I am contemplating purchasing a side car rig and would like to solicit some advice. I plan to use it as a daily driver, about 12 mile a day in small town traffic. I have no desire to hit the interstate with it or drive cross country. We do have tons of flat open dirt roads to use for grins and to go fishing. I have test driven a ural and like the way it feels but my business keeps me in the shop 6 to 7 days a week and I don't have the time to deal with the wrench time many urals seem to need. I am considering some other bikes to build up, a v-star 650, a sportster, a drifter 800 or a suzuki boulevard. let me know what you think.
Thanks
tom
Tom,
Any of your choices will make a good sidecar rig for your intended usage if matched to a moderate sized sidecar.
Check out the Velorex line for their sidecars come with all the factory accesseries included for a decent price.
If you prefer the Art Deco look, the Kenna is another moderately priced sidecar that doesn't need a bunch of extras to buy in order to go backroading.
There are also many cars on the used market if you are handy with tools and fabrication (or have a buddy who is).
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
It is best if you pick a bike that there are bike specific mounts for as "universal" mounts tend to not work out all that well.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporaiton
866-638-1793
I am definely into old school looks as the only two bikes I have owned were an Indian chief and a WLA. Do any of the bikes I mentioned have stock mountings available? I assume the sporty does.
Thanks tom
that would be an innacurate assumption. HD hasn't had factory sidecar mounts in 50 years or so. I've had fine results using 'universal' mounts, but a nice name brand subframe sure would save a lot of headaches and effort.
Ok I am confused about HD not having factory mounts in 50 yrs. I have a 1983 HD Electra Glide with Matching sidecar (same vin #'s) 1 of 75 sets made in 1983. I don't know much about much but the mounts came with it.......
But not for the Sportster. I believe the last time HD made sidecar mounts for something that size would have been the K bikes of the 1950's.
If you like the old school look, a Ural or Liberty on that Drifter would look great.
Ok thanks for teaching me, I don't know enough to talk about it but have a setup I am going to start riding since can't ride solo due to weak arm after breast cancer surgery. Figure I can ride if don't have to hold it up. Mechanic coming Sat. to hook me up and get me to riding. I come here to learn all I can............thanks
Start your lessons over at http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp. You'll be happy you did.
Originally written by SidecarMike on 6/14/2006 11:44 PM
But not for the Sportster. I believe the last time HD made sidecar mounts for something that size would have been the K bikes of the 1950's.
If you like the old school look, a Ural or Liberty on that Drifter would look great.
The 'old school look' or the vintage look can also be achieved with an older BMW airhead if you wish. They are not that expensive on the used market and are decent bikes. If you like the look of the Ural and want something with possible less maintenance and less overall costs this may be a nice option to consider.
sidecars for new FL model HD's are dealer install. The frames themselves do not have sidecar lugs built into them.
Linda,
The last years of factory frame accomodations for a Harley sidecar were in the '50's. The front downtubes had eye holes for the sidecar mount on the EL's and FL's. Later models are attached to the frame with brackets.
Some models of the earlier sidecar equipped Harleys also had adjustable rake triple trees so the trail could be lengthened for solo use and shortened for enhanced sidecar steering. That was handy.
Lonnie
