Reverse gear

Don,
Why not treat it like a solo bike and BACK it into the garage. It's not going to tip over.
I had and installed the Champion Reverse conversion on my old RoadKing/Spyder rig.
Their "3 hour" installation estimate is fine if your transmission is out of the bike and laying on the workbench. I think with dismounting and remounting the sidecar, getting access to the transmission innards, Cleaning the oil off so the locktite would adhere, protection for grinding off a rod in the transmission, installing the new parts and reassembly of the bike and sidehack took more like 10 hours.
They sent me the wrong shift lever and Both times that I needed to use the reverse gear I got second degree burns on my right hand from the header pipe.
Yup! I only needed to use it twice in three years.
Not a good investment for me.
Like converting auto rims and tires, it's worth the money if you are going to get a lot of usage out of it. Otherwise it's like paying for that second Queen sized bed when you are alone in the Motel.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Lonnie, I certainly understand your views, and agree with your conclusion. For me, driving in town, etc, I really like a reverse gear. My Ural had a real reverse, which I miss. The GoldWing has an electric reverse which is very nice, just a little slow. I do plan to add the Champion reverse gear to my RoadKing when I hack it this summer.Probably no way to justify the exoense however.

I bought my '03Ultra&CLE sidecar new and had the Champion reverse installed at the dealer.(they are authorized Champion dealer). I had nothing but problems, stranding me on the road 3 times far from home and being towed.The dealer blamed the unit,Champion blamed the dealer,I was out $1700. I had it removed and have never regretted it. I really never needed it, I just planned ahead and only used it for fun. After 8 years I still get upset when I think about it, thanks a lot PUZ...:)

Boy, this is encouraging. I did talk both with Jay at Dauntless as well as the Trike dealer in SoCal, mentioning I had heard of issues I did this a few weeks ago). Both of them said they had installed several with no issues, HOWEVER, both of them indicated that earlier versions had had issues. The current version is fine.Does anyone know of any Harley Trike forums? I would think this would be a good place to get current info? The trouble with forums, on many issues, is the guys with bad experiences are aften more likely to comment. Don't blame them either.I sure dont want to get something that doesn't work. I did a couple seaches on google, and here, and only find the above tow comments, both negative!

For the record, mine was the type 3 conversion, not the earlier Type 1 or 2. What are they calling the current model and what changes are they claiming?
Easier to shift in and out of reverse without shutting off the engine would be a plus.

Lonnie

I don't have one but I did consider it, that is, until I downloaded the installation instructions from their website.

For one, it is incredibly expensive. Also, I second everything that Lonnie says above. It really would require the removal of the transmission for proper installation. That implies removal and replacement of my sidecar - something that I plan on having my heirs do as part of my Will instructions. LOL

Also, I don't like the idea of and therefore certainly would not perform the other modifications they require to my super-expensive HD five-speed transmission. It appears that they require you to amputate about a quater inch of the upper shift control rod...uh-uh. No thanks. Also, there is some grinding that may or may not be required to the inside of the side cover. No thanks, again! Then, of course, if it doesn't work or perhaps damages the rest of the transmisison, it's my fault "because I obviously must have installed it wrong"....yeah, right.

All that coupled with the issue of maybe burning your hand and shortening the life of the transmssion makes it a non-starter for me. See Lonnie's post above. LOL.

It will be more fun saving the dough and just practicing parking so I don't need the durn thing.

Another thing I plan to do to prevent unneeded and time-wasteful answering of questions will be to add a sign somewhere on my rig that says "NO...IT DOESN'T HAVE A REVERSE. NO, I DON'T PLAN ON GETTING ONE. THANKS FOR ASKING!" This is because, without exception, every time I park somewhere, someone asks..."Uhhhh, does it have a reverse?"

My answer is invariably, "No it doesn't" This is quickly followed by the response: "Well have you heard about the Champion Reverse kit? Why don't you get one and install it?" Notice that they never offer to pay me or help me with the labor. LOL

Have seen this discussed over and over again. When I was first looking to buy the sidecar I WAS going to go with the Champion unit but ran into a little snag. I have a 6-speed in my Ultra and Champion does/didn't make one for the 6-speed.

I've learned since installing the sidecar where and how to park. When ever I get into a situation that might be tight I go ahead and park. When I get ready to leave I put the bike in neutral, and push the bike from the front, pushing on the fairing. I do have my hand on and/or close to the brake lever. Have had no problems do'n it this way. $1400.00 saved !!!

o~o

Originally written by Texan on 1/23/2008 9:46 PM

Have seen this discussed over and over again. When I was first looking to buy the sidecar I WAS going to go with the Champion unit but ran into a little snag. I have a 6-speed in my Ultra and Champion does/didn't make one for the 6-speed.

I've learned since installing the sidecar where and how to park. When ever I get into a situation that might be tight I go ahead and park. When I get ready to leave I put the bike in neutral, and push the bike from the front, pushing on the fairing. I do have my hand on and/or close to the brake lever. Have had no problems do'n it this way. $1400.00 saved !!!

o~o

Excellent point! I'll just park more carefully.

Just a comment. I have never had a reverse on one of our rigs and do not intend to have one.....but.... a word of warning to think about:
Picture a one way street that has diagonal parking spaes on it. These spaces run downhill so woudl make backing a rig out by hand a real hassle. One time I parked in one of these spaces backwards so I could drive out easily when it was time to leave. Upon returning to the rig I found a parking ticket there for improper parking. It was a 15 dollar ticket and I just paid it. Probably should have went to court to see what would have happened but taking time off from work etc was a hassle at the time.
This took place in Lewisburg, Pa.

There are a lot of responses re: the "need" for a reverse. Sort of like the need for more power. I would totally agree that reverse is not "necessary". I want it because I like it and think it looks way more cool to back out of a parking spot rather than pushing the sidecar. I live in a very large city where convenient parking is usually not available. To me, $1600 or so is not at all unreasonable if it works (a new Harley rig is $30K ++). Claude, do you have any experience with the Champion reverse? I have talked with several Lehman Trike dealers, and they all say they work fine. I have a call into Lehman itself, curious as to what they have to say.

Originally written by claude #3563 on 1/24/2008 2:19 AM

Just a comment. I have never had a reverse on one of our rigs and do not intend to have one.....but.... a word of warning to think about:
Picture a one way street that has diagonal parking spaes on it. These spaces run downhill so woudl make backing a rig out by hand a real hassle. One time I parked in one of these spaces backwards so I could drive out easily when it was time to leave. Upon returning to the rig I found a parking ticket there for improper parking. It was a 15 dollar ticket and I just paid it. Probably should have went to court to see what would have happened but taking time off from work etc was a hassle at the time.
This took place in Lewisburg, Pa.

Pennsylvania is apparently rather aggressive in enforcment on parking ticets in their Cities. There is even a new show on the topic about Pittsburgh alled "Parking Wars".

$15 isn't bad. It costs more than that to park in San Francisco. LOL

$15.00 for the ticket? You can pay for a lot of these for the cost of the reverse kit installed.
I equate it with buying and maintaining a motorhome for a couple of summer vacation trips.

(My bride helps me push the rig backwards for half that amount). lol

Lonnie

I installed the champion kit on my 04 RK and love it! Don’t believe anybody that tells you must remove the transmission to install the kit. It is not true. Granted the estimated time of installation is bunch of bull. It took me about 8 solid hours not including the removal and installation of the sidecar. I have put over 5,000 miles on the rig since the installation and it has worked flawlessly. I should add that I use it a lot too because I’m a paraplegic – which partially explains whey it took me 8 hour to install – everything takes a little longer in wheelchair!

I,am a quadraplegic with the champion reverse on a custom 88' softail trike and a 03' road king with 02' TLE sidecar.
On the 88' just had to remove the pipes,..on the 03' hack had to remove hack and of course the pipes,...if your a half way good wrencher you won't have any problems installing it.
for us crip riders it was the best thing since sliced bread, and is well worth the money,...hell would have paid $5,000.00.
Before the Reverse for the HD came out I had gotten myself stuck so many times I can't remember them all,..I broke my neck in 82' and got back in the wind in 84', and will never quit.