Hi fellas, newbie here and would like your input on my research to set up my new car. Bike is a Harley 85 flht and car is a 2005 champion escort. I put the 5 degree trees on from liberty. Got the subframe and mounts from Dauntless Sidecars for the bike. Looking at setting the lead of car at 15 percent of axle to axle of bike. 1" of toe in at front of front tire. 1/4" of lean out at the front tire. Do not have a steering stabilizer cylinder. Would like to operate the rig at freeway speeds of 75mph. These are figures that I have gathered and look to be right. If not, please let me know what to adjust. Thanks Tim
Forgot, Will set the tilt at the bottom and add the wifes weight as ballast and sit on bike and strap down the suspension. So much info on this site, it gets a little confusing. I assume the wider the track, the better! For initial setup, bike level, and car level. More lead is better? I guess, trial and error is the learning curve. When I set everythin level, is that loaded? Thanks Tim
Sounds like you have a starting point setup so just go from there. I am nit sure what 15% lead translates to on you rrig but it is probably in the ballpark. Toe in sounds a littl emuch to me but , again, it is a start. I would probably try reducing it a little at a time in an effort to gain the best tire wear possibly. Lean out will vary from rig to rig. Rememebr lean left to go left an dlean right to go right. If you readjust lean out then take a look to se eif it afected toe in. If you readjust toe in it may change the lean out.
On the net sometimes we speak of this or that number as related to sidecar setup. Numbers and measurments alone are not what proves things to be the best they can be. Knowing what each adjustment does for or against you is what is really important. Don't be afraid to experiement once you get things going.
When doing any adjustments Try to record where you began so you can get back to square one when required.
Once you get familar with your rig you will be abel to 'hear' what it wants under various conditions from the feedback it gives you. It takes a while to be able to 'listen' to it trying to tell you something but you'll get there.
If this is your first sidecar rig you may find that after you gain seat time you may want to chenge the setup some more. Don't be afraid to experiement now and then.
Have fun and ride safe and by all means P R A C T I C E everytime you get out there.
There other opinions out ther but here is mine. Forget the front Wheel. Use the bike rear tire(Rim) and the sidecar wheel. Set it to NO toe in. Ride it and keep adjusting until it feels right, no drift or wondering. Make half turn adjustement. You can't feel too much TI, but you can Not enough. This way you will wind up with the least toe in the rig will run with and FEEL RIGHT. Install a small level on the top triple tree so it is level when you know the bike is. Adjust lean out to where the level bubble in between the marks MOST OF THE TIME going down the road. This should be done with the rig loades like you ride it.
Thanks for the replies, fellas. Got the ez steer on, now will work on the alignment. I like the idea of starting at zero. Tim
If you are starting at zero toe-in remember that each change in toe-in will also affect your leanout. That seems to entail a lot of extra adjusting.
Lonnie
