How to get started

Hi Eric,
You can forget nearly everything you know about riding on two wheels except for where the controls are located. It's a whole new thrill and requires a whole different set of skills. You can find out a lot from this web site and SCT, various books including Hal's that's available to new USCA members as I recall. I believe the black bike you looked at was most likely a Ural. More info on them at www.imz-ural.com and lots of discussion on the web board under the 'community' tab there. Plus you'll get lots of good advice and opinions right here on this thread you've started! Welcome aboard!

Well if it will help, I'll pitch in on what I did before joining the sidecar world. I took about a year from the dawn of idea to purchase. My first step was an honest evaluation of what I needed in the way of a rig. At first, I was dead set on a Ural Patrol, with the military look. After reading everything I could, I realized that there were two drawbacks to the Ural. The first being that while I'm not a bad shade-tree mechaninc, I don't enjoy doing it. I would rather get home from work and "gas and go" as they say. The second is performance, I like to ride remote Texas highways where traffic is light but what traffic there is is generally flying. I wanted plenty of "get out of the way speed". These realities made me sacrifice in what I was looking for in looks for a more practical airhead BMW rig. It's a nice looking rig in its own right just not what initially attracted me to the sidecar world. I still read the Ural forums because they generally have pretty good general info, and the Ural owners who really love their rigs seem to be guys and gals who like to tinker a little.

The second step is learning to drive. I had a disadvantage to you in the fact that I had never ridden on two wheels. I had to do the MSF course to get my license and I felt it was beneficial as far as general info goes. The guy I bought the rig from spent some time teaching me to drive it, and after that it has been practice, practice, practice. Of course, I read both the manuals that are out there on the internet. In fact this past weekend, I was in a parking lot near my house just riding figure 8's for fun when I looked over and noticed that my sidecar wheel was for some reason at eye level. I don't know whether it was instinct, what I've read, or my experience on 3-wheeled ATV's but it really didn't seem that big of a deal, I didn't think about steering revision or lack of steering revision or any of the technical details, I just straightend it out and kept riding. It is reassuring to know where that threshhold is and feel confident about being able to ride through it. I have gotten the wheel a few inches up on right handers before but this was my first time where the car was really up there.

To boil down my long-windedness- it comes down to choosing the right rig and becoming comfortable in driving and controlling it.

Eric,

Welcome aboard, I am just getting started back riding (Feb this year) so I know where you are right now. First you ride a bike and you drive a rig. With me being off a bike a long time was a help as I had forgot a lot about riding. Next read, read, and read some more. The next question is up to your wife and you. What do you want to do with the rig? It had been over 30 years since I had been on a bike if you are planning on hitting the interstates it is a lot faster out there today. Lol. Make bike shows and here in Fla we have what is called “Bike nights” you will not find many rigs there but you can talk with people that are riding. One of the things I have found the people that are out in the wind are windy them self. I am one of those. Lol.

I just got back from the USCA Rally in Beaver, AK and it was great.

Richard

Ride Safe

Hi Eric - Congratulations on being bitten by the sidecar bug. A great way to learn more is to visit a sidecar rally. You'll meet sidecarists and get to talk to them about their rigs and start to develop a sense of what you want.

You could consider attending the "International Sidecar Owners Klub" "Ron-Dee-Voo III" in August (3-6) in Weikert, Pa almost due north of you. That seems to be the closest thing to you right now.

DO consider getting sidecar training if you can get yourself to some training. Check out this link: http://ncretread3.tripod.com/ncretreads/id19.html or just call these folks: The Motorcycle Safety League of Virginia Inc at (888) 826-7584. They may have classes this year you could attend. Typically, they provide the rig so you get to see what it's all about before you commit big dollars to anything.

I'm sure many others will chip in with suggestions. You have the luxury of time to do research - on line and in persion - go for it, and good luck!

Eric, all the boys above have sound advice. Study the material on this site and ask a lot of questions. Find someone with a sidecar and test drive it.
I feel that I had an advantage learning to ride sidecars because it had been 30 years since owning a motorcycle. Due to my aggressive driving habits, the smartest thing I've ever done was to get out of motorcycles until I mellowed out and matured a little. All the many wrecks I've been in were the other driver's fault. I believe however on looking back, that I probably could have avoided all of them with just a little defensive driving.
The sidecar is NOT a motorcycle. You will find that the 2 wheel bike is more nimble to manuver, but vulnerable to tipping over. The sidecar however is more nimble that your car. The disadvantage over the car is the lack of seat belts, airbags, and crumple zone. That could be the very reason that those that like the, love them. I like to feel the changes in the weather and the unhindered field of view. The sense of motion is amplified instead of being muted in your air conditioned car. My 15 minute commute has become an adventure. And to top it off, I have never had so many people wave to me passing by.

Eric
Best advice I got was....... don't set your heart on any one thing. What you think you want and what you really want are two different things. Be open to everything. Do the basics first, buy a "starter Kit", put mileage on it and then you will know what questions to ask. # 1 rule. Be safe, error on the side of safety.

Since I recently went through the process of "getting started", I'll put in my two cents worth. For the record, it really does become an obsession... not just a want or desire.

I started with the vision of an old Harley, late 40's early 50's or so. Then like you realized I know longer want to work on it either. (been riding over 40 years, turned all the bolts I care to at this point...) Next, I looked at current Japanese crusers, starting with the small bore units then working up to the biggest the more I talked with other sidecar owners. Then, after looking at all the things I wanted based on plans to take cross-country trips with the wife; ample HP, comfort, reliability, and after adding up $$$ for radios, CB, as much wind-blocking fairing(s) as possible, and so on, the Honda GL1800 was no more, or even less than some of the alternatives. Then I saw the Hannigan GT with the removable hard top and large trunk. Lots of bike and lots of sidecar... certainly not for everyone, but it fit my wants and requirements. I've been about 13,000 miles so far and love it. In addition to all the room, I have found that this size rig has one very forgiving quality; you really have to screw up to lift the chair when you don't want to. Nice for a first time sidecar driver. I do however have more than noticable accelerate/pull right, decellerate/pull left, but I have learned pretty well to deal with that without really thinking about it anymore.

These guys are right! Really think about what you want and need vs. what you initially envision. I researched for a year or two, and am glad I did.

I agree with what sebjones said about a 'starter rig'. I wasn't at all sure I'd like riding on three wheels after many years of riding on two wheels. My wife had decided to quit the bike after riding behind me for most of those years. I thought perhaps she'd enjoy the ride on the side and also the possibility existed that Archie would like the sidecar. I bought a used Ural just to find out. Then for two years, rode it more than the Harley. I loved it, Archie loved it but Barb didn't take to it. She tried it one week end at a rally in the Okanogan and wouldn't go again. But Archie and I were having a ball and when they could, the grand kids loved riding in the Ural car. They'd been riding behind me on the Harley since they were little. Last fall I sold the Ural and some other toys to order the Liberty. I love riding the Harley on three wheels now but I'm really glad I learned three wheel techniques on the Ural before getting the Liberty. I guess the ideal would be to have a garage full of various rigs and solo bikes but just don't have the budget for that...

Hi!

I am somewhat of a newbie to sidecars with the majority of experience with two wheels. Your two wheel experience will come in handy. Driving a sidecar is different than riding a motorcycle. The difference is that you lean with a motorcycle and you steer a sidecar. If is not a difficult skill to learn at all if you always stay in your comfort zone. The rig I have is attached to my motorcycle around 30% of the time. I mainly ride as a motorcycle. The biggest disadvantage to a sidecar is you loose speed and agility on straights and especially on turns. A turn on a motorcycle to me is a trill a sidecar is a chore! The biggest advantages are the added capacity, passenger comfort and slow speed stability.
By using the rig for specific purposes like mine is the best of both worlds. Most sidecar owners leave the rig permanently as a sidecar and do not change back and forth. Mine rig has quick release connections that make it real easy.
Buy one of the better units, I would not recommend to go cheap!

choosing which rig is a matter of prefference,intended use,style,desired speed,etc. learning to ride(drive) is a different matter. if at all possible,take a course,if not get instruction from someone with a lot of experience.as the installer at Hannigans,i have done a lot of rigs for people that have never drove a rig before. we do a class with them to explain how different it is,then teach them in the parking lot till they feel confident on their new toy.by all means take it slow and easy,and practice alot.sidecaring is a great way to tour,and a fun way to spend sunny afternoons.

If you set your bike up so it steers easily with the sidecar, ie: 5 degree raked triple trees or leading link suspension, it will not lend itself easily to being a solo bike by simply detaching the sidecar. If you don't make mods to the front end, it's possible cornering might be a 'chore' (to quote hackellis) rather than the same thrill experienced on two wheels...

That is correct a dedicated rig will steer easier than a rig that does not have the front forks/rake modified. However, there is an inherent danger with right hand turns with a sidecar. If a right hand turn is not executed correctly there is the potential of losing control. There is a basic instability in right hand turns with a sidecar. Experience and proper training does help minimize and understand this risk. I spent a few weeks with an experienced sidecar owner/builder in England that helped. He let me ride some exotic rigs and even a racing rig! Riding solo with a sidecar I would strongly recommend some dead weight added to the sidecar.

Originally written by hackellis on 7/26/2006 7:30 PM

Hi!

I am somewhat of a newbie to sidecars with the majority of experience with two wheels. Your two wheel experience will come in handy. Driving a sidecar is different than riding a motorcycle. The difference is that you lean with a motorcycle and you steer a sidecar. If is not a difficult skill to learn at all if you always stay in your comfort zone. The rig I have is attached to my motorcycle around 30% of the time. I mainly ride as a motorcycle. The biggest disadvantage to a sidecar is you loose speed and agility on straights and especially on turns. A turn on a motorcycle to me is a trill a sidecar is a chore! The biggest advantages are the added capacity, passenger comfort and slow speed stability.
By using the rig for specific purposes like mine is the best of both worlds. Most sidecar owners leave the rig permanently as a sidecar and do not change back and forth. Mine rig has quick release connections that make it real easy.
Buy one of the better units, I would not recommend to go cheap!

I think that in time Mike will find that most sidecars, with the exception of some high end dedicated rigs, have "quick connections". Most of us just find we prefer three wheels. If you do decide to switch back and forth between using the car and not using it, pay close attention to your tires. They wear in completely different ways when the sidecar is on and can really adversly affect handling when you pull the car off. I don't mean hanging the car on Friday night and taking it off Sunday, but if you leave it on for 8 or 9 hundred miles and then drop it off you will definitely feel it.

I think you'll find most of us start out pulling the car on and off like Mike, then we decide to buy a second bike for two wheel riding, then one day, discover that we seldom use that two wheeler anymore cause the rig is much more fun.

If the sidecar is truly a chore to you, Mike, try to take it in and have somebody else check the settings while you are sitting on it. I'm guessing they'll find something way out of adjustment. I seldom have the luxury of meandering along on county roads. I spend 90% of my riding at high speeds on state highways and Interstates. I stopped riding on two wheels because three is much easier and more relaxing to me. The only disadvantage I run into with the sidecar is that my mileage drops from about 41 mph without the car to 25 or 26 with it. But I have 6 carbs, most people don't see that big of a difference.

I must be the worst sidecar driver ever. I never will be as fast on my sidecar rig as with my motorcycles. It does not matter if it is on the straights or in turns. That is not to say that the sidecar is not fun to drive and does not fit a particular purpose. It is also a little hard to split lanes with my rig!