A Newby...

jerry... welcome.you are off to a good start. look around ask questions. you are among friends.
fly

Hi Jerry - - Welcome!

I don't know where in southwest VA you're located, but I thought that you might not be too far from my location. I know lots of cycle riders in this area, but I'm the only sidehacker that I know of; I'm not saying that there aren't any, I just don't know any. Probably not much riding weather left this year, but if you have a rig by the spring "thaw" I thought I'd extend an invitation to join us on a ride sometime. I live about an hours ride north of Roanoke.

Connie

Thanks fly and thanks Connie. I appreciate the invite Connie. I am loctaed a couple or three hours S SW of Roanoke in Carroll County VA. I have been riding up your way and it is a beautiful part of the state. We live just a couple of miles off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you ever get an opportunity to ride down our way let me know as well! Are there any sidecar rallys in or around Virginia Connie? Thanks again guys and gals!

Welcome!
For finding an affordable sidecar, check the 'want ads' section. Also recommend ebay. Just watch out for the 'forged money order' scam thats going around right now.

Hi Jerry,
I can see the Parkway from my house. I love to ride it. I've ridden a lot places, but it is still my absolute favorite. Any time that we head south, I try to make the Parkway part of the trip. Of course, I don't expect to be doing that again any time soon, but we usually head down to Pigeon Forge in April. Maybe by then you'll have a rig.
Sorry, I don't know of any sidecar rallies in VA. The only thing sidecar related that I know of is the Califoria Sidecar open house in October. We usually try to make it over there for that. Actually, I used to think that I was the only Virginian crazy enough to jockey around a sidecar. I know why I do it, but I've never quite figured out why anyone else does. I have a love, hate relationship with my rig and it didn't start with the love part!
Another good place to look for things motorcycle related (i.e. sidecars & rigs) is the Goldwing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) website. They often have them for sale. When I found mine, I wasn't looking for one; it was sitting on the floor at a Honda dealership and I made the mistake of asking my husband to buy it for me. Eight years and many miles later, I still have my sidecar! But you don't usually find them at any of the motorcycle dealerships that I know of; most dealers seem to shy away from them. Good luck finding the perfect one for you!

Connie

Hi Jerry, and Welcome to the addiction of driving a sidecar rig. We got ours in September this year and have logged about 3500 miles on it so far. The only thing I have regrets about is that I didn't do it years ago. I live in VA also (Powhatan County) and we do most of our riding west of here in the mountains where we came from. Maybe we can all meet up sometime for some riding. Good luck in getting your rig and don't hesitate to ask questions here (and give advice as well). Great bunch of people who believes in helping one another.
Roger

Thanks for the info about the California sidecar gathering in October Connie. We will try to make it there in October as well. Thanks to Roger for the riding invite and words of encouragement! You are right Roger, I have met some of the nicest people on sidecar related websites. Wow Roger...3500 miles since September. Now that demonstrates pure enjoyment! Thanks again.....Gerald

Jerry,If you go to the home page look across the top to the link that says "the map" click on that this takes you to a map click on the state that you would like info. from this gives a list of sidecar dealers and installers also if there is a USCA State Rep. they should be able to help you with locating a hacker or two as they say Welcome to the madness:).

Hi Jerry,
I too am a newby to this list and a re-instated sidecar operator.
Back in 1959 I got my first one, a 1951 FL Harley. I paid $650 for
bike and sidecar. The bike had 1,700 miles on it. And I thought
what am I gonna do with this sidecar? Well, I had a ball with it after
almost running into a light pole and other things the first half a
block or so. I sold the Harley and kept the car. Then when I came out
of the Army in 1963 I found a 1949 74 Harley which became the new
tug. The trail bike fad bit me and I got "stupid" and sold the bike
and sidecar. After the kids got raised and such, I got into road
bikes again and was always thinking in the back of my mind about
sidecars. This fall in September I was brousing on the GWRRA message
board and a Champion Escort was for sale. One thing led to another
and I bought it. Only trouble it was 2100 miles away in Ohio. I had
no luck trying to get it crated and shipped so I drove my S-10 Chevy
over and picked it up. To make a long story short, It was fitted to
a 1988 GL1500 Honda and I have a 1989 so the mounts went on the same
and with the help of Champion sending me mounting instructions, it is
on. I went over to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho last weekend and gave both my
grandsons a ride in it. They are 2 and 4 years old. They really enjoyed
that but I enjoyed it more. My wife is really impressed with how nice
it is to ride in there with the temperatures under 40 degrees. It has
the TILT and I'm getting braver about changing that at speed. Basically
it sits right there at 60 miles an hour so much so that I can let go
of the handlebars for a while. It also has the steering damper setup.
Well I've rattled on enough. Hope you find the right one. I am enjoying
this forum very much.

Ralf

Thanks "Red the Unready" in Alabama for the info on locating an affordable sidecar. Thanks for the warning about the ebay moneyorder scam too! Thanks for the USCA navigation advice Chuck "hdrghack". I have some very, very good friends located out towards Buffalo in NY State. Some of the most beautiful countryside I have had the privilage to ride through! And some of the nicest people that I have had an opportunity to be associated with! I hope to visit up your way again in 2005. Ralf, thanks so much for your words of encouragement and sharing a little about your experience with your rig. Sounds like you are really enjoying it! Sounds like your grandsons are enjoying it as well! I hope to be out there hacking it with the best of you guys and gals soon!
Thanks again!.....Jerry

Hi Jerry,
Thought of your search for a sidecar when I saw this. I don't know what you ride, but here is a link to a very nice Ultra sidecar on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4504954053&category=10064

The current bid is a great buy, but there are 5 days left on the auction and the car is located in Massachussetts.

Good hunting!

Roger,
Thanks for the tip about the sidecar for sale on ebay. I currently ride a 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra-glide. I purchased the bike new a few years ago with the idea that someday I might just want a sidecar on it. If I had known then what I know now...I would have purchased it with a sidecar attached. Live and learn I guess. If anyone knows of a "good deal" on a sidecar that will fit my bike please feel free to point me in that direction. Thanks again for the tip Roger!

Jerry

Jerry,I am south of Buffalo where around Buffalo do you go?What type sidecar do you prefer,the e-bay car is a good deal looks like a real clean car for any body that may want a HD car.I have a cal 3 on my Road Glide

Chuck,
I visit up north of Buffalo, probably closer to Niagara Falls in a suburb of Lockport. Do you recommend the Cal 3? I have recently been leaning toward a Harley-Davidson or a Cal Companion GT sidcar, however I am thinking that my young daughter will perfer the security and comfort of a California Friendship model. I would love to recieve some feedback from members pros and/or cons about sidecars that will fit my Electra. I would prefer that anyone offering negative feedback about a particular chair please send it to me privately instead of in the forum. I would hate to offend anyone's choice of sidecars.