Hi everyone! Well, we've officially got our new (to us) sidecar rig and are slowly working on getting ourselves road-worthy. We ordered a set of Daytona half-helmets and hopefully they'll arrive this week (we ordered a different brand last week and not one of the four was a decent fit). Anyway, we've been puttering around our back country roads the past few days, and I've got a request. Could someone please convince me that it takes a LOT to lift a sidecar? Because I'm driving my husband bonkers every time he makes a right-hand turn, and he's been literally creeping around the bends to try to appease me. I just can't shake the weird feeling that a gust of wind is going to come along and lift the sidecar as we're turning, and I find myself counter-leaning, even though I know that I'm not making an ounce of difference! When we've finally got the sidecar fitted with five-point harnesses and my little guys have the appropriate headgear, we'll be hitting bigger, faster roads and I really need to get over this fear!
Brenda
I dare say that combination will be hard to lift. That's just the way I like them.
Just the same, practice in an empty parking lot somewhere. Just do big figure 8s. It may feel like it will come up, but it will take a lot to actually do it.
It has only happened to me twice unintentionally in more than 40 years of riding. Once with a trike. I was half way through an intersection when I tried to turn to avoid a woman that ran out in front of me. The second time was with a very small sidecar attached to a Goldwing. I turned right on to a very steep driveway that threw me off balance. In truth, that outfit was off balance to begin with.
Thanks Mike--that's what my husband keeps saying...("It's heavy, Brenda--it's not going anywhere!"). He's a safe, cautious driver and I trust him completely but I guess my mommy instinct kicks in on those turns. He plans to get some miles under his belt before we truly venture out into, "The Great Beyond," so I hope I eventually relax. It took awhile for me to get used to the Harley too, but now we've got the little guys to consider as well. 🙂
If your rig is properly set up it does take a little effort to lift your sidecar. I have a hannigan conte on an 1100 shadow and I usually have to work at it to get it in the air. If your husband is driving at road speed and going around corners in a normal manner it shouldn't lift. It may lift on something like a tight 90 turn if he is going too fast. My car never lifts unless I have no passenger and work at it. The hannigan has a much lower center of gravity than other lighter cars like the velorex. you are much lower to the ground than alot of other makes as well. Don't be so nervous. Have him go to a parking lot and try to fly it without anyone in it so that you know he is comfortable with what it takes to get the car up . Then you will be more confident in his piloting skills and not worry so much. Don't forget even though it's on a goldwing it's looks like a double chair and would be wider than most so will require more leverage to lift it. The more time you have in the chair the more comfortable it will be....provided your husband doesn't drive the a mad man!
I have 3 bikes with the Hannigan 2+2 on them. I live in the mountains of Virginia and never have flown these sidecars. When I had the Harley sidecar hooked up I flew the cart several times. With that sidecar, I always slowed down on right hand turns, then I learned to give slight front brake going thru right turns and that helped alot till I put the Hannigans on the Harley. Now I don't need it. All three Hannigans have electric lean on them. Does yours. If so keep , use it for the crown of the road and keep it down in normal driving unless going in a parking lot etc, so u don't drag the sidecar.
It also doesn't help if u and hubby are on the bike and the 2 kids are in the sidecar. Read the site on adding ballast to the sidecar and you'll see a differnce also.
Ah...ballast! I actually asked him to throw another hundred pounds in the sidecar tonight and I don't think he took me seriously. 🙂 Looks like we need to hit a parking lot so I can watch him make some turns from the sidelines. As for me swapping places with one of the boys, it probably wouldn't make much difference since I only weigh about 100 pounds.
I'd like to add that I appreciate everyone's responses! Thanks!
Brenda
Well, I am the hub. in question. Hello to all. I appreciate everyone's comments to reassure my wife about our rig. However, I'm willing to drive many miles through the PA country side on winding roads that never seem to end. A man must do what he has to do.
I am sure I'll be asking questions. Great forum.
Craig
Welcome Craig and Brenda! You are in for a great experience. My kids started early in sidecars. My daughter has already owned one and my son is looking to build one now.
With the sidecar normally loaded for the road, turn the bars to the right. Hop on the left peg/floorboard and grasp the bars and pull back sharply with all your weight. If the chair lifts from the ground easily you need more ballast to keep all three wheels on the ground in normal driving conditions with that load.
Beyond that for prudent driving, without hanging off, follow the road signs for turn speeds. 35 means 35 in most all weather conditions. Experienced pilots and solos can go 5 or 10 miles over this but the word here is "prudent" speeds with little guys aboard.
Lonnie
Thanks for the experiment. I'll give it a try.
Craig
If there is an organization in your area that offers the S/TEP (sidecar/trike education program) administered by the Evergreen Safety Council I would recommend that you sign up for the class. You can review the locations that offer this program here: http://www.esc.org/step_national_schedule.php . You can take the class individually or as a couple and it will definitely provide you with supervised training and allow you to practice all the skills that you need to safely handle a rig on the road. Learning to pilot a sidecar with trial and error can be both expensive and painful.
