Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Tabarswaacky on February 15, 2013, 08:05:22 PM
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I'M thinking of pulling a trailer with my 2011 c14 this spring.
The bushtec hitch at $399.00 and the Harbour freight trailer at $399.00 seem to make sense to me . Any Suggestions ?
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http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4802.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4802.0)
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I'm using the Bushtec hitch and pulling a Bushtec trailer. Works great!
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I am also using a bushtec trailer hitch and pulling a road dog gt trailer. Trailer a little more than $399 though!
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I'M thinking of pulling a trailer with my 2011 c14 this spring.
The bushtec hitch at $399.00 and the Harbour freight trailer at $399.00 seem to make sense to me . Any Suggestions ?
Wait for a 20% off coupon before you buy the HF trailer. They are in many of the motorcycle magazines.
Personally, I think pulling a HF trailer with a Concours would be like putting the cheapest aluminum cap (camper shell) on Lincoln Mark LT truck.
I would go with a one wheel trailer like the UniGo for a sport touring bike. http://www.uni-go.com/ (http://www.uni-go.com/)
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I'M thinking of pulling a trailer Any Suggestions ?[/size]
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=search2 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=search2)
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I am also using a bushtec trailer hitch and pulling a road dog gt trailer. Trailer a little more than $399 though!
Thanks for the replies. Any scary moments while braking ?
I realize that the Harbour freight trailer is cheap and cheap looking, But, if it turns out that pulling a trailer is not for me, I could easily sell the the Harbour freight trailer at only a small loss.
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Thanks for the replies. Any scary moments while braking ?
I realize that the Harbour freight trailer is cheap and cheap looking, But, if it turns out that pulling a trailer is not for me, I could easily sell the the Harbour freight trailer at only a small loss.
Judging whether pulling a trailer is for you or not by buying the cheapest trailer on the market is like buying a Yugo to decide if road racing is for you.
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Really ? Is a yugo a racecar?
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Really ? Is a yugo a racecar?
It's a car, and you can race it.
The Harbor freight trailer is a trailer and you can pull it, but would you want to pull it with a sport touring bike? I could see pulling it with a trike, or a Harley, but I believe it would take away from why I ride a sport touring bike, which is to enjoy the curves.
I'm not saying you shouldn't buy the HF trailer, I'm just saying don't let that trailer determine whether pulling a trailer is for you or not. That trailer is the Yugo of trailers, while the Bushtec trailer is the Porsche of trailers and the UniGo is the sport bike of trailers.
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Judging whether pulling a trailer is for you or not by buying the cheapest trailer on the market is like buying a Yugo to decide if road racing is for you.
having purchased a Yugo when they were intro'd for $3400 cash o.t.d.
I'll say it IS a race car...if you like hauling azz on gravel roads...
how long it lasts is a different story... :rotflmao: :deadhorse: :thumbs: :popcorn:
http://youtu.be/aA2wEs5A2x8 (http://youtu.be/aA2wEs5A2x8)
I truley loved the car, it had great speed and power for it's size and price.
this is more like it....GREEN
http://youtu.be/iNzPpCSlDSA (http://youtu.be/iNzPpCSlDSA)
http://youtu.be/qssD6RSuLlY (http://youtu.be/qssD6RSuLlY)
wish I didn't sell mine, I'd be plopping a C14 engine in it for sure..... ;)
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classic ugo
http://youtu.be/MqTKZgEW8pM (http://youtu.be/MqTKZgEW8pM)
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funny part is, after all the flak yugo has taken over the years, there is one car I WILL NOT ride in again, I rode as a passenger for less than 1 mile, round trip, in a "Smart Car".... to lunch with my boss..... I got out and kissed the ground.
and it cost more than my C14.....
worst car "feeling" I ever experienced.
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will never ride in a rolling egg like that
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will never ride in a rolling egg like that
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :chugbeer:
exactly...... I been rippin' on him for a year about it, and he was very defensive....up thru this winter, when he now refers the driving experience as:
"it's like trying to ride a freakin' marble down the freeway...."
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The damn thing's small enough you could use it as a trailer.
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I truly loved the car, it had great speed and power for it's size and price.
I wouldn't say it was "powerful". But it was *lightweight*. It was so light that the little power it had made it considerably faster than one would expect.
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Since we have drifted to the smart car, there is a video floating around where a guy put a Busa engine in the smart car and does stunts with it.
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I like the bling trailers =)
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/ashevillesummer10/goldwinger.jpg)
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I like the bling trailers =)
That is just so wrong on so many levels.
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That is just so wrong on so many levels.
:goodpost:
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I have pulled my (Cheapo) HF trailer for two years and over 12000 miles and have had ZERO problems. If you want to go expensively fast, buy a porche. If you want to get from point A to B comfortably and inexpensively, buy a Yugo (or HF trailer). It has served the same purpose for ALOT less.
All depends on what your needs are. BTW, I wasn't concerned with what the trailer looked like attached to my bike. If so, I would have it custom painted and still spend less then the cost of a NAME BRAND trailer.
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Thanks Kawacop
I have a few questions
Are you using the Bushtech trailer hitch?
Did you buy the optional wiring harness ?
The H.F. trailer is only rated for 55MPH. Is it safe to go a little faster ?
Does the cooler rack come with it?
Thanks in advance.
Ray
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Hi Ray,
This may answer a few of the questions for you. Start here (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6864.msg88573#msg88573) and read down.
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Ray,
Go to the link Marty sent.
To answer some of your other questions;
The cooler does not come with the trailer. Made it myself with some scrap wood I had laying around.
Even though it is rated at 55mph, I have pulled it in excess of 75mph with no problems.
I did install the wiring harness. definitely a good choice and idea.
The HF trailer is WAY lighter then all of those custome ones. I have loaded it with enough gear for a month trip and it still only weighed a total of about 250lbs. Thats a big difference on tire wear and gas mileage.
Like a said, It all depends on your needs and what appeals to you.
$399 vs. $2300 +.............to pull some camping gear around, well that was a no brainer for me.
Mark
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Ray,
Go here, http://www.customcruiserchrome.com/product/207, (http://www.customcruiserchrome.com/product/207,) and check out this hitch. It looks like they cut the price down from what I paid over a year ago. It's a very good hitch.
Mark
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Lots of information here on pulling a trailer. http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=MCTrailertowing&nav=start&prettyurl=%2FMCTrailertowing (http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=MCTrailertowing&nav=start&prettyurl=%2FMCTrailertowing)
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Thanks Mark,
You are right. The price is down to $ 249.00. I ordered one.
Gona pick up the harbour freight trailer tomorow for $ 400 bucks and I have a 20% coupon.
!!! What a bargoon.
Next is the Gopro Black edition action camera.
All for under a Grand.
I love it when a plan comes together.
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What a great deal Ray. Sounds like your good to go. You can always find some good info from some good people on here.
Hope it all works out well for you.
Ride safe
Mark
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You are right. The price is down to $ 249.00. I ordered one.
Am I doing something wrong?.. I get $340.95 ( $334.53 after conversion to US dollars )
http://www.customcruiserchrome.com/product/207 (http://www.customcruiserchrome.com/product/207)
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No, thats right Marty. I forgot that they're prices are in canadian dollars. the exchange rate to U.S. dollars is higher. In other words, U.S. dollar isn't woth **** anymore.
Still cheaper then all the other brands I looked at when I purchased mine.
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No, thats right Marty. I forgot that they're prices are in canadian dollars. the exchange rate to U.S. dollars is higher. In other words, U.S. dollar isn't woth **** anymore.
Still cheaper then all the other brands I looked at when I purchased mine.
Well I don't know if I did the conversion right (I used a website so I think I did) since the price got cheaper in US dollars
I guess our Greenbacks are holding their own at least compared to the Canucks bills, however I was really wondering if I missed
a sale or something since Tabarswaacky said $249. Maybe that was in pounds. ;)
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I have pulled my (Cheapo) HF trailer for two years and over 12000 miles and have had ZERO problems. If you want to go expensively fast, buy a porche. If you want to get from point A to B comfortably and inexpensively, buy a Yugo (or HF trailer). It has served the same purpose for ALOT less.
All depends on what your needs are. BTW, I wasn't concerned with what the trailer looked like attached to my bike. If so, I would have it custom painted and still spend less then the cost of a NAME BRAND trailer.
after actually seeing the photos of your setup, I am now convinced there is'nt a thing out there in the "big buck" trailer world to even come close, I actually think that your rig looks quite nice, and sure looks to be able to "out haul" some of the others.
good job man....I been hedging on the conversion for 5 years now, and will definatly be purchasing this year...especially since I have a H/F outlet 12 miles from my house ;)
what actual trailer number is yours?
looks like the one w/ 8" tires, they are having a sale on these @ my H/F and the one with 12" tires is reduced also, those tires have a higher dot rating...
what cartop carrier is that also?
ooops....
I just had to look further @ H/F
it's the 600# tag-along setup, complete $399.
just curious if you could put the 12" rims on it? ::)
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after actually seeing the photos of your setup, I am now convinced there is'nt a thing out there in the "big buck" trailer world to even come close, I actually think that your rig looks quite nice, and sure looks to be able to "out haul" some of the others.
good job man....I been hedging on the conversion for 5 years now, and will definatly be purchasing this year...especially since I have a H/F outlet 12 miles from my house ;)
what actual trailer number is yours?
looks like the one w/ 8" tires, they are having a sale on these @ my H/F and the one with 12" tires is reduced also, those tires have a higher dot rating...
what cartop carrier is that also?
ooops....
I just had to look further @ H/F
it's the 600# tag-along setup, complete $399.
just curious if you could put the 12" rims on it? ::)
I actually upgraded the tires to the 5.70 X8 which is about 2" taller and a little wider. I did measure for the 12" tires, and they would definitely be to big to fit under the fenders. You would have to raise the fender or brackets some way which will also interfere with opening the lid.
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Tabarswaacky said $249. Maybe that was in pounds. ;)
That was dollars. Your U.S. Buck just increased by a few cents more than ours.
Therefore your cost will be even less.
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getting ready to drop the bux$..
don't have any idea what the customcruiserchrome unit looks like, or how it mounts...which distresses me greatly knowing I may need to pull a tire on the road...
the Bushtec looks great, but it's still $400, the canadian one is sitting @ 332 american.... what to do?
anybody have a photo showing the one from custom cruiser?
oh, the HF trailer is sitting at $409 right now....
thank god i made an eror and had the tax lady at work run my witholding as single.....nice check coming ...... 8) 8)
oh, and I'm mixing custom paint right now for the HF trailer....the make it Neutron Silver....the fastest color.....dirt wont stick, and it makes the weight much lighter......
KawaCop... did you do the end swap on the trailer to reverse the tongue location, and did you go with the led lights HF has in stock?
What tires did you grab, did they fit the rims?
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getting ready to drop the bux$..
don't have any idea what the customcruiserchrome unit looks like, or how it mounts...which distresses me greatly knowing I may need to pull a tire on the road...
the Bushtec looks great, but it's still $400, the canadian one is sitting @ 332 american.... what to do?
anybody have a photo showing the one from custom cruiser?
oh, the HF trailer is sitting at $409 right now....
thank god i made an eror and had the tax lady at work run my witholding as single.....nice check coming ...... 8) 8)
oh, and I'm mixing custom paint right now for the HF trailer....the make it Neutron Silver....the fastest color.....dirt wont stick, and it makes the weight much lighter......
KawaCop... did you do the end swap on the trailer to reverse the tongue location, and did you go with the led lights HF has in stock?
What tires did you grab, did they fit the rims?
Blues,
I don't know what you mean by (end swap). I put the trailer together as per instructions. Did not upgrade to the LED lights either. The standard lights have worked just fine for me. I did keep the 8" rim size, but changed the tires to a slightly taller/wider version (bought at Walmart).
Here is a pic of the customcruiserchrome trailer hitch installed.
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H/F trailer in box in my garage right now...gonna put that puppy together this weekend...
Got to get my hitch now!!! 8) 8)
did pick up the LED tail/signal lights as they were on sale also....
and tire tools.....
and...
new PR3's.....(murph's not H/F) ;D
also bought:
2 H/F roll-around bike dollys and a sweet 21 gal air compressor, all were on sale....
damned H/F anyway... 8)
Those bike dollys are super tuff, and work nice!!!!
off to customcruiserchrome... ::)
oh in process of making a tire changer right now based on a 14" car rim...
thank goodness the H.R. lady at work made a mistake and had my witholding as single last year.... made for a farklicious tax refund....heheheheheheh :P
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oh in process of making a tire changer right now based on a 14" car rim...
When you get all those other projects finished (or sooner if you feel like it), please us show how you did it
and what you'd do different etc etc. Thanks.
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H/F trailer in box in my garage right now...gonna put that puppy together this weekend...
Got to get my hitch now!!! 8) 8)
did pick up the LED tail/signal lights as they were on sale also....
and tire tools.....
and...
new PR3's.....(murph's not H/F) ;D
also bought:
2 H/F roll-around bike dollys and a sweet 21 gal air compressor, all were on sale....
damned H/F anyway... 8)
Those bike dollys are super tuff, and work nice!!!!
off to customcruiserchrome... ::)
oh in process of making a tire changer right now based on a 14" car rim...
thank goodness the H.R. lady at work made a mistake and had my witholding as single last year.... made for a farklicious tax refund....heheheheheheh :P
I picked up one of their bike dollies too. Works awesome for sliding bike out of the way. Getting too old to pick her rear up to move her these days.
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I picked up one of their bike dollies too. Works awesome for sliding bike out of the way. Getting too old to pick her rear up to move her these days.
The dolly is awesome....went together in a snap.... 8)
NOT SO MUCH WITH THE TRAILER THO.... ::) :'( >:(
seems the wrecking crew tossed it around just a bit tooooo much....
the main frame has both marker lights smashed...and the fender brackets are bent to crap.
The bottom section of the plastic cargo box is damaged, and the latch is snapped off...
One gas-spring is bent.
The bearing and axle end on one end is totally cocked up, the bearing is pressed in crooked, and it will not spin free....
sooooooooo
tomorrow morn they get to swap parts out of another box for me....arggggggggggggg.
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SOOOOO....
I ordered the Bushtec hitch, 2 p.m. wednesday....
it's on truck here today, and should be on my doostep when I get home....
and that was with std ground freight.... sweet.......
48 hr delivery, glad I didn't get stupid and pay 3x $$$ for 2 day guranteed..... :o
UPDATE:
DELIVERED 1:41 P.M.
LESS THAN 48 HRS. ;D
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WELLL..... >:(
so much for the old "made in the USA" quality expectations.....
The Bushtec hitch is not high on my list of warm fuzzies right now.....
After busting my azz to get the "foreign" Harbor Freight trailer assembled, and wired...(to actually work with the wiring of the C14.....) I go to mount the Bushtec.... seemed simple, basically remove the rear plastic, the front bolts from the grab bar mounting hard points, the rear bolts on the passenger peg brackets, install the 4 longer replacement bolts and hitch, and done....
not so.
the mounting holes in the robustly welded hitch assembly varied from one side to the other, by over 1/4", and when coupled with the fact the bolts on the bike are spot on, and cannot be moved, the hitch was impossible to install. Now, because it's so robust, you simply cannot bend anything to make it work, even with a 4 lb mini sledge.... and the mounting tabs have so little extra metal around the holes you can't cut or grind anything off, or re-drill anything....
After calling them, and talking with them, all they are basically willing to do is return my money, and NOT supply a unit that does fit... in other words, they made them in a sloppy manner, and nobody bought them. It sounded like I was the first Guinea pig.... @ $430 shipped... I assume so.
I brought it ionto work and ground off the welds on the tabs to remove the ill fitting parts, and plan on mounting the tabs and the hitch on the bike, clamping it all back to where it does fit, and tack it in place with my flux core wire machine, and have my welder here at work TIG it all up tomorrow.
Pictures upon completion :'( :'( ::)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_234342_988_zps4f4da9eb.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_234342_988_zps4f4da9eb.jpg.html)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_234613_614_zps1ef644b6.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_234613_614_zps1ef644b6.jpg.html)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_234558_410_zps29e2dc95.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_234558_410_zps29e2dc95.jpg.html)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_225511_774_zpsc5e122da.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_225511_774_zpsc5e122da.jpg.html)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_225606_109_zps37c31adb.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_225606_109_zps37c31adb.jpg.html)
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Sorry that you are having issues with this.
I was planning on getting one of these hitches and now I'm not so sure.
Thanks again for posting about what you've found and how the company handled the situation.
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I cut the welds off the upper bent plates, ground them in the area where they didn't fit around the upper bolts, ground out the holes to clear the weld nuts, then installed the hitch, and bolted the plates oin place, then with great effort, and many clamps, wratchet straps, cursing, repositioned the hitch and clamped the bars to it...tackwelded it in place, and TIG welded the assembly at work, with the top bars clamped to prevent warpage....
all in all it came out looking good, have to install tonight....
but for $430 delivered they totally butt-screwed me on this hitch... they never made one that fit I am sure.
PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT BUY ONE, BUT I'D CALL AND ASK THEM IF THEY GURANTEE IT FITTING, AS YOU HEARD THEY SUCKED...... ;)
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PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT BUY ONE, BUT I'D CALL AND ASK THEM IF THEY GURANTEE IT FITTING, AS YOU HEARD THEY SUCKED...... ;)
I would get it in WRITING.
And won't they be surprised when negative info comes around and bites them. So many companies that just won't do the right thing...
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I bought the same unit from Bushtec and it fit fine, so not all are off.
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I bought the same unit from Bushtec and it fit fine, so not all are off.
WHEN DID YOU BUY/INSTALL? was it Chrome, or black?
Consider yourself lucky. 8) 8) ;)
I dunno, the fellow I spoke with said he and the "owner" went and pulled 2 and looked, they both looked the same, and he insisted all are made on the same "setup"... I would have to say that not one aspect of the assembly was correct. the end tabs on the tube were misaligned which throws off the vertical alignment, the formed tube was skewed to align the tabs, it was off center left to right, and the front end was narrower than the back ends mounts by over 1-1/4" on width. to mount, I had to bolt on one front blade, then pull the left one outwards 3/4" using bar clamps, install that bolt/nut and release clamp. then I had to mount the upper right side by using a bar clamp to pull it up and outwards, and then had to pull the left one up with a clamp, and another bar clamp to pull it inwards 3/4". This was all to "align and centralize the geometry of the formed round tubing....
even doing that, I could not install without the modifications I made.
After my mods I did have to use bar clamps to pull the shapes in, but the re-positioning of the top wing bars I di made it drop right into place, and remain "central" with the tire and bike.
Hell, even the plate the ball is installed on is welded on off to one side, and crooked at that... you can see it in the photos....
after modifications:
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/IMG_20130717_174545_796_zps50c43373.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/IMG_20130717_174545_796_zps50c43373.jpg.html)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/IMG_20130717_164842_503_zps99547a0b.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/IMG_20130717_164842_503_zps99547a0b.jpg.html)
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/IMG_20130717_164914_612_zpsb4ddea29.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/IMG_20130717_164914_612_zpsb4ddea29.jpg.html)
before mods:
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u672/MAN_OF_BLUES/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_225606_109_zps37c31adb.jpg) (http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MAN_OF_BLUES/media/old%201/COG%20TECHNICAL%20PHOTOS/IMG_20130715_225606_109_zps37c31adb.jpg.html)
it was midnight when I finished all my finalization, but it's all assembled, wired, and ready to rock....
more shots tonight.
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Just an FYI for anyone who may not want to go with the Bushtec Hitch , especially Canadian C14 owners , the hitch on Kawacop's bike is a Denray. It can be purchased directly from Denray Products
( www.denray.ca (http://www.denray.ca)) located in Quebec or from Custom Cruiser Chrome , located in Peterborough , Ontario. The price $340.95 + taxes and they wanted 31.00 to ship to Nova Scotia.
t
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I created a new post specific to my above project, so as to preserve the O/P's thread, and not hog it.
The saga Pt II continues here:
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=14520.msg178117#msg178117 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=14520.msg178117#msg178117)
thanks,
MOB