Ditch,
don't praise your HD too much. They simply never did put in the amount of engineering work into their bikes and sidecars as Egli, EML, Jewell, Sauer or any other Westeuropean bike and/or sidecar manufacturere did. That's the reason why their sidecars are on the 1920ties standars still.
Still 20 years ago HD in Europe was the bike for getting dirty hands and broken legs, but not for to ride happily and make miles.
(Steeg in Karlskrona, Sweden 1982 got his leg broken by his own HD SoB-bike. Next day we had to start it for him, he stuck the crutches into the pipes and sissybar, swung his cast over the tank and off he went...)
And the Easteuropean manufactureres are a completely different story that could fill weeks of argueing.
Lets better not flame, but enjoy our rides.
Best regards
Sven Peter Pan
I apologize if I have offended you or anyone else with my response.
But.......
......TODAY!...RIGHT NOW!....Not 20 years ago.....not in Europe, but where this discussion is taking place.....in the U.S.......for around $25k one can order a brand new, very well built, great handling, matched, properly installed, very competent combination, with a strong warranty, from a 105 year old company with a good reputation for customer service.
I'm not saying Harley-Davidson FLH/Sidecar combos are perfect...far from it...I'm just saying: In my opinion, it's the safest, easiest, least hassle, most proven option.
Ditch, keep calm, no need for to get upset.
I myself warn many times others about companies with insane attitudes or bad products out of the view as an engineer, but everybody has his own right to decide and make his own experiences and sometimes mistakes.
My mistakes I have done in my life and will continue makeing some more as long as I live.
You say 25000,-$ are a bargain or better said the quality is worth its money, I will not argue about it at all, because I am fully concies about that my 5400,-$ Jawa is way underpowered and not at all the indicated bike for the high mountain range where I live. But to that time I bought it it was the only rig available in the whole country and it was the only thing I could affourd anyhow.
------------
Tastes are tastes and everybody has his own one. The only important thing is to live this life in harmony with your own conciency and accourding to your own believes without harming the right of others.
I for myself only worry about not haveing to be ashamed each morning in front of the mirror when I shave myself.
All that counts to me.
Good bless all friends of fresh air and mother nature and enjoy rideing as many miles the upper beeing will allow us.
Sven Peter
"In my opinion, it's the safest, easiest, least hassle, most proven option."
The important part of that is "in my opinion" you can't tell someone their opinion is wrong. The problem (IMO) is that Harley marketing has alienated folks like me (I have no desire to be linked with the large number of image conscious, loud pipes HD riders -- it's a shame they are so over-represented as there are some very nice HD riders who ride for the ride) and the price is far beyond what I would/could be willing to pay for a sidecar rig. If I had to spend 25k for a rig I would never have a sidecar. They might be nice, but for 25k it seems like they could update their set-up a little. Also don't assume that all HD dealers are competent to set-up sidecars. I have heard stories of rigs coming from HD with problems and local dealers not knowing what to do (sometimes not even knowing the quirks of sidecar rig handling). If you have a good one, be thankful.
m
Thanks for emphasizing that it's my opinion. That's very important. Because an opinion has value only to those who agree with it....or are open minded enough to at least consider it's relevance.
As far as H-D "updating" their products: Harley-Davidson is "Brand Loyal" first and foremost. That means that they understand what their customers want. It's been that way since the beginning. Because of Brand Loyalty the V-Rod very nearly didn't happen on numerous occasions.
The new machines are becoming very advanced,(by Harley standards) ECMs, EFI, Screamin Eagle, while maintaining what their market continues to demand: Big sheetmetal, chrome, Springer suspension etc.....AND!!! satisfying Wall Street....an amazing balancing act....IMO.....
H-D sidecars aint broke so don't expect them to be fixed.
Monkle.
I do agree with you. I also have been riding for 30 years now and have had Benelli's, Yama's, Hondo's, Sue's and Hogs(never tryed a beemer yet..would like to someday) but for now i am very happy with my hogs. I also think thay are overpriced. Then do i own 2 of them??? I love the look, the sound, the resale value and the ride. Beeing 6ft 5in tall its quite hard for me to ride much else, or take a differn't make of bike and change it to make it rideable for myself. As for Dealers, Almost none that i know of are really competent to set up or hook up hacks. Not just HD dealers but any major bike mfg dealership. I would never tell someone what to ride and agree with many on here that would say to each his own. so live and let live.
Its Not The Ride....Its The Journey!
Ed in the Northwoods.
I'd like to know where I can find one of these $25,000 rigs. I know a gentleman who owns a 2006 TCUI. He considered putting a sidecar on it but decided instead to trade it in on a new one with car attached. He's tried a number of dealers and says the best deal he has found is $19,000 and his TourGlide, or $34,500 outright. He has decided to watch for a used sidecar.
I hope my reply didn't come off as condescending or anti-Harley -- that was not my intent. In fact I like a lot about Harley it's just that I don't see me ever owning one (primarily due to being a cheapskate on a budget). They've obviously been doing something right to last as long as they have and be so successful.
Most bikes are neither good nor bad they just suite the need at hand (and taste of the individual) or they don't. I find it amazing how much variation has been found over years on what is essentially two wheels and a motor.
m
Originally written by Modelflyered on 3/18/2008 1:21 PM
...... Beeing 6ft 5in tall its quite hard for me to ride much else, or take a differn't make of bike and change it to make it rideable for myself. As for Dealers, Almost none that i know of are really competent to set up or hook up hacks. Not just HD dealers but any major bike mfg dealership. I would never tell someone what to ride and agree with many on here that would say to each his own. so live and let live.Its Not The Ride....Its The Journey!
Good outlook...I agree. And not just cause you are 6 ft 5 inches 🙂
Ed in the Northwoods.
Jay was willing to talk back and forth with me over the course of a few weeks even though I told him upfront that there's no way in hell I'm going to take my bike from DC to Washington just so he can fab me up some custom mounts.
He helped me work out the best way to mount the car and in the end I threw him some business buying $100 worth of parts that I could have gotten here just as easily as a thank you.
Personally I'm surprised at the negative remarks I've seen.
If your sidecar has no suspension under it, but the bike has suspension, then yes, your rig is indeed broken. Time to fix it. HD started offering suspension under their BIKES in the 50's, so why are their sidecars still unsuspended? Cruising speed is what? and C'mon, that resale fantasy has done left the building, tose days are long gone.
Not anti HD at all, have owned 9 of them. But I'm no kool -aid drinker either. For best value for a turn key package, Get a nice spiffy new Ural. Yes, I'm aware this is off topic, but if we're allowing a full blinders-on Kool-aid drinking "HD is GOD" post to stay, then a counterpoint is due also.
URAL factory rigs are fine unless you want to go long distance touring. Great backroad and firetrail rigs but not your best time saver on the slab.
I really like their sidecars when I've mounted them to a tug that can eat up some Highway miles.
Apples and oranges my friend,
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
I did'nt see any one say HD is God(i don't think anyone here would be that ignorant---if you want to see quotes like that go to the HD Forums, lots of ignorant people there). But i do remember alot of people saying it was "its was their opinion" Ed.
Originally written by ditch on 3/17/2008 3:32 PM
H-D has been building combinations without interruption since 1914.
Apples to Apples...A heavyweight motorcycle with a sidecar....Harley-Davidson is the only way to go.
Compare your metric with a generic hack to an engineered design which has proven itself over 94 years. Compare also your resale vs. your investment.
I agree with Lee. To me this comment has nothing to do with this thread and was an invitation to conflict. I would like someone to explain this resale thing, but I'll start a new thread.
I'd like to know what makes a HD rig "safer" then other $25 k rigs?
