I love motorcycles and have been riding them for over 35 years but age is showing, time I think for a sidecar, let me know.
I have had 4 or 5 cycles over the years, two of them fairly big Honda 750 cruisers after they were fully loaded. I sold my last bike about a year and a half ago because it was older and arthritis in my shoulder would get to me. To make a long story short I just bought a brand new 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic Crusier because I missed having a cycle so bad. I am not 60 yet but will be after the first of the year. I have been riding my new bike on short trips with no problems but today I took a nice 120 mile drive in the country and had a very unpleasant experience. The bike road smooth and wonderful and the country side was beautiful, but I steadily got to the poing where I had a very hard time stopping the cycle at a light on the way home without wobbling and really not being in control of it the way I have always done. I am sure it was age although I didn't feel tired at all. I didn't like this at all and want to continue cycling. So, how about comments about sidecar cruising. I certainly am not going to go on 15 minute rides and stop every 15 minutes, that's not me. - - As far as sidecars, I just love the California Companion GT but have heard California Sidecars is very bad at giving any help or supporting their sidecars after the sale, is this true?? Any comments welcomed.
Dennis
your only 59 and complaining of old age? wooo!
your still a young whipper snapper who just needs a little more exersise to get back into shape!
when you get into the 70's then you are getting into the 'older rider' category.
that said, a sidecar rig wont help your stamina..you will need more. steering and braking will be slightly more of a chore, but not much, if the rig is properly set up.
go for it , tho. You will love them!
Bob;
Thanks for the reply, but maybe I misled people. Actually, I am in very good shape at av height and 165 lbs. I guess what I want to ask is that when your sidecar is attached you should have fairly decent smooth stopping correct, because you now have three wheels to support the bike and it should be firmly planted on the ground. As far as getting used to cornering and handling a sidecar I understand this takes time. I used to be able to take curves with the sparks coming off the frame but those days are long gone, now just cruise along at typical posted speeds.
When I come to a stop, my three wheels are usually firmly planted on the ground. Except a few times when I was firmly planted on the ground and the outfit was
planted somewhere else upside down.---RG
Hello Dennis,
You're way too young to being feeling that darn old, but a sidecar will definitely keep you up right at traffic lights. You might want to go to a rally somewhere that you can actually try a rig out before you decide that is what you want.
I have a California sidecar and California Sidecar is located about an hour's drive away from my home here in VA. They set my bike up for my sidecar which I bought attached to another bike. We ride over there often and always try to stop by and see them at rallies. I think they are nice folks to deal with, you should stop in to see them if you're ever in the area. Check their website, they usually have an open house in October.
Connie
Dennis....
It would help to let us know where you are located. There are members from all over the country and it may happen that you could live in the neighborhood of a manufacturer, dealer, garu and/or member of the crew around here.
I, too, am getting up to that age when I find myself preferring to ride my BMW R90/Ural rig. In fact, I am having thoughts of selling my two wheeler that I have put >60K miles all over the country in the last six years. But not because I'm too old, but rather I like the hack and am beginning to prefer to ride building memories, not miles.
If you live anywhere around central Kansas, there is going to be a really nice sidecar get-together in Counsel Grove, KS on Sept. 16-18. Come by and visit and look at the rigs.
Best....
budamy
I do live in VA. I think a while back I talked to someone there and they e-mailed me saying that they didn't have a installtion kit for my Kawasaki Vulcan 800 but I could get the sidecar from them. I haven't researched it much more than that. I do think I am ready for a sidecar now because my 18 year old daughter loves to ride with me and it has been more difficult having her ride along where in earlier years it really wasn't a problem. By looking at the weight of the California Sidecar Companion GT I think I should be ok. The stock HP of the Vulcan 800 is 54 but it is very easy to gain another 10% or more if one wants to by different pipes and re-jetting of the carb.
Dennis, I'm 53 and just got a volorex562 and put it on my kawi nomad 1500. I left my bike parked in the garage most of the time because of health issues, nobody knows what's going on with you, and really it's none of their damn business. In the week I've had the car mounted at lest I'm using the bike a little and I'm picking up on it pretty fast. Look at my album, nobody would know anything is going on with me health wise, and like I said it's none of their business anyway. Hack'in beats slamin' glass. I am also a long time rider and a guy who would rather eat shit than drive a car anywhere. Buy the way look up OPCfactor.org, it did a bunch for me, exercise is kinda null if ya can't move.
Lump,
you got it wrong in your statement.."exercise is kinda null if ya can't move"
exersize will always help, no matter what your problem.lots of 'problems' develop from lack of exersize'
There are many sidecar riders on the ISOK site,and many others, that are missing legs, arms, use ventilators, have Sleep Aepnea, strength problems, balance problems [mine], or just plain slowing down because of "old age".
That doesnt mean they have to try and hide their 'problems ' from the rest!
we are all here to help each other, no matter what problems you [we] have. it really helps to reach out and address the problem..lots of people here can really help!
As you mentioned...it is really 'not our business', but we all try and help our fellow sidecarists to enjoy our sport better...AND longer!
lumpc1
Well, age, health, longevity is relative to so many factors and really cannot be figured on an equasion of one person to another. What age is young to one is not so with another. My wife turned 55 in April and passed away the first part of June from a stroke. She was a healthy eater and it was just her time I guess. I once looked it up on the internet and the average age of a woman becoming a widow was at 56 years of age so regardless of the many God Bless Them people who live to be a healthy old age it just ain't so statistically. The figures continue to go up and I hope many people have longevity in their life and continue to enjoy cycling. However, in my case I have had bikes of all kind over 35 years and I feel it surely is time to go to a sidecar. Not too many years ago I could just give a good yank and get a large cycle right up on the center stand, just ain't so anymore. I also know it has nothing to do with stamina. It is just plain getting older and accepting it. But, that surely doesn't mean stopping something I love so much, I figure sidecar and still enjoy. Now I only hope this forum can help me find a good place to go for a decent price and for what I need to get started down the road again.
Well Den, I tried to sell the Nomad for $6600, no takers, so I said to myself 'I ain't givin' this bike away'. On the advise of Doug Bingham I got a Velorex 562, in his words "you didn't buy the biggest best m/c your first one did ya". It is an inexpensive and light car on a heavey bike. Lonnie in Marysville Washington, I find to give sound advise and he knows a bunch. Sidecar-industry.com will get you hooked up with someone in your area. theClassifieds in this forum are a good source of used rigs and cars. just my 2 cents worth being a novice and not knowing much. Lighten up Bob, not every one is as enlightened as a BMW rider.
Sorry Lump,
You are the one who needs to 'lighten up' , if you cant admit to your 'health problems'.
I am just trying to get Dennis back on the road, with help from others.
I have had Harleys [4], Hondas [4], Yamahas [1], then the beemer bought new in '73....last bike I ever bought..It has 125,000 miles on it...no reason to buy another one.
2 1/2 years ago, after a 9 year layoff due to my balance problem,I started riding again. I put a Velorex on it. that lasted 2 weeks, then bought the Vetter Terraplane...a great tub. been on ever since.
13,000 miles on it so far.
Dennis, go for it! you will find out that the more you ride the rig the better it will get...you will be hooked!!
It is really great to ride around with out worries about fallinfg down at stops, in sand, gravel, rain, campgrounds, parking lots..WEEEE!
Lotsa fun ahead!
go shopping, or garage sales, fill up the tub with good 'stuff' to haul home..:o)
In the words of Sonny Barger "your dog, who sticks his head out the window knows' what's that say for our mentality?
glad you said 'our',
have a great day! I'm going riding, with my dogs, who know SOOOOO much!
I can't comment on California SC service but I can make a few observations about cruiser style sidecar rigs.
Plan on modifying the front end and perhaps the handlebars. Steering geometry on cruisers tends to cause them to steer very heavily with a sidecar attached. Add the poor leverage provided by the buckhorn style handlebars most are equipped with and you may find your shoulder problems get worse. This can be remedied with modifications such as a link front end or modified triple clamps.
The Champion Legend is a very pretty combination with most big cruisers, though the ground clearance is limited. You might want something lighter for your 800 though. What about a Motorvation Spyder?
You might consider a different style bike with wide flat bars and a more upright seating position. The big dualsport bikes sucha as the BMW GS, the Triumph Tiger or the Suzuki V Strom come to mind, or a big touring bike, such as the GoldWing. Any of these could be fit with a sidecar and would have the power and handling for a nice sidecar rig. You may still need to modify the front end for less steering effort.
There are a few rigs with the sidecar wheel linked to turn with the front wheel. More expensive, but the handling is fantastic with very low steering effort, yet very stable and not twitchy at all. Dauntless has the Liberator with this set up and I am sure there must be a couple of other manufacturers offering similar set ups.
