hello all,
I write to you from Romania, Europe :). Me and my husband bought an Africa Twin with sidecar as we had a baby on the way and we are both passionate bikers. Now the baby is 6 months old and as summer is already here, we are thinking of taking some drives along all 3.
I was wondering how old was your little ones when you took them for the first trip in the sidecar. I am thinking about the noise and the wind. When we took Sparkplug (this is the little one's nick name) in the sidecar we used a shell - the car seat for it's age and put it inside the sidecar. When he will be able to sit itself properly we are thinking of putting the car seat fitted for it's age and also install a windshield.
Thank you Dave for your advice to post this topic. Attached some pictures with the Africa Twin - it's a 750 cc motorcycle, Honda made it and the sidecar is from Ural.
Thank you for your advices 🙂
As for out first one he was in the sidecar as soon as my wife went back to work. I was teaching then and the wife was working she was able to take him to work for about the first 6 months or so, then off to the baby setter. She drove the small pick-up (a Subaru BRAT) and I had the rig. We had mounted a safety seat or child's car seat in the car with the baby facing backwards, at this time this time it was our only transportation. I would pick him up after teaching and take him home, also If we needed to all go out we would have to take the rig since the BRAT was not big enough to carry a car seat and two adults in the cab, in any case it seemed to have no ill effects on him, he has been a math teacher now for 3 years. In any case good luck. BTW the car seat was mounted (bolted to the floor of the sidecar) and had a 4 point mount system on the safety seat also he wore a regular helmet too. He was tucked down in there I really don't believe he received too much wind. Some people thought we were crazy by most thought it was really neat.
moose
antenutza - 5/28/2010 2:42 PM
I was wondering how old was your little ones when you took them for the first trip in the sidecar.
My little ones were 19 and 21 years old the first time I took them in my sidecar. I had a great deal of trouble fitting them into the baby seats. LOL All kidding aside, as long as they are safe in the sidecar I do not see a problem.
My son grew up in a sidecar. I can remember him sleeping on the floor of the HitchHiker with his beagle, Thumper, and using the seat cushion as a pillow. I'm guessing he started at about 18 months or so.
Most sidecars will accept a baby carseat. A small child is best protected when secured in one. Not in Mom's lap.
Lonnie
My kids were both 3yrs old when we went out on the road. Old enough for their necks to support the weight of a helmet. My daughter was 2yrs when I started taking her up and down our dead end road.
Nice rig antenutza.
moose - 5/28/2010 5:00 PM
Some people thought we were crazy by most thought it was really neat.
We get that a lot :)) but as long as we are safe and happy we don't really care.
So basically you took your son in the sidecar since he was only a few months old. What kind of rig did you have back then?
We olny had short trips so far: 5-10 km inside the city but we are thinking of taking longer drives, 100 - 200 km...
@wingit11 .. I can imagine they would not fit the baby seat :)))
@ SidecarMike ..I guess you had a closed sidecar?
@ Hack'n .. I never took him in my lap while riding. once I was with him in the sidecar but even then he was in his shell inside the rig.
@ BigD ... yes, up to 3 yrs there are no helments or caps ...I had to improvize a lot...
the rig was especially chosen as my husband has an Africa Twin of 750 cc and I have one of 650 cc - the Africa with sidecar we say it belongs to our son :)))
antenutza - 5/29/2010 1:50 PM
@ SidecarMike ..I guess you had a closed sidecar?
No, that would have been a stock Harley car when he was very small, and a HitchHiker when he was about 6. I was talking about him sleeping in the HitchHiker. Keep in mind that the "baby" of the family is over 30. We were also driving old Jaguars and Morgans with no seatbelts. The kids all managed to survive.
But now that there is helmet laws they need to be able to wear a helmet in the sidecar right in the states? I just need to clarify with a little one now so I know when I can start taking her out.
All 3 of mine now the youngest is 22 rode on my solo bike in my lap before they where a year old. Not far but to the corner and back.
Check with your State motorcycle statutes. Most of them will apply to sidecars as far as helmet usage is concerned. Some have an age limit on how old to ride ON a motorcycle but do not address riding IN an enclosed sidecar so some rulings are left to the disgression of the cop shop or the individual officers' bias, which is BS but they do have the last say so up until court time.
Most States have few laws addressing sidecars and sidecar passengers. They figure a Motorcycle is a motorcycle no matter what the configuration. Three wheels or less steered with handlebars as opposed to a steering wheel being a motorcycle.
Lonnie
We just took the sidecar today for a complete make-over 😀 we will put the windshield and a cover custom made to it so that there will be absoulutely noooo wind affecting the child.....in july we want to go for 300 km in a trip to the seaside.
@ SidecarMike ...I just want to keep my baby as safe as possible...I don't want to "damage" him...I'll leave that to him when he'll grow up :)))
regarding the laws..here in Romania...the sidecar is not mentioned into the legislation at all, we went to a parade a few months ago and all the police men were really curious about our baby in the sidecar but no one said anything about us breaking the law....and there were plenty of cops...
Thank you all for sharing your experience. in a few weeks I'll show you our updated sidecar 😀
ride safe!
my daughter started in the hack by age 4,..in her safety seat,..my only recommendation was to teather the helmet to the seat (Hann's Device ?) with a quick release clip,... the weight of the helmet is greater then the strenght of the little ones neck,..a brain stem injury is likely with a moderate impact force,..see Dale Ernhart autopsy for results,..ride safe, cheers crawf.
Good point on the helmet teather. Where does one get something like that?
Thanx!,..I fab'd mine with a dog chain clasp and airplane cable (3" long) ,..a small chain or leather strap would also work,..just something to keep " Gazoo" from the big neck snapping, over travel movement . be creative, yet allow some movement,..a power outlet and car battery reserve is also good for long rides,..the DVD player keeps them busy while you enjoy a ride,... hehe... have fun, crawf.
