I notice the word "Expert" listed next to my avatar pic today.
Les'see: According to Webster that would be Ex, meaning has been and Spurt, being a drip under pressure. Yep someone musta spelled it wrong.
I guess I am kinda wordy sometimes.
Anyhow here's my point: I don't think we need to pick up the pitchforks and torches and storm the Castle.
There is some risk associated with any motorsport. Sidecaring notwithstanding.
If one deigns to live a risk free life perhaps a cloistered existence would be appropo (a Monastery comes to mind).
In the wheeled world the safest vehicles would seem to be of the 4 or 6 wheeled genre (although statistics show the most casualties here).
Next in line would be the 3 wheelers, Trikes and Sidecars seem to be head and shoulders above their 2 wheeled cousins as far as all weather safety from injury is concerned. I'll give sidehacks the edge here(Poetic License).
It's ironic that some of the safest vehicles seem to be the ones that are assembled (usually by amateurs) Jerry rigged as it were, out of after market, one off fabricated, and sometimes home made parts. Yep, Sidecar rigs. No assembly line here and no two exactly the same for the most part.
Sure, there are pricey well engineered combos, but for the most part this sport is pretty well home grown.
There have been some equipment failures along the way but all in all I think our industry vendors and installers have done a pretty good job of keeping up with the myriad of new models of bikes when it comes to fabricating one off parts for attaching a hack on the side. It's a constant R&D situation with improvements being made when the need is shown.
Unlike the mass producers, one off fabricators do not have access to in house Zyglo and Magnaflux facilities so the tendency is to over engineer some parts. "Build it Stout" as it were.
No matter how sturdy the jig used is, A metal part, subframe, bracket or whatever, that has been heated, bent, shaped and welded will have some degree of distortion. A large fabricator may have ovens to pacify the weldment to de-stress and align it. Otherwise the distortion will present itself during fitment and any needed corrections can be made at this time. (Due to allowable manufacturing tolerances no two motorcycle frames are exactly alike either.) It's a wonder some stuff fits as well as it does.
The other alternative is to worry the part into place by bending, shimming twisting, or.....When that has been accomplished the part will be securely attached but with inherent stresses that may manifest themselves after several miles of usage or abuse. Some parts will ultimately conform with use, some will loosen up, some may crack or even fail at some future date.
(That's why all MFG'rs. have warranty limits, Guys).
By and large, I'd say most all mishaps with sidehacks have been caused by: Inexperience, Inattention, Bravado, Adverse weather conditions, DUI, lack of maintenance, or an outside source. Not by equipment failure per se. Maintenance is a key word here.
You've no doubt heard the expression "Sidecar Pilot" in regards to Side Hacker's.
An "Airplane Pilot" makes a preflight check of his equipment before each takeoff.
A Sidecar Pilot should do the same.
Lonnie (Ex-Spurt)
