My Rookie Year

My rookie year started on Jul 24th 2005 and has now ended do to snowfall, miles traveled 7,272. Both my 24 year old mentally handicapped son and myself are fully hooked on the rig. The first best advice I got was from the installer who wouldn't let me drive the rig home. There is a lot to know and understand about driving a rig. I took two weeks of a lot of miles before I took a passenger. According to the SKUNKs I met, the installer did a great job - they took the rig for a "test" ride. Not being satisfied, I decided to "play" with it a little. Next spring/summer hopefully the SKUNKs will wish to "test" drive the rig again and I can get their opinions.

Changes done to motorcycle and sidecar during Sep., Oct., and Nov. 2005.

The purpose of the changes was to provide better handling and steering. This is the order in which changes were done. I believe all these changes needed to be done in order to achieve the best results for my rig. The results may be different for another rig.

Added additional 2.5" spacer to each fork tube and used 16 oz (mfg recommended 13.4 oz. 10w oil) of 30w oil in each fork tube. Result was forks didn't bottom out and raised front end/handlebars to more comfortable position. Front end was stiffer but not uncomfortable. Also moved rear shocks to max. stiffness position.

Adjusted Toe-in to 1/4" from 1-1/8". Adjusted Lean-out from 1/4" to 3/4" in increments. Then adjusted Toe-in from 1/4" to 1-1/8" in increments. Result was less pull to right at speeds over 50 mph.

Adjusted sidecar body backwards on frame by 5" (2.5" each time) so that where the back of the sidecar seat meets the bottom seat was over the sidecar axle. Made a big difference on the steering, doesn’t feel so stiff and “heavy”. Less stress on arms and shoulders. Better steering in corners. Less pull to right at speeds over 50 mph. Over the winter, will move back another 1.5”.

Put an Avon Triple Duty MK II 19” tire on the front of motorcycle. Even less stress on arms and shoulders. Even better steering in corners. Steering actual feels “light” but handles great in the corners. No front end wobble.

Tire pressures – motorcycle front (28 psi) motorcycle rear (40 psi) sidecar (24 psi) motorcycle front & rear are mfg recommended for heavy load and sidecar is from information gathered from other sidecarists

General rig information - Axle Lead 11”
Toe-in 1-1/8”
Lean-out .75”
Track 53.5”

The purpose of the change was to increase torque (power) of motorcycle (shaft-driven).

Put lower profile tire Metzeler ME880 Marathon 140/80-15 (instead of 140/90-15) on rear of motorcycle. .75” smaller diameter tire. Result was 400 rpm increase at speeds (4th gear at 55 mph was 4000 rpms now 4400 rpms). Easier start from dead stop in 1st gear. Can notice more torque (power) from 1st to 4th gear. 5th gear seems to have some more.