I generally answer that the cost is very dependant on a number of facotrs (new ve used bike, options, etc), so no way to really answer their question. In effect I act as though they have asked what a sidecar costs, not my particular rig. Sometimes i also refer them to the Dauntless and Hannigan wen sites. I rarely grive any dollar amount.
I simply tell them. I got the bike out of a horse barn in Minnesota, and built the sidecar myself. Between the rivets, breadpans, and bike repairs I have about 800 dollars into the rig.
I was never offended by this question because as a novice looking for a car, I had NO idea what a car was worth. I am quick to tell them that as a millwright I built my own rig from used pieces bought on-line, but if THEY wanted to take their bike to a shop and drop $10,000 they too could have what I have. one of my club officers rides a conversion vtx trike that she had changed for retail $$$ after her husband died, and she is quick to express her suprise at the costs involved in a major bike modification...my car cost me only $800.00 US and at work machining time ,...I know that'll tick someone off,...hehe.. cheers crawf.
I consider the question to merely be an ice-breaker by people who perhaps aren't really up on social skills. I usually reply with a deflection like, "Why do you ask?" which usually gets them to ask the real question they were thinking of. Then I get questions about what it is like to drive an outfit. Seems to work really well.
At the beginning of the post Gilberth said something about cops....
they are only human too.
More often then getting stopped with the sidecar I got stopped by them when I used daily my 1960 Willies Station wagon which has a particular painting from those times.(ellegant in my eyes). I will never forget the sunday when one cop stoped us just for to see and inspect the engine and have small talk for 30 minutes. As we pulled off I saw an identical Willies Stationwagon with the same painting pulling out from a gas station towards us...
What do you think?...
He got stopped too as we could see in the mirror.
As said cops are just as currious and human as anybody else.
Sven
It's a bit like when you pull up at a gas station and some bright spark in passing ask's 'how's that thing handle then?' and 'bet you get laughed at a lot on that?'. I mean, I dont want to be polite all the time, but of course I alway's am. I just think to myself 'get a life matey'.
It also amaze's me how you can pull up on a rig or motorcycle that may cost 3 time's the price of a cage and still be treated with derision.
Safe riding Karl.
BEEN THERE, FIRST I AM AN AMPUTEE (LEG) DUE TO A BIKE ACCIDENT. ONCE WHEN I WAS FILLING UP WITH GAS A WOMAN STOPPED ME AND SAID "WOW WHAT A GREAT SIDECAR, IT MUST HAVE COST AN ARM AND A LEG". I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID NO JUST A LEG!
roflmao!!! that's too funny Joe,...you might as well have fun with it,..hehe ..crawf.
When they ask, I'll tell them an approximate cost for a low end rig like mine, 1982 Goldwing, 1977 watsonian Monaco .I tell them they can sometimes find a sc for $1000 or more, and a setup like mine would be arround $4000 -5000, if they can do there own work. Keep a general price and do not be so defensive. Just my opinion. Doug in Mesa AZ for the winter.
Hi Doug:
I'm not going to ask how much it cost. Since you are in Mesa, I am going to ask if you plan on attending the Butterfly Rally May 2-5? It Starts in Silver City NM. (more information at HTTP://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/thread-view.asp?threadid=5572&posts=3)
Just curious,
Gail in CA
Originally written by Doug Hasert on 3/22/2008 11:22 AM
When they ask, I'll tell them an approximate cost for a low end rig like mine, 1982 Goldwing, 1977 watsonian Monaco .I tell them they can sometimes find a sc for $1000 or more, and a setup like mine would be arround $4000 -5000, if they can do there own work. Keep a general price and do not be so defensive. Just my opinion. Doug in Mesa AZ for the winter.
I agree, Doug, there aren't enough of us around to be chasing away prospective riders. When someone asks me I try to assume that they are genuinely interested and promote the hobby.
My response is usually a ballpark quote on the price of a brand new rig(or MSRP)since I ride the Harley factory combo. I figure that anyone asking is at least somewhat interested and the new price gives them something to go on. This way, I'm not rude and don't divulge what I paid (probably too much but still worth it!)
Don't want any folks to get a bad impression of us hackers! I enjoy the waves and smiles when I'm on the road.
If someone asks I give them the retail price of my car and the price range high and low for other cars and phrase it just that way. "This sidecar, less bike, costs XXXX.XX new depending on accessories." I usually don't bother to mention the cost of the bike although I will identify it if someone is curious. I was showing it to a gentleman recently as I pumped gas. He wasn't young by many years and told me that in all his years he'd "never" seen anything like that before. He was quite impressed. Mostly the question of cost doesn't come up all that often.
My entire pitch doesn't take long and includes answers to the most common questions. I can do the entire spiel in under 5 minutes.
I also pass out my old copies of the USCA newsletter and Hack'd magazine to anyone interested. Also I will miss the Butterfly rally as we'll be almost back to MN for the summer. I'm full timing in a motorhome and the sc rig is our transportation and we do not own a car.My wife drives it to work here in Mesa and some weeks she drives it more than I do.
Subject : RE: How do you respond when asked?
Posted : 3/22/2008 1:55 PM
Post #34166 - In reply to #34164
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Hi Doug:
I'm not going to ask how much it cost. Since you are in Mesa, I am going to ask if you plan on attending the Butterfly Rally May 2-5? It Starts in Silver City NM. (more information at HTTP://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/thread-view.asp?threadid=5572&posts=3)
Just curious,
Gail in CA
i am happy to answer any questions the best i can.anything from "are these hard to ride?" to approxamate dollar amounts.as i see it,we should all be promoting our love of these strange critters every chance we get.we all know it takes a special person to be a sidecar jocky!
