Just wanted to say thanks for some good thoughts in this thread. I'm in the process of thinking through the purchase of our first sidecar rig and I'm realizing, like most things, the more I learn the more I need to know. Jeesh!
We're thinking a used turnkey setup, not too large since we'll be keeping it off the main superslab and doing slower speeds. I'll be carrying my wife on the bike and young sons, two and four, in the rig. Anyone have any advice for me? We won't be touring with this setup, I have another bike so won't be swapping out either.
Dam! So little knowledge and so many questions yet unformulated. 🙂
Cheers and thanks.
Fin
bradlyb,
First of all, if savings on fuel costs are your main motivator I would respectfully suggest that even the cost of a used outfit is going to take a very long time to give you the "payout" that I suspect you're looking for.
BUT! There's an even greater danger in this equation. If you learn to love riding as much as I do, I can promise that the fuel savings will be negligible . . . for instance ;
It's 8 miles round trip to where I do most of my shopping.
If I take the Jeep Cherokee, it takes about 1/2 gallon of gas, so let's say two dollars.
If I take the bike (which gets around 50mpg)that round trip can be anywhere from 20 to 100 miles, usually the latter, which translates to eight dollars, and, gee, I sure hope the meat and milk didn't spoil on the way home! Your wife will become suspicious because you say you're going to the store for a loaf of bread, and don't come home for 2 1/2 hours and when you do you've got this ridiculous grin on your face . . . I mean can buying bread possibly that much fun??!!??
So, by all means, get yourself a rig; if there's a safety course available nearby, take it, but you can probably scotch any thoughts you may have entertained about saving money on gas. Don't say you weren't forewarned.
LOL-I can totally relate.
"Your wife will become suspicious because you say you're going to the store for a loaf of bread, and don't come home for 2 1/2 hours and when you do you've got this ridiculous grin on your face . . . I mean can buying bread possibly that much fun??!!??"
That's why we need to outfit our sidecars with a portable 12 volt fridge.
