New guy here. Thought I would ask about a hotly debated topic in a little different manor, since I haven't found the answers I'm looking for. Given the choice between a California Side Car Encore kit and a Motor Trike Condor kit for a 2018 Honda Goldwing (both being independent rear suspension kits), and ignoring aesthetics or ride quality or installation shop's competence for purposes of this evaluation, what design features are more desirable on each?
For example, the suspension system on the Motor Trike kit uses airbags. This is both good and bad. Good because it allows the rider to have nearly infinite adjustment of the suspension firmness during the ride. Bad because it adds another component to monitor, abandons the factory ride adjustment selector, and introduces another potential point of failure. As an aside, I have supplemental airbags in my Ram 3500 for towing heavy trailers and am intimately familiar with their benefits and longevity problems. In contrast, the California Side Car kit uses a coil-over gas shock to serve the same purpose. This is also both good and bad. Good because it is more reliable than an air system. Bad because adjustments for road conditions cannot be done on the fly. Also, the coil-over gas shock is attached to, and acts upon, both wheels at the same time, making it not a truly independent system. Which one is better?
I have so many other questions. Such as, which has better trunk latches? Which is more prone to squeaking due to vibration? CSC uses an automotive style suspension design while MT has a very unique design (looks like a go-cart). Which one does a better job for this application? Which is better going over speed bumps? Which one has better ground clearance? Which has more frequent or more expensive maintenance? Which rear brake caliper location is best for this application (CSC is at 12:00 position while MT is at 3:00 position when looking at the left side of the bike)? Which has easier to find replacement parts? Which kit integrates better with the Goldwing's existing systems, such as ABS, driving modes, etc.? I'm sure there are other things I just don't know to ask.
I've seen a number of threads where the patent responses are to "find the installer first, then pick the kit" or "go to a rally/local shop and test ride both" or "they're all good kits, just pick the one that looks best to you". I get it. I'm hoping to move beyond that and get to the finer details. If nothing else, please give your two cents as to which one you would pick and why.
For example, the suspension system on the Motor Trike kit uses airbags. This is both good and bad. Good because it allows the rider to have nearly infinite adjustment of the suspension firmness during the ride. Bad because it adds another component to monitor, abandons the factory ride adjustment selector, and introduces another potential point of failure. As an aside, I have supplemental airbags in my Ram 3500 for towing heavy trailers and am intimately familiar with their benefits and longevity problems. In contrast, the California Side Car kit uses a coil-over gas shock to serve the same purpose. This is also both good and bad. Good because it is more reliable than an air system. Bad because adjustments for road conditions cannot be done on the fly. Also, the coil-over gas shock is attached to, and acts upon, both wheels at the same time, making it not a truly independent system. Which one is better?
I have so many other questions. Such as, which has better trunk latches? Which is more prone to squeaking due to vibration? CSC uses an automotive style suspension design while MT has a very unique design (looks like a go-cart). Which one does a better job for this application? Which is better going over speed bumps? Which one has better ground clearance? Which has more frequent or more expensive maintenance? Which rear brake caliper location is best for this application (CSC is at 12:00 position while MT is at 3:00 position when looking at the left side of the bike)? Which has easier to find replacement parts? Which kit integrates better with the Goldwing's existing systems, such as ABS, driving modes, etc.? I'm sure there are other things I just don't know to ask.
I've seen a number of threads where the patent responses are to "find the installer first, then pick the kit" or "go to a rally/local shop and test ride both" or "they're all good kits, just pick the one that looks best to you". I get it. I'm hoping to move beyond that and get to the finer details. If nothing else, please give your two cents as to which one you would pick and why.
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