Hannigan Sidcars

Hi Donlan;

I don't have a BMW bike, but do have a Hannigan sidecar (on a Kawasaki Concours)....and have known David for the past ten years or so.

I obtained my sidecar from an individual, and since it was my first, I visited Hannigan repeatedly with the huge number of questions that naturally arise. In every instance, without exception, David has gone out of his way to help me in every way possible. In an industry motivated most fully by the dollar, its a wonderful experience to fellowship with someone who has a genuine love for motorcycling and is willing to share as freely as David Hannigan.

A couple of Hannigan design aspects tilted me thoroughly toward the Hannigan line; 1) I like the modern free-flowing body styles of the Hannigan sidecars. Yes, retro is beautiful and classic....but in my opinion a sport-touring bike such as my Concours would seem mismatched with a retro-look sidecar. 2) The Hannnigan designs are characterized by the ability to remove and re-attach in a matter of a few minutes. This enables one to use the bike as a solo rig today, and a sidecar rig this afternoon. I like that kind of capability, although when push comes to shove I may well leave my sidecar attached all the time (I've just finished installation and haven't been on the road enough with it to know just how I'll feel about that).

So anyway, while I don't have experience with the BMW, I can't think of any reason whatsoever to feel uncomfortable with not only the Hannigan sidecar, but with his beautifully machined hardware and his expert installation as well.

By the way, let me ask a question and make a statement. The question....what on earth is Kentucky Burgoo? I've lived in this state on and off for 53 years, have traveled throughout most of it, and have NEVER seen, heard, nor tasted Burgoo. And the statement....If you are ever in the western part of the state (I live near Murray), give me a shout (email, whatever) and I'll be most happy to show you some fine Catfish dining and some mighty good ridin' roads.

Later!

Sahagan

Sahagan,

Thanks for the evaluation of the Hannigan. I intend to drive down for a visit Dec.2nd for a chat with them.

KY Burgoo is a stew made from vegetables and several kinds of meat including wild game. At least what I have eaten called KY Burgoo has been that.

Donlan

Hi Donlan;

I have a strong suspicion Ky Burgoo isn't nearly so popular as the tourist bureaus and chambers of commerce throughout the state would have us believe. Louisiana has gumbo, Texas has bar-be-qued beef, Chicago has hot dogs, New York has pizza....and Kentucky has burgoo. My! how wonderful....

If you have time when down here to visit Hannigan's, give me a shout. My email is templehill@att.net. You can email me and I'll give you my phone number. Of course, I realize how time schedules are....so don't feel as if you're under any kind of pressure.

I am in the throes of restoring my Hannigan Super Sport sidecar, and am specifically involved in the body-work to take care of a couple of cracks and lots of dings, before painting. I've already completed the installation on my Concours. Anyhow, I'd be happy to show it to you, if you don't mind a dirty and disheveled shop....

Later!

Sahagan

Hey Sahagan don't forget Pa. ..we have pig stomach , chicken and waffles and pork and sauerqraut...not to mention Goose Day.
Claude
Who was transplanted from Florida where we had Deviled Crabs, Cuban sandwiches, oyster omletes and grits.

Hey Claude;

Yeah....but do you have deep-fried Catfish filets or fiddlers (whole fish)? served with cole slaw, french fries, white beans, a big ole slice of onion and hushpuppies?

Kentucky Fried Chicken, finger licking good?

Country Cured Ham, salted down for two weeks, soaked for two days, then smoked for days and days over a hardwood fire?

Deep-fried squirrel for breakfast, with Red-eye gravy spooned over Cat-head biscuits, tomatoes and a side of brains and eggs?....then another serving of biscuits buttered and covered with Sorghum Molasses for dessert?

Polk Sallet?

Crackling Cornbread?

Mint Julips during a certain well known horse race?

Hickory smoked Bar-be-que (pulled) pork, with french fries and vinegar cole slaw?

Now, no disrespect to PA, but my memory of that beautiful state is of canned green beans, barely warmed enough to eat, and iced tea too strong with too little ice....but other than that, okay I guess.

Yeah, come on down and get'cha some good eats one of these days. Obesity? Shucks, that's Kentucky's state of mind.

Later Sir!

Sahagan

Sahagan,
I may take you up on the invite..sound good to me. Not too sure about the 'cat head biscuits' though.
Claude

Hey Claude;

Cat-head biscuits....they ain't pretty, but they taste mighty fine.

Later!

Sahagan

Sahagan wrote: "In an industry motivated most fully by the dollar....etc."
Although I must agree that most if not all for profit businesses are motivated by the dollar, it has been my experience that most members of the Sidecar Industry are quite forthcoming with information and advice to help those with little or no experience in sidecaring to make better informed choices in procuring, installing, modifying and repairing an outfit or sidecar. A lot of the information that is freely disseminated by most of us in the industry would be classified as "Trade Secrets" in most industries and be jealously guarded.
Feel free to disagree if this has not been your experience.

Hack'n

Hi Hack'n;

You said, "Feel free to disagree if your experience is different" (or something pretty close to that).

On the contrary, my limited experience with the sidecar fraternity has been just the opposite to what I said about the motorcycle industry overall; David Hannigan has given me advice, knowledge and interest that has in fact, served to take money from his own pocket. I have yet to ask him a question, or for a favor, that he hasn't come through every time, and in good humour as well. If he is representative of the sidecar industry as a whole, it is certainly exempt from my statements regarding the push for the almighty dollar we see so clearly in other aspects of motorcycling.

And I'll go a step further. The information that has been, and continues to be, freely shared here, on this forum, with any and everyone interested enough to ask, makes me think that Hannigan is indeed, a good example of the sidecar industry.

So I've nothing but praise for the industry in that regard. But for the motorcycle industry otherwise, I don't feel quite so optimistic.

Let me just give you some 'for instances', and see if you agree with me.

1) Tire costs. You can buy a set of four automobile radials (with 40, 50, and 60,000 mile warranties) for the price of two motorcycle tires. And you can have a set of automobile radials installed included the cost of the tires, while with motorcycle tires you can easily tie up three hundred bucks in a new set, including installation. And the bloomin' tires are smaller! and in my experience, don't get anywhere near 50,000 miles on them.

2) Parts from the dealer....I recently bought an 'O' ring from my Kawasaki dealer for the slider on the front fork of an '86 Concours. It cost $5.65 (my dealer likes me and gave me a discount). I ruined it, went to a local hardware store for a replacement, and bought it for 55 cents. Is this for real? Yep....

3) Aftermarket items. Billet? What's billet but two things....1) a part machined out of a solid piece of aluminum, as if that were something rare and special, and 2) thirty times more expensive than it should be in any ordinary venue. Some of the aftermarket suppliers make only a very few products, and they charge outrageous prices for them. How on earth can you justify 200 bucks for a piece of bent plexiglass (windshield) with a few holes drilled in it? And seats? Shucks, you can buy a new 'hide-a-bed' sofa for less than you can get a custom (which isn't really 'custom' since they make thousands) seat for your bike. A set of risers for my bike costs over a hundred bucks. And its two 1.25 inch thick blocks of aluminum, with three holes and a minimum of machining required. Sure, you have amortize the costs of mills and drill presses and lathes, and add a living labor wage, but good grief!

4) Service. I don't even want to go there, for I'd be forced to remember motorcycle mechanics who know far less about my bike than I do, with parts and labor prices that are through the roof. I'd have to talk about the mechanics who operate on the 'parts hanging' principle, not being capable of accurately analyzing the problem, so have to get by with just hanging this part and that part, at great cost to you (and yeah, they'll add labor to their misguided efforts too), until finally, by the process of elimination they get the sad little problem solved, and far more money from you than it should have cost.

5) Prices. Remember the V-Rod? Harley set the retail price at about $17,000 bucks. Dealers in certain parts of the country were getting 25 and 26 thousand dollars for the same bikes....and where did the money go? Right into their pockets, inflating their profits. So, were the showrooms full of unsold expensive V-Rods? Nope....P.T. Barnam said there's one born every minute.

We have so little choice in matters sometimes, that it gets mighty discouraging. Whenever I can find a little freedom in choice with regard to my discretionary income, I love to exercise it. If this dealer doesn't want to deal with me fairly, well, I can head right on d

Did you end up getting a Hannigan sidecar? I have a 2004 BMW R1150RT and I am about to make some kind of decision in that direction. Please let me know what you did, if it involved buying a Hannigan rig.

Thanks,

Steve Waterman
mailto:waterman@midcoast.com

I have a R1150RT, and I considered Hannigan and EZS. I had a preference for a dedicated rig, for several reasons, which influenced my final decision. I felt both Hannigan and EZS were experienced and understood the importance of a good subframe, which is required on the RT. The significant subframe work required, plus some concern about the weakness of the rear wheel bearings in the RT's differential sent me away from converting the RT. Instead, I kept the RT as a two wheeler, and I bought an older Honda GL1100-EML rig. If I would have converted the RT, it would have been either Hannigan or EZS.

I still believe a R11xxRT would make a great sidecar mule.

Just had the "chicago motorcycle show" here in "rosemont, IL" LOL

The Hannigan fella's were there and could not have been nicer. They had some great rigs here. A 05 GTL set up with, in my opinion, the sharpest Gold Wing sidecar Match on the market today. They also had a "1200 Suzuki Bandit" rig with a leading link euro style auto tired hi-performance rig. Great set up for 19,999!!! Considering the EZS set up that is similar could run you 12K just for the sidecar, no install, paint, etc...it's a real challenger if you are interested in a HOT ROD SIDECAR.

In fact, my wife and I are going to get a 05 Gold Wing rig made up this spring. It's just too nice to pass up. I'm a Harley man at heart, but have been looking at a touring rig to put miles on and something with a roof for the wife. I'll post a pic when I get it. Just my 2 cents.

Dundertaker

Here is a link to a great new site dedicated to High Performance Sidecars such as the newly released Hannigan Bandito.
http://www.hpsidecars.com/

Links t Hannigan and other HPS manufactureres will be found there.

Actually the front end on the Hannigan Bandito is not a leading link but a center hub design that is very popular with the performace rigs.

OOPS! Sorry I incorrectly described the steering....I do have pics if anyone would like them. They are too big to post....I have to figure out how to make them smaller to put in my album. Email me at: pgdvg@yahoo.com if you want me to send them. I have one of the Gold Wing (standard forks) and several of the Bandit with center hub steering.

Thanks for the correction.

Dundertaker