Finally taking the plunge

[swamprat]

Thanks to all who helped guide myself and other newbies into the world of KLT's. Tonight I am on my way to SC to pick up a 2002 LTE with Hannigan side car. I would like to call again on the expertise of this forum, I would like to know if there is anything specific on the 02's or LT's in general that I should look for (there has already been a lot covered). She has 21K and I am concerned with the tires, is there a depth measurement or visual signs that I should look for. I am extremely excited, but I have an 8hr ride back home I want to make sure everything is right prior to leaving the dealership.

Any help from the sidecar riders would also be appreciated.

Thanks

[RideIt]

If you got the bike from the dealer in Greenville, I saw it on the internet and it was one bad bike. Good luck with your new ride.
Leon
05 Blue LT

[rglassma]

First of all, look to see if the front tire has scalloping on the right and left side tread. If you notice any, or the starting of it, the tires will not last. I would make sure that you negotiate new tires in the deal..

Run the bike through its paces. I would check out the cruise control, heated grips, seat, cd (changer) radio, trip computer. Also, while you are riding on the highway, on the trip computer (BC button on your right hand) switch to the average MPG. Then reset that average compare the instantaneous reading with your speedo. That will give you an indication on how far off the speedo is to reality (the computer has a tendency to be very close). Most are around 5 mph until you get up there in speed.

Ask for service documentation to see if there has been any problem with any major components such as rear end, brakes, etc.

Also ask to see the info on the last 12K service. Were the valves checked? Has the break system been flushed (all three circuits)? When? It should be done every two years.

When was the last oil change? What type? How often??, Etc. If it is using synthetic, when was it changed from dino oil. Was the rear end fluid and clutch fluid changed?

Guys, feel free to chime in.... I am running out of things in my brain right now.

Good luck,

Bob Glassman

[bob_menton]

When last I looked at the rig (a few days ago) at Touring Sport, the tires looked fine to me.

Do you have any experience riding a sidecar rig? If not, be REAL careful on your ride home to VA. A bike with sidecar is a very different animal.

- Bob

[jwd98056]

First of all, look to see if the front tire has scalloping on the right and left side tread. If you notice any, or the starting of it, the tires will not last. I would make sure that you negotiate new tires in the deal..


Unless this is a recent sidecar conversion or they fly the chair a lot it is unlikely there would be any cupping on the sides of tire. They will be running straight up on the tire a majority of the time. Center tread depth would probably be a better indicator of tire life. Tire mileage may actually suffer using a side car because all the mileage is experienced by the center tread and not distributed across the overall profile of the tire. This difference of course will be somewhat dependant on your riding styles and the type of roads you usually travel.

[zippy_gg]

Tonight I am on my way to SC to pick up a 2002 LTE with Hannigan side car. She has 21K and I am concerned with the tires, is there a depth measurement or visual signs that I should look for. I am extremely excited, but I have an 8hr ride back home I want to make sure everything is right prior to leaving the dealership.

Any help from the sidecar riders would also be appreciated.

Thanks
If you buy a used car from a dealership the tires must be in safe driving condition.
Doesn't the same apply to motorcycles? I would think a dealer would have much to lose by selling you a bike with bad tires; they should be compelled to put on good tires (if not new) and have that extra cost included in the price of the vehicle.

[Texas42]

Congratulations! Don't Sidecar rigs usually have car tires on the rear? It would seem such a waste unless you could take the sidecar off when you wanted and then put it back?

[swamprat]

I pulled in to VA at 10pm left SC at 1145am, mapquest was off by 125 miles, and it turned bone numbing cold 26 in the mountains. I can honestly say that the LT is the finest bike I have ever ridden, after being in a train all night, putting the bike through its paces, having the feces scared out of me(the bike pulled to the left when I applied (touched) the front brake and saw nothing but "J.B. HUNT" coming towards my face) fighting the "different animal" as Bob called it and spending the most time I have ever done in the saddle, I can not believe that I had enough energy to take my son for a quick ride and spend some quality time before bed.

I can not wait to take the hack off and really ride.

If any sidecar riders read this thread - please let me know if the pull to the left is natural or is there something amis. dealer says its natural.

Thank you Bob for spending a few minutes with me at the dealership, your advice really helped going down the road.

The Beast and its baby.

[jwd98056]

If any sidecar riders read this thread - please let me know if the pull to the left is natural or is there something amis. dealer says its natural.


This is quite common. The sidecar momentum causes it to want to continue moving forward and this causes the motorcycle to veer to the left. Many sidecars have their own braking systems to help overcome this problem. Some systems install a second brake pedal next to the rear brake pedal on the motorcycle. The two pedals can be bridged by the drivers foot and operated at the same time. The foot can be rocked from one side to the other to proportion the braking between the rear wheel and the sidecar wheel. I don't doubt there are sidecars with fully integrated brake systems available but for a phenomenal fee of course ;).

[STARFIGHTER]

Hacks want to go right when accelerating and left when stopping.
There are some great books out by Hough re: performance sidecar handling.
One article in ON not too long ago had exercise courses you rode for training your muscles to deal with sidecar.....