I have got two sidecar rigs (Ural and Suzuki) and my beloved BMW R100GS. I ride the BMW as a commuter and the rigs occasionly to rallies or for shopping
I use my two wheeler GSA for commuting and exploring back roads. Much of my part of Vermont is dirt; in fact, in my town we have only one paved road. The GSA sidecar rig is for rides with my dog, Tulliver, who is just learning the ropes. Barley, who had 55,000 miles under his collar, was lost to cancer a couple of months ago. I hope with love and patience Tulliver will learn to enjoy travel as much as Barley did.
Wow, a lot of great thoughts and comments. I am really enjoying the sidecar ride. Getting to feel more comfortable especially in the curves. I know that one of those ah shoot experiences will come when least expected. Need to start introducing our dog Daisy to the SC. That will take some doing! Thinking of picking up a good used PC 800 to use around town. They are supposed to be great bikes and are a little smaller and easier to ride than the bigger heavier bike. Everything in its own good time! Happy New Year to all! Ride safe and enjoy the journey!!
I look at it as two very different riding experiences. I love leaning into the turns on two wheels, but when traction is questionable, as in the rain or on roads where gravel is common, the third wheel is great for stability and peace of mind. Also, when we go on an extended camping trip I pull an Aspen camp trailer. I've pulled the trailer with two wheels, but it's much more stable with three and braking is way better with the sidecar brake available. The extra cargo room is great on trips too.
My Hannigan sidecar comes off the Harley in about half an hour, leaving some of the mounts on the bike, and goes back on in about an hour without needing to be realigned
each time, so it's not a big deal to take it off or put back on.
My wife also rides a Harley with a Hannigan hack mounted that we got so we could take our dogs on trips. She prefers three wheels all the time now (She rode for many years and many thousands of miles on two wheels before getting the hack). We have discussed getting a third, smaller, lighter bike we could both ride when the urge for two wheels hits.
We rarely carry passengers in our hacks, except for the dog and occasional short rides with the grandkids.
I use my sidecar rig almost exclusively to haul my grandson around in. He's done 2000 mile trips and enjoys the heck out of it. I use my ST1100 for long distance rides and my '98 EV for around town and rallys. My KLx250S is for dual sport stuff and I'm considering getting a KLR with some sort of hack for the grandson and I dual sport. It's all good, it's all fun. :>)
Tom
The majority of the miles I've put on my bikes have been long distance, cross country, vacation miles and the one situation I've always disliked the most is getting stuck in traffic that's creeping along slower than I can comfortably creep along on my two wheeler. Even on country roads....got stuck behind a farmer on one of those giant tractors on a two lane road a couple years ago, couldn't get around him for about five miles. Last summer I took my first cross country trip to the EAST coast as a sidecarist and can't see myself doing it again on only two wheels. The traffic in St Louis and KC didn't bother me nearly as much as it has so many times before, just so much more comfortable and fun with that third wheel. However, touring the west......the southwest, the great basin on up into Montana and Idaho....I think I would be cheating myself if I didn't do that on two wheels so I think I'll keep my other bike for those trips. I don't think I'd ever just have one bike and have to remove and re-attach the car, though.
One sidecar rig and 3 two-wheelers here. I have to admit tho, the two-wheelers are getting a bit dusty.
I still ride both. I use my rig when traveling with the boss monkey 100% of the time. She got use to it and much prefers the comfort and protection. I pull out the K1200GT when I get the urge to 2 wheel it, plus it has more weather protection for me. Last two years I have put 15,000 miles on the rig and 10,000 on 2 wheels. 🙂
I am focusing on my sidecar rig and plan to ride it through the winter. Two wheel riding in these mountains during cold weather gets a bit treacherous with snow, ice, black ice and many knucklehead drivers paying scant attention. with three wheels I have a slightly better chance at arriving alive. I use my rig for shopping and going to appointments plus scheduled stuff. Today started out at 6 deg. fahrenheit and vaulted up to a glorious 33. I rode this morning when it was still in the teens and low 20's. A good suit, extreme weather gloves and an insulated balaclava made riding fairly comfortable. I'm thinking about snow mobile helmets that have heated face shields to reduce fogging as a future addition.
I ride a '99 Valkyrie w/ Hannigan super sport car
2003 Honda VTX 1800R
"Knucklehead drivers paying scant attention" sic.
Make that "Bonehead"
Knucklehead drivers have too much invested in their classic Harley rigs to be inattentive.
Funny. OK, bonehead works but I use the term knucklehead in the same context. I certainly have nothing against those who have classic Harleys.
