Hi, I'm a new guy to the forum and new again to sidecars. I briefly rode another guys dirt rig back in 1964 but haven't been on one since! I've ridden two wheelers off and on since 1963 and took up riding again after I retired in 2003. My wife used to ride on the back with me years ago but she now has bad knees and riding on the back of my Nomad is quite painful for her. We want to travel by motorcycle and it looks like a sidecar is the answer. I've always been fascinated with sidecar rigs and now I've got an excuse to build one for myself
I know some people are deathly afraid to ride in a sidecar. A friend of my discovered that AFTER he setup a Harley with a chair. The only one who rides with him is his big ugly dog! I was concerned that my wife might have the same reaction so last year at an Intruder Alert Rally one of the member took my wife for a test ride.....She came back smiling ear-to-ear! So I'm setting up a rig with my Kawasaki Nomad, a Velorex 365 side car and British built Unit Sidecars leading link forks system.
Hi YellowJacket!
Join the fun! Ironically, I am one who really does not enjoy riding in the tub. I'll drive all day, but I sure don't want my hubby to drive! : ) Maybe cuz it's a toy that's "mine!" or maybe because it's something I'm used to normally being in control of- dunno! I don't mind riding pillion on his 2-wheels, so I don't know! Normally my dog is my monkey, and he don't speak English to register any complaints! (Not that he would!)
Anyway, glad to have you join the adventure!
My wife has logged many many miles on the rear of a solo bike. Once a sidecar came into our family it is a very rare occasion that I can even get her to get on the rear of a solo bike. She loves the sidecar! She can relax, read, sleep, put the top up when it rains and not spend the day looking at the back of my head.
Me? I am a poor passenger on a solo, in a sidecar or even in the family car 🙂
Still like dirt bikes? Want the best of BOTH worlds? Go Ural Patrol or Gear Up...
Or, a little more refined, and genteel? Go with a Tourist or Retro....maybe even a discontinued Troyka...
Just have fun, and be careful...a hack ain't your average cycle. That's why you DRIVE a hack, and ride a cycle.
Darned shame your friend got ran off of sidecars. I'd venture a guess that if he had someone experienced help him align his rig he would have enjoyed the experience more. A poorly set up rig is an evil animal, no fun at all to ride. Proper aligmnent makes all the difference in the world.
Have fun with it!!
Originally written by Yellowjacket on 7/7/2007 1:56 AM
The only one who rides with him is his big ugly dog!
Hi Yellowjacket.
So, whats wrong with a big ugly dog as your sidecar monkey?? Actually my dog isn't ugly at all, he's quite good looking if I do say so myself. ;>)
My wife rode on the back seat for a lot of years but decided to quit the bike so I used that as a good excuse to buy a used Ural to see if she'd like the ride beside. I didn't expect to like riding on three wheels nearly as much as two but was in for a big surprise. Barb tried it one week end and decided it wasn't for her and she took offense at being called a monkey. Even with the explaination of where the term came from. But Archie loved it. And so do the grandkids. For a couple years we rode the Ural while the Harley mostly sat gathering cob webs. But when I'd jump back on the Harley I could beleive the power! Amazing what a month of riding a 750 can do to the brain! But I certainly got hooked on the sidecar idea. And the thrill. So I sold the Ural, our Kwik Kamp trailer and an old tractor and ordered the Liberty. Stripped the old Ultra bagger down to a Street Glide and couldn't be happier!
PS: Just recovering from a major computer crash and discover my spell check isn't checking right now. Soooo....
