A bit of a damper

Sorry for the bad picts.  I’m may text them to miles & then he knows how to correctly post them.  

Varn i did look through all the history but i could not find any reference but i will go through it all again. Just looked at the service chronology someone had typed out and i think i have found a reference 7/8/98 It says headset hardware set i thought as in intercom but it can also mean steering headset right.

Miles
Just started to recheck and i think i MAY have found a reference in the typed chronology dated 7/8/98 it reads Headset Hardware Set
i thought of intercom but just realized that it could equally be steering headset. lets see if i can find it.

false alarm it was a headset at 15.95

I'm going to say from those pictures and if I recall correctly a conversation I had when Varn owned the rig it DOES NOT have the modified trees. the bottom fender ext. should be about 3 inches or more away from the chin of the lower spoiler if it has been replaced 

I will go out to the wing and take a picture or three. Back in a bit with more coffee =)

here is a good pic of my 97 with the 4.5 tree

Try these

Hmm still going with no on that

Posted by: @aceinsav

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Hmm still going with no on that

I must concur.....I say, I must concur with my colleague on this....I am of the opinion that Steve's bike does NOT have the EZ Steer triple trees in it, based on the bad pictures that have been shown.

And, Steve, if that is correct. that your bike does NOT have the EZ Steer triple trees, that in and of itself opens a whole new can 'o worms.

With the EZ Steer triple trees, your bike would steer SO much easier.....world of difference !

STEVE, in all seriousness, I would highly suggest that you do everything possible to attend the USCA National Sidecar Rally in Iuka, Mississippi, that is happening next month, June 6 - 9. 

It is 563 miles from your house to the Rally Headquarters in Iuka, Mississippi, and it could be worth a million dollars of information to have experienced sidecarists carefully look over your entire rig, and talk to you in person.

All kidding aside, I have been thinking of either flying out to Kansas, and renting a car to come see your rig, or riding my own rig the 1,966 miles each way to come see your rig, because I think you need a pair of experienced eyes to look things over. The people attending this national Sidecar Rally will have more experience than myself, so...it would behoove you to attend, if at all possible.

To attend the rally sounds like a good idea along with getting EZ steer. So i will now book the rally and start planning, it will be nice to meet everyone.  Experience always counts for a lot. Triple tree fit at the rally =) i am sure the old girl will make it just fine.

Steve, there  will be  no availability  at the  Sidecar  Rally for  you to  get the  EZ Steer triple trees installed  there. Unlike  some of the  huge motorcycle  rallies  that  offer  everything  under the  sun, including  vendors that  install new windshields, new tires, chrome  goodies.....the National  Sidecar  Rally is a meet and greet of fellow  sidecarists,  some Sidecar  games, food, etc.

Reality....go to the  National  Sidecar  Rally,  meet  everyone,  memorize their names and what  sidecars they  own (there will be a  test afterwards), and if the knowledgeable/experienced folks at the  Rally conclude that  your  bike  does not have the  EZ Steer  triple  trees,  then.....frankly.....the smartest  thing to do is call Kent Silk at TSC/DMC....that is Texas Sidecar Company,  and schedule  to drive your  rig down to  their  shop, and have  them install the  EZ Steer  triple  trees  into your  bike. 

It will  cost more than  doing it  yourself,  but.....they have  experience,  can order the  correct  triple trees  made for your  bike,  and you can  drive away with a  SAFE rig that  steers SO much easier. 

"IF" there is a need to  remove the  fork caps...remove fork springs......again  "IF".....then it takes a lot more  physical  strength to  compress the  fork springs, to reinstall the  fork cap, than it does on a Goldwing  1800. I  have done  GL 1500's, and GL 1800's, and the GL 1800's are much easier to  compress the fork springs by hand.

Note: the EZ Steer triple trees  can be  installed  without  having to  open the fork tubes.

On YOUR  bike, given everything else  going on in your life,  I  would  seriously  suggest that you  allow  Texas Sidecar Company to  do this for you.  If the  parts are ordered  in advance,  this  should be  a ONE day job....deliver it  in the  morning,  pick it up a few hours ....drive home  the next day. 

And, by installing  new EZ Steer  triple  trees,  you  also  get  NEW steering head bearings,  seals, etc, so that  maintenance item is crossed  off the  list. The entire  front end  will  feel like it is  brand new.

Thanks Miles

I think i will call Kent and get a quote then i know where i am. To me this sounds like a no brainer. Pretty sure their are no triples on my wing if there were they are doing nothing.

Looking at pictures on eBay of the 1500 triple trees, they appear to be cast with a black powder coating.   EZ Steer seem to be machined billet in natural finish.  So maybe easy to tell just by looking at the triple clamps currently on the bike?

'91 Goldwing triple tree: (eBay add)

1500 Goldwing EZ Steer Kit:( https://championtrikesaz.com/product/ez-steer-honda-gl1500-88-00/ )

Thanks for the insight