Quick Advice on Leading Link
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Hi,
I'm setting up a sidecar rig in the next 2 weeks (waiting on a sidecar) and then on July 5th I am lighting off for a 3000+ mile ride in 5 days. I will then live off said rig for the next 16+ months. I might have stated this all before.
The rig is a 1995 Kawasaki KZ1000P with a Velorex 563T sidecar. I have enough extra money to get a set of Leading Link Forks from SideStrider. The money could be better spent for the trip/living, but... but... I could spare it.
How much of an improvement do they make? Does it at all help stop the chair from flying in right hand corners? Or is that totally Seperate? I have the Yellow Book and have been reading it.
I'm not the strongest dude who ever lived, I'm tall and lean. Wirey build, so wrestling with the handlebars is not objectionable, but if the Leading Link makes THAT much of a difference.... I'll do it.
Thoughts?
Advice?
Wisdom?
Thanks.
Adding leading links or raked triple trees is like adding power steering. It may take a little saddle time to get used to the quickness and the tendency to oversteer. You may or may not need a steering damper to control head shake on some rigs. Too little trail can cause this.
The LL's will not dive when stopping and that may feel unusual at first if the front end lifts, but like the hack on the side and real steering/steering instead of push and lean, you'll soon get used to it.
Remember it's a dedicated rig when you're done so no more solo riding without risk of crashing. Since you're losing your caster angle the bike no longer wants to straighten out after a turn and must be steered.
The steering mods won't help keep you on three wheels in a right turn, ballast will. You aren't a sissy for using ballast but you might be a survivor. This is especially important when you are in the learning curve and have a solo bike muscle memory. There are a few new things to get familiar with and a few other things to forget when piloting a sidehack rig.
Lonnie
Amen to Lonnie's comments. You will like the leading links once you get used to them. Do you NEED them? Some are much more sensitive to hard steering than others. Trying it without them first is not a bad thing but if you have the money to spend now you will not be disapointed.
Thanks guys, that's what I needed to hear.
Hi, I had the same thoughts and decided on the leading link as I was setting the bike up as a dedicated sidecar. After fitting the sidecar and test rideing without the leading link then fitting the new front end I think I could have lived without it. Dont get me wrong it is a great improvement but with my bike (harley road king) the front end was solid and the bike handled great even without. Could have saved the money and work in my opinion. It the long term it is probably still a good investment with the better breaking characteristics etc etc. One thing that will help with your cornering is an anti sway bar, thats worth thinking about as well. Good luck on your trip.
Tim
