Leading Link or Raked Trees for GL1100 Sidecar?

Texas Bulldogger

Texas Bulldogger

Nov 6, 2024
13
22
Phoenixville, PA
Name
Rick
Morning, any one out there know where I can find a leading link or raked triple tree set for my ‘83 Wing?

Not new! Those are more $$$ than my whole rig.

Where do old trikes go out to pasture?

Maybe a set laying around?

Would consider whole project bike collecting dust with a set.

IMG_1558.jpeg

IMG_1651.jpeg
 
Try "PM" ing Papa Zook. Even if you found a junk yard that had that old a bike they may not know if it had a racked tree on it or not. Though search on a 40+ old bike.

She sure is pretty though I see why you want to fix it.
 
Why do you need to rake it?
Rode many outfits in the past all with standard forks and never had a problem, loved getting the wheel in the air.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Rig drives true, but is a work out to steer.

With a leading link would probably have dark side tire.

Raked tree would keep all the Honda parts and looks.

Both will have easier steering.

Raked trees are obvious on close inspection. OEM trees are typically cast and painted. Raked sets are CNC produced.

I can drive one handed at 60 mph, so it’s not urgent. But I’m not getting younger. Will keep up the search.

Will be getting some expert advice up in Maine at USCA national rally in couple of weeks.
 
IMHO, for a GL1000, you would probably have to go brand new on a leading link setup if that's what you want because I don't think they were very common so wouldnt be very plentiful in used market. And the leading link setups on newer bikes are very pricey, more than what a GL1000 would be worth. And I don't know for sure but I imagine that because they use a car type tire, it will have a bigger footprint on the ground which could make slow turns a bit difficult.

I personally think a rake kit is the way to go. A rake kit will make turns much easier over the stock triple trees and I think give you what you are looking for. The link that @Papa Zook gave you is probably the way you will want to go. I think you will be limited on finding any other place for a rake kit.
 
The only place you are going to find a pre-built leading link front end for an older Goldwing is in Europe or England. I don't remember the name but there was a company that built sidecar/leading link front end conversions out of Holland and another in England. I looked into them for my 1980 Goldwing Trike, but ended up going to a Spyder instead. Good luck. Please post what you find here as there are probably others who are wandering the same thing. You might try Doug Bingham at Side Strider here in the US, maybe he can steer you to a leading link front end.
 
That's a very fine rig you have there, Rick and in amazing condition! Yes, adding raked trees to it will drastically improve the handling. I used to sell and install sidecars, Champion, Hannigan and Velorex, but over the years, as the popularity and demand of trike conversions grew, I quit doing them.
 
Thanks for the info. This is my second GL1100 Terraplane rig. Identical setup. First one was new from dealer in ‘83. I’m pretty well versed on this rig’s set up. This one was two wheel when I bought it from original owner. Rode for about 8 years before adding sidecar 4 years ago. Both rigs were/are a dream to ride. My issue is slow speed steering. Even taking the VW stabilizer off it still is a workout to turn. With my 70th birthday next weekend I’m not as strong as my 30 year old self. Power steering is all I’m looking for.

As for riding style. That’s another story. I currently have 138 lbs of ballast in car. Just took out the two five gallon water jugs and replaced with weights all in out board side. I was able to keep same weight but improved counterbalance efficiency. It takes a lot to fly. I actually add another 30 lbs in the car seat when my not-wife rides. She prefers bike saddle over the low car seat. Her left side view is my hip and to the right truck tires are within arms reach.

It’s just a rake tree or leading link. You even mentioned your rig had a modified tree set.

Rick J
 
Used to ride 100’s mile days. If I didn’t drain a tank of gas felt like a light weight. Now I can spend a couple of hours on local back roads in SE PA and happy with 30 miles. Of course my younger days were in Texas. 210 miles between Houston and San Antonio has one small curve half way between!

Haven’t had the steering head apart but routinely check movement left to right with wheel off ground and check push pull front to back. No clicks or play.
 
Thanks. Read that post a while ago and dozen others. I’ve been looking for ANY style front end for couple years. Had my hands on a ‘82 GL with a leading link. Guy had bought the whole rig for the car to mount on his tug. I would have swapped front ends and sold the solo. I couldn’t pull the trigger at the time. Had just closed on buying my house and was a bit cash short.

Don’t get me started on GoldwingDocs. Probably first bike forum I joined. Only one I pay for because ads are ridiculous. I logged out of my computer over a month ago. Usually surfing on my phone and never log out. Login wouldn’t accept my password. Reset seems to work with confirmation but still can’t login. Have tried to communicate with admin there. Only email (found in my spam) told me to reset password! I’ve messaged them from their Facebook page and 3-4 messages thru admin on their website. Crickets.
 
Thanks for the input. I played with pressures years ago when I put on car. I know it can be, but don’t think my PSI is the issue.

40F / 38R / 36C.

It’s the heavy steering force and nothing else. Rig drives straight and true. No major wear on tires. Just made 1,000 mile round trip to Maine last weekend. No issues.
 
Please don’t worry about the rig. Five years on the road. Another 10 years with the same setup back in the 80’s. Just finished 1000 mile weekend. It’s not as light as you think. Weight is listed at 190 lbs. The Friendship III is 225. I carry 138 lbs of dead weight. All on the outer half.

It’s well within quarter to third of the weight of the GL1100 tug.

As for the tire pressures. I am running what you’re suggesting.
40 Front 38 Rear 36 Car

Steering shock? VW damper. Bought new 5 years ago.

Replaced OEM rear shocks same time with spring shocks. Set to highest setting. Not-wife rides behind me.

Front forks have new progressive springs. Again at the same time as car. Set at 21 psi with wheel off ground.

One more time to this group. Thanks for letting me jump in the Trike world. Was just looking for an old GL trike with a raked tree set or a leading link to lighten the steering on my perfectly setup sidecar rig.

Rick
 
I just looked at your introductory picture again. What a beautiful rig. That must look so majestic going down the road. How was the USCA rally? Did you get any help/new information there especially about leading link suspension?
 
Couple of days up into Maine for the rally. Just shy of 1,000 miles round trip. Been a few decades since I had a long bike road trip. Usually 2-3,000 a year around SE PA. Great seeing people you only know from online, but nobody close enough to spend an afternoon riding around here.

Huge wealth of side hack knowledge. Lifetime riders and experienced builders.

I personally had a Terraplane in the ‘80s and this one. Have never seen one in person. Same with most in the group. Three point mount works with the robust GL frame. Modern adjustable suspensions on a 4/5 mount rig do the same as my upper turnbuckle adjustment. Most suggestions at the rally were more $$$ than my entire bargain rig. And nothing that I didn’t already know.

So far not a problem wrestling the beast down the road. It’s my main source of strength training. My handle is Texas Bulldogger. Rig’s not much different than grabbing a handful of horns.
 
Beautiful rig. We had a Motivation sidecar (two-seater) mounted to our 1983 Wing. We started by adding the progressive springs - that assisted the steering - but still was not sufficient ad my wife was the driver.

Later, we moved that same sidecar to a 1989 Wing - and added triple trees - all of this made a big difference. The sidecar also had an electronic lean.

When done with the sidecar, we converted that bike to a trike - guess what, the progressive springs plus the rake that was used on the sidecar made the setup very nice.

Good luck in your search.
 
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