Hello from Florida. We wanted to thank you all for treating us like family while attending the National Rally in Maine this year.
We camped next John and MJ who let us ride their rig around the fairgrounds and answered many questions.
Jan, Miles, Tom and many others were also very open and welcoming.
Attached is our very first sidecar!
Thank you!
Randy and Mary in Florida
Nice looking rig, good luck with it and enjoy it.
Beautiful rig! Wishing you many great adventures. 🍻
Posts with pictures of said adventures are highly recommended. 😎
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Hello from Florida. We wanted to thank you all for treating us like family while attending the National Rally in Maine this year.
We camped next John and MJ who let us ride their rig around the fairgrounds and answered many questions.
Jan, Miles, Tom and many others were also very open and welcoming.
Attached is our very first sidecar!
Thank you!
Randy and Mary in Florida
Randy & Mary, congratulations on buying that rig from the dealer in Ohio.
Despite that I am in Salamanca, Spain right now....I am here for you, if you have any questions about your new bike or the Hannigan GTL sidecar.
One question: did any of the paperwork you got, or the selling dealer in Ohio, say anything about the front end of the bike...meaning does it mention anything about trail reducing triple trees, or an EZ Steer. ????
From my view of your One picture, it looks like it has the stock triple trees in the front end. I have a dozen more pictures of this sidecar rig on my home PC, but won't be back home until late December. I can look at them then.
If your 2015 Honda Goldwing does have the EZ Steer, or trail reducing triple trees, then GREAT.
If it does not, then you will find it beneficial to have that installed, but plan on up to $ 2k all-in for the entire job.
Enjoy your new sidecar rig, and it was my pleasure meeting both of you in Maine, at the sidecar rally.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Thank you sir! Yes, this is the Ohio bike that is returning to Florida. And yes, the front end has been modified. It's a little over 9 feet long opposed to the stock 8.5 ft. I suspect it's an EZ steer from Hannigan.
Randy, that's great that it has the trail reducing triple trees.
When it comes TIRES and AIR PRESSURES....talk to me .
Be cautious of advice from Honda shops, or used car dealers.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Indeed. The wing came with 2 new MC tires that I am looking to replace with.... suggestions? The car has a Nankang that still looks good but am open to suggestions on this is also. Thank you!
Randy, that Nankang tire on the sidecar is fine, just check it for wear, and date code.
On the bike... when you get ready to replace the front tire, go only with a Bridgestone BT-46 in the 130/70-18, but also a 140/70-18 fits inside that front fender perfectly.
That Bridgestone BT-46 tire is a REAR tire, so mount it onto the front wheel BACKWARDS.
Then, inflate it to 40 psi.....40 psi ...40 psi 👍
On the bike rear wheel, install a Bridgestone Driveguard Run Flat 195/55-16. This is a CAR TIRE, and it fits perfectly up in the rear fender well
Inflate the new rear tire to 38 psi....38 psi....38 psi 👍
93.14 percent of motorcycle shops will not install that tire onto your front wheel BACKWARDS... but if you have a great relationship with a particular shop, they will do it, or...find a shop that will.
The CAR tire needs to be installed at an automotive tire shop. My local Les Schwab car tire store does it for me for less than $ 20.....and I am buying this tire online from TireRack.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
When you have time would you share the logic and benefits of these tire changes? Thank you!
Putting a rear tire on the front wheel of a sidecar rig (or any bike for that matter) helps because front tires don't have the load capacity that is needed by adding 300-500 lbs of sidecar. (Rear tires have a much higher load capacity than fronts).
Now the logic of putting the rear tire in backwards rotation is because the rear tire is designed for traction, and since the front wheel is 70% of your braking (loads shift to the front of the vehicle during braking) when mounted backwards, you get all the braking grip of a standard front tire.
TL/DR: rear tire lasts lots longer and gives good braking performance.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
As for the tire pressure recommendations:
30 Sidecar (low load for an auto tire keeps it from wearing in the center unevenly)
35 Rear (assuming auto tire - similar rationale)
40 Front (so it doesn't wallow and gives easier steering)
Almost everything thing about setting up a sidecar rig is going to start with "general recommendations" and will need to be specifically tweaked for the individual rig because so many things are unique to each setup that one cannot give universal advice.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Congratulations! That is one gorgeous rig!
Really nice meeting you and Mary at the national. See you in June at the next one!
When you have time would you share the logic and benefits of these tire changes? Thank you!
I will make this simple.....a Divine voice told me to do it this way....or else.
Now, Randy, if I have to spell it out further....I did the test riding for (first) Dunlop, 109,000 miles in one year.....then secondly for Bridgestone, 80,000 miles in 6 months, to determine the correct air pressures for the tires on the Honda Goldwing 1800, all because Mother Honda was, and still is, printing the wrong tire pressures in the Owners Manuals.
Then, there's the motorcycle rear tire onto the front wheel for trikes and sidecar rigs, and turning it backwards gives better braking adhesion, as described by Thane above.
Then the Car Tire on the bike rear wheel....we are not leaning the bike, so use a car tire that gets better traction, more miles out of it, and...preferably a RUN FLAT version.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Very good. Thank you both for that valuable information! I appreciate you taking the time pass on your expertise!
