How will they pair up.

You might try checking with Hannigan. It's probably not the first V-Star conversion.

Lonnie

i am the installer at Hannigans. my personal rig for four years and 35000 miles was a v-star 1100 custom/classic rig.i never ran a damper on it,just tightened the steering head bearings.it had some headshake at low speed,but i don't like a damper because it increases steering effort.i sold it to a guy on this list and installed one for him,as this is his first rig and didn't want any shake.the classic version of this bike has a smaller diameter front wheel and seemed easier steering and had less shake than mine had,

Well, I like that! This guy indeed!

Hi! I'm him! I have the rig being discussed and I love it. I did have Dave install the steering damper which does increase the steering effort but then too it makes difficult or uneven road surfaces much easier to handle. The bike is low, solid, rock steady and fast. The V Star 1100 with the Hannigan Classic is a great combination. While you're at it get the optional convertible top. I don't use it a lot but when up it makes no difference at all to the handling characteristics or mileage and adds a lot to passenger comfort.

My bike is capable of speeds in excess of 90 (don't ask how I know this) and is just as steady at high speeds as low.

I bought the bike from David and brought it back to Texas after only a 25 mile or so "follow me" ride behind Dave. When I say "brought it back" I mean, "I rode it." 652.6 miles in 14 hours with three stops to top off the tanks. Dave mounted a 4.5 gallon Tour Tank before I left KY. That gives about 330 miles between the 2 tanks (9 gallons). Perhaps that kind of mileage isn't what might be recommended but it was February and I wanted to be home. (I left KY with icicles hanging from the car.)

If Dave says it's good then believe every word. My usual passenger weighs in at about 200 lbs. and his weight makes very little difference in the handling. With no passenger I use no ballast in the car to compensate and it still feels secure on the road at all speeds.

I'm delighted with this combination and even though I saw lots of great bikes in the showroom at Hannigan's I didn't see any I'd rather have than the one I bought. I still haven't! I'm definitely a satisfied customer!

Tomcat, thanks for the information. I'm new to this but have ridden the v-star since 2002. I can not complain about thr ride at all. Getting my first hack has been a long time coming and with the cost I am trying to make the best decision for me. Can't wait till June, then I can fit in !!! thats one thing I've never done.

I just edited the mileage figure in my previous post. It was late and I goofed. The correct mileage from Murray, KY to Dallas TX is 652.6 miles. The rest of the information is correct. Today I tried to drown both myself and the rig. I got caught across town when the sky opened up and blessed us with rain. I put the top up, changed into rain gear and headed home in intermittent heavy and light rain. Which is to say that when it wasn't heavy it was light rather than spots with no rain. It was real rain however. None of this light sprinkle stuff. Big heavy drops with not much space to dance in between.

The Star performed without a stutter even when I plowed through water up to the hubs and the car was no problem at all. We hit speeds of up to 50 (speed limit) in some stretches with a traveling speed of 40 most of the time. The rig was pretty well unaffected by the rain, deep puddles and constant changes of speed in the heavy rain. The brakes all worked perfectly in controlling the rig with the car behaving like a well obedience trained dog.

I, on the other hand, got mildly soggy (rainproof not only means it keeps water out, it also means it keeps water in.) but overall it wasn't anywhere near being pucker time. The rig was very docile throughout the whole ride.

If this is what you want then I'll say that you're in the right place with the right person doing the right job for you. No horror stories from me.

When I bought the bike sight unseen (except for one picture) Dave was concerned about whether I was going to be pleased. I am. It's a great combination! The top tends to leak just a little around the side edges but I'm sure that's going to be pretty common. Without the top I might as well have been hauling a bath tub today. It was pouring rain in places!

Extras on my bike include the tour tank in place of the pillion seat, driving lights on the front caliper mounts, solo rack mounted under the Tour Tank, Mustang seat mounted by Dave for himself (nice seat!), steering stabilizer, convertible top, ECC unit on the car (makes driving much easier), headlight modulator, back off unit, custom extra brake light
located center back of the car just below the chrome stripe and a Memphis Shades Windshield.

About me: I'm 60 years of age, this is my fourth bike and first sidecar. I've always wanted a sidecar and when my knees went south and I went on disability I took the opportunity to get the rig. This bike I don't have to hold up at stop lights! I love it!

This combination is a guaranteed long miler. Smooth and easy to learn on as well as a great traveler. The car is very comfortable and tracks and handles well. The trunk is large enough to store 3 helmets plus extras.

Dave did not change the front triple tree on my bike so it's still in solo mode which seems to present no problems whatsoever.

Dave didn't really want to sell this bike. He really just wanted to build another rig with nicer car for his wife and this bolstered the finances. I'm sure I got the best end of the deal!

Originally written by vs1100star2002 on 3/29/2008 11:24 PM

i am the installer at Hannigans. my personal rig for four years and 35000 miles was a v-star 1100 custom/classic rig.i never ran a damper on it,just tightened the steering head bearings.it had some headshake at low speed,but i don't like a damper because it increases steering effort.i sold it to a guy on this list and installed one for him,as this is his first rig and didn't want any shake.the classic version of this bike has a smaller diameter front wheel and seemed easier steering and had less shake than mine had,

Juat a simple note here. We have installed sidecars on I think three V Stars this year and a couple of other metric cruisers. Some had that slight headshake at slow speeds and some not. Go figure right?
Try it without a damper at first and then install one if you feel you need it. After you get more experience with the rig possibly take th edamper off and see how you do. Many will insiust on a dampoer due to that small type headshake at a certain speed and then compain how hard it steers...next step they spend money on ways to make steering easier. Viscious circle that can be alleviated if you can get the nack for driving at spped where the headshake is nto there...it can be done.
I am talking about that little handlebar wiggle that may come at a given speed and then go away NOT a full blown 'jerk the bars out of your hands' wobble.

I have a 2003 V-Star 1100 Classic with a Hannigan Classic sidecar. I had
it insatlled by Dave Keesee at Hannigan's. I rode the rig the first
riding season with the stock tripletrees and no dampener. Before the
start of the second riding season we insatlled Hannigan's steering
dampener. It sure took any head shake out, but yhe steering was a bit
stiff. Before the 2007 season, we had Steerite modify the triple trees.
The steering is great now, and the rig is a true pleasure to ride.

Originally written by Sidecar Mar on 4/1/2008 9:28 AM

I have a 2003 V-Star 1100 Classic with a Hannigan Classic sidecar. I had
it insatlled by Dave Keesee at Hannigan's. I rode the rig the first
riding season with the stock tripletrees and no dampener. Before the
start of the second riding season we insatlled Hannigan's steering
dampener. It sure took any head shake out, but yhe steering was a bit
stiff. Before the 2007 season, we had Steerite modify the triple trees.
The steering is great now, and the rig is a true pleasure to ride.

If I may ask, how much did the Steerite mod cost?

you all are sure making me miss my old v-star,we've been so busy i haven't got to start on "the road warrior"yet.this two wheel thing is hard to revert back to when you haven't put your feet down at a stop sign in four years!

by the way,Rock'o,i saw the pictures of your bike today,that will make a sharp rig!

I believe that it was about $1200.00 including labor to have the
triple trees modified by Steerite. We dropped the rig off at Dan's
Cycle Sales in Seymour Indiana and they removed the triple trees
and sent them to Steerite and then reassembled the bike after they
were returned. The actual modification was around $800 or so. It
wasn't cheap, but I feel that the results were worth the cost, as I
plan on keeping this rig for a long time.

I've been out of town for the last week,but I want to thank everyone for their information. vs1100star2002, I think I met you at the Beaver Ralley in 06. You pulled into the camp grounds with a camper in tow. You gave me information on Hannigan and changed my direction of thought. I was leaning toward another manufacture at that time. The two hacks I had in mind were at the rally and I had a chance to experence several rigs. This helped in my final pick.( I was camped down the hill from you, on the water with a blue trailer.)

Interesting, 311 views, 12 replies, nothing negative about Hannigan. Hey Jay! You reading this?