That makes the respondents to this question an average age of 56 . With age comes wisdom ......and a sidecar?
you should add that to the quotes list. Hank
It could also be "in youth we learn, with age we understand, and get a sidecar"
50,been riding bikes since i was 9,sidecars the last 5 years
Originally written by scrinch on 5/14/2009 5:26 AM
That makes the respondents to this question an average age of 56 . With age comes wisdom ......and a sidecar?
The trick is to get that average even with the riding public. According to the Insurance Information Institute the average age of a motorcyclist is 44 years old. They break it down in to two groups, sport style bike riders average 27 years old and cruiser/touring riders average age is 51. Since most sidecars are attached to cruisers and tourers, lets pick 51 as a target. How do we get the average age of sidecarists down? Put another way, how do we get younger riders interested?
By the massive amounts of beer a sidecar car carry? 🙂
It's a very good point. But being the second youngest poster so far I can tell you that if I were an able bodied rider I would have never had the fortune to discover the sidecar. I would have preferred two wheels and I doubt I would have even considered a sidecar. Now that I have, I don't think I'll ever go back even though I'm pretty sue I can if I wanted to.
But maybe we have a niche for those people that are a little scared of two wheels but like the benefits. I get a lot of comments from young and old people that say "I'd love to ride a bike but I don't think I can control them". I tend to warn them that there are the same "dangers" to sidecars as bikes plus there are some extra handling characteristics , but that they can give you a little extra stability.
But personally I'm happy with the size of the community. I like the fact that I'm just a little different. An alternative that could have helped me with my disabilities would have been a trike. I think the sidecar has a whole lot more character then the trikes. And I like the way it handles.
But I'm still a newbie so take my opinion for what it's worth.
I have a hack and a bike. I love them equally. I love the fact that the sidecar allows me more stability. My balance leaves a lot to be desired.
Originally written by SinisterNerd on 5/14/2009 11:30 PM
By the massive amounts of beer a sidecar car carry? :)It's a very good point. But being the second youngest poster so far I can tell you that if I were an able bodied rider I would have never had the fortune to discover the sidecar. I would have preferred two wheels and I doubt I would have even considered a sidecar. Now that I have, I don't think I'll ever go back even though I'm pretty sue I can if I wanted to.But maybe we have a niche for those people that are a little scared of two wheels but like the benefits. I get a lot of comments from young and old people that say "I'd love to ride a bike but I don't think I can control them". I tend to warn them that there are the same "dangers" to sidecars as bikes plus there are some extra handling characteristics , but that they can give you a little extra stability. But personally I'm happy with the size of the community. I like the fact that I'm just a little different. An alternative that could have helped me with my disabilities would have been a trike. I think the sidecar has a whole lot more character then the trikes. And I like the way it handles. But I'm still a newbie so take my opinion for what it's worth.
When we go out for a ride with our son, daughter-in-law and their friends (who all own rice rockets) it is interesting that people generally tend to wander over to check out the side car. Althought it could be a little bit of an ego deflater for the rocket owners, we still get invited to go for rides. Of course we catch up to them at the signals. When I ask them if they would put a side car on their rockets, they say it cannot be done. So I happened across a U-Tube clip of rockets with sidecars attached and sent it off to our son.
For some reason our rig tends to draw a lot of attention from the little kids. Yesterday we were in a local park and when suiting up to leave a couple with a 4 year old daughter were also leaving. The daughter refused to get into the car and just stood there watching us get ready. While Mom tried unsuccessfully to get her into the car, Dad started asking questions that we answered and also directed him to this web site.
As the only rig in our town at this point, I guess I also enjoy being unique. On the other hand, the fact that people are being exposed to an alternative method of transportation they may not have considered could increase interest. Then again, as the rice rocket owners age they also have an option they may not have considered.
Originally written by Loon on 5/15/2009 12:58 AM
When I ask them if they would put a side car on their rockets, they say it cannot be done.
I realize that you are referring to high-revving Japanese sport bikes, but I was laughing about your comment with respect to putting a hack on a Rocket. I assure you it can be done.
I'm rather enjoying my Supercharged Triumph ROCKET III with my double seater hack.
You let them know the Rocket does just fine ... and I'd be happy to show them what 100+ MPH looks like with a sidecar. They won't have to wait for me at the corners 🙂
Someday I'll slow down, but for now, I want my sidecar AND my fast motorcycle.
when i got my very first harley 1958 fl duo-glide it was rare to meet another Harley rider so it was always time to stop for a chat, then Harleys became common & nobody stops, now i have a 1983 flh with a sidecar & it's just like old times every time i meet another sidecar we stop & swap stories & email addresses it makes it feel something special again. plus everyone is curious & comes over for a look & a chat, i'm amazed that nearly everyone had an uncle or a grandad with an outfit. it would seem to be a very socialy aceptable form of transport & i love it.i think however it will never be a young mans thing you have to get the adrenelin need out of your system first then when you get your hack you realise you can get it again at a much lower speed. Hank
face it fellas,..were just to damned old to heal anymore LOL so we got bikes that can't fall over,,..we don't even have to remember to put our feet down anymore,. perfect for the geritol years now.hehe crawf
Originally written by geek_law on 5/15/2009 7:09 AM
I realize that you are referring to high-revving Japanese sport bikes, but I was laughing about your comment with respect to putting a hack on a Rocket. I assure you it can be done.
I'm rather enjoying my Supercharged Triumph ROCKET III with my double seater hack.
You let them know the Rocket does just fine ... and I'd be happy to show them what 100+ MPH looks like with a sidecar. They won't have to wait for me at the corners 🙂
Someday I'll slow down, but for now, I want my sidecar AND my fast motorcycle.
No question, you can put a side car on a ROCKET. And it is a very professional and comfortable combination.
Here is another sample of a TRIUMPH ROCKET III, married with a Renaissance hack from Side-Bike, shown on the European Sidecar Ralley in 2008. This combination ist rather expensive, here in Germany you have to pay 31.800 EURO for it, but garanties never ending joy and fun.
I'm 57 years young. I've been riding for about 43 years. I own two Harlys a new softail and a sportster.
My rig is a Honda GL w/Daytona 2+. I've wanted a rig since I was 12 when I saw my first one A Harly with a matching s/c.
Wife loves the rig and wont ride a two wheeler. I love the sidecar it has forced me to slow down and enjoy the sights, the road and the company more. Hate to say it but being able to carry a lot of beer is so far the best selling point-LOL.
Loon,Send this info to your son
Page #26 of the latest issue of The Sidecarist
June 24 to 28 9th annual Gathering of High Performance Sidecars
In the Blue Ridge Mountains (Maggy Valley) of North Carolina
For more information go to -> http://hpsidecar.com
or contact Roger Symington at Sidebike99@aol.com
I would like to see the go fast boys run with some of these HP Sidecar big dogs 😉 send this link also
http://www.sra-west.us/
Now Loon a little north of your son in Canada can't remember quite where but there is a fair amount of sidecar racing going on there a couple of the Canadian Sidecar Owners Club members were involved in it.
So tell your son.........well when he's ready that is
yes it can be done.
Chuck
Chuck, we'll be seeing them next weekend and I always take the latest issue of The Sidecarist for him to read. Also will pass along the sites to view. I have a feeling he is more interested in a sidecar than he wants to let on, but at this point he is not ready to slow down. I do get lots of questions and invited to rides with their friends so we just enjoy the time together. Thanks for the info.
