Component I have never seen
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,070
Likes: 11,093
From: San Diego, CA
On a side car rig, the added 5° of rake (with no other adjustment to affect trail) is like adding power steering. While I've never ridden a 5° side car rig without the side car, I am told it makes the steering very unstable.... so based on your personal definition of "dangerous", my statement can be seen as exaggeration or factual....
I actually got to ride a friend's bike, a lot like Peter Fonda's Easy Rider bike, back in the early 80s....I didn't like it at all....you couldn't give me a bike like that..... way too much effort for something that's supposed to be enjoyable, unless of course you only ride straight ahead and at speed....
However, I would love a bike like Dennis Hopper's in Easy Rider......!
Last edited by hattitude; Apr 27, 2019 at 05:59 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,102
Likes: 51,365
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Looks like a Champion reverse gear set-up.
Champion also makes sidecars. Perhaps that bike had, or was planning to add, a sidecar....?
I always plan to avoid long, or uphill, backing when I park my bikes.... but stuff happens sometimes... If you messd up your parking plan with a sidecar.... Ooops! You'd certainly hate life if you needed to back up a side car rig without a reverse gear.....!
PS--- I just had a thought, you may want to find out if it in fact had a sidecar at one time. Then make sure it doesn't have the +5° triple trees. Adding 5° to the rake on a side car rig, makes it easier to steer... but adding 5° of rake to a road bike (no side car), will make it harder, if not dangerous, to control....
Champion also makes sidecars. Perhaps that bike had, or was planning to add, a sidecar....?
I always plan to avoid long, or uphill, backing when I park my bikes.... but stuff happens sometimes... If you messd up your parking plan with a sidecar.... Ooops! You'd certainly hate life if you needed to back up a side car rig without a reverse gear.....!
PS--- I just had a thought, you may want to find out if it in fact had a sidecar at one time. Then make sure it doesn't have the +5° triple trees. Adding 5° to the rake on a side car rig, makes it easier to steer... but adding 5° of rake to a road bike (no side car), will make it harder, if not dangerous, to control....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,070
Likes: 11,093
From: San Diego, CA
PS--- I just had a thought, you may want to find out if it in fact had a sidecar at one time. Then make sure it doesn't have the +5° triple trees. Adding 5° to the rake on a side car rig, makes it easier to steer... but adding 5° of rake to a road bike (no side car), will make it harder, if not dangerous, to control....
I'm always willing to learn....
I probably didn't state it correctly. I was speaking specifically about the triple tree kits sold by Champion (and others), that add 5° of rake, to purposely change the trail, and make steering easier for a bike with a side car.
I have never ridden a bike with one of these side car triple tree kits, without the side car. I have read in multiple places, and was told by a friend with a side car bike, that riding the bike with one of these kits, and no side car attached, makes the steering very "loose" and wobbly. The manufacturers of these kits all state they are not for bikes without side cars..
If this information is in error, I would certainly like to know....
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,420
Likes: 7,118
From: Beyond Fucital
Wouldn't quite say a joy to ride but fun for a long highway run.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 372
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
I haven't ridden either of the bikes in Easy Rider but have read that they weren't built or particularly known for great handling.
The comment about the trees is valid and would be worth returning to stock for a 2 wheeler.
