Originally written by Sahagan on 10/28/2003 11:36 AM
Hey Bill;
So, you're putting a Hannigan sidecar on your Bandit huh? I'm putting a Hannigan on my '02 Concours....I'm just 12 miles from Hannigan's and have been able to get some helpful information from him. Unlike many, he's eager and willing to help anyway he can.
Its a first for me, but I'm one of those guys who enjoy working on a bike almost as much fun as riding the bike. So I'm restoring the sidecar from scratch (well, several scratches actually, including a small crack or two....repainting it and so forth). I could probably finish it in an easy week or two, but I always try to pick a winter shop project, so I'm stretching it out to give me some fun over the course of the next few months. Hopefully, I can turn that extra time into a better finished job at the end of the matter.
Anyhow, I'd sure enjoy hearing about your progress, the obstacles you've faced and overcome (I had a real bear with the fact the Concours doesn't have a frame to speak of around the engine, with the engine actually being a stressed member of the frame....) and how you did so, or plan to do so. I suspect the Bandit also offers some particular difficulties.
I'm not wanting to impose upon you of course, but if you're inclined to share I'm all ears.
Thanks!
Sahagan
Rather than hi-jacking this Deals Gap thread, with my non-stop ramblings on about my setup, i'll just start up a new thread in the general topic section 🙂
This past summer there was a High Performance Sidecar Rally at Maggie Valley NC, not to far form Deal's Gap. Although attendance was rather small a great time was had by all.
Check out http://members.iglou.com/ralph/page5.html for more pictures etc. I also submitted a story to the Sidecarist about the rally.
Not sure about plans for next year.
Mike
Hey Folks!
Heh, heh, HEH! Looks like we might have a CONVOY!!
I'm in, big time. And with Kenneth serving as a local contact and experienced 'Tail rider, I don't see how we can go wrong.
All we need now are some viable dates....and shucks, I'll take off for two or three days during the week if need be, in order to make this one.
Good ridin', good fellowship and good photos are all anyone can ask for!
Later!
Sahagan
A friend on mine has a video of riding the Deal's Gap on two wheels. It is quite good. He videos while riding so it's as if you are on the bike doing the riding. His email is gwmctrs@telus.net.
Ask him about the Deal's Gap video. I think it's about $10.
Tell him Thom Sears told you about it. You won't be disappointed.
Check out http://www.killboy.com/ for a picture of someone flying a sidecar on the Gap. Not sure what make, possibly an Armec??? If its not on that page click on previously on Killboy.com
Killboy sets up on on one of the corners on the Gap taking pictures of the bikes going by that can later be purchased on his web site. (I have an 11 x 14 of myself I still need to get framed.)
Also look at http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ for general info, road conditions, law enforcement activities etc.
Mike
I have many times.
There was a video taken of my Yamaha FJ 1200 rig going through Deal's Gap and there are clips from the video.
Follow the link to my video page.
Roger
Hey Mike;
Wonderful website....and yep, there is most certainly a bit of air between that tire and the pavement (and I don't recognize the car either, but I don't know them well as yet....I will though, you can bet on it!)
With your permission I'd like to spend some more time on your site, and particularly with that written report of a ride you've linked for us.
I notice the post above yours offers a video of a complete ride, and I'll be ordering it ASAP. Fact is, I plan to ride the Dragon's Tail come spring, and I do believe in doing my research beforehand. In fact, I plan to write about the trip (as a travelogue) for some of our regional papers and magazines. Its especially appropriate now as everybody and his brother around here has a bike (usually a croozer....but that's okay too).
So thanks for your help!
Sahagan
Hey Roger!
Good grief!! My Word! Wow!!! Got it bad, huh?!?
What a website....Between you and Mike I'm going to be mighty doggoned busy the next couple of days, digging internet gold.
When I saw your home page I thought, "Wait 'till I tell this guy about David Hannigan's Hayabusa mounted sidecar...." but on second thought, having looked at some of your photos, I decided maybe I need to be telling David Hannigan about your website and the sidecar rigs featured there.
I didn't need to see this....what will I tell Mrs. Sahagan now, when I inquire about the current state of our finances as related to possible future expenditures related to hot-rod sidecars? Oh dear....
Thanks much and later Dude!!
Sahagan
Sahagan
This summer at the Americade in Lake George, NY. Bill Ballou, Dave Hannigan and I swap sidecars and I got to ride Dave's Hayabusa rig.
Roger
http://hometown.aol.com/HPSidecars/index.html
Hey Roger;
Well, how was it? I'd LOVE to ride that rig, even without the sidecar! I used to look only at, and ride, full-boat touring bikes, Gold Wings and such like....never ever thought I could find an interest within me for something on the 'sporty' side of things. Then I ended up with a Concours; yeah, I know it isn't a sport-bike, but its at least tilted that way.
And when I saw David's Hayabusa set-up (I live just 10 or 12 miles from his shop) I realized I could get interested real fast in a sidecar equipped sport-bike. I need to sit up kind of straight, don't fit well with the real agressive seating position, being as how I'm, well, 'portly' I guess, or maybe 'rotund', some might even say 'jolly'. But give me some bar risers and a good foot rest position, and a hot bike with a good solid sidecar, and I suspect I could get to liking it just fine. Shucks, if a regular everyday sidecar rig can make people stop you and talk, I'm surprised we haven't seen you on Fox News Network!
I hope I don't impose upon you, but I plan to spend whatever time is necessary to get into your web-site real good....and I'll undoubtedly end up pelting you with questions. So hang on tight!
Catch you later....
Sahagan
Sahagan,
I didn't mean to give the impression that was my site, its not.
http://hometown.aol.com/michaelcurrin/myhomepage/motorcycle.html
is my site, and one of these days I'll get a chance to update it.
Also, if you ever meet up with Roger get him to give you a ride in his sidecar. It will really show you what a high performance sidecar is capable of.
Mike
Mike wrote:
>>Also, if you ever meet up with Roger get him to give you a ride in his sidecar. It will really show you what a high performance sidecar is capable of.
Mike<<
Amen...I took a ride in Roger's rig in New York and was impressed at it's cornering ability....Can anyone spell overpowered go-Kart.( Just kidding about the overpowered part..I think the words 'over powered' should be an oxymoron...the more the better)
Mike..don't sell yourself short here..I have often wondered how long it took you to get my drool off of YOUR rig after you let me ride it in Kentucky.
Hey Mike;
Not your site, huh? Well Sir, regardless, its amazing, and I can't wait to run across some of the folks involved, including, if Claude's last to you is any indication, yourself as well.
I've known for many years that people raced sidecar rigs. But they always had just a vapor of a sidecar, and the passenger seemed to be more qualified for magician's assistant/contortionist than for riding bikes. I'd never seen a truly fast outfit that would be comfortable for the wife, or the kid, or the dog, or more importantly ME, to ride.
But it makes sense. Whenever you have a thing, there are people who will develop and innovate to its highest potential. The vast majority of sidecar enthusiasts aren't going to build or buy these super-fast rigs....but every single one of them will look at them, wonder over them, and picture (dream) themselves riding them, givin'em all speed they can take. And even more so, the innovations these folks bring about will inevitably find their way into common uses on sidecars everywhere. So, to quote Martha, "That's a good thing...."
Thank you Sir! And we'll catch you later....
Sahagan
Sahagan,
When I replied to one of your posts earlier, I thought you were an inexperienced sidehacker. But, if you are good enough with a sidecar to fly through Deals Gap, you don't need advice from anyone about how to handle a sidecar. So, please, disregard anything that I had to say. If you had one of those racing rigs with a working passenger, then Deals Gap might be an adventure. But, I simply regard it as nothing but flat out work with a sidecar. I have been through the Gap more times than I wanted to go. I'm the only one in my group that is a sidehacker. All the 1800 Goldwingers that I ride with love the darn Dragon.
Anyway, I thought you were looking for something to make your wife comfortable, didn't realize you wanted to race. Well, I hope the Dragon's Tail fulfills your expectations!
Connie
Hi Connie;
No....you mis-read me. I'm not even the shadow of a hot rod biker. And we are new to the sidecar, although we have many miles under our collective belts on touring and sport-touring bikes.
And while I've ridden some mighty fine twisty roads, I've yet to make it to Deal's Gap. And yep, I realize the sheer work involved in riding a hack through that smorgasbord of curves would be daunting. For even though I'd say my setup is pretty good, requiring quite a lot less muscle power than I had anticipated for the curves, I don't dare minimize it.
It does seem to me the proof of the set-up, the strength, the design, and the structural integrity of the whole system is found in the curves. The pressures my rig seems to experience whenever I'm in a severe and fast left hand turn is incredible. Should any structural failure occur while in that position and your right leg would very quickly take on the nature of hamburger....on the other hand, in very hard right hand curves, just how high can a car fly?
So please, rest assured your advice is well taken and appreciated. Feel free to give me a hint anytime....no, actually, feel urged to share your experience and hints with me anytime.
The art of the sidecar is wonderful, but it is invested with mystery, suspense and some elements of possible danger. Anything we can gain by way of knowledge can make our pursuit all the safer, and I'm for that any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Thanks again! and have a good one! We'll catch you later....
Sahagan
