I need your help please I have a 2008 Honda Goldwing Airbag. I have pretty much decided to go to a sidecar rather than trike my bike.
Right now I am heavily leaning toward the Hannigan GTL with the EZ Steer and heavy duty front shocks - anyone else have any other suggestions?
Anyone know someone in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area that can do installation? I have been e-mailing the Hannigan folks (very nice and extremely patience) and the people they know are in North Florida.
Anyone know of a dealer that will work on the bike or service the bike after installation. My dealer (RIVA Honda) says they may not be able to work on it once side car is installed - I told them there was a quick release, but they said they would have to look at it first.
Anyone with a GL1800 airbag have any experience with putting a sidecar on yet?
Also I have tried to read the postings on driving and it seems that handling issues is pretty much leaning how to steer rather than lean around corners - any other issues?
What are the other questions and answers I am missing?
Thanks for helping out
Y, I encourage you to go ahead with your idea. I have a '07 GL1800 with Hannigan GTL. It was bought as a turnkey rig from Hannigan with the easy steer option. Both the wife & I Love this rig. We've done 600+ mile days (in the rain) with no problem. She didn't even get wet. I, on the other hand.........
This combination drives like a dream. Loads of roll on power. Very stable in all conditions. To my mind, it's the ideal touring rig. It's got 18,000 on it so far (and that's not my only rig).
Can't help you with installers in FL. I'd consider working directly with Hannigan, ride up there, get the chair installed & drive it home. They really know what they're doing.
BTW, if you haven't already done so, I'd advise you to take the STEP class before you drop 10 large - just to make sure you like hacks. Also, it will make your ride home a lot more stree free.
What are you doing March 27 to 29? There will be a sidecar rally happening in FL. There isn't a better way to look and talk to people than this. Contact Richard
http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/calendar/event-view.asp?EventID=477&year=2009&month=3
Ts Joyce for the plug. Yes please make the run over to Ocala and I know someone will be able to help you. Maybe not me but someone and I will help where I can.
With an attitude like Riva's, I believe I'd be looking for a new dealer first. I'd have a hard time trusting them to change a tire.
Amen to that. My local Honda/Suzuki dealer has a young mechanic who's willing to work on the ground and in tight spaces. Works for me since my other rig is a Vstrom/CSM.
Originally written by ynotladt on 2/28/2009 6:38 PM
My dealer (RIVA Honda) says they may not be able to work on it once side car is installed - I told them there was a quick release, but they said they would have to look at it first.
Don't be too quick to count them out. When I worked for RWMS we had a guy come in with an antique Steib grafted to a big Harley. To make it work, he had welded various brackets and mounts to both the sidecar frame and the bike frame. There was a lot of stuff on that bike that you just could not get to because of his welding job. Likewise, there was a guy up here advertising that he would mount a Chaing, (which he claimed he invented!) on any motorcycle. His front lower mount was a welded straight bar about 5 feet long that went from the front of the Chaing frame over to the front downtubes on your bike.
When the dealer said they said they would have to look at it first, my first thought was maybe they were thinking of something or somebody similar.
There is some good sidecar info in Hal's books which are here at sidecar.com as a free download. Click on the link in my signature below.
Oh, and you won't go wrong with Hannigan!! Great folks !! Click on attached pictures 🙂
I can not thank every one enough for their input it is extremely helpful. Thanks for the info on Ocala and the pics as well as the good words about Hannigan. I will see if I can get up the end of March - depends on work. Your feed back is definitely making my decision easier.
