I've just finished restoring my Terraplane (see gallery - RStam's GL/Terraplane), have taken a few local test flights and am ready for my first road trip. I'll be riding the rig to the Gilmore Museums' Vintage Bike Show about 150 miles away.
I have no idea what the tire pressures should be set at. Right now I'm just using what would be normal bike pressures (38 rear, 34 front, 36 sidecar). Please let me hear your experiences and recommendations.
The rig is set up using original Vetter bike side mounts and sidecar pylons(thanks Jay) and retains the TrimGrip top mount. The sidecar has a 400x18 Metzler Block K, and the bike has a 350x19 Avon Triple Duty on the front and a 125/18-16 TwinTire on the rear. All tires are new and the bike tires are mounted on Lester alloy wheels(not the standard spokes shown in the photos) I've currently got the toe in set at 7/8".
Thanks in advance for your help.
Roger Stam
I'll be looking for you at Gilmore. I have been there the last 3 years with the HD sportster, this year I will be taking the FXLR with the Dnepr car.
I run regular bike pressure in my tires and about 35 lbs in the car tire. if the car pressure is lower it pulls to the right, But that would vary according to how you have the rig set up.
The needed pressure itsself may vary on the elevation over see level, the heat, the kind of road and your driving style.
But it often depends on the tires themselves.
If you have week walls, you need to rise the pressure, if you have stiff walls. Check with load and haveing somebody siting on the bike (and in the sidecar). Watch the contact area of the tire to the ground and have somebody pushing sideway.
The contact area must look "GOOD" and the tire shouldn't bend over too much when pushing. Too high pressure you will "rubb" at breaking and in bends. Too less presure the hole thing starts to wooble.
Make a few rides on a lot of bends with somebody driveing behind you. You need to feel confortable. And the Watch man/woman das to observe the tires behaveing in the bends. That is the best way to find out hte best presurs for the diferent uses.
I recomend to have your own pressure gage and why not a foot or hand pump in the sidecar. (the pressure gages at different gas stations vary a lot- you cannot trust them)
Too week tires are a danger! On my bike I went back to the original Jawa tires very fast - after haveing to use for "meanwhile" chineese junk - anyhow they lasted only 2000km. But in bends I noticed in the guds the tire trying to flip off. Not nice experience on our mountain roads at too high speed.
Best luck
Sven Peter
