Quote from Guest on August 4, 2007, 11:01 pm

Nice looking sidecar but it is light for a Harley set up, plan on putting quite a bit of weight in/under it or it will fly very easily, find out if they can put on a lean adjuster, after having one I don't know how anybody can get by with out it, Calf. sidecar offers one and so does Liberty which is a Really nice car, at 7400+ bucks it's not a steal but it is in line with others so you do have a choice, good luck in finding what you want and let us know what you decide on.

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 10:29 am

Shadow,

Thanks for the info, when I asked SECO about the electric lean adjustment, he said that since the wheel is the same size as the bike, there is no need for the electric lean adjustment! I will definately be asking him about the flight of the car, being I have never even rode a bike with a car, I damn sure don't need to try being a stunt Biker! LOL. I appreicate yourinputs.

Jim

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 11:12 am

With all due respect to who ever told you that because the wheel is the same size you didn't need a Elc. lift is wrong, it's not to level the car, but to tilt it, depending on load, road crown, especially road crown, it will allow you to tune the rig for hands off rideing. In my case I found it to be a absolute necessity on the roads in Kansas, Iowa and some of Illinois, the road crown on the secondary roads is a lot and with out the Elc. lean I would have been fighting the natural urge of the rig to turn right because of the crown, wheel size has nothing to do with this, if the rig is tilted it's going to want to turn.

Again with all due respect I think they just didn't want you to be looking else where, the lean wasn't designed because it wasn't needed, If one wanted to be anal about a sidecar then the Elc. lean would be out, but then so would the sidecar brake, and you don't want to go there.

Ask your self why the top sellers have them, go to the forum and ask those who have them what they think about them, you know how I feel 🙂

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 12:47 pm

Shadow,

Again I thank you for your input. I have just emailed Seco (Spalding Side) the questions concerning the electric lean and the raising the car off the ground or adding weight to it. I will share their answers to these questions once received. I am so glad to have found the United Sidecar Association, as I said before I've been riding bikes for 32 years mostly Harleys, but I have never rode a bike with a sidecar,with my wifes issues and looking ahead I want to get set-up so we can continue riding for many years and a sidecar seems to be the answer, now if I can just get things lined up as to which one, what options, installation and all that, we'll be good to go!

Quote from Deleted user on August 5, 2007, 1:33 pm

Well, you joined the web site, not join the club...

http://www.sidecar.com/membership.asp

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 1:41 pm

Hey Steve,

As you can tell, I know nothing about the world of sidecars, and am in process of learning and purchasing one. Now and I mean just now I began looking at Champion Sidecars as another brand option, I don't know if the offer the tilting front yet, but am investigating as there is a dealer about 10 miles away!! However for a Champion car we're talking well over 8 grand, wish I had cash to distribute everywhere, but I don't. Trying to figure how I'm gonna pull off snagging a car!! I will however consider becoming a member once I'm a Hacker!! Right now I'm just a Biker! LOL.
Jim

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 1:42 pm

I bet I asked this before, but don't remember the answer. Do you folks take paypal? that would be a very handy way for me to join your GREAT organization.

Quote from Deleted user on August 5, 2007, 2:28 pm

We are working on it, along with a bunch of other things. We are volunteer driven so sometimes we have the skill sets we need and sometimes we don't.

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 7:28 pm

Shadow and all for that matter,

Here is the response I received from Roger Spalding concerning his (Spalding Side) sidecar,I said I would share so here it is:

Hi Jim, It appears you are getting info from people that do not own one of my cars and the guy with the shadow never will, as I do not do anything but Harleys. I can get into three way conversations with customers and attempt to convince the customer that what I am saying is correct. However, I choose to not waste valuable time with that. My suggestion to you is follow these peoples advice that either have owned someones elses sidecar or buy a california, or a champion, or liberty, or a hannigan, or a Harley. Then go back to the people that have given you all this advice based on what they think and tell them what you think. My car does not lift and it is because of the very low center of gravity not weight. Again, the actuator is bull as you can never take the crown out of the road. The only cars that match a harley are mine and A liberty Car (this is nice but is a pre 1966 replica) It is the only one I ve never owned, so I cannot say if it will lift-I cannot even say they will hook up to a softail, I know Harley will not. The very fact that I am six months behind on deliveries kind of says it all. The other folks might say this to. However, it is because they spend all there time building trikes. I am sorry I was not able to help you Jim. Good luck in your search. Roger Spalding

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 8:19 pm

Hi Jim,
I'm sure he builds a fine sidecar and takes great pride in doing so, all I was trying to do is express what I know to be true for me and that's not saying that I'm right in all aspects, Roger is correct in saying that you can't take the crown out of the road but the lean option will allow the bike to handle like it isn't there,,,up to a point, some roads are crowned so much that I still had to push to the left but not as hard as if I didn't have it. At one point he says his car won't lift yet further in to his statement he says he can't say if it will, well at under 400 lbs and hooked to 800 lbs of Harley I can safely say that it will, low center
of gravity or not. The fact that he's 6 Mo.'s behind doesnt necessarily mean he's that busy, it could mean that he's a craftsman taking his time to make it right,,I don't know, if you want the look of a pre 66 sidecar then by all means go for it, if you want a modern set up then check out your options to know and be sure of what you want, this is after all a long term investment.
I'm sure others will chime in on this subject and hopefully one of his customers will also so you can be sure in your decision one way or the other.

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 8:26 pm

Shadow,

Thanks again for your input. I'm not trying to start a ing ,match here,just want to do what's best for my situation, and since people here have sidecars I thought it best to gather information from those who know. Right now I am a magnet for information and I want it all!! I don't want to cheap out then wish I had something different,the most important thing is safety and the flip front for easy in and out for my wife. Thanks again for your inputs.
Jim

Quote from timo482 on August 5, 2007, 10:11 pm

installing a raked tree will make the road crown issues go away - but then you really cant ride it with the sidecar removed.

the whole lean issue is that at some lean angle the bike will go straight on some particular road - when the crown changes then the lean is not perfect - so most folks try and hit the middle ground and deal with the pull.

i got tired of that game and changed the tree - end of problem - but there is NO riding the bike without the car - you need to learn a LOT more before you can make a choice. try and find a harley sidecar service manual - it has a really decent section on lean & toe in & how to adjust it all - usefull info regardless what car you get

to

Quote from Guest on August 5, 2007, 11:24 pm

Jim, can you go check out an installed Spalding?

I doubt you really need a 400 lb sidecar to have a safe ride and both the ride height and the track width will affect stability. 56" with a low center of gravity might make this rig work just fine, and you can always add a little ballast.

It is all just conjecture-go check one out and see if you can raise it easily by standing on the left peg and pulling up on the right handlebar. If it comes right up it probably IS too light, but I suspect it will just bounce up a short way and come back down.

If it passes this test take a close look at the build quality and mounting hardware. It needs to be stout and well made to take the stresses of a heavy bike with a sidecar attached.

Quote from Guest on August 6, 2007, 8:28 am

TO,

Thanks a bunch for the info, I have read about the raked triple trees. Once I mount the car on this bike I doubt I'll remove it as I have two others I can ride should I decide to ride a two wheeler. However I was told that my Heritage already has a 4 degree rake from the factory and shouldn't need the trees. Again I'm still gathering information. Thanks
Jim

Quote from Guest on August 6, 2007, 8:33 am

Red,

I am going to call Spalding today and see about checking a bike out that has his car mounted. I do know he has one he personally, so maybe he would be willing to let me take it around the block, I don't know. I checked out Champion cars as well, they don't open near as far as the Spalding does, but the other options are not available on the Spalding, this is becomming very confusing, but I'll keep plugging away till I find all ther answers!!
Jim

Quote from Guest on August 6, 2007, 9:05 am

I'd be surprised if he actually let you test ride it, but if he has one available he should let you give it a close look over and perhaps give you a ride to see how it works...

Quote from gnm109 on August 6, 2007, 7:39 pm

I don't know anything about Spalding sidecars. I'm sure they are fine. With a Heritage, a good bet would be a Liberty sidecar. They fit well on the Heritage Softail without any welding. They are very easy to talk to as well.

The vintage repro bodies are a copy of the early pre-1960's "Dutch Shoe" Harley sidecar and they can be very nice.

I agree that an electric lean would be a good feature to have on any sidecar. With the swing arm suspension on the Liberty, it might be possible to place an electric lean to lift the car and cause a change in lean so as to compensate for road crown. I'm sure that someone has done this.

Just an idea.

Quote from Guest on August 6, 2007, 7:50 pm

Thanks for the info. I have been talking with Texas Sidacar and Champion Sidecars, now I am thinking of going that route, the Spalding car has no electric lean or steering damper, he (Roger) assures me I would be happy with the Spalding car but after checking out other brands and all the inputs I have received here I think I want these little tidbits of exttras, I'm now even considering the EZ-Steer option as well. Champion says it's the difference between night and day, again all I can do is take in information I have no idea about any of these options. Texas Sidacar has invited me to come over and check out a Champion Escort sidecar in person, thats my next step, I have to have one with a flip front for easy access and the Escort has that covered. I was considering the California car at first, but their customer service leaves some to be desired, then the Spalding, no options, and now I'm in hot pursuit of the Champion, Texas sidecar does the installation and are only 60 miles away!! Thanks again.
Jim

Quote from Guest on August 6, 2007, 8:49 pm

That's how the California Sidecar is set up, with a swing arm, they use 12v linear actuator to move the car up and down as needed, great set up and the EZ steer and Steer Right mods make ALL the difference in the world in handling IMHO.