Hello All, the past 3 months I have been reading everything I can find on sidecar setup/ handling/ adjustments, trying to as my dad used to say" Decrease my Ignorance level" everywhere I read "stiffer is better" . Last night I mounted the Harley FLH rear air shocks on my Guzzi, and noticed even with 25 lbs of air ,on these shocks designed for a Big Heavy Harley dresser, the suspension is pretty compliant on the bike, when I press down on the hacks suspension, its hard as a rock, barely moves , most of the compliance being provided by the tire sidewall flex with 20 psi in it. The single motorcycle type shock on my CSC Friendship II suspension has the preload set on the center "step" . should the hacks suspension move in unison with the bikes rear suspension, or should it be much stiffer for better handling? If I stand on the sidecar frame between the bike and havk , and bounce a little, the bikes suspension compresses, leaning the bike out, the sidecar side of things barely moves. shoud I soften the hacks shock preload further, and decrease the pressure in the tire more? It almost seems like 20 psi is too much for a car tire thats only holding up a hack weighing about 275 lbs total. On my Goldwing trike, I have to run about 18 psi in the rears to get even tire wear. Thanks Rick.
Rick,
You want the sidecar suspension to be stiff enough to support the bike in left hand turns without wallowing. The sidecar suspension is independent of the motorcycle and the hacks wheel is also on a separate track from the bikes wheels. Different sidecar loads will make the sidecar suspension be more or less compressed.
Pick a load setting that works best for you with the bike and sidecar loads you normally ride with.
Trike wheels use automobile tires which are designed for much heavier loads so they can operate with a lot less air pressure than a single sidecar tire. With full pressure they can bounce like a pogo stick.
Lonnie
