Harley-Davidson Sidecar

Chain Gun · 08-30-2007, 06:56 PM

Does anyone here have or ever owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Harley-Davidson Sidecar. I would like to know the pros and cons of their rigs (handling, tire wear etc.). I have driven two of these rigs and have been interested in putting one on my 2005 Electra Glide, but they aren't cheep!

Currently I am also cruising the sidecar forums for information. Thanks in advance!

Bueller · 08-31-2007, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chain Gun

Does anyone here have or ever owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Harley-Davidson Sidecar. I would like to know the pros and cons of their rigs (handling, tire wear etc.). I have driven two of these rigs and have been interested in putting one on my 2005 Electra Glide, but they aren't cheep!

Currently I am also cruising the sidecar forums for information. Thanks in advance!

Harley's TLE sidecar is a solid unit, but for the 7 grand + they cost there are a whole bunch of other options out there. Besides, the TLE frame is rigid while the car rides on leaf springs. The car "rocks" back & forth most of the time while riding down the road. Some people like it, some people don't.

I don't have any personal experience with one, but Liberty makes some pretty cool nostalgic units for about the same money. Personally I like the 4 point mounting system and unibody style construction of the Motorvation Spyder I put on my 883R, along with it's swing arm style suspension and progressive shock. It's probably a little small for an E-gilde, but like I said for the money a TLE costs you have a lot of options.

marshrat · 08-31-2007, 11:36 AM

NICE looking rig!!! My black Lab would look great riding in that!

McB · 08-31-2007, 12:47 PM

Chain Gun -
Good to see you here. Don't know if you recall, but I was adjusting my chain at a rest area somewhere between Kansas and Vermont (Indiana?) last summer and you stopped to see if I needed help.

Bueller · 08-31-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshrat

NICE looking rig!!! My black Lab would look great riding in that!

Chain Gun · 08-31-2007, 08:11 PM

Good looking Rigs!

McB I hope you are getting a lot of miles in this year.

As for the Harley-Davidson sidecars, $8,000 plus is more like it! This year I cannot find the sidecar on the H-D web site. I know they only sell a few every year and I wounder how long it will be before they stop producing them.

BuellDualSport · 09-13-2007, 10:58 AM

The Car is listed with the Police Bikes.

$8,000 is about the right price installed.

A car requires you to relarn how to handle a bike. You will also need to change your triple trees, if you want ot get the most out of the handling of the bike/car set up.

Used Car are very very hard to locate, as those who have them keep them.

Ride Em Carry Em (45 Acp Wart Hog)

soloyosh · 09-14-2007, 03:55 PM

They can be real fun...

Makes it real easy to do some wicked burnouts too...

Chain Gun · 09-14-2007, 07:45 PM

Thanks again to all for responding to my question. I have learned one thing for sure and that is all of you and myself included, know more about Harley-Davidson side cars than the local Harley-davidson dealer and they had just ordered one for a lady.

I hade made some inquires to the dealer about the compatibility of the Harmon-Kardon sound system and if it would be compatalble with my 2005 Ultra sound system. Finally the dealer got hold of a live person at the "Motor Company," but they didn't know anything about the sidecars.

I think I'm sold on getting a sidecar. One thing that is interesting is that my local H-D dealer has the service and installation manuals for the sidecars from 1992-2007 in the book rack on the sales floor. This has also helped me, but I think I am the only one looking at them.

Bueller · 09-15-2007, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chain Gun

Thanks again to all for responding to my question. I have learned one thing for sure and that is all of you and myself included, know more about Harley-Davidson side cars than the local Harley-davidson dealer and they had just ordered one for a lady.

I hade made some inquires to the dealer about the compatibility of the Harmon-Kardon sound system and if it would be compatalble with my 2005 Ultra sound system. Finally the dealer got hold of a live person at the "Motor Company," but they didn't know anything about the sidecars.

I think I'm sold on getting a sidecar. One thing that is interesting is that my local H-D dealer has the service and installation manuals for the sidecars from 1992-2007 in the book rack on the sales floor. This has also helped me, but I think I am the only one looking at them.

I am told (though I've never tried it) that the H-K sound system will in fact plug into the harness of a 2005 bike, even though it wasn't introduced in that year. The only issue is the radio has to be plugged into a later model bike and hooked up to Digital Tech for initial programming, but once that is done it can be plugged into your 2005 and will work. Again I am not speaking from experience, I'm just referring what I was told by an employee at one of the dealers I manage Service at. I would assume that since it is supposed to plug into and work on your 2005 bike that it would pipe through the sidecar, but the only way to find out for sure is to try it.

Chain Gun · 09-15-2007, 07:15 AM

Thanks BUELLER!

rusty spuds · 09-16-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chain Gun

Does anyone here have or ever owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Harley-Davidson Sidecar. I would like to know the pros and cons of their rigs (handling, tire wear etc.). I have driven two of these rigs and have been interested in putting one on my 2005 Electra Glide, but they aren't cheep!

Currently I am also cruising the sidecar forums for information. Thanks in advance!

I've never ridden one, but this past winter I saw one for sale for a price that was too good to pass up. It's an 03 harley ultra model with all the extras and with everything needed to bolt it on. I'll probably put it on the RK this winter and see if I like it or not.
The seller gave me 70lbs of lead shot and said to throw it in the car when ridding without a passenger to lower the pucker factor on the right turns

. Here it sits in the garrage...

Chain Gun · 09-16-2007, 06:41 PM

Rusty Spuds, you sure lucked out! I hope everything goes alright when you mount it. After your done, pictures and comments please!!!!!!!!!!!

08-30-2007, 06:56 PM	#1
Chain Gun ^OP 2nd Time 'Round Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Fly over country Oddometer: 94	Harley-Davidson Sidecar Does anyone here have or ever owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Harley-Davidson Sidecar. I would like to know the pros and cons of their rigs (handling, tire wear etc.). I have driven two of these rigs and have been interested in putting one on my 2005 Electra Glide, but they aren't cheep! Currently I am also cruising the sidecar forums for information. Thanks in advance! __________________ Bangkok Cowboy

08-31-2007, 08:11 PM	#6
Chain Gun ^OP 2nd Time 'Round Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Fly over country Oddometer: 94	Good looking Rigs! McB I hope you are getting a lot of miles in this year. As for the Harley-Davidson sidecars, $8,000 plus is more like it! This year I cannot find the sidecar on the H-D web site. I know they only sell a few every year and I wounder how long it will be before they stop producing them. __________________ Bangkok Cowboy

09-13-2007, 10:58 AM	#7
BuellDualSport Banned Joined: Sep 2005 Oddometer: 891	Side car The Car is listed with the Police Bikes. $8,000 is about the right price installed. A car requires you to relarn how to handle a bike. You will also need to change your triple trees, if you want ot get the most out of the handling of the bike/car set up. Used Car are very very hard to locate, as those who have them keep them. Ride Em Carry Em (45 Acp Wart Hog)

09-14-2007, 03:55 PM	#8
soloyosh Dad and husband Joined: Nov 2004 Location: LHC, AZ Oddometer: 5,465	They can be real fun... Makes it real easy to do some wicked burnouts too... __________________ 2007 Aprilia RXV 5.5

09-14-2007, 07:45 PM	#9
Chain Gun ^OP 2nd Time 'Round Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Fly over country Oddometer: 94	Thanks again to all for responding to my question. I have learned one thing for sure and that is all of you and myself included, know more about Harley-Davidson side cars than the local Harley-davidson dealer and they had just ordered one for a lady. I hade made some inquires to the dealer about the compatibility of the Harmon-Kardon sound system and if it would be compatalble with my 2005 Ultra sound system. Finally the dealer got hold of a live person at the "Motor Company," but they didn't know anything about the sidecars. I think I'm sold on getting a sidecar. One thing that is interesting is that my local H-D dealer has the service and installation manuals for the sidecars from 1992-2007 in the book rack on the sales floor. This has also helped me, but I think I am the only one looking at them. __________________ Bangkok Cowboy

08-31-2007, 11:36 AM	#3
marshrat Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Coastal GA Oddometer: 452	NICE looking rig!!! My black Lab would look great riding in that!

08-31-2007, 12:47 PM	#4
McB Joe 40 ouncer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: North Slope of the Flint Hills Oddometer: 15,223	Chain Gun - Good to see you here. Don't know if you recall, but I was adjusting my chain at a rest area somewhere between Kansas and Vermont (Indiana?) last summer and you stopped to see if I needed help.

09-15-2007, 07:15 AM	#11
Chain Gun ^OP 2nd Time 'Round Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Fly over country Oddometer: 94	Thanks BUELLER! __________________ Bangkok Cowboy

09-16-2007, 06:41 PM	#13
Chain Gun ^OP 2nd Time 'Round Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Fly over country Oddometer: 94	Rusty Spuds, you sure lucked out! I hope everything goes alright when you mount it. After your done, pictures and comments please!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Bangkok Cowboy

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