Just wondering about the interior width of the spyder. It seems very narrow. How comfortable would be it be for an adult female passenger of normal height and weight?
jack
Great looking sidecars, well built, love the classic styling.
Entry and exit aren't the easiest. 17" wide seat as I recall. Judy says the seat wasn't as comfortable as a (late) URAL seat or a Velorex seat. She felt as if she were leaning forward.
L.
Since you're in Chicago, why not take a day trip out to Sibley, Iowa and visit with Mary Sontage and her team. Try out a spyder for size and get to know a group of really great folks.
Al Olme - 6/20/2011 9:29 PM Since you're in Chicago, why not take a day trip out to Sibley, Iowa and visit with Mary Sontage and her team. Try out a spyder for size and get to know a group of really great folks.
+1 Mary and her crew will treat you like a king, even if you buy a unit third or forth hand. Gary, the installer, even sorted through my pile of Harley and Yamaha mounts to tell me which would work to move the car to my Moto Guzzi. When he was done, I only needed one strut. They could have easily sold me a thousand dollar pile of pieces, but preferred to save me money while still getting it right.
Thanks for your replies so far...
From my several calls to Motorvation they (Mary) seems to be very helpful and knowledgeable. We have been leaning towards the Spalding sidecar for our HD FLH EGC but it is very pricey. The Motorvation Spyder (IMHO) is the most attractive and airy. We have taken the Liberty, as good as it is off the list as when said and done, $$$$ are about the same as the Spalding. The Hannigan classic is nice, but they're out of production for awhile and I don't like the "trailer" wheel.
I am new to sidecars and don't know anything else but I just installed a new Spyder on a Guzzi about 2 weeks ago. The interior space seems adequate for an average sized female although there is not a lot of extra room. It is a little tricky getting in and out but not overly difficult after a few times. My seat does not tilt forward. Over all my passenger is very happy with the comfort in the sidecar.
I followed Mortorvations installation instructions to the letter and numbers so I am not experiencing any handling difficulties that I am aware of in the first 200 or so miles.
Ted
Other than getting in and out of it my wife likes the ride of the side car. It is a bit cramped for her though since she is 5'12" tall - the long legs makes it difficult for her to get out especially. As far as looks go it's a winner.
The following is a portion of an old column I wrote for one of the Biker Rags. It seems to fit here...............
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My old Harley Ultra has a Motorvation Spyder sidecar attached. We drug the cover off it and pushed the hack into the work area. Although the rig gets exercised often, back and forth to the store, hauling stuff too big for one of my solo bikes, it had been resting for a week. Going through the flight check was a good idea. Battery tender off, oil level ok, tire pressure ok, all the lights worked, brakes yep, tools, spares, safety inspection was complete. A quick dust off with a towel and she was ready for a little spin. It was smaller than an original Harley sidecar but I was pretty sure it would work even for Ed who was 6’ 4” and somewhere over 250. However, looking at Ed standing next to it, suddenly it looked very small. “I don’t know if I can get in the damned thing? But I’ll give it a try.” If nothing else, you have to say that Ed is a good sport.
He quietly donned his helmet and coat and tried to get in. The first attempt was a failure. He stepped back. I showed him how easy it was, stepping in and sliding down onto the seat. Getting out was just the reverse. “Taaadaaa! Give it another try.” Dangling a beer over the sidehack, I mimicked the carrot and the stick. He repeated what I had done and gravity did the rest. He was in. Unlike anyone else that had been a passenger, he didn’t sit in it, he wore it. However, like I said he was a good sport.
With some basic instructions about leaning into the turns, we were off for a jaunt up the canyon. Everything went well, the trip was semi-unique, mostly uneventful and we didn’t die.
At the mouth of the canyon there was a little roadhouse where I like to stop for a light refreshment. After parking, I hopped off and I started for the door. Ed just sat there. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”
“I can’t get out.” I mentioned that Ed had had some medical problems. After forty years as a plumber, working with heavy pipes, his body had rebelled. A bad back, surgery on his knees and shoulders had slowed him up.
To extricate oneself from the sidecar one must pull one’s legs back so that one’s heels catch a crossbeam and then the legs can push backward, up and out. While that is happening, both arms grab the sides and lift. It is a simple operation. However, Ed’s legs are too long to pullback. His knees smash into the inside of the bodywork refusing to allow his feet to come back far enough. His shoulders are not healed sufficiently to grab the sides and pull up. He was stuck tight in quicksand and sinking fast. Watching him attempt the reverse snake slither, laughing uncontrollably, I was of no use.
Finally, I composed myself enough to ask, “Do you want me to go in the bar and get some help?”
“Yea, you SOB, get enough guys to tip this damned thing upside down and shake me out.” It took him ten minutes, but finally, without any help, his reverse slink got him up high enough that he could roll out onto the parking lot.
To his credit he has passengered many times since and now has his own patented secret formula for the exiting procedure. Like I always say, Ed is a good sport.
Now, when I give him a ride I attach a pair of shoes outside on the front of the sidecar. He so big it looks like his feet have come through the bodywork. Sidecarists will do anything for a laugh.
