Well, I bought a used California Sidecar Friendship II today. It's used, but in great shape. Am looking forward to installing it this in spring on my GL1100 Goldwing - I'm fully committed to the sidecar adventure now! I have the installation instructions and have been in contact with Brock Smith at Side Effects who's been giving me outstanding advice. I'm pretty handy at wrenching (am an aircraft mechanic) so feel pretty confident about getting this thing properly installed and adjusted.
Daryl
There are those out there who think we should all be committed. 🙂 You will love sidecaring.
Where are you? Someone might be nearby willing to give a hand.
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba... Canada Eh! -20C (-4F) outside right now... and I don't have a garage. Am not going to be installing until it warms up in March/April timeframe. Until then will be getting together the few odds & sods I still need to complete the job. Will likely be taking apart my forks to install the Steerite triple clamps same time. Might as well do the fork seals - they're OK, but my scraper rings need replacing. Am debating about changing to the Avon sidecar tire up front as well - my GL1100 is an '81 with the narrow 19" front rim! Not exactly a lot of rubber on the ground up front there.
Daryl Martel - 1/9/2011 8:38 PM
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba... Canada Eh! -20C (-4F) outside right now... and I don't have a garage. Am not going to be installing until it warms up in March/April timeframe. Until then will be getting together the few odds & sods I still need to complete the job. Will likely be taking apart my forks to install the Steerite triple clamps same time. Might as well do the fork seals - they're OK, but my scraper rings need replacing. Am debating about changing to the Avon sidecar tire up front as well - my GL1100 is an '81 with the narrow 19" front rim! Not exactly a lot of rubber on the ground up front there.
How do you folks up there stand the weather? I was born in Chicago and it used to get pretty cold. I left the first chance I had and never looked back. Went to sunny California.
The 1100 Honda would be a good sidecar machine. If I had one, I'd also do the modification that adds a car alternator off to one side. You can get yourself 90 amps fot all the lights you want.
I had a 1500 Goldwing and I installed a 90 amp Compufire alternator and had all the power I needed.
Yeah, not easy to handle these winters. I actually consider -20C not too bad if there's no wind. -25C and colder gets very unpleasant quickly - life threatening dangerous actually if you're not properly dressed. Being properly dressed is of course the key to staying reasonably comfortable (and alive!). I actually started riding this last spring when it warmed up to 6C. When I hear guys in the States stopping riding because it's too cold at 50F I just don't get it. With a fairing (Goldwings, eh!) or windscreen up front, if you dress warm you can really extend your riding season. With all the above said, I am not a fan of winter. I'm creeping up on early retirement age and can see the beauty in doing the snowbird thing wintering in Arizona or New Mexico... could ride all winter down there!
Daryl Martel - 1/9/2011 9:07 PM
Yeah, not easy to handle these winters. I actually consider -20C not too bad if there's no wind. -25C and colder gets very unpleasant quickly - life threatening dangerous actually if you're not properly dressed. Being properly dressed is of course the key to staying reasonably comfortable (and alive!). I actually started riding this last spring when it warmed up to 6C. When I hear guys in the States stopping riding because it's too cold at 50F I just don't get it. With a fairing (Goldwings, eh!) or windscreen up front, if you dress warm you can really extend your riding season. With all the above said, I am not a fan of winter. I'm creeping up on early retirement age and can see the beauty in doing the snowbird thing wintering in Arizona or New Mexico... could ride all winter down there!
When I was gong to High School, I had a Harley 45. I could have ridden the bus for a dime each way but I rode the bike in the cold whenever the roads were clear. I used to pull up behind a bus and wait for a stop light in the hot exhaust. LOL.
You want to talk about wind chill? In the winter, Chicago would get down to zero and below and the wind would blow in off of Lake Michigan at 80 mph! I remember that it made me decide to go where it's warm LOL.
7 windface winters riding down to -28ºC in Germany, later a flock of snowbirds (the driver was Mrs Lee Snow) who brought me to the next hospital out of Death Valley were part of the arguments why I live now 22 years in Costa Rica.
Today it is COLD +17ºC and horizontal rain.
Frequently I miss the snow, but after a few days on business trips in the cold and my bones start to ake, so I am happy to return to the tropics fast.
Sven
I should have been committed years ago but I won't let them catch me.
Phelonius
Well, Brock & Peter at Side Effects are making me the mount adaptors for my Wing, and I'm buying the Steerite modified triple trees from them... the final act of commitment. Once that stuff is installed there's no looking back!
Daryl,
most probable you will not regret at all, but ask youself why you didn't do it earlier.
Adding the 3rd wheel to the bike gives you liberty for movement in the 3rd dimention too.
The S/C virus is is highly addictive.
You will love it!.
Jollodihiieee!
Sven
Daryl Martel - 1/10/2011 12:38 AM I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba... Canada Eh! -20C (-4F) outside right now... and I don't have a garage. Am not going to be installing until it warms up in March/April timeframe. Until then will be getting together the few odds & sods I still need to complete the job. Will likely be taking apart my forks to install the Steerite triple clamps same time. Might as well do the fork seals - they're OK, but my scraper rings need replacing. Am debating about changing to the Avon sidecar tire up front as well - my GL1100 is an '81 with the narrow 19" front rim! Not exactly a lot of rubber on the ground up front there.
Hello Daryl,
Good luck! if you ever get to Montreal look me up! Take care, EH!
Sven & Dave - yeah, I'm truly looking forward to the experience. I've always thought sidecars a bit of an odd thing, but as I've gotten older my priorities have really changed. When I was younger, like most people I was lured by sports bikes & sporty cars. I'm only 50, but now I find Buicks, Cadillacs & Goldwings more my cup of tea. I'm not in a hurry anymore. When I was younger I'd of turned my nose up at the very notion of "driving a couch". I'm big on practicality now, and I'm looking forward to having the extra space to bring a little more camping gear along when touring. Am currently modifying a saddlebag to fit on the back rack of the sidecar. I'm going to enjoy this :^)
In between the side car pushers you will met a fine flock of buddies very fast. Most of us have simply a diferent vision of life. like those people who hopped off dead's shovel.
Pure life is better then TV.
Sven
