I've thought about buying a bike with car on it. Seen some old shovels. Would be fun for around town. Interested BMWs too. Maybe an enduro. It would have to be something differant.
But I also if I want to go on trip this fall, I want something able. I get an older bike with sidecar, I may not feel comfortable.
Money is an issue too.
I did Vulcan with car in around 5k. Its nice bike, but doesn't interest me. I also have a Road King in the garage.
Can't stress enough appropriate weight rig for the bike. I have a HD w/Champion "Legend" and a Goldwing w/Hannigan GTL; The hannigan is a better "touring" rig. Also getting the rig set up right is vital. Hannigan is in the center of the country (dunno who'd be in your area), but as long as you're looking they have been as good as anyone I've dealt with. Just my 2cents.
Best guy for you is probably Louie Hallett in Green Bay. In fact he would probably have something to fit your bike in stock.
Louis Hallett, 1316 Hasting St, Green Bay, WI 54301 (920)432-6627
glwrench@new.rr.com
Otherwise, it's a drive, but Steve Krings is known as THE Harley sidecar guy in Wisconsin. He used to have a shop down in Butler, but moved up here to God's Country a few years back.
Steve Krings
N7431 Hwy 13
Phillips, WI 54555
Ph: (715) 339-4656
Fax: (715) 339-4655
ssc96@hotmail.com
Good day, I installed a Motorvation Spyder on my brothers 2000 Road King a couple of years ago. The combination made a beautiful and pleasant handeling rig. My brother also has some physical limitations that dont allow him to ride his new fat boy all the time so the Road King gets a lot of use. Talk to Mary at Motorvation, she is great to work with and will send you literature very quickly. I will send you pictures of my brothers rig. Send me your e-mail address
Dave
Emailed about sypder. Going to contact guy GB too.
What are subframes for? Some have some don't??
As for brakes, there seems to be difference in opinion. Guy told me to T my brake line. That sounds like the back brakes work together. But I also read about having a seperate brake pedal for sidecar.
Subframes are needed on some bikes to access the points needed for sidecar mounting.
They are also used to reduce the stress on the bike frame by distributing the loading of the sidecar.
Like steering dampers and sidecar brakes they are not always necessary.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
The brakes are a frequent topic of discussion here. Many people think they are unnecessary and many think they are a must have. My current ride, a Moto Guzzi EV11 and Motorvation Formula has a Brembo disk brake with a separate pedal. I also have the differential valve and flex hose to allow me to remove the pedal and tie it in to the bike. If you plan to ever ride without the sidecar, or if your dealer insists you remove the car before you bring the bike in for work, you'd be better off with the separate pedal.
To be perfectly honest, the only time I use it is as a parking brake. The pedal has enough flex that I can hook it under the floorboard when I stop on a hill. Although it's probably nice to have, if I were buying a new sidecar I would not pay $1199 extra for the brake system. I would, however, buy the electric lean.
I have a RKC with a Liberty Sidecar ...I think it is a beauty rig and handles great now.
As mentioned previously you will not want to take off and reinstall a sidecar too many times unless you have endless time on your hands.
What does the electric lean do?
Mary is sending out info.
Anybody familar with proportional valves, connect front and rear brakes?
The Kenna isn't a bad price for single.
Originally written by Berserker on 5/19/2009 11:03 AM
What does the electric lean do?
Mary is sending out info.
I have it on my Motorvation. I set the sidecar up in the way that I usually travel. By that I mean alone on the bike and with an empty sidecar. When my wife or daughter or grandchildren decide to ride along, there is a tendency for the sidecar to cause the bike to pull to the right. Likewise, if you ever ride off the Interstate in Minnesota, you'll notice they crown their state roads higher than most states. This also causes the bike to pull to the right.
The electric lean raises the right side of the sidecar to effectively "lean" the whole outfit left to compensate for the extra weight or extra road crown. You can do the same thing by stopping and adjusting both upper mounts in or out to correct, but then you take the chance of altering the toe of the sidecar wheel and adversely affect your alignment. The electric lean doesn't change the alignment in any way noticeable. You'll just have an up/down switch either on the handlebar or on the left side of the sidecar to control it.
One of the bikes that will be at the Skunk rally has a simple squeeze handle like you would see on an old hay rake to accomplish the same thing without electrics, but I don't believe Motorvation offers that as an option any more.
Originally written by Berserker on 5/19/2009 1:27 PM
Anybody familar with proportional valves, connect front and rear brakes?
The Kenna isn't a bad price for single.
I have one on the wall to connect the sidecar brake to the rear brake on a Harley. It takes the place of a separate pedal and master cylinder on the sidecar. I've been toying with adding it to the rig, but already have linked front and rear on the Guzzi. I'm not sure if I want to further complicate things.
The proportional valve, is this something I can retrofit for my bike? I don't have use of my right foot. I would be interested in connected front and back brakes.
Originally written by Berserker on 5/19/2009 2:02 PM
The proportional valve, is this something I can retrofit for my bike? I don't have use of my right foot. I would be interested in connected front and back brakes.
I don't know about front and back. They are normally set between the back and sidecar, but I have seen them used between a front and sidecar. Maybe Lonnie or one of the Harley guys would be able to answer this.
In thinking about this, I don't know why you couldn't. It has an adjustment to set the bias.
The proportional valves are used quite often on rigs setup for amputees or stroke survivors. Front to back bike brake connection is the usual hookup.
Due to the constant variation in sidecar tire traction, in other than a straight line with a static load, this is the preferred method of linking.
Lonnie
