Steerite vs EZ Steer

THANKS!

towbiz - 5/13/2010 7:47 AM

Thanks to everyone for the replies. You're right, I talked with Peter @ Steerite, I'm sure that is the way I will go. Question concerning the use of the tire. I did not know there was one that would fit. Checked the Dark Side site, did not see it. Wingman what brand of tire did you use, are any modifications to wheel or suspension needed? Flagman, please let me know after you have installed it how it works. Thanks again guys, Towbiz

I went with the Federal Formoza 175/60-16. It was snug going in but fit fine. I let the air out of the tire before I fought with it to get it into place. Also took off the brake caliper mounting bracket to give some more room. Took about 60 to 65 PSI to seat the bead but other than that is working out good so far. Will see next week how it does when I go the Chelan Sidecar Rally in Washington.

SwampFox - 5/9/2010 2:06 PM

Hey Ole Coyote: Here's how Bueller modified the springer front end on his Cross Bones:

Copied from: http://www.sidecar.com/mbbs22/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=7939&posts=7&start=1:
... removed the Springer fork rockers, cut them, and extended them about 1 inch to reduce trail and make the bike steer a little easier. After I extended the rockers I found they made the front end sag because they had more leverage on the springs, so I had works performance make me a custom coil over shock to replace the stock damper (shock absorber) and provide more support for the front end. The end result is some reduction in steering effort and a front end that absorbs bumps and responds to irregularities better than the stock suspension setup ever did.

Well Swampox, you cost me some money. I just spoke to Jay at DMC Sidecars and ordered a set of rockers from him. Money well spent, I say. The only mods I may have to do is some work on my front fender rear strut. That's not much work for the ease in steering.
Coyote Thanks guys for the input.

Hey, it was Bueller's idea. He also helped me spend some money with his prior experience of mounting a Spyder to an 883R. Bueller's report on advrider with a sad but safe ending was one of several factors that convinced me to order our 1st sidecar: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278407&highlight=blue+ridge+sidecar

Well my C/T is mounted, it went much easier than I expected. Tomorrow I start changing the triple tree to the Steerite, baring rain! I hope it goes as easy as the rear wheel, they did send nice complete instructions with it, so it should go pretty well.

Wow, what a difference! Handling ths big rig is so smooth and easy now I can hardley believe it. The C/T is working well on the back, and the steerite makes it a dream to ride! Their instructions made switching the triple tree easy and fast.I will be able to tell you more in a couple of weeks, I am embarking on a 7-8 thousand mile trip on the 22nd of June. I will be able to give you a full report on the steerite and the C/T when I get back in late July, I will be at Wing Ding for a couple days if anyone else is going to be there look me up.
🙂

Thanks Flagman. Please do keep us posted. Based on your and others input, I believe I will make the same changes to my GL1500 rig.

Well I promised sometime ago to report back on my Formosa car tire ( http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Cookie=nextag_Federal&details=Ordern&typ=R-139954&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1 )on my Gl1500 Goldwing Hack.
Before leaving on an 8000 mile trip last summer I put the Formosa on and added a Steerite tripple tree to the rig. ( http://www.sidecars.ca/steerite.htm)
I now have over 14000 miles on the rig with every type of riding imaginable.
The Formosa is showing very little sign of any where.
The steerite tripple tree was like adding power steering and for only 700.00, I would highly recomend it to anyone riding a hack.
The formosa tire, 70.00 sticks to the road like glue even in wet conditions, I would not even consider going back to a motorcycle tire. From 80+mph on the superslab to the logging type roads we went on out west the tires performance was superb. I am expecting to get a minimum of 30,000 miles out of it.

Hey Flagman,
just one post with the same info would have worked.

Thanks flagman. I am just getting around to doing mine. I went with the Steerite, Formoza, and Progressive springs. It is going together now, getting ready for spring. I hope I am as pleased as you are. 🙂

I just picked up a Power Trak unit from California sidecar. It is basically the same as the others mentioned. It has a 6% rake, but adds a set of lengthened fork tubes machined from 4310 chomemoly aircraft quality alloy steel.

The nice thing about buying the complete setup is that I can easily go back to stock if I decide to move the sidecar and sell the bike. I've never owned a rig with anything but stock forks and trail, so it will be interesting to see what it is like.

Lonnie, My apology, I posted it to the wrong section the first time, I could not find the right thread! Must be a case of Oldtimers setting in!

Well guys, my original GL1500 was totaled a few weeks back, no damage to the side car, I now have another Gl1500 and have ordered a new Steerite for it. I followed some recomendations on a car tire and ordered the Austone taxi 175-r16 tire for the back. Only problem is it is to tall to work. With the brand new Progressive rear shocks pumped all the way up it still rubs the inner fender when riding two up and that is without the weight of the side car on the bike! I guess I will order another Formosa and take the increase in RPM's. The Austone is almost two inches taller than a Dunlop E-3 when it is mounted. The Formosa is about an inch shorter than the E-3 but it worked great the first time around.

Flagman, based on your recommendation, I added the Steerite and Formosa and am glad I did. Both were a great improvement. The smaller diameter on the tire was a plus for me. I thought the gearing on the GL1500 was tall for the weight of the rig with hack. Sorry to hear about the other bike, I assume you are OK.

Tobiz, I am glad to hear it is working for you, I should have stuck with it instead of listening to some of the people here. I had around 12000 miles on the Formosa and you could not see any wear yet. I just received the new Steerite tripple tree and will be puting it on as soon as I get this tire problem solved. It was even rubbing today with just me on the bike when there were any dips in the road, It certainly is not going to work with the weight of the side car and the wife and the dogs added weight!