hi. wow this site has a wealth of information & very knowlegable people in sidecars. I been looking at sidecars to make it easier to stay in the sadle because of a back injury. I love the looks of a sidecar & need some good advice on the liberty & spider sidecars. can someone explain the differences in the 2 as far as suspension goes ? pros & cons of both setup ? also I notice the spider doesnt have a frame , but the liberty does . whats the pros & cons of this ? also, i ride a 2005 harley softail deluxe . thanks , Bob
The spider is also noticeably smaller than the liberty.
For a full sized Harley, I would recommend the Liberty.
You might also look at our M72C and M72CX both of these sidecars are much easier to get in and out of as they have a step built into the side, the body is cut down and the optional windsheild folds all the way forward and out of the way. These sidecars also have a trunk that opens from the out side, seals and locks. The sidecars bodies are mounted on rubber vibration isloators and the chassis have full swing arm suspensions with progresive brand shocks. We offer many options including a brembo disk brake, racks, electric trim and more. Both sidecars come with real bike specific not "universal" mounting hardware. For your bike we also offer triple tree's to lower the steering effort and if you have exhaust pipes down both sides of the bike or switch over to dual pipes then we also offer real engine driven reverse for the bike.
The M72CX is 4 inches wider then the M72C and comes with the disk brake as standard. For either sidecar you can choose between a 16 inch wire wheel or one of 3 different automotive wheels.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
jay@dmcsidecars.com
I don't have any experiance with either of those models. One thing I can say is that a car with a seperate frame (i.e you can remove the tub) will allow you to put other "accessories" on the frame in place of the tub. Like say a rail to turn your rig into a bike hauler or a flatbed to make it a pickup, or if your back gets REALLY bad, a platform to haul your electric scooter. If you are real creative, you could build a pop-up camper rig!
Be sure to ballast your custom rig to compensate for the weight lost when removing the tub!!
I would certainly recommend the Liberty but I'll PM you with a friend's e-address who has owned both and will have some good input if you'll get in touch with him. Ned is a good guy who has been riding for many years. He just turned 91 the 1st of January.
I have had both the Liberty and Spyder HD sidecars on Electra Glide Harleys in the past and have a Liberty at present. I liked the Spyder sidecar, but my wife found the 17" seat and the seating position uncomfortable for all day and tour riding. the narrow body doesn't allow much room to move around or for anything extra in the cockpit with the passenger. The entry needed an extra (accessory) step for her, unlike the Liberty.
Trunk space is very limited with the Spyder also.
If you don't tour with a passenger the Spyder is a very nice well built unit. Motorvation makes larger models for this use.
Lonnie
Thanks for all the replys. you all gave me something to think about. Bob
I have a Motorvation Spyder on my 97 HD Ultra. It is plenty strong and don't be afraid of the fact that it has no frame. The sidecar wheel is sprung with a single shock so depending on what kind a ride you wish you would change or adjust the shock accordingly. The unit has no door and is a problem for people who have physical issues. It is a bit on the small side and for a large person it would be tight on extended trips. Although my 6'4" friend has ridden in it for over 100 miles. My 125Lb wife has no problems at all. It looks slightly on the small side on an Ultra and I am planning on transferring it to my FXR which I think would make a perfect fit. It is a stout piece and the factory is great with help. I have no experience with a Liberty so I can not comment on it. I think it makes a perfect 1st sidecar project.
I have a Motorvation Spyder on a HD Fatboy and love it. No issues with the frame less design. About 5 square feet of locking trunk space behind the seat. I have sat in the hack to rest when I pulled over on a long ride. I weight about 250lbs at 5' 10" and if I had a head rest I could nap there. The Spyder weights in at about 225lbs and is a good match for a HD
I don't have any experience with the Liberty so can't commet there.
would there be anyone around western pa that has a spider or liberty sidecar that I could see in person ? I hate to spend that much money on something & only see pictures on internet. thanks again everyone , Bob
I have a Liberty on my 09 Harley Classic. Trust me, you will like the ride and looks of the Liberty. I think Motorvation runs seperate brake pedal for hack. Both companies have a wait period for their sidecars.
crouch38 - 5/6/2013 10:55 AM would there be anyone around western pa that has a spider or liberty sidecar that I could see in person ? I hate to spend that much money on something & only see pictures on internet. thanks again everyone , Bob
You should check with Claude http://freedomsidecars.com/
I know he is a Motorvation dealer and if a Liberty is someplace close, he would probably know about it.
Yes, what Joyce said and Claude is a thoroughly reputable dealer and one GREAT GUY! 5 Stars and then some, first rate!
Thanks joyce , but they are about 4 1/2 hrs. away from me . im about 50 miles north of pittsburg , pa ,,Bob
Bob, I wasn't saying you had to go there but he may know someone in your area with one of those sidecars. He won't steer you wrong. Guaranteed.
