I'm going to think my post is more informed than yours Ridn3, he has probably less than 6k dollars in two alloy automotive 15" wheels, and a complete front fork assembly and it's had the benefit of some EU engineering as he pointed out it seemed to fit. I like Strokers wheels but they are 3k dollars and only 3.5" wide and aren't really meant to run tubless, no safety bead, If you can get Freedom or DMC to fix you up with 2 alloy wheels and forks for anywhere near the EZS price an deliver them in less than a year I'd be surprised ! We could ask any number of the builders customers but we'll skip that for now, but one more statement ,why do you suppose Mikepa in starting his sidecar business decided to go with LBS rather than US builders ? It's rhetorical ! Euro's have more experience and have done allot more sidecars !
I never said anything about quality, design, nor delivery times. Using your numbers, I'm afraid that I don't think that $6k "reasonable cost". Also, I believe that the rear wheel Draper currently has on the rig is one of Stroker's, purchased through Claude.
Ok, I've owned Strokers wheels and tried to buy a set of leading link forks from Claude, 6 K dollars is allot but when a fiberglass sidecar and attachments from Hannigan cost 9k dollars and DMC was allegedly getting 40-50k for the liquid cooled GS with his expedition set up wide forks and 17" wheels all around and one came apart under a lawyer ! How do you define reasonable cost ??? I'll argue there's very little reasonable cost building a new rig . Sidecars are luxury items.
Good news and bad! Got everything together and took my first shake down cruise. Everything seems to work well except the wheel. The hub is perfect along with the rotors etc. But the wheel is too far out even after repair. The dent was fixed however both sides are out side to side and out of round. Still waiting on replacement. Frustrated!
Oh shit I don't know who straightened the wheel, I suggest check with a car dealer with a large body shop, Mercedes or BMW dealers we have a wheel service here that goes from shop to shop straightening alloy wheels with a hydraulic machine that twists hell out of them, the forged ones sometimes crack and the welding shop I hung out at used to fix the cracks till they got a welder and learned to do it themselves. https://www.awrswheelrepair.com/rochestermn/photogallery/show/323 Might be more difficult with motorcycle hub
I could only find one wheel repair willing to work on a motorcycle wheel and that's where I took it. They were a couple of hours away in Raleigh, NC. The obvious bend in the wheel was removed but there is still a 5mm side to side movement and almost that much up and down. The seat was good so I thought I would mount the tire and see. Didn't work!
How about that guy that built your final drive whose name escapes me right at the moment, I spent some time talking driveshafts with him he seemed helpful. Get busy I don't have enough patience to wait for Dave Engbers http://www.motorcycle-wheelrepair.com/index.html http://www.mcwheel.com/ https://woodyswheelworks.com/pages/alloy-motorcycle-wheel-repair
I have no patience for waiting as well. I have been researching wheel repair shops and have found a couple of possibilities, one in Ohio and one in Tennessee. Going to remove tire, rotors, etc. today.
Well the wheel is off for its second (and I hope last) repair. I talked to two shops and decided on Rohn Jon's Frame Straightening. Their website had a lot of pictures and information. They had a 5* rating and he actually knew what a leading link suspension was. Stay tuned.........
Based on the EZS gone bust thread guess I better hope the wheel repair shop does me a good job. I have not had very good communication with EZS recently. Still trying to settle the bent wheel claim. At one time they offered 150E to have it repaired, guess I should have taken it. They said last week they were still planning on shipping a new rim. Time will tell........
That's been the story of EZS for several years always on the edge, when you got that fork in a timely fashion I had hopped things where better. Onward and forward.
At this point, be happy that this didn't happen after they received your dollars and before shipping. I hope that it works out in the long run.
Received a video today from Rohn Jon's frame shop. Shows my wheel spinning with dial indicators showing less than .002 of run out. I think it will be good. He did say the rims were very soft aluminum, and to be very careful when mounting tire. Will be shipped out in the morning, should have in a couple of days.! Hopefully on the road by next week! Updates soon ..........
You may have the very last leading links from EZS. You should have them bronzed and then put them on the mantle for history's sake. :)
Tire mounted today, installed and went for a ride. The handling is excellent. Have tried both positions on the swing arm, for now am sticking with the front position for a little more road feel. Will try for a while and go back to less trail and compare. Much more solid feel.
