I have installed my first sidecar (Ranger) on my wife's 2005 Heritage Softail. We are in the process of finding a painter...but am now thinking about adding 5 degree raked triple tree to get the steering input easier for my wife before I invest in custom paint. Since I have no experience to draw from, does adding raked trees significantly better steering versus the cost of the tree
I put my first sidecar on my old shovelhead about 8 months ago. I didn't have raked trees at first, and it was a bit hard to steer especaily on right hand corners that were leaning to the left. My buddy got me a set for my birthday, they were for a servi-car ( fixed rake), and man what a diffrence. It was like power steering. I wasn't sure if I liked the sidecar in the begining but when I put the trees on I can't get enough of it. I rode it around primered and just this week I tore it down and painted it. I have to go out and clear coat it today. Hopefully tomorrow I can put it back together and ride. I would definetly suggest the trees. It's easier and I think it's safer.
We rode our V-Star 1100 with a Hannigan Classic sidecar for awhile with the stock triple trees and then tried the stock trees and a steering dampener.
We then had Steerite modify the trees and the difference was amazing.
The ease of steering is great and all around handling is much better. Do it, you won't be sorry.
