Anyone know what air shock pressure I should be running on my 98 Ultra with sidecar
This won't be much help but I can't find anything in my sidecar service manual or owner's manual. The bike service manual says 5 psi with a passenger and 10 psi with a passenger and max. loaded luggage. I haven't checked the pressure on mine but haven't put that many miles on it and none with a passenger or heavy load yet. It would make sense to pump it up a little with the extra weight but probably doesn't need much pressure with an empty sidecar.
The Harley Shop set mine at 55# for max loading.
On a related matter, should the tires on the bike with an empty sidecar have more pressure than normally recommended? If so, by how much? 5# ?
I would think so because of the lateral strain on the tire with the added weight of the sidecar.
TomM
Recommendation in the H-D sidecar service manual is front tire at 36 psi under all loading conditions, rear tire at 36 psi solo rider, rear tire at 40 psi with a sidecar passenger or bike and sidecar passengers, and 28 psi for the sidecar tire under all loading conditions. The front and rear tire pressures are the same as solo bike recommendation in the bike service manual.
There are numerous variables to this question. On my 02 HD Ultra with a standard HD sidecar I run around 15 PSI in my shocks no matter the load. Rear tire 40 PSI front tire 36 PSI and sidecar tire 28 PSI. Are you having a problem in the way it is handling?
No problems just been checking everything out before I hit the road
I run 40# in mine around town. I am planning a four week road trip in July/August fully loaded and will probably bump it up. I use the ride/handling quality as a guide.
If I ran 40 pounds in my 02 would be like riding a ridged frame. The genuine Harley service manual for my 02 says a max of 35PSI and I could not image running that much even fully loaded. Now on earlier models might be different. This is my opinion start out low and add till you find what makes you happy.
I have a 2003 FLHRCI with Liberty car. I am using Progressive Suspension 416 air shocks in place of standard Harley air shocks. The maximum rating for the 416's is 70 psi. I weigh around 190# in my birthday suit. My riding gear is weighted different depending on temperature and location/distance of ride. I probably have 15 lbs in my saddlebags at all times and another 50 lbs in the car at all times. (I ride solo) I run 40-42 lbs air in front and rear tires and a little less in the car tire. 40 lbs air in the shocks gives me a stable and secure feeling ride.
I am shipping my rig to San Diego for a 4 week Western U.S. ride with my brother in law. This will be my first long ride loaded with travel gear. I will let you know how I end up with tire/shock pressure numbers and other stuff upon my return. (July/August)
