Hi guys Due to a handycapped son I need to purchase a sidecar for my gl1800a 2003 wing. I have a few questions. I have been looking at the champions escort and I would like to know on steering should I get the ezsteer for $1000. or the dampner for a couple hundred? I know I need to buy the brake system. What about the T.I.L.T. system? Is this a good car to buy for my bike? Is this something I can install for myself or should I leave it to a pro. Does the fuel mileage go bye bye or not to bad. Any help would be appreciated. I shall be one of you soon..
if you can afford it, the EZ Steer is the way to go. i have installed acouple of them. they are well made. i have an 850 suz/hitchhiker mileage dropped about 33%. also have xs11yam/ hitchhiker mileage drop wasn't as bad but it didn't get great mpg to start with..............fly
Hi Mike - Talk to Tom Ridyard up in Phoenix. sidecarguy@yahoo.com or (602) 224-9553. Tom lists himself as a "Sidecar Consultant" in The Sidecarist and is a great guy. You can get a sanity check about do it yourself vs. letting someone else install it and maybe some insight to other options you may want to consider. Good luck! Thanks,
The EZ steer is nice but on the GL1800 it is not needed as bad as on other bikes. We have installed a few Escorts on the GL1800 if you have any questions. We have also installed several of our Liberator sidecars using our mounting system.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.dauntlessmotors.com
866-638-1793
What's an "easy-steer"?
it is araked triple tree to reduce trail making steering easier. not to be used on a solo bike..........fly
Originally written by JayDauntless on 12/30/2005 5:22 AM
The EZ steer is nice but on the GL1800 it is not needed as bad as on other bikes. We have installed a few Escorts on the GL1800 if you have any questions. We have also installed several of our Liberator sidecars using our mounting system.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.dauntlessmotors.com
866-638-1793
Question I do not understand you say it is not needed as bad. Then would you say I should buy one or not.
Also do you have an escort in stock if not how long will it take to get one? What is you labor charge to install? Thanks Mike
>should I get the ezsteer for $1000. or the dampner for a couple hundred?
Sounds to me like you're confuseing a dampner with easy steering? If that's the case, a dampner is just there to keep the bike from wobbleing. A dampner is like a shock absorer attached between the steering and the frame. If anything they steering harder. Hanging a sidecar on a bike sometimes make them wobble, you'll know soon enough if you need a dampner.
Ben
Thanks op200 I see the difference now. But my question still remains should I purchase the easy steer?
If you drive an automobile without power steering and enjoy doing so, I would recommend that you forfend the EZ Steer and enjoy "Muscling" the sidecar rig. Nuff said ?
any opinions on the EZ Steer vs. the Liberty, it looks like the Liberty is a steel fab and the EZ is milled?
Hi, Mike
I have a GL1500 with Champion Escort. It's a good fit for the big Hondas.
I got it to use to ocassionally haul grandkids around. I like the way it
can be disconnected (about 15 minutes} and I still enjoy being able to go
down the road on two wheels. So at this time I couldn't have the Ez-Steer
on it and use as a solo bike. I have the dampener to keep it from head shake at low speeds and it works well. If you have good upper body strength you shouldn't have trouble with steering. I have the T.I.L.T. and
it works great. I am in the process of having Dauntless rig up a brake in the spring because I think it needs one. Fuel mileage: On two wheels I get around 38 mpg and with the sidecar with 130 lb wife drops to about 30. We also pull a camping trailer. Mileage with that fully loaded will vary from 28 down to nearly 20 depending on wind/speed/terrain, etc. As for installing, you probably should have some professional help. When I got mine (used) it had been set up on an identical bike so the settings were already done and it came out just right.
Ralph Taylor
Libby, Montana
The trail on the GL1800 stock is about where a GL1500 is with a 3 degree kit on it. So to clairify. An EZ steer is nice on a GL1800 but it is not as hard to steer with the sidecar as the GL1500 was and you can get by with out one. Of course if you can afford an EZ Steer you will not regret it.
Our last GL1800 had one of our Liberator sidecars on it and we did not modify the steering. My wife had no problem riding it.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.dauntlessmotors.com
866-638-1793
Thanks guys for all your help. I just ordered my escort from champion and added the ez steer and the t.i.l.t. along with the brakes and some other goodies. Ride Safe.
Does anyone know the difference between EZSteer and Side Effects. I just purchased a St1100 with a hannigan that has Side Effect Rake on it.
