them. Thanks for the help though. It will get mounted before next summer so we know we aren't missing parts while there is still a few parts left out there.
im in belle plaine - been through st cloud a dozen times this summer.
be sure and get it aligned really properly - then try it . most folks seem to do fine with the stock assy
i put on a raked tree to lessen the steering effort - two fingers is all thats needed at 70 with the cruise on - it is a godsend as i get sore wrists.
2007 bike, 2004 tle with tleu wiring
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I don't think they will do much actual traveling with it on as it will off on this bike. I have heard that the raked triple tree isn't fun without the sidecar. Is that true? The next bike I am co-buying it with my father and putting a hanigan sidecar on there for me. I would consider the raked triple tree if you can ride it decent without the sidecar on as well. 2013 is the next bike.
This sidecar will likely run from their home (25 miles south of St. Cloud) to St. Cloud to pick up some groceries or maybe a weekend camping with the dog but nothing major like my father normally does. He put 25,000 miles this summer on and regularly 5,000 in a week isn't uncommon with him. Not common with the rest of the family.
the back yard term is that you are "smoking something"
it takes about a hour with two strong folks to remove the sidecar, then about a half hour to bleed the brakes - then a trip to the digital tech to reset the rollover switch
but it takes a long day to get it on and aligned, then bleed the brakes, then the digital tech for the rollover switch
plus the seat, bags, sidecover are off each move
it totally sucks to remove and really totally sucks to install - once right it works really nice
the other issue is wt.. the wt IN the sidecar MUST be higher than the wt on the rear of the bike so no riding a passenger on the back with a empty sidecar. the rear tire really is not heavy enough there are suits galore over that issue but with a sidecar the gcvwr is 1600 lb - the rear tire is the one that is the issue - if the rider and passenger together are over 400 you cant ride anybody on the rear seat at all and you need to carry heavy luggage in the rear of the sidecar or on its rack, not on the bike.
its a bummer but nobody wants you to get hurt or try something that will not work.
and yes once the tree is raked its a sidecar bike. on mine i run a car rear tire and a raked tree - it wont be off the sidecar till it sells or i expire.
harleys easy on, easy off stuff is a comparison to way back with the large swivel nuts - its markeing myth at best
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timo482 - 11/13/2010 5:20 AM
the back yard term is that you are "smoking something"
it takes about a hour with two strong folks to remove the sidecar, then about a half hour to bleed the brakes - then a trip to the digital tech to reset the rollover switch
but it takes a long day to get it on and aligned, then bleed the brakes, then the digital tech for the rollover switch
plus the seat, bags, sidecover are off each move
it totally sucks to remove and really totally sucks to install - once right it works really nice
the other issue is wt.. the wt IN the sidecar MUST be higher than the wt on the rear of the bike so no riding a passenger on the back with a empty sidecar. the rear tire really is not heavy enough there are suits galore over that issue but with a sidecar the gcvwr is 1600 lb - the rear tire is the one that is the issue - if the rider and passenger together are over 400 you cant ride anybody on the rear seat at all and you need to carry heavy luggage in the rear of the sidecar or on its rack, not on the bike.
its a bummer but nobody wants you to get hurt or try something that will not work.
and yes once the tree is raked its a sidecar bike. on mine i run a car rear tire and a raked tree - it wont be off the sidecar till it sells or i expire.
harleys easy on, easy off stuff is a comparison to way back with the large swivel nuts - its markeing myth at best
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All good points you make. There's nothing simple about removing the sidecar. As to the triple tree changeover, that is a good idea but should only be done on a motorcycle that is to be dedicated to sidecar use. They are unsafe when ridden solo with reduced rake.
Since you mentioned the Digital Technician rollover change, what does the dealer in your area charge for toggling the rollover switch to solo or to sidecar?
Good points on the mounting and I am VERY glad the above was/is mentioned since the only sidecar I have is the Hitchhiker which seems to be a little less involved process. Question on that the Digital Technician Rollover Change is for the rollover switch?
I've had mine off and on about 3 times, no big deal. A few hours and I'm good to go!
yup - its to change the tsm settings so it wont cut the engine on a turn....
i had a sidecar in my 20's - it was no big deal
im in my 50's and it SUCKS
but i intend to leave it on due to a issue where my ankle that i broke when i was 14 goes to sleep every so often.....
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What's this TSM setting you speak of? I never changed anything on my '01, even though they mentioned something in the book about security settings for the alarm. Mine's carbed, maybe that'sthe reason.
