Hello everyone!
Just checking in as a newbee who is very interested in joining the ranks of sidecar riders everywhere.
I live in Cookeville, Tennessee and either ride my 2007 Star Road Star (1700) Silverado or Yamaha Zuma 125 scooter to work every day that I can. Weather here, as many know, has been less than pleasant this Winter, so I've spent more time in my pickup than I would have liked to, but such is life...
Although adding a chair to my scooter would definitely make for an awesomely unique ride here, time and budget will only allow a sidecar conversion to one bike so the Road Star is the most practical for the time being.
I am open to any and all suggestions, recommendation, instructions, recipes, do's, don'ts, and what-the-hecks you are willing to share. Mostly, I'm looking for information which will make my Roadie - whom I lovingly named "Ursula" - both practical and stylishly cool. I have done a few mods - Cobra exhaust, carb jet kit, and K&N air cleaner kit - and I'm looking to modify a fairing (not a wanna-be Harley 'batwing' style, but something different) for a different look and function over the barn-door-style stock windshield.
I've looked at the Ural one- and two-wheeled drive factory rigs, and I think they're very, very cool. However, I ride with a motorcycle club which will require that I at least maintain the posted speed limits on the interstates at least a little beyond 55mph. Maybe I'll add one to my stable some day down the road, but I'm determined to use my paid-for and much-loved Ursula for this project.
Thanks in advance for anything y'all are willing to share. I've been a fan of sidecars for awhile, but just recently decided to take the plunge and work towards adding one.
God Bless, and ride safely!
Michael G. 🙂
Welcome to the world of sidecars Michael, I think you will enjoy it. I cant give much advice since I've only been sidecaring for a few years and there are so many riders here that can give you a world of information. Just wanted to welcome you aboard!
You like the look of the Ural, We make a modern version of the sidecar that the Ural is a "copy" of the Steib M72. For your bike I would go with either our M72C http://www.dmcsidecars.com/sidecars/m72c/ or the wider M72CX http://www.dmcsidecars.com/sidecars/m72cx-sidecar/ both of these sidecars sit much lower to the ground then an Ural would which looks better on a bike like yours and both come with bike specific NOT universal mounting hardware.
What ever sidecar you go with, make sure that it is strong enough and heavy enough to be safe on a bike as large as yours. Also make sure that it has bike specific NOT universal mounting hardware as "universal" seldom works out well and light sidecar are not safe on a bike as large as yours unless they are also strong enough to be able to have ballast.
As to options on any sidecar, the one I always recommend is a brake. Some companies do not offer a brake even as an options saying that they are not needed. brakes most of the time are not needed until the one time when a brake would keep you safe at which point it is to late to go back and add a brake to the sidecar.
See if there is any sidecar training in your area, If you can take a class, if not I recommend the book "Driving a sidecar outfit" By David Hough, We sell it as does white horse press ($34.95 from us)
The book will answer questions you do not even as of yet know to ask.
If you are looking to buy a new sidecar, remember pretty much all made in America sidecars have a lead time as they are built to order and most every company has a back log of orders.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
www.dmcsidecars.com
