I have a '84 Honda Goldwing Aspencade with a Motorvation Formula II sidecar mounted up. The sidecar is made for the bike - so there are no issues with the setup.
The problem I have is that rig constantly pulls to the right on straight, flat roads.
I have the toe-in set at 3/4" as per Motorvation factory recommendations.
I also have the tilt out set at 1" as per Motorvation factory recommendations.
I have been playing with the torsion bar settings without getting any positive results.
The pull is not excessive - but it is enough to make me constantly correct to the left - loaded or unloaded.
All the tires on the bide and side car are new.
The sidecar has brakes - but they are working properly and release fine.
You suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
Joe,
This is where the fun of sidecaring begins. The factory recommendations are a starting point. Now you need to fine-tune for your riding conditions and style. Adjust the lean-out alittle more and see if it makes a difference. Too much toe-in will cause the rear tire on the MC to wear out too quick. Is the frame of the sidecar level with the world? Little things sometimes matter. Make adjustments to see what affect they have.
Wayne is right. People too often get trapped in the measurements. When I set up my Valkyrie, we started where you are and then moved things in or out in small increments until it felt right. I even carried tools on the bike so I could make changes on the road. Then even when it feels right, remeasure, make some notes, and take some pictures. As a rider, I sometimes don't notice a tire wearing until the damage is done. But if I take a digital photo of it every Saturday morning and compare those photos at the end of the month, you might see a pattern telling you something is wrong. Likewise, photos of the linkage can show you if something moves or twists.
You don't have to do this forever, but if you do for a couple weeks at least, it makes it all easier.
In my case, with a bike as big as a Valkyrie and 250 pound me hauling an empty sidecar, the settings will be a lot different than the 160 pound guy who bought it from me and who plans to never ride without a passenger.
Good luck finding the sweet spot.
Originally written by joehowards on 3/17/2008 5:25 PM
I have a '84 Honda Goldwing Aspencade with a Motorvation Formula II sidecar mounted up. The sidecar is made for the bike - so there are no issues with the setup.
The problem I have is that rig constantly pulls to the right on straight, flat roads.
I have the toe-in set at 3/4" as per Motorvation factory recommendations.
I also have the tilt out set at 1" as per Motorvation factory recommendations.
I have been playing with the torsion bar settings without getting any positive results.
The pull is not excessive - but it is enough to make me constantly correct to the left - loaded or unloaded.All the tires on the bide and side car are new.
The sidecar has brakes - but they are working properly and release fine.You suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
Joe,
You have a good combination there and I am sure you will like it once you get it dialed in.
My first sugegstion for you would be to call Motorvation and talk to Gary.All up there are very good to talk to and will be willing to help you out.
The setting sar eone thing but what the rig does or does not do for YOU is what counts.
Think this way:
LEAN OUT = lean left to go left and lean right to go right.This is static lean out or the relationship between the bike and sidecar with the sidecar set basically level from side to side. Set your tilt adjustor prior to adk=jsuting static lean out to whtever height you want to. Some set them in the middle of the travel and some like them lower.
TOE IN = too much will cause tire wear so run as little as you can 3/4" or less is fine in most cases meaured with a good straight edges just in front of the front tire and just behind the rear tire. ALWAYS recheck toe in if lean adjustments are made.
TILT ADJUSTOR = this is a device for fine tuning the rig to various loards road conditions etc,. Again, tilt left to go left and tilt right to go right.
Once you understand what each adjustment does and how one can affect another you will get it down in time.
I woudl gueSs that you have too little lean out ...AND/or... you may have a error with your toe in settings. If ther eis any chance at all that the sidecar brake is dragging myab eunhook it until you get th erig workeding better.
Getting a sidecar rig right for YOU can be a challenge but it can also be a fun exercise. It can take time but be patient and you wil get there.
Joe....
I feel your pain. I have a BMW R1200C Montauk with a Champion Escort. It took me 9400 miles to finally find the right guy to get it right, and then I still had to "tinker" with the lean out for perfection. Now, I can ride hands free on level, straight road way. Not for long, but longer than you would expect. My right sholder is still about twice the size of my left from the first 9400, but now I have 46K, and the rest, as they say, has been wonderful. That hands off is loaded and unloaded too. And by loaded, I am usually talking about a rig that is well over 500 pounds over spec load. Wife, me and clothes for two weeks are heading up to TN and AL from Miami in about 3 weeks, and we will do it all over again. I also got over 25K miles out of my Metz 880 and over 35K on my last car tire on the back. $35.00 for a rear tire and 35K miles seems like a pretty good deal. Best of luck in your efforts.
Jim wrote:
>> ....over 35K on my last car tire on the back. $35.00 for a rear tire...<<
Jim, what tire are you running and what size?
Claude....
I was running a Kumho, 165/80/15. I am now running a BFG made in Brazil of the same size. It is no longer sold in the US, but it can still be found. I probably would have gotten more out of the Kumho, but I kept it at 42 psi like I do in the front. Now I am running 36 psi in the BFG and it rides quite well. Leaving in about a week for another run to the hills, TN, NC, AL et all, and can't wait. Going to the Barber Motorsports Museum and riding east Tn and west Nc. But for tires, I love the Metz 880 in the front, and so far, I don't think you can beat $1.00 per thousand miles for tires.
Uber
Joe try going down the center of the road, some roads have one heck of a crown which will make it pull to the right, just a thought.
