Not sure why I fell in love with hacks, just always liked them especially the BMW R71 variety. something about having that little outrigger on the side intrigues me. Started riding dirt bikes at 10yrs, and having just turned 36, been on two wheels for a little over a quarter century. I had my solo machine in my Norton Commando, and decided it was time to get a hack. I looked at Urals, but ended up buying a BMW R90/6 that needed rebuilding instead with the intent to put a chair on it. Proceeded to put 20k miles on the BMW, and have now finally attached a Velorex 562 via Dauntless subframe. About 2 years ago, I also got a chance to act as ballast on a BMW 750 kneeler while my friend was tuning his racer, and the bug has hit even harder. I'm planning a cross country trip for hopefully next year (may put it off till 2012), and if I get some time on and some more experience with it, may try to take the /6 hack instead of the Commando. More room, space etc...
My wife is Ukrainian, I once asked her if they made any cars in Ukraine, she didn't think they did, but she said that they made Dnepr motorcycles and that they had sidecars. On a trip to Ukraine, we stopped by the Dnepr factory, in Kiev, and talked them into giving us a tour. I mentioned that I would like to buy one, our guide said that it would be difficult to buy one in Ukraine and export it to the U.S. but that there was a company called RAMCO in Seattle that imported them and brought them to U.S. DOT and EPA specs. and that it would be easiest to get one from them, so I did. It's funny that I had to go all the way to Ukraine to find out I could get a new Dnepr just 60 miles from where I live!
I bought a model MT-16 which has a differential final drive and full time two wheel drive. We have only made a few long trips with it, mostly we use it to tool around town and go for rides in the country. We both took the Evergreen Safety Council's S/TEP class and got our sidecar license endorsements, but I do most of the driving. Our yellow Lab, Bailey, loves to go with us, though he has grown almost too big for him to fit in the sidecar with my wife. He fits now with the windshield off of the hack. Dogs love sidecars as much as they like pickup trucks!
Dave
For me... well I'm 26 years old and I have 3 syndromes and a disorder, so riding a motorcycle can be tricky sometimes, though I love it more than anything else. I believe that a sidecar (I haven't actually completed this yet, but I am now working hard and fast to both get one and design and build a subframe) will add a stability that I find to be a growing need.
There is also the strong desire to ride 4 seasons here in New England. Some people give me the weirdest look when I tell them that, but it is simply what I want to do. So there is the "I'll have a 3rd wheel" involved in that.
Most importantly, I have just ALWAYS liked them, liked the idea of them, and liked the utility aspect of them. So I want one, more than anything, and if things go my way, I should have one this week... though the subframe might take a little while longer, and of course... the bike isn't quite... running yet, but I am literally down to jetting and setting up the front brake (I installed a 2LS Commando brake on a '82 Yamaha XS400J).
Sidecars can go really, REALLY fast. Not many people race them and I'm too crazy to race solobike (have to share the craziness). 🙂
CatManMike - 5/8/2010 4:11 PM
Sidecars can go really, REALLY fast. Not many people race them and I'm too crazy to race solobike (have to share the craziness). 🙂
I've got a 1970 R50/5 Scroucher project in the garage waiting for me to get my butt moving, will need to find someone crazy enough to be a monkey.
copperhead - 5/8/2010 4:40 PM
CatManMike - 5/8/2010 4:11 PM
Sidecars can go really, REALLY fast. Not many people race them and I'm too crazy to race solobike (have to share the craziness). 🙂
I've got a 1970 R50/5 Scroucher project in the garage waiting for me to get my butt moving, will need to find someone crazy enough to be a monkey.
I've had my fun being the monkey, even managed to get ran over by my own F1 rig one time. One of many reasons why I drive now. Not sure on the east coast but out here in the western states it's pretty easy to find people crazy enough to monkey. My last race weekend I went through two. The first was too tired to race the second day (but was a very good monkey if not a bit light at 100lbs soaking wet) and the second I had a hard time getting to go back to his solobike (again a good monkey). Only problem I have switching monkeys is weight issues. Thier weight makes a huge difference in how you have to drive the rig. It's all fun though. Thing I love about a lighter passenger is flying the chair. Thing I love about a heavier, taller passenger is being able to drift through left handers. Either way, win win!
