Californ SideCar stearing

[flynng]

I have an 08 Daytona kit. It has the Powertrak steering, but seems heavy.

I have a friend with a Roadsmith and it is a lot lighter effort to steer.
Looking at the two, the rake appears to be about the same. I know the CSC kit is heavier with a little longer wheelbase, but the steering effort on my CSC kit is a lot more than the Roadsmith.

My question is this. Has anyone driven a CSC and other trikes and noticed the CSC to steer heavier even with the raked front?

Thanks in advance.

 

[KRUZR]

Ride the CSC down the highway at 90 then ride the Roadsmith. I'm not sure what that result will be but I just got back from the Breckenridge, CO in the Rockies and Sturgis and am overwhelmed with what my Street Glide/CSC Daytona can do on any road. About 10K on the combination. Ride Safe!!!!! Also, I actually believe the Roadsmith has a little longer wheel base and they are beautiful!!

 

[flynng]

Thanks for responding. The wheel base on the CSC is 4+ inches longer than the Roadsmith kit according to the websites.

Going down the highway is not an issue. Low speed steering is where I notice the difference, like going through the subdivision, surface streets, low speed turns from stop signs and lights, etc. Going down the highway is dreamy, no issue. The front end feels heavier parked, meaning more effort to move left to right when both bikes are just setting as well as effort during low speed turns.

Thanks

 

[Papa Zook]

Usually the only time you'd notice a major difference in low speed handling is if there is a difference in the rake, like 4 VS 6. Do you know for sure what degree rake you have?

 

[flynng]

According to the CSC, it's 8 degrees additional which is about 4 inches of increased wheelbase and cuts trail to around 3 inches. I am not sure I trust their published numbers, however, in looking at my trike next to my 06 Electraglide, there is a difference of about 4+ inches from the front wheel axle to the downtube, when measured at the same location. Also, side by side, the rake angle difference is very appearant and the fender is not level horizontally. Everything I look at when I compare it to my friends Roadsmith trike, we look about the same up front, with my trike being a little longer overall and in wheelbase.

 

[flynng]

So,

This weekend I put the trike on the lift, to get the front wheel off the ground to do some more testing. Once the wheel is off the ground, it moves very very easy from side to side. No rough spots, nothing. Now the odd thing.

Everyone says that the sway or flop test is the best way to tell if the steering head bearings are torqued correctly. Well, my front end does not move when I let go. If I rotate all the way left or right, it just stays there.

Again, let me say that it takes little to no effort to move the bars with the front wheel off the ground, but there is no flop back to center. No movement what so ever. Is there something wrong here? I am waiting on the shop manual to get here so that I can look at the steering head more closely, but right now I am at a loss.

The other thing I have noticed is that high speed ramps take some effort to hold the line, I mean like a 90 degree ramp from one freeway on to another. Somthing that you would do in a cage at 70. I can hold the speed, but I have to say that my wife, or anyone without good upper body strength, would be in trouble. This thing steers heavy. Is this just normal. If so, OK, I just have no experience other than my friends Roadsmith for reference.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Greydog]

I find that my '08 Ultra/Champion steers easily around corners at slow speed and takes most curves without a lot of effort when maintaining the speed limit. I do however, have to use a LOT more steering effort when taking long sweeping curves on the Interstate at 75-80mph. I just assume that is normal because the trike wants to run in a straight line. The physics would suggest that the faster I ride through a curve the harder it becomes to steer the front wheel from that straight line because the rear wheels are staying perpendicular to the road surface rather than leaning like a two wheeler??? :Shrug: (Prolly makes more sense in my head than it does in print) LOL!!!

 

[Dwight]

There should be some flop. At least it should return most of the way toward center. If it doesn't return it is too tight and needs to be adjusted. I'm not sure how much that will affect turning force. You might also check air pressure in your front tire although again I'm not too sure a few pounds will make much difference. I rode a 07 Ultra/CSC for 24K with CSC's rake kit and didn't notice much difference in it versus my other trikes (except the Road Glide CVO/Champion that I'm riding now). I suspect you just need to ride more and become used to the steering.

Dwight

 

[flynng]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to check the bearing at my first opportunity once I get the manual.

Front tire is stock with pressure set at max.