Glenfiddich - 5/8/2010 6:55 AM
40 years on bikes, 0 on hacks. But on long trips I REALLY miss my dogs! Being able to take just one of them would make life on the road ever so much nicer!
I live in Vermont, and most of my weekend camping trips with Tadcaster (my gun dog) would be in this area. It's hilly, and full of tourists who do stupid things that might require me to back up now and then. Pushing a hack up a grade doesn't sound like a lot of fun.
So is a reverse gear a must? If not, how do you get out of sticky situations like when somebody parks right in front of you?
Pete
I just recently had a Hannigan Astro GT sidecar mounted to my Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1700. The bike alone is about 840 lbs. and it was a load to push back out of a parking spot that was at all downhill. The sidecar rig is MUCH easier to push out of a parking spot than I imagined it would be, even with a total weight of around 1100 lbs. I agree with the comment that it is typically easier to back up the rig than it was to back up the bike alone. Our driveway has a very slight downslope. I sit on the rig, push with my left foot and it just rolls down the driveway and out into the street. It is also much like driving a vehicle with a trailer - you just think ahead a bit more about where you want to park so you can get out easily.
wingit11 - 5/8/2010 5:34 PM
Or you can get a Goldwing and it comes with reverse.........
I've got a Gold Wing (with a Hannigan) and I never use the reverse.
Good singlemalt. I have a Harley FLH with a Liberty car. My rig has a reverse. I use it very seldom, BUT when I need it I love it. I always check out where I park and do so I can drive off forward if possible. Sometimes there is no one else to help push the rig backwards, flat ground (asphalt/concrete) is fine but soft ground or uphill is difficult for one person. If you never need to park where a reverse is necessary don't get one. Otherwise it could come in very important. On a purely egocentric slant it is a great attention getter, especially backing into a small space surrounded by other bikes and rigs. Be careful if you do get one, flying the car in reverse is interesting, I know. Miket
My hack is a K1200LT with a KLT Hannigan sidecar. The "reverse" on the Beemer is "the other end of the electric starter motor". It is designed to start the 1200 cc bike engine................. and via the start button/ computer controlled speed will get you, the bike, and whatever load, back out of nearly anywhere reasonable. I don't believe it was intended for also moving a "300 lb. side car/subframe" in addition to the above! Will it do it? Yes, it will, but!
On +2% lateral grade on asphalt/concrete/ curb and gutter roads it doesn't know the "uphill" is there because the computer simply adds rpm for more amperage. You get to a 4/5% grade and it will growl abit but still do the job. On hard surface or compacted chipped limestone it is really easy to move my 1200 lb. hack forwards/turns/rearward by solo hand pushing. "Sand" that wheel prints, maybe 1-2" and solo you will really grunt to move my hack by hand.
I have never been in a situation that would "require" the power reverse. It is of course very impressive in front of "Starbucks". It never fails to draw a crowd....... Every time you use it though,consider how much time and effort it takes to replace your "starter motor" on your m/c? On the K1200LT it is a lot of work (lots).
HTH
Being I drive a big Harley Ultra even with out a sidecar I have to be careful how and where I park. There has been several times even as a solo I had to get someone to help but only a couple of times in 80K miles.
I've got a Motorvation Engineering Hack with 3000 miles under it's belt and I agree that you don't need a reverse gear with proper planning. I haven't needed one because I think about where I'm parking or going prior to executing. I also think it's easier pushing a rig backawards than it is pushing a two wheel vehicle.
MY 2 CENTS:
Hacks, 40+ years, on & off[off meaning NO riding]. Had 4 rigs. Have GL1500SE rig and would NEVER go back to a tug without reverse gear. To each his own. TTFN......Old Tom aka papasmurf in NH
Another 2 cent. I live in very steep hills. and can handle things without reverse because my rig is a light weight 350 Jawa-Velorex toy. A reverse gear is only usefull when you can grab ground. On a steep hill or in deep mud it will just spin anyway.
Then the only real saviour are a tecling or much better a pair of oxes. As heavier the rig is, as more handy will be a reverse in standard situations, but for sure it will get easier to its limit too because of weight, specially the electric toys.
Sven
The transmission geared reverse systems aren't limited powerwise as the electrics are. The throttle can be used as necessary.
If there is traction they will go backwards.
Lonnie
Hack'n - 5/19/2010 10:40 PM
The transmission geared reverse systems aren't limited powerwise as the electrics are. The throttle can be used as necessary.
If there is traction they will go backwards.Lonnie
That's all true. If I had my druthers, I'd probably like to have a geared reverse. Honestly, though, I've looked at the installation instructions on both of the mechanical systems avaiable for HD's and I don't like the operations they show. I guess they work but I don't like cutting, grinding and, especially, Loctite to hold things together. One of them shows the installer drilling into a hardened gear with a hand drill and a cutter. That's not something that I'd care to do. I could do it on my milling machine but I wouldn't do anything with a hand drill.
Furthermore, the prices they get for essentially nothing more than three gears and an instruction sheet are outrageous. I'm aware that they are selling a functional utility, but I'll just keep my $1,500 and be more careful in parking.
Many of our clients have varying physical shortcomings and don't have the option of pushing out of a tight spot. For them the reverse gear is a valuable addition if riding alone.
The sidecar rig gives them wings, a reverse gives them independence. For some that combination is Priceless!
Lonnie
I have a Ural Retro with reverse and, frankly, I would never be able to get it out of the garage and headed down my gravel driveway if I didn't have reverse. Period. Absolute lifesaver. When I had Claude Stanley build my K100 rig, one of the requirements was an electric reverse. As it weighs about 300 pounds more than the Ural, reverse was even more vital. Sure, once I am out on the road I can plan where I park but at home I have no one to help and I have two choices: back it in the garage and pull out or pull it in the garage and back out. Viva la Backwards Booster!!
Sarge
Sarge, I like your choice of Moto Guzzi. I had a Silver 2000 Jackal myself. Sold it recently. Great bike!
I love my reverse! Could I get by without it? Probably, but it's really really nice!!
Dave
nyarltep - 5/21/2010 9:23 PM
Sarge, I like your choice of Moto Guzzi. I had a Silver 2000 Jackal myself. Sold it recently. Great bike!
Regretfully, the Jackal is gone without me ever riding it. Why? I was going to hack it but, as it turned out, THE REVERSE I ABSOLUTELY NEEDED was going to cost me too much to have custom-built. Fact of life - with my physical condition these days I am limited to three wheels and must have reverse to operate at all.
Ah well...
Sarge
