An open letter to all members:
What do you consider to be the best motorcycle to attach a sidecar to?
Preferrably something modern, 1995 or newer, or if you think a oldie is the best, that is fine.
I am on my first rig, a 2004 R1200C Montauk with a Champion Escort. Love it, 8500 miles the first year, but feel that a lack of power (or I really do need to loose a lot of weight) makes it a 4th gear machine on the road. I would like to go faster then we can with a full load and would be interested in all of your comments.
Thanks for particapating.
Jim,
That question is like asking if a blonde or brunette would make the best wife for all occasions.
Many prefer the late GLs, due to the power, reverse, and all the bling.
Others like a sport bike. Personally, I prefer a more naked bike. My present ride is a factory Harley RK rig (Stage II Evolution engine) that could also use more grunt in the mountains but is otherwise fine and fun.
The road is my entertainment, I don't want the Mormon tabernacle choir or Rap music coming out of a 12 CD stereo to keep me company. I also like a bike that looks like a classic motorcycle instead of a rocket ship.
(See what I mean? I'll probably get jumped on for that comment.)
The large displacement Japanese cruisers make good tugs and we see a lot of them in Canada pulling large doublewides and camping trailers without problems of note.
If you want power for all road conditions it takes cubic displacement to develop the torque necessary to achieve it. High revving, high horsepower motors with smaller displacement don't usually handle heavy loading as well. They need a lot of throttle to deliver their power, whereas a large displacement, high torque motor is very tractable and will pull better at lower rpm.
Lonnie
Originally written by Jim Van der Veen on 2/2/2006 5:34 PM
An open letter to all members:
What do you consider to be the best motorcycle to attach a sidecar to?
Thanks for particapating.
Your own!
NAKED BIKE: Honda Valkyrie 1500 has shaft drive, six cylinder engine, plenty of power and torque, reliable and easy to maintain. It would be happy with a 220-250 pound sidecar. Overall an awesome bike in my opinion.
FULL DRESSED BIKE: Honda GL1500/GL1800 have even reverse gear. Same as above but probably more difficult to do maintenance. They would be happy with a 250 pound sidecar.
Good luck
Piero Bassi
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Depends on what you want to do, I have a 75 YAMAHA DT250 on a spirit sidecar,all set up for street/trail. I can give a Dual sport rider all he want on two track trails! It's a dream on gravel 25 to 30 MPH and with a 5 gallon can on the side, good traveling range. In arkansas it is mostly gravel so this works for me.Dont underestimate a small bike/hack. Mark Denny
