Maximum utility

For me, riding a heavy sidecar rig without a steering mod can be done, but it takes out a lot of the fun because the steering is so strenuous. Seems like every guy I've met who built his first sidecar rig using a 1000cc bike or bigger and no steering mod ended up selling the rig a year later because it wasn't as much fun as they thought it was going to be. No , Sherlock! My sidecar equation goes like this-- steering mod=fun ; no steering mod=work I recently obtained a 12GS with a DMC sidecar. Steering is fine for the interstate. It's only when you try doing twistier stuff that the steering gets heavy. If I was going to use the rig just for short joyriding (an hour or so) on local paved roads then not a problem. I'm a big strong guy. But for half day or longer trips (off the interstate) I'm gonna find it tiresome. On dirt, where quick decisions and quick turns are needed, I'd actually be giving myself some sphincter moments without a steering mod. So a steering mod will be installed shortly on this rig. How heavy the steering will be for you will vary with tire choice, suspension, setup, and car. And which bike, of course. Maybe a lighter dual-sport type sidecar rig might be a better choice for riding with no steering mod?

Well said Drone, My question would be, why would you want to take the sidecar off for ADV riding? These are big heavy bikes, not dirt bikes, they suck on single track. If you are talking off pavement riding, I.E. dirt and gravel roads I would much rather have a sidecar then not have a sidecar, the bike no longer falls over and you can drift through the corners. They are a blast! Next week I will be on my own rig a 2014 R1200GSA with our Expedition sidecar and will be riding on pavement to SLC to meet up with my brother in law and some of his friends who will be riding two wheeled dual sport bikes mainly KLR's we will be heading through death valley and onto southern California running as much dirt as we can find, I will have no issues staying with them and often will find the going easier with the sidecar.
Of course we make kits for both of these bikes and many models of sidecars as well as steering modifications, We have build over 1000 dual sport sidecars.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

Thanks for the advice guys!

I'm thinkin' I would just be doin' short little cruises around the local area with the Boston Terrier critters in the car.

Not sure about dirt roading with three wheels just yet.

Kim

I have a KLR solo and with standard enduro tires it truly sucks in mud and soft sand. The Jawa and Ural rigs even though slower were/are a blast on anything softer then asphalt even with comletely worn street tires. The Jawa was a body builder which frequently was used as solo. (great surprise when you let stand a big Beemer on the traffic light with a 350 due to rig gearing until 60mph)
The Ural is not as soft as I expected with the dedicated steering. I could not imagine to ride it at all with such a lot of trail as the light Jawa and the Ural work horse is only 3/4 of your bike weight.
Soft ground and any heavy solo bike sucks!
Better have the big rig dedicated and get a second light weight solo.
For here a 350 - 450 enduro would be the right solo bike. The KLR was a mistake as mountain climber, just good for long turn back and forth transport before I changed the tires. Now I go with pretty open Pirelli MT21, which limit safe asphalt speed to 65mph. but work well on mud and gravel, but as soon the mountain becomes steep or too rough things turn into gymn exercises again.
2 cent.
Sven

Peter Pan - 3/10/2015 4:52 PM

(great surprise when you let stand a big Beemer on the traffic light with a 350 due to rig gearing until 60mph)

erm...
maybe up to 60 kph...
I cannot imagine a 350 Jawa be faster to 60 mph than R1200 or even a R100... (well, of course, if the BMW rider is totally stoned and misses the traffic lights completely...)