I still haven't mounted my hitchhiker side car but I wanted to know some legal rules. At what age can a kid legally ride in the side car. Does the helmet law still apply to side car passengers if under 18. Can two small children ride in the sidecar (it is a very wide side car). I am very new and just want to know the rules. What age can the kids legally ride behind the driver (I know the helmet laws apply there). Is there any other legal thing I need to look at or know about before next summers riding starts. I don't plan on taking my kid it the side car next year as it (don't know gender yet) won't be born till mid May. Does a child seat of any kind apply as well like in a car since this does have a seat belt.
The rules vary widely from state to state so it's best to check with your DMV (and those of nearby states if you're travelling.
Children should have helmets in a sidecar regardless of the law in my opinion.
There is also a thread here on seat belts - again, varied opinions (try the Search option).
In California at least, anyone riding on a motorcycle or in a sidecar should have a helmet under the general law which requires helmets for motorcycle riders. As far as I know, the law is silent on passengers in a sidecar but I can say that it's a really good idea.
Seatbelts aren't required in a sidecar anywhere I'm aware of.
Most states say that to ride on the back of the bike, both of the passenger's feet must be able to reach the unaltered passenger pegs and rest comfortably. You can't move the pegs or build them up to raise the height.
According to the AMA, only four states have limits. Arkansas prohibits passengers under eight, Hawaii prohibits passengers under seven, Washington and Louisiana prohibit passengers under five. A couple years ago, Ontario was trying to pass a law making it illegal to carry anyone under 14 but I don't think it passed. Maybe one of our northern members can update us.
Washington allows no "Motorcycle passengers" under 5 years of age.
There is no age limit regarding passengers in an enclosed sidecar.
Any motorcycle or (three wheeled vehicle) driver and passenger(s) shall have a helmet unless the vehicle is equipped with safety belts and a roll bar.
Lonnie
Anyway what the legal aspects are. As somebody who has serious spline troubles I give you the following tips:
Baby: well tight up baby seat facing backwards and the mother beside it!
Kids: Allways use the lightest helmet as possible. You get nowerdays Kevlar helmets even in children sizes.
No cheap junk! No heavy fibre glass helmet! Never the wrong size helmet!
Additionally: Spline "turtles", motocross and BMX protectors for torax. elbows and knees are well invested money for the future. ...and your MOST valuable belonging!
Allthough these equipments have to be changed every couple of month, they are worth it.
Try second hand shops, garage sales and ebay.
Best wishes
Sven
Hack'n - 1/10/2010 6:16 PM Washington allows no "Motorcycle passengers" under 5 years of age. There is no age limit regarding passengers in an enclosed sidecar. Any motorcycle or (three wheeled vehicle) driver and passenger(s) shall have a helmet unless the vehicle is equipped with safety belts and a roll bar. Lonnie
Right, the AMA list above applies to passengers on the back of the bike. They don't list sidecars.
If I remember right, when the USCA Rally was in Arkansas a few years back, someone posted a comment about being stopped for an underaged child in the sidecar. It is still best to double check with your local authorities. They pass new laws every day.
Peter Pan - 1/10/2010 6:32 PM Anyway what the legal aspects are. As somebody who has serious spline troubles I give you the following tips: Baby: well tight up baby seat facing backwards and the mother beside it! Kids: Allways use the lightest helmet as possible. You get nowerdays Kevlar helmets even in children sizes. No cheap junk! No heavy fibre glass helmet! Never the wrong size helmet! Additionally: Spline "turtles", motocross and BMX protectors for torax. elbows and knees are well invested money for the future. ...and your MOST valuable belonging! Allthough these equipments have to be changed every couple of month, they are worth it. Try second hand shops, garage sales and ebay. Best wishes Sven
http://www.babybiker.com/ Anybody know of a similar site on this side of the pond?
Thanks for the help so far.
Thanks for the help so far.
coalminer, it would help to know what state you're in. Texas just had a new law go into effect the first of the year. No children under 5 on a bike, must be in a sidecar to ride.
As of now I haven't gotten my Hitchhiker mounted yet either, got to get a mount piece fixed or duplicated at a machine shop. I could get by with having my brother weld it but then it would lose it's adjustability. Luckily my son is 16 so the only thing I have to worry about with him is wearing a helmet.
Just stopping into say don't forget the ballast rule, weight in car must be a least
a 1/3 of total weight of bike and driver as I had to learn the hard way all excited about
my granddaughter riding in car and setup distribution of riders/weight wrong and now my
granddaughter won't ride in car just on the back still get good use out of rig just put the
wife in car instead...here in the state of Indiana 18 and under must wear a helmet.
As far as a carseat goes if your car has a seatbelt I'd use a carseat for a newborn if
that is what your considering...Have a great time with being a new father and hacker
But be safe...If in doubt rule it out...=)
ophiophilia - 1/11/2010 5:37 PM
Just stopping into say don't forget the ballast rule, weight in car must be a least
a 1/3 of total weight of bike and driver as I had to learn the hard way all excited about
my granddaughter riding in car and setup distribution of riders/weight wrong and now my
granddaughter won't ride in car just on the back still get good use out of rig just put the
wife in car instead...here in the state of Indiana 18 and under must wear a helmet.
As far as a carseat goes if your car has a seatbelt I'd use a carseat for a newborn if
that is what your considering...Have a great time with being a new father and hacker
But be safe...If in doubt rule it out...=)
I never heard that rule. but if you are talking about the total weght of the sidecar versus the bike, most are over that anyway. My bike weighs around 800# The sidecar weighs 275 plus 45 pounds of ballast for 320# total not counting a passenger. So, really, it shouldn't be a problem.
Additionally, I will never ever raise the wheel on the sidecar under any circumstances. Yes, I've done it and I know how to do it but I don't think it's safe. JMO.
Sorry. I am from WY but am close enough to MT and SD to need to know those rules as well. Again thanks for the info everyone.
with a hd bike and hd sidecar it says right in the manual that the heaviest passenger has to be in the sidecar....
so you really should never put a adult on the back seat and a kid in the car.... really bad idea.
the car "load" has to be heavier than the rear seat "load"
the gross has to be under 1650 i think
and the rear axle is... 850 or so... and sidecar axle is 300..
in my case [im not tiny] there is no way to have a rear passenger & meet the wts so i removed the seat to remove temptation
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