Need specialized tech advice

[artyc264]

I'll try to be as brief as possible. I've got an 03 Valkyrie Standard with a Texas Ranger sidecar setup. I installed 8 degree triple trees and the bike was absolutley amazing for a total of 7 days. Something changed/happened and I cannot figure it out. The symptoms are: The rig feels like I lost my front suspension. The whole unit shakes traveling on nice paved roads. I'm back to horrible handlebar wobble at low speeds. So I rebuilt my forks using the same springs and damper rods. No change, it's as if I didn't do a rebuild.  Any sidecar guys out there got any advice? Thanks, Arty 781-413-6488

[tank_post142]

the mounts for the sidecar shifted.

[sandy]

Tank's right and/or the steering bearings need adjustment.

[Disco]

If your triple trees were modified to create the additional rake, check the cuts and welds. 

My buddy, Sidecar, recently found one of his had broken so he replaced with a set from XF6.   

[artyc264]

Well I feel like I ruled out any fork problem. Which would now leave the front tire as the issue. The tire looks new, it's starting to square off, which is normal for sidecar wear. It's a Dunlop E3 150/80 R 17 DOT is 09/09 It's hard to tell if there is any interenal damage to the tire. Should I replace my tire? Should I go with a car tire or motorcycle tire? Any sidecar guys out there who have gone through this? Thanks, Arty 781-413-6488

[BF]

There are a few who have gone sidecar.  The only one that comes to mind is Solo1.  You might want to pm him to see if he has any insights. 

[tank_post142]

I've owned sidehacks for 20+ years, mostly WWII German, i'd bet $ that the crappy universal mounts have shifted.

[artyc264]

Well I've double checked my alignment. They are bike specific mounts made for a Valkyrie Standard by Dauntless Sidecar. Everything is tight and nothing has shifted. I've got 60" across the rear and 59 1/2" across the front. The bike is leaned out a 1/2 a bubble with a level on the rear brake disk. The mystery continues. Thanks, Arty

[tank_post142]

well those numbers seem right on. guess you should check the bearings on the sidecar rim next. most times when you feel an issue in the steering it's caused by something else. this applies to two wheelers also. what type of trippletree are you using? check rear shock bushings also.

[artyc264]

Oh sorry, I've got 8 degree triple trees from Daryl at XF6 Design. Everything went together beautifully.

[artyc264]

Well I did a regular maintenance wheel bearing check about a month ago. At that time all wheel bearings were fine. Just went out for the heck of it, found the sidecar axle wheel bearings wiped out. So just threw in a new set, no difference, again as if I didn't do anything. Also found the sidecar main axle shaft to have play. Tightened that up, haven't gone for a road test yet. I guessing it will still be shaking! Again the mystery continues. Thanks, Arty

[Madmike]

I wonder why the bearings wiped out so soon,.... any idea what caused that.... may be the root cause of your problem.

[artyc264]

The bearings wiped out so fast because Bob Darden of the Texas Sidecar Co. is the biggest jackass in the sidecar business. A stern warning to everyone reading this, STAY AWAY FROM THE TEXAS SIDECAR CO. The bearings hardly had any grease at all. I spoke with Daryl at XF6 Design today. He said three things will cause my symptoms. Bad forks, bad front wheel bearings, bad front tire. Well I've eliminated two out of the three. I'll replace my front tire later this week. It's an expensive guessing game. I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks again, Arty

[artyc264]

I'm lost guys! I put on a beautiful new Avon Cobra front tire. Again, as if I did nothing. The road test was horrible. I spoke with Daryl at XF6 Design and we went through the propper steering head bolt torque proceedure. Re road test it's horrible. It pulls left and bad shaking handle bars. I'm lost! Thanks, Arty

[Ricky-D]

Seems like you have multiple problems.

Best to take them one at a time.

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[Madmike]

If you take the sidecar off and tried it would it help determine if the problem was with the bike or the car??

[artyc264]

Okay, I removed the sidecar and went for a ride. Took a few minutes to get comfortable. I didn't noticed any suspension issues. It felt like a normal Valkyrie. I checked everything. The bike specific mounts and sidecar frame all tight, nothing broken. Nothing leaping out at me. Everything looks normal. Not sure what to do next. I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks, Arty

[artyc264]

I found the right rear upper shock bolt loose. The rubber bushing doesn't look that good. I installed a longer bolt with a lock washer and tightened it down.  I ordered a set from Daryl at XF6-Custom. I re installed the sidecar. Did my alignment. Still a little bumpy ride, but no more pulling left and no more handle bar wobble. I'm getting closer to a happy ending! Thanks, Arty

[tank_post142]

i did this a few years back on one of the bikes: i replaced the sidecar shock with an air shock and a small compressor in the trunk. i could adjust the angle of the bike in relationship to the road by running the sidecar up and down, it sure helped the ride alot. and was cheap.

[artyc264]

Well I installed Daryl's neoprene lifetime upper shock bushings. Again no difference, as if I didn't do anything. With the rear shocks off, I checked the swing arm for side to side play. There was none. Boy is this frustrating!

[Ricky-D]

Caster, camber and trail are vitally important when dealing with handling problems resulting from attaching a sidecar.

If you change the attitude or the bike vertically, you are making drastic changes to the geometry of the front end.

This is something where you will not ever be able to get it perfect due to the fact it changes every time you weigh down the bike with your own weight and then more so when you add passengers.

If you adjust the vertical attitude of the bike with some weight to represent you and a passenger, if that is the way you normally ride, you will have it the best you can.

I don't think raking out the front end is a positive change when related to sidecar application but I leave that question open to other opinions.

All I do know is the bike's handling will be affected considerable if it is not vertical. Because you bike is not riding vertically is the cause of all you handling problems.  Only talking a few degrees here.

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