<<<claude wrote:>> Bob Wrote:>>'02 VT1100 Shadow Ace Tourer / solo (for now...)<<<
Claude, it's still a solo until I can put together the cash to make the rig I want out of it. For style and function I'm picturing a Ural (CJ / Dnepr, etc.) chair. The lines compliment the cruiser style of the A.C.E. and it's up high enough with ease of entry so that my Mrs. can get in and out easily and my Mom (who is getting up in years) can also climb in and out with a little more dignity than the 'ol Spirit of America offers. With one kid in college and another almost there it's probably gonna be a while.
Of course if you come across a cheap one, well, you know where to reach me.
Originally written by Huey on 2/4/2007 12:46 AM
The videos one sees on You Tube probably do more to present the abnormal and ways to not ride a sidecar than much else. Even the ones from the experienced riders seem to show off flying the chair as if it were just another parlor trick of the rig, about as equal as a Buel rider doing a headstand trick on his bike when he hits the front brake and hangs upended in mid-air before he gently lets himself down. It can mislead and sure makes one wonder if flying the chair is really necessary at all, other than to learn a new parlor trick. It sure seems that this is the first thing new sidecar drivers want to learn, but mostly to impress as opposed to learning as a safety issue. Older drivers frequently use the same thing to impress, as opposed to practice for a safety standpoint.
Huey,Norhtern Tool has a pair of cones for less than $7.00 go buy a set(you can do it on-line) and find a really big and empty parking lot so you don't hurt somebody and teach your self to fly the chair, bring your lovely wife along for support. Do it for you own safety and riding ability. Stop finding excuses and talking your self out of it. Get over the fear by cofronting it. Do this and concurrently enroll in a class but don't sit and wait for the class before you practice on your own, do it today. Congested chest not. Now go!
Wayne,
I dug through my business card file last night and found the "Darby Motorcycle School" card. The phone number on it is: 502-366-4351. Different than the one I got offline yesterday. Not sure which is current (maybe both) but thought I'd post it here in case the other numbers didn't work for you.
regards,
Same goes for you Wayne.
Thanks for the sage advice, but no thanks for the sage advice. Nothing you mentioned changes anything posted in my original reply on this topic, and I don't know what fear it is you speak of. The chair flying is a low speed manuver for the most part, or perhaps I am missing something about it.
A good thing on my rig is that so far the ballast I run with seems adequate to prevent most unexpected chair flights. That is "so far" and does not mean forever, so practicing is something to do, but not just for the thrill and entertainment value most often associated with it.
Who in the heck is making excuses and where did that come from?
Physics and psychology are irrefutable laws of the universe. As we become more comfotable with operating a rig we become complacent. And when we get complacent we have the half of a second distraction on a descending radius turn (like a highway on ramp or some of the beautiful curves on Skyline Drive) and suddenly the chair is in the air. Ballast be damned, it will happen. That's when the time spent practicing flying the chair pays off. It WILL be the difference between a controlled recovery and crossing into an oncoming RV.
The difference between a sport bike doing a "stoppie" and flying the chair is that there is no practical purpose in a stoppie nor is a bike completely under control during one. (yes it is a skill and yes I'm guilty of doing them when I was younger) But a rig remains stable when flying and can be controlled by the operator. I used this during demonstrations where I rode the MSF range course with the chair in the air to show that the rig remains controllable.
Have I done it just to show off and entertain? Sure. And like everything else there is a time and a place for it. Doing it when it's neither necessary nor appropriate will get you into a nasty situation. Just the same as being able to perform the manuevor can get you out of a nasty situation.
I recommend that any hack pilot finds a big lot and practices chair lifts. Get to know the "transition" feeling as the chair lifts. If you are familier with it then you won't panic and yank the bars left into the other lane when it happens.
Just my opinions and worth evry penny you paid for them. Standard disclaimers apply, your mileage may vary.
regards,
That's o.k. you'll catch on.
Markhas. I was a councilman for 13 years in my hometown. I'm still involved in the Board of Works. I know quite a few state representatives and Senators in Indiana. However, you left out one requirement. There must be a fair size constituency out there to justify it. I have fought many battles on the local and state levels and know a little bit how Indiana politics work.
It is much easier to practice, which I will be doing, than to get back on my white horse and battle for a lost cause. I'm 79 years old and I've been around even though I'm new to sidecaring. I will do what I think best.
However, thanks for your input.
I learned to fly the chair so that I'll be able to do it in an emergency situation.
I do occasionally pop it up in an empty parking lot just for fun.
The only time I'm really showing off is when I stand on my head while flying the chair.
Originally written by ural3wheels on 2/9/2007 7:17 AM
I learned to fly the chair so that I'll be able to do it in an emergency situation.
I do occasionally pop it up in an empty parking lot just for fun.
The only time I'm really showing off is when I stand on my head while flying the chair.
Do you have any videos of you standing on your head while flying the chair? We are considering dong a training video and that would sure be a good addition to it. No sweat if you fall off we could still use it...lol.
