I am collecting some information on Goldwing sidecar outfits. Comfort and reverse are the top points of interest for me.
What Goldwing edition and what sidecar do you have?
How easy is it for an older not-so-nimble adult to get in and out of the sidecar?
How long have you had it?
What modifications do you recommend? (Automotive rear tire, leading link or other front end, etc.)
How does it compare to other rigs you have owned?
Fuel economy or range at various speeds (50, 60, 70 mph)?
What tires and how long do they last?
Does the reverse work with the weight of the sidecar (and passenger) up a slight incline?
Recommend DCT or not?
How does it handle with an adult rear passenger and two 20 pound dogs in the tub?
Any other comments?
Thanks for your thoughts.
My background: motorcycling for 60 years. After taking a sidecar class, I added a new Hannigan Duel Sport to my 2018 BMW R1200 GS in late 2020 as my first sidecar. The cost of adding the sidecar and associated mods was about the same as the cost of a new GS (LBS leading link from end, replace 5.5 gallon fuel tank with 7.5 gallon GSA tank, custom paint, automotive rear wheel). I have not piloted anything else but it tracks a straight line with no effort.
Jim Gross, I will pipe in, because....most everyone is "expecting" me to jump in here, because I have owned 5 different Goldwing sidecar rigs, from a:
1986 Honda Goldwing 1200 w/California Friendship lll
2006 Goldwing w/Champion Daytona 2+2
2008 Goldwing w/Hannigan Astro 2+2
2015 Goldwing w/Hannigan GTL
2019 Goldwing w/DCT and a Hannigan Dream sidecar.
The "short" version of all this is....the DCT transmission on the newer (2018+) Goldwings will well worth buying, as it makes piloting a sidecar rig so much easier, Reverse works perfectly fine with a sidecar attached, even slightly uphill, backwards, and in the snow.
Let's first discuss the REVERSE on these Goldwings:
The newer the Goldwing, the better the Reverse, and that is only because on the Goldwing 1800's (2001 to 2017) the Reverse button on the handlebar cluster can get sticky, and sometimes stay on, or not engage, but generally an annual cleaning with WD-40 keeps those handlebar switches and buttons working for 50+ years. For the most part, it is NOT a problem, and once you clean the contact points inside the handlebar switch cluster, it usually remedies itself.
The REVERSE itself is not a problem, it is just the switch at the handlebar, and that issue is atypical, so count on it working as it should.
Once engaged, the Reverse works as advertised, and will get you out of parked situations, or uphill, in the snow, etc.
On the earlier Goldwings, i.e. the Goldwing 1500's, (1988-2000) they have a lever that actuates the engagement of the Reverse, so no problem there.
Most likely, YOU will be considering a 2001 and newer Goldwing 1800....and there are BIG changes if you go with the 2018 and newer.
The DCT trans started in the 2018+ models, and everyone that I know that has the DCT trans loves it, and will never go back to a manual trans, for sidecar use. Jan Daub @CCJon has the DCT trans on his 2018 Wing, and just set the record for the oldest rider to do the UCC from Prudhoe Bay to Key West, with zero issues in the DCT trans. I personally drive my 2019 Wing with the DCT trans like it is a Ferrari, and zero problems, and both of our bikes have lots of miles on them.
Comfort on a Goldwing....first rule is, does YOUR body fit the ergonomics of a Golding?
Some, or most, riders can fit within the ergonomic pocket of a Goldwing, with only slight modifications to make them All Day comfortable.
I have been fortunate in that my body size fits the ergonomics of a Wing, with zero complaints. However...it you are atypical in size, or have a physical disability that doesn't allow you to sit on the bike normally, then it can be a problem.
Frankly, 95+ % of riders can easily get ONTO a Goldwing, and 66% of those riders can sit on that bike All Day Long, given minor modifications to make things perfect for them.
The guy I just sold my Euro-Wing to, a 2015 Goldwing w/Hannigan GTL sidecar, that I shipped to Germany last year, then had shipped back to the US this year, this gentleman is quite disabled, but he has a desire to do things that most people would shy away from, so he finds the way to Get Things Done, and he has adapted a way to get himself Up and Onto the bike rear seat, then slide forward into the rider seat, then install the Utopia backrest behind him, so he can sit on the Russell Day Long seat, and enjoy the ride.
One guy I sold my 2006 Wing w/Champion Daytona 2+2 rig to, his knees had a problem whilst sitting on the bike, but a contributing factor to that was the subframe that Champion uses on the Goldwing, so it interfered with his knee...but the fact is he has bad knees, so...he sold that rig back to me, and I re-sold it again, this time to a large Ogre named Thane, who just happens to be the current President of our sidecar association.
I will say this, 3 of my former, or current sidecar rigs will be at the USCA National Sidecar Rally just outside Mena, Arkansas this June, along with several other Goldwing sidecar rigs, so....it you just happen to show up there, you can look at, sit on, and kick the tires of every Goldwing sidecar rig known to mankind, or to Canine-kind.
I can answer your other questions, or concerns, but I have reached my bits and bites limit in this post, so let's hear what others have to say, as there are many others that have Goldwing sidecar rigs.
2006 Wing w/Champion Daytona 2+2
2015 Wing w/Hannigan GTL
2019 Wing w/Hannigan Dream
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
