just curious...

Originally written by RichardMc4 on 6/22/2009 7:49 AM

I to learned the hard way. I down loaded Hal’s books from here and when round and around in a parking lot on a Sundays. I just got back from a Rally in GA and am looking for a school. We now have them in Fla and I am not good in the twisties. Oh I was back in the parking lot yesterday. Lol.

Richard,
I am definitely interested in one in Florida, can you please message me on dates, locations and cost?
Thanks so much, I'm in St Augustine and running an 07 Triumph Bonneville with an American Spirit sidecar outfit. I'm doing much the same thing as you are but use an old defunct development with lots of cul de sacs for spinnning circles. Carry about 125# of ballast in the car to start with. Getting a steering damper soon, no headshake but a quite loose front end.
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you
bill

The damper is to eliminate headshake. As a secondary feature (problem) they also slow down the steering and require extra effort for low speed turning. I can't see why anyone would actually desire this.

Lonnie

Since you are not far from Tahoe, are you planning to attend the National Sidecar Rally being held June 25 thru 28 at Camp Richardson?
Hope to see you there.
gp

I'll be there on Saturday to drop off some prizes but will be heading for the Southeast Desert soon after.
Look for the same rig as in my avatar. I'll show up with my Canuck riding Bud.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Jena & I have both participated in a S/TEP course, I after about 6 months of riding, and Jena after about 6 weeks of experience. Had to travel 2+ hours to Lufkin, Texas with expense of an over-night stay. The class was really good for both of us, me for technique in turns and flying/bringing down the chair, and Jena for confidence to venture beyond the neighborhood as well as hard braking. Also, the wife/GF/SO/ more readily accepts constructive criticism & re-do's from the instructor. I recommend it to all who have an opportunity.

Bill,

It would be nice if I could keep up with all the rising school in Fla but I don’t. What I can do is give you the web site that list them and it is a good place to start.

http://motorcycles.hsmv.state.fl.us/SponsorSearch.cfm

Not all have classes for sidecar trikes but some do.

I took a course at the BMWMOA national on a borrowed rig in 1992. I didn't own a sidecar till the fall of 06. I remember thinking that I really didn't like it much. I just finished a SS1000 on my 85K100 bmw/eml. I must have changed my mind about sidecar. Harold in KS

Hey Lonnie,
One of the guys on ADV rider suggested some things to do, one of which was to tighten up my headstock adjuster. This worked wonders, apparently it was not tightened up completely at the dealer on assembly. It eliminated the loose feeling I was getting from the front wheel. So now I dont' need a damper.
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't the dampers from Bella Corse have an adjustment on them? I believe you can back that all the way out and have very little resistance.
I'm going over the car geometry again just to make sure I'm within specs.
What I have now is Lead, 10 1/2 inches, toe in, 9/16, lean, 1/2 bubble on level or 1.5 degrees on a gauge, frame is absolutely level with a four foot level used.
Tires inflated as per bonneville specs. Car inflated to 32 psi as stated on the tire.
No scrubbing noted on the car tread, it is wearing a central area on the tire, thinking about letting a few pounds out of the tire and bringing it to 30psi to soften the ride on the car a bit.
What do you think of the above info?

Thanks Richard, none of them offer sidecar training. Last I heard there was an outfit in Tampa that did but they have not answered repeated emails to them as well as messages left on their website.
Back to the parking lot!!!!

I would have attended a training session had there been one
within driving distance of my home. Surprising that there isn't
one in this area as the local sidecar club boasts +120 members
and our Griffith Park Rally draws in the neighborhood of 300
sidecar rigs. The local LA and Orange County Craigslists show
a lot of sidecar activity so they are around, although I seldom,
if ever, see one on the road other than in a club activity.

Took the course from Vernon Wade in Hood River, OR. Really enjoyed the experience. Enjoyed it so much that I just had to have a rig. What an expensive course. The "tuition" wasn't bad, nor was the overnight lodging in Hood River. It was the purchase of a '99 R1100 RT w/EZS sidecar that cost.

I'm now having a ball almost everyday and would really encourage anyone any where near Hood River to take Vern's class.

Karl

they didn't even have bike courses up here when I was licensed for the road,..I did work for a professional motorcycle escort company in the mid '90's , for wedding /funerals such..when the snow hit,..they bolted a sidecar onto your KZ1000 police special and you did donuts in the snow and ice until you could ride in a straight line LOL! years later when my daughter arrived,..I built a rig for her to join us,..no courses except the " School of Hard Knocks" , some of the boys here are quite suprised at how well a rig can corner through the twisties! hehe crawf.