California Side Car conversion?

[waldo]

I am looking at a trike it has a "California Sidecar" conversion but it does not have a side car it is a regular trike conversion.

Anybody have any feedback on this particular conversion as i have not heard of it before? Also this trike has a billet aluminum rake kit extending front forks Does this make Trike steer and ride better as claimed?

 

[waldo]

Yes I realize the difference I definitely want a regular Trike conversion Just looking for feedback on the "California Sidecar Trike" conversion How does it compare to "Champion , Motortrike Or Roadsmith I am not familiar with the California brand so looking for feedback

 

[Mick]

Google once again is your friend.

http://www.californiasidecar.com/

 

[Gold Rush]

There are several CSC owners on the forum so hopefully they will chime in soon. Like all the other manufacturers, they have strong and weak points. Your best bet if you are really serious is to do a lot of comparison shopping; both on line by visiting the manufacture web sites and in person by riding as many different kits and talking to as many owners as you can find. Your money investment will be sizeable so it justifies some serious time investment on your part also. :cxtv:

I have only owned two brands (MotorTrike and Roadsmith) If you would like to ask specific questions, shoot me a private message and I'll try to help.

Trike Talk probably has the largest trike knowledge base in the world so if you ask good questions someone will jump in and give you an honest answer. Enjoy the journey. It will be an interesting one for sure. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[waldo]

Thanks for your input . Yes I am enjoying the site I also believe in research. With my budget 10 to 12K I will be buying a used Trike conversion. I do have a disability (I am 60 been in in a wheelchair fulltime for 31 years) and will need to add hand shifting linkage after purchase so I will not be able to test drive before I buy. which is why I am so appreciative of people with knowledge that they can share with me. I am only familiar with Motortrike conversion on a 89 1500 Goldwing. The one thing I want to do is get a little lower to the ground in terms of seat height and center of gravity as far as getting on and off the trike. It appears that rake kits and some conversions may accomplish this.

There are several CSC owners on the forum so hopefully they will chime in soon. Like all the other manufacturers, they have strong and weak points.

Your best bet if you are really serious is to do a lot of comparison shopping; both on line by visiting the manufacture web sites and in person by riding as many different kits and talking to as many owners as you can find. Your money investment will be sizeable so it justifies some serious time investment on your part also. :cxtv:

I have only owned two brands (MotorTrike and Roadsmith) If you would like to ask specific questions, shoot me a private message and I'll try to help.

Trike Talk probably has the largest trike knowledge base in the world so if you ask good questions someone will jump in and give you an honest answer. Enjoy the journey. It will be an interesting one for sure. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[CrystalPistol]

If the "Alexandria" in your profile is "Alexandria, Va." ..... then you are not far from California Side Car's manufacturing facility which is at Colleen, Va. on U.S.29 ..... which is between Lovingston & Charlottesville. They usually have a "Open House" each year ..... make a good ride. There's a neat little Drive In there dating to 1952 or so, good snack food.

They have been in the business since the 90s anyway, and YES, the rake kit is like adding power steering through reduction of trail.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

What brand/model bike is this CSC on? How old is the CSC conversion??? What is the mileage on the bike and on the conversion? What's the "history", ie service records, recalls performed, etc.? These question have a bearing on info you should have.
Any pictures you can post?
CSC is one of the major conversion companies. They did have a major problem with the off set drive shafts but, that seems to have been corrected by an all new drive shaft design. Having said that, the off set of the drive shaft is the major reason I went with a Hannigan conversion! Rear end is off set to align with the Wings drive shaft out put, plus it has a extended wheel base and a wider stance that makes it one of the smoothest riding conversions on the market. Also it requires very little maintenance.
As for the rake kit, yes the steering is made much easier!

 

[Haste Maker]

I don't know much about the CSC brand other than some owners have had trouble with the driveshaft.
With you needing to have a trike with hand controls, I would suggest you talk a with guy, that has been riding for years without any legs...his real name is Jim, his forum name is "Wheels"...not sure if he is on this forum or not? But I do know of another forum he is a member of...PM me for that info.

 

[waldo]

It is on a 1998 Goldwing 1500 se 82k on bike not sure of exact year of trike conversion My understanding is that it is a somewhat older straight axle type conversion One owner Bike who has since passed away.

What brand/model bike is this CSC on? How old is the CSC conversion??? What is the mileage on the bike and on the conversion? What's the "history", ie service records, recalls performed, etc.? These question have a bearing on info you should have.
Any pictures you can post?
CSC is one of the major conversion companies. They did have a major problem with the off set drive shafts but, that seems to have been corrected by an all new drive shaft design. Having said that, the off set of the drive shaft is the major reason I went with a Hannigan conversion! Rear end is off set to align with the Wings drive shaft out put, plus it has a extended wheel base and a wider stance that makes it one of the smoothest riding conversions on the market. Also it requires very little maintenance.
As for the rake kit, yes the steering is made much easier!

 

[Dragonryder]

I have a CSC cobra xl converted in 2014 on my 06 wing. I love it and would by another one if needed. Being an older conversion I would call CSC and gtalk to them about it. I have found they are straight shooters and will answer your questions.

 

[Rick Kay]

I'm very happy with my Harley/CSC Daytona conversion; it's not a 'Wing and it's not a straight axle, but the quality of the kit is great, and I would not hesitate to have another.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Do you have a trike business near enough for you to have the trike checked out by them?
Might be worth the price of a good inspection on the bike and the trike part to know exactly what you're getting!
I do know the off set drive shafts require a LOT more maintenance and on some the rear end must be dropped to get the drive shaft out.
I agree a call to CSC for their input on the "needs" of that conversion would be a great idea:
http://www.californiasidecar.com/
Sales: (800) 824-1523

 

[ol' school]

Riding a Kawasaki 1700 Nomad CSC Kruze trike built at their facility. They are a good company to deal with and are building quality trikes. I can't help with info on the 'Wing trike you are looking at but agree, give them a call. I am sure they will be happy to assist you.

 

[nightstalker]

I am looking at a trike it has a "California Sidecar" conversion but it does not have a side car it is a regular trike conversion.
Anybody have any feedback on this particular conversion as i have not heard of it before? Also this trike has a billet aluminum rake kit extending front forks Does this make Trike steer and ride better as claimed?

I have a 2005 Goldwing with a csc convertion . I love the trike it has the big brake package, yes you nedd the rake to make steering easier. the trike has independent rear suspension, which make it handle and ride great. it has plenty of space for cargo for a trip of 3-4 days for me and my girlfriend. I had looked at the csc convertion and many others, and chose csc. it is longer and rides smoother in my opinion.

 

[FRR]

I had my 2004 Wing triked with a CSC kit before I bought this 2012 with a Hannigan on it. I liked the CSC very much and found the techs there very helpful when I had questions. Good company to deal with.

 

[ox eye]

Thanks hast maker I got a chance to talk to "Wheels" He is extremely knowledgeable on various conversions. He confirmed some of the things I have been researching .Great Guy too! so the search continues but I think I at least know what I want.

I have never met Wheels in person, but from the post I have seen him post on different boards, he appears to be a real gentleman...good luck in finding what you need to ride.

Gentleman ,now thats funny. I would say more but prolly get banned

 

[irv]

now that a few of the csc people have chimed in, how
much louder is a wing with the csc supertrapp style mufflers than stock. thats the one hangup im having on doing my
victory crossroads. the csc kit wont allow srockers and
ive heard the kit ones and im not real happy with them.

 

[Dragonryder]

irv

now that a few of the csc people have chimed in, how
much louder is a wing with the csc supertrapp style mufflers than stock. thats the one hangup im having on doing my
victory crossroads. the csc kit wont allow srockers and
ive heard the kit ones and im not real happy with them.
​

At first I didn't like the new sound, but after awhile it grew on me. Now it is not a problem and sounds good. The Harley guys in my riding group like how it sounds.

 

[schiel1]

I would STRONGLY recommend avoiding a used CSC manufactured before 2012. They have widely reported driveline issues - driveshafts breaking and poor welding "fixes". They changed shocks in 2015 because their rod ends were wearing out, occasionally causing catastrophic failure before 30,000 miles - control arms breaking and such.

If you have $45,000 for a new one, I heard they are offering a 5 year warranty now to drum up some business, which tells me somebody fixed their issues. My only concern is the value of the warranty if the company is out of business, which I'm told is a real possibility.

I recently spent 3 days test riding at Daytona and was a YUGE fan of the Motortrikes and Champions for the money you are talking, but I know both of those companies have also had some defect/warranty issues in the past. I was told that Champion stopped honoring warranties a few years ago, but have righted that since. I advise doing your homework. Go to an event where the trike companies will be there - they will tell you each others' dirty secrets.

http://californiasidecar.com/index.php/Pages/events

How did you come by the "I'm told it's a real possibility"

 

[rhino 2]

Go to an event where the trike companies will be there - they will tell you each others' dirty secrets.

Do you really believe what one competitor says about another competitors trike has any basis of truth in it?....They are just like car dealers bad mouthing another car dealer..Of cause thell tell/makeup dirty secrets....Thell tell you anything your willing to listen to..' Or believe About the other guy..

 

[schiel1]

Do you really believe what one competitor says about another competitors trike has any basis of truth in it?....They are just like car dealers bad mouthing another car dealer..Of cause thell tell/makeup dirty secrets....Thell tell you anything your willing to listen to..' Or believe About the other guy..

Exactly. That is the last place I would get my information from. Every time I spoke with one of the companies it's the same thing . Our is the best the rest cannot compete with ours. Blah, Blah Blah Blah Blah........
What makes it worse is when people take it as gospel then ( possibly not on purpose) spread the lies and ruin a good business.

 

[99Gwing]

How did you come by the "I'm told it's a real possibility"

From Daytona discussions, apparently all of the trike companies are in trouble. CanAm, Polaris & HD put a bruising on them with financing not available to trikes is the story I got.

CSC in particular - I was told CSC went from about 90 employees in late 2014 to about 25 today including losing core team members like engineers, sales & advertising managers, and machinists. I asked Tony @ the CSC truck about it and he confirmed the hard times... horse's mouth, not gossip.

 

[dougv]

I picked up a 97 GW SE with a 2011 CSC kit on it and had very few issues. I think some of them were due to the installer. One was the rear tail lights, they were wired so the high output section of the bulb was on all the time, overheating the plastic. I rewired the connector and replaced the connectors with ones that came out a newer wing which were a direct fit. No issues what so ever with the drive shaft, I think that was with the independent rear versions and not the straight axel which I think was cut offset so the drive shaft is not angled. Can't think of any other issues with the kit itself.

The bike was a low mileage bike but I did replace the timing belts and the filters, along with an oil change and coolant change, and plugs and it runs much better now. I did have to change the front valve stem last year as the rubber started to leak around the stem but overall I am very happy with it.

I haven't tried an independent axel trike but as long as you air down the rear tires to around 20 to 22 the ride is not bad and it handles decent around corners.

I did add a custom built trailer hitch that has a 2" receiver on it that I used with a hitch carrier I modified and a FM transmitter for my music. Unfortunately the original bike had an issue with the radio and intercom but I picked up a Sena kit with the Bluetooth headsets and love them.

I would say if the bike is good condition and well taken care of you can't go wrong if the price is right.

 

[waldo]

436 hours

Should be getting Trike on Friday #back on the road

 

[Nudels2u5675]

CSC Trike Kit

I just purchased a 2016 level 3 wing with a California Side Car Kit, I am very happy with the handling, the features, it is very aggressive and very smooth...I just have 1300 miles on it so far as I just purchased it less than a week ago....It also has the rake kit on it, I was told it makes the world of difference...I only test rode a couple late models.....

I just did a bunch of the same research you are doing as I knew nothing at all about them 4 months ago....Wing world magazine had a very good article on them a few months back....send me your address and I would be happy to mail you the article....Or I could screen shot it and post on here tomorrow...

 

[john]

i have a 2013 goldwing with a csc kit and i'm very happy with it. no problems.epper: