Hi all, I've acquired an 82 GL1100 Friendship 3. Near as I can tell it does not have the longer sidecar frame add-on. (sidecar was purchased in92 and installed 3rd party) What if any are the ramifications of not having the longer frame? Thanks, Dave
The frame extension was for easier installation on long framed bikes. Especially the later full bodied GLs. The 1100s still had easy access to frame mounting points so the extension isn't needed.
Lonnie
davids - 5/17/2011 5:48 PM Hi all, I've acquired an 82 GL1100 Friendship 3. Near as I can tell it does not have the longer sidecar frame add-on. (sidecar was purchased in92 and installed 3rd party) What if any are the ramifications of not having the longer frame? Thanks, Dave
Take a look at the difference in color on my frame.
The unpainted part on top was added on to make the frame the same length as a Goldwing frame. If yours is an original long frame, it would probably look like the painted part, only longer. I just measured mine. On the short frame, the distance between the lower tubes is 21 inches. On the Goldwing frame it is 27 inches.
I've had the early FS I sidecars in the shop with their odd mounting system (see attached), but no early FS II that had this type of opening. Do you know what year the change was made?
Note the 5 lug wheel on this FS I oldie.
Lonnie
I'm getting pretty close to mounting a sidecar to my GL1100. I've been looking over the frame to figure out where to install the shackels with clevis eye joints.
From what I can see, I need 4 mount points on the bike's right side:
- lower frame forward of the motor mount, rear of the exaust flanges
- on the 45* strut next to the rear air shock valve, hopefully below the valve close to the main frame member
- upper frame rail under the seat next to a cross member
- high up on the forward up-tube along the radiator
Do these mount points sound right to y'all?
OldSchool_IsCool - 5/18/2011 7:37 AM I'm getting pretty close to mounting a sidecar to my GL1100. I've been looking over the frame to figure out where to install the shackels with clevis eye joints. From what I can see, I need 4 mount points on the bike's right side: - lower frame forward of the motor mount, rear of the exaust flanges - on the 45* strut next to the rear air shock valve, hopefully below the valve close to the main frame member - upper frame rail under the seat next to a cross member - high up on the forward up-tube along the radiator Do these mount points sound right to y'all?
Sounds good. I always try to keep the lower two on a horizontal plane if possible. That way, if you need to remove it, you just put out the sidestand, remove the top two bolts and lean the bike onto the stand. If the bottom two are uneven, you take a chance of altering the alignment when you lean the bike.
That's what I was hoping to do Mike, but I'm not sure there is enough lower frame exposed to connect both lowers to it. The exhaust blocks much of the forward frame. Plus there is the need for the hack wheel to lead the bike's rear wheel just a bit, so I can't go too far forward or backward anyway. The arms on the lower hack mounts are not adjustable, but came off a GL1000 so should connect up OK. You can see them in my build thread if you're not sure what I mean.
I'll take pics when I get to mounting that will hopefully be useful to the original poster.
Which sidecar are you mounting?
An Auburn Gemini, similar to a TwinStar and/or Ride-by-side. I have a build thread going here in the tech section.
Here's one of the last Twinstars. I mounted it shortly before the fire in Texas burnt up the molds. The GL/Gemini will mount up about the same as this Heritage. I used Heim joint lowers and clevis eye strut mounts on this one.
Here are the positions I use on the 1100 GL's for eye bolt type mounting.
Lonnie
Hack'n - 5/18/2011 3:23 PM Here's one of the last Twinstars. I mounted it shortly before the fire in Texas burnt up the molds. The GL/Gemini will mount up about the same as this Heritage. I used Heim joint lowers and clevis eye strut mounts on this one. Here are the positions I use on the 1100 GL's for eye bolt type mounting. Lonnie
Those spots are nearly identical to my GL1200. The front lower fairing wasn't even altered. You simply remove one of the vents. All I had to alter was to trim the back edge of the side cover. After I sold the sidecar, the sidecover looked fine unless you removed it from the bike. Otherwise you couldn't see it had been altered.
WOW!! Thanks Lonnie & Mike!
The photos and the info on dealing with body panels is EXTREAMLY valuable and AMAZINGLY TIMELY!! I have basically the same mounts, brand new heims on the bottoms and the original clevis joints. Not quite a polished and pretty as those in your photos, but functionally identical.
I'll have to get down on the ground to see if I can get a shackel on the lower frame forward of the exhaust headers. I seem to recall some interference there. If it's the engine guard, that can come off as I'll have a whole sidecar protecting that side of the engine soon!
P.S. Lonnie, do you happen to recall how much lead you gave to the sidecar's wheel ahead of the bike's rear wheel? I was going to start with 10 inches and see how that rides.
Around 20% of the bike wheelbase works.
L.
We can supply some of the parts for these such as mounting hardware, brake rotors, suspention bushings and a few other items. For windshields we have found that www.bikescreen.com has them.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
Hey guys, new to the forum.
I have what I believe to be a FS1 that I have been scouring the innertubes for information about. There seems to be precious little available. This thread is as close as I can find to a list of replacement parts and sources need to keep these tubs on the road.
Around the first of the year SidecarMike mentioned getting some pics posted up of the brakes and tilt mechanism. Does anyone have such pics?
My FS1 doesn't have the brake option. I'm researching what it would take to add brakes and possibly tilt, a couple good pics would help bunches.
I also have some info that I can add to the collective database. I'm in the process of making a spreadsheet (I'm a bit anal like that) and I'd like to add the info in this thread if that's OK?
