I have '72 HD with a '69 sidecar. I've been told by a few to lean and toe in and some said out. Does anyone know the right answers to this. I have even seen some HD Manuals contradict themselves. Please advise and thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Cando- I've got a great document I downloaded from another web site some time back that I'll e-mail you if you'll tell me where to send it. And if I can find where I put it... Let's see... it's here somewhere...
There is also some good tech stuff at the Sidecar Industry Council Site.
http://www.sidecar-industry.com/techpages.htm
It's not Harley Specific but still good information.
That question seems to be ongoing even in my own mind.
The dealer set mine up (99 Indian Chiefw/Legend sidecar) and tilted the sidecar down on the left side (said I would need to carry 125lbs in hack)
to level it off. In the beginning I put 5 25# bags of buckshot in the rig but it was a pain to offload when I rode with my grandkids. The rig also pulled and pushed like most (I guess). After a year reading posts at this site I decided that I couldnt make it any worse so I reset up the rig. I made a new front bracket to give me some more ground clearance (had 1 1/2")
Moved the car forward so axle was about 6" ahead of bike axle, leveled the car with a plumb bike and toed the car in 1/2" measured at the bike axles.
I would drive 30 mi and lean the bike out 4 turns, drive 30 mi and lean the bike out a few more turns until finally I got the rig to ride with hardly any effort however the bike looks stupid leaning over so far and when I changed rear tire in fall noticed eneven tire wear. I think the next step is to add toe in to 3/4" and lean bike back in. Anyone out there know of a better way please say so as Im just shootin in the dark.
Thanks
Steve
Harley with Harley sidecar?
Always positive toe-in to where it tracks straight.
Harley seems to prefer a lean-in on some models but a small amount of lean-out will work better on crowned roads.
I run about 1 degree positive lean-out on my RK rig. About the same on my Sporty rig with an after market sidecar.
On your rig the OEM adjustable sidecar triple trees are also an advantage if not already equipt.
Lonnie
Yep, I was fortunate to purchase a set of original OEM adj. triple trees. The are currently set a 5% more right now. I will play with the other adjustments before I start messing around with the trees. You agree?
Hi Tom
Could I get a copy of toe-in Lean etc. I'm still waiting on my welders, but reading whatever I can for setup. Since it's a Side-deck instead of a sidecar would you recommend Shocks. I'm riding the rail on it since my wheelchair has shocks and springs, which will be strapped down but might bounce to. If shocks and bounce, I guess on a corner, it might be bad especially if you cut the corner to hard. This rail is getting hard to take.
Would you be interested in the name of a book with hundreds of motorcycles, Old treasure and newer 70's or so. We have one at our Library but I'm sure there's others around.
Brian brian-holt@shaw.ca
Done. I just sent you what I sent Michael. You ever go to the North Meets South at Cache Creek? A BC UMCI rally. Barb and I were there in 2000. Always planned on making it back up your way for that one. Haven't made it yet. Seems to me it was in April.
