As a child was never interested in motorcycles but heard stories about my Grandfather dating my Grandmother, picking her up with his motorcycle and sidecar. (Sure wish I had a photo of that or even knew what type of rig he had!) Then as I got near retirement decided to get a bike license, more as a way to leave work early on a beautiful day no one should be inside. Got my permit and started to bust on friends who rode, telling them they needed to "loan" me their bikes so I could "get some practice" all the while knowing it would never happen. Then a friend told me about a unit sitting in a barn. The owner died but the wife still wanted to ride, so someone told her to "put a sidecar on it". Once it came back to her, the initial ride scared her when a right turn almost rolled over. Apparently no one gave her any information on what to watch out for and she did not read the cautions on the decal affixed to the frame about right hand turns or needing ballast if riding solo. Of course friends who ride told me "it handles differently" and I "did not want" a bike with a sidecar. Maybe it was that story from my youth or maybe it's "in the blood" but the first bike we got is that 88 Wing and CSC sidecar. While it was being checked out by the mechanic, I took the MSF bike course where I actually rode my first motorcycle. Also spent time on this site, while waiting for the unit to come back, gaining the knowledge to help keep me safe. Then lots of practice before adding the wife and distances. No matter where we go we always have to plan more time so that we can answer questions that come up. Enjoying the rides, the people we are meeting and just being unique. Even had the opportunity to tell a friend who wanted to take his wife out for "a quick ride in the rig" that although he has over 30 years experience on 2 wheels and I respect his ability, I had over 18 months on 3 than he did and would not just turn the keys over. If he was willing to spend some time with me doing some practice and getting the feel of the unit, then he could head off for a ride. After he thought about it, he agreed to my logic (or was is arrogance?) So in the future we'll get together, and maybe have another sidecar owner on the road. I would be completely remiss if I did not thank the many people on this site who freely share their knowledge and experiences so that we can all gain that knowledge, resulting in better prepared and safer operators. Also should offer an apology for being long winded!
I have two reasons. First is my age and my knees are going south. I have one grandson and he LOVES to ride. Just found out his mother is pregnancy with twins.
My top ten reasons for driving a sidecar.
1) My wife would not ride 2 up but enjoys riding in the hack
2) We can easily take the dog, who with her doggles and helmet is a great conversation starter
3) As a photographer I can take tripods and camera bags easily for shooting trips
4) I have always marched to the beat of a different drummer.
5) I love Retro and it was possible to get that look with a Ural and also my Road King Classic.
6) Living in Maine, I wanted a bike that I could ride in the snow
7) I have been down 4 times on 2 wheel bikes, all due to road conditions.
8) At 63, I like the idea that I can keep this bike until I loose my license due to old age.
9) People seem friendlier when on your on a sidecar. Not so much of a negative "BIKER" image possibly
10) Sidecars have greater visibility on the road to other drivers.
scrinch,
My wife and I have been trying to get to Maine for 3 years now. Something always came up. We're planning on heading there this year. We want to see some quaint little fishing towns and the beaches. I need to pick your brain about where to go and what to see.
I have been in Main beautiful state. When I went to HD 100th in Milwaukee to get back to Georgia I went up Wisconsin across upper Michigan down to Flint Michigan hung a left stopped in Belfast Main for a lobster dinner before heading home to Georgia.
UltraRodHack - 4/16/2010 1:34 PM scrinch, My wife and I have been trying to get to Maine for 3 years now. Something always came up. We're planning on heading there this year. We want to see some quaint little fishing towns and the beaches. I need to pick your brain about where to go and what to see.
Maybe try Route #1 it is a north-south road that follows the coast
At first it was my wife's idea and I was against it. I did not want to ruin my motorcycle. We had 2 kids at the time and she wanted to take them along. Since it meant that we would get to ride more I went along with the idea. When the third daughter came along we needed a bigger sidecar. We went for the Watsonian Oxford, which served us well for many years. When the kids grew up and left home we sold the sidecar. After a couple of years without one we found we missed a sidecar, so we bought another rig. We really like the extra storage, and I like the way it handles. She is more comfortable in a sidecar, and I am getting so that I don't care for carrying a passenger on my solo bike. I still really enjoy my solo bike, but I will always have a sidecar rig. Attached is a picture of all of us riding our rig in 1999.
Hey Ultrarodhack. I was in your state enjoying the scenery this March. I did not enjoy the unusual cold. It was funny the coldest I was all year was in Atlanta.
Maine is a great state to visit so please come to see us. The sandy beaches are generally in the southern part of the state which is a bit touristy for my taste. Take Rt 1 N if you have some time. It does go through many coastal communities. Although the truly quaint places are often down the peninsula's or north of Ellsworth in my opinion. The Midcoast, where we live, has rocky beaches, quaint fishing villages, sailing, lovely islands, wonderful walking trails and lighthouses. If I sound slightly predjudice ,it is because I am. If you get up this way, look us up and if the timing is right we can show you around. (We sell at Art shows in the summer so our schedule is a little weird)
In the meantime if you have questions about any specific places just PM me
scrinch,
This is EXACTLY the info I'm wanting. Someone else suggested going up RT. 1 North, so we'll do that for sure. We'll give you a shout before heading up, once we know our schedule/dates and we can tour a little hopefully. We LOVE North Carolina, having only been here 3 years. We rode to the ocean yesterday, sometimes we head the other direction and ride in the mountains, best of both worlds. And might I say your pics are beautiful as I checked out your web sight earlier this week.
Thanks
Hi Ultra Rod Hack,
Like you I have been riding two wheels for almost a lifetime. I added a third wheel a couple of years ago because the knees went south and I figured one of these days I was gonna ride out a tank of gas, put my foot down at a stoplight and fall flat on my face! That said I've found some interesting things that you can do with a sidecar. The first and, I think, the most important is riding the kids at the Pediatric brain tumor foundations "Ride for kids". Here in North Carolina we have the first one of the year coming up at the White Oak recreation area at Jordan Lake State Park on Sunday, May 2nd. The other one is in Asheville later on in the summer. (Information can be had at: rideforkids.com). I love tent camping and I find the sidecar hauls a lot of camping gear. Also, I'm having so much fun with the rig I haven't missed knee dragging in the mountains at all and theres a lot of camaraderie among sidecarists.
Bob,
While at this event, do you actually take the kids for a ride in the sidecar?
Yes indeed! It has to be a sidecar, three wheeler or dresser with armrests and in some cases with the smaller ones "Mom" will ride in the hack with them. In the case of the triangle ride for kids at Jordan Lake the motorcycle cops kinda wind you around the back roads and ease you over to Pittsboro around the court square and back out the same way you came in so the kids can get a better view of the number of supporters (Usually several hundred who cant ride the kids but who raised money for the cause). The pediatric brain tumor foundation ride for kids is probably the best supervised and organized ride I have ever been on. If you need more information my email is decrepitbiker@yahoo.com.
I would be thrilled to be able to do this, but there's no way I can get the parts in and get them installed before May2. Unless I just so happen to meet up with someone close enough to Smithfield, NC to help me out. This is my first hack, so I'm expecting it to take 2 weeks or so to hook up and tweek.
Understood. May I suggest a short ride over to Jordan Lake on Sunday, May 2nd to look over the organization, possibly give a donation and go on the ride without the sidecar. Then on August 29th with the sidecar attached, ride over to Asheville and take one of the kids for a beautiful ride down to Lake Lure for a nice lunch and listen to the kids talk about their lives. Its a humbling experience!
Bob
I mounted a Hannigan Astro 2+2 to my 97 Wing six years ago because I loved to ride but it was keeping me from spending time with my three kids ages 14, 12 and 7 at the time. Since then we've shared many miles and even more smiles together. Even my oldest son, now 20, will still hop in the hack for a ride. And you haven't seen anything until you've seen a 6'9" young man climb out of a sidecar!
The only thing that matches the pleasure of riding my own kids is my participation in the PBTF Ride for Kids events. I've supported this organization since I first got my sidecar and I usually try to do two each year, Baltimore/Washington and Philadelphia. In addition to transporting one or two of the "Stars" on each ride, I usually take one of my own kids along with me. This has had a tremendous impact on their attitude towards community service and their compasion for others. My dream, and goal, is to retire and travel around and participate in as many Ride For Kids events as time and resources will permit. This alone is a great reason to keep my rig long after my own children have left the nest.
