Need Advice

Hi Hall - training is a great idea and there are options in Florida. Check out www.sidecar.com/maps/florida.htm . At the bottom of the page you will see the local and other options. Mot training sites provide the rigs, so you get to try before you buy.

Also note your USCA State Rep - Richard McClure will be a great resoure to you.

A used rig is probably a great idea, though our R1200CLC would make a pretty good tug.

I'm sure many others will chip in. You've got a lot of research to do, enjoy it!

Thanks, Steve. sounds like good advice and I will surely do what you suggest.
The main reason I was looking at a used rig was cost. The cost figures that I've seen for new sidecars with istallation are pretty steep. Maybe the folks here could point me toward some less expensivve alternatives. If I could keep my present bike and add a sidecar to it, it would be the best solution for me. I love the bike -- it's just too heavy for my old legs and arms.

Hall

Hall.
I've been riding since 1948 and at 78 found that my Valkyrie was beginning to be a handful because of my knees.
I gave it a lot of thought and bought a Motorvation Spyder sidecar. My son and I just got finished installing it. What a difference! It has given me more confidence and I can turn around in our narrow streets, something that I had lost confidence in doing on two wheels.

However, I did a lot of reading and asking questions since a sidecar rig was not available to me to try out.

The first thing I said to myself when I first rode it was "I've ruined a perfectly good motorcycle!" Driving a sidecar is completely different!! I cannot stress that enough. On the Valkyrie, the steering is very hard on my wrists. I am installing a modified triple tree to change the trail. That will help greatly. IMHO, once you are determined to go the sidecar route, do whatever is necessary to change the Motorcycle over for sidecar operation. Don't intend on using the motorcycle as a two wheeler again.

I guess that the answer to the question "Is it worth it?" is YES. I know that I'm going to be traveling a lot more miles and enjoying it more than I did before " A bonus is that you have a tremendous amount of knowledge and friendship on this board. Listen to them. They've been a big help to me. Just remember, a rig is totally different, not better, not worse, just totally different. If you can drive a rig, do it. It's an eye opener.

Wayne

Hi Hall,

A “great resource” hmm I am just going to say Thank you Steve. Steve is right on number things. One I have been down the road you are starting on and you do have a bit of research to do and I can not say enough about training. Welcome to the new world of sidecars. I said “new world” just for starters you ride a bike but drive a hack.

Ok less get you started on that research the first place I send a person is the some books that are right here on this site and they are free.

http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp

I use these over and over. Next because you are in Fla is to a get together we are trying here in Fla just up the road from you.

http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/thread-view.asp?threadid=3531&posts=4

All are welcome how ever they get there.

The next is a good place to look for sidecar, rigs and sidecar stuff.

http://www.hackd.com/index.html

Well that will get you started PLEASE feel free to contact me you will find my information under that map Steve told you about. I am looking forward to seeing you out there.

I owned sidecars in Germany in the 50's.Quit whe I came to Canada.
Started again 2 years ago whe I moved to Vancouver Island with all the backroads and logging roads.Had to get a motorcycle drivers licence.
My wife joined me at that.Now I have a Yamaha FJ 1100 with Kenna sidecar and the wife has a Yamaha SR 250.She loves the sidecar for daytrips
and weeklong camping trips.There is no magic in driving with sidecar.
It is just a matter of approaching it slowly and carefully.Practice make perfect.By now we have done many thousands of kilometers and looking forward to next year.I am 75 years old,5'3" and weigh 135 pounds.Go for it!
Gary Storch

You can add a sidecar to your bike no problem. We just finished up a lowered Ural color matched with an R1200C rear wheel on the sidecar as well as a new ball joint mount to lower the steering effort.
If you are looking for a turn key rig we have a nice 800cc Vulcan with a Ural sidecar for $6500 ready to go.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.dauntlessmotors.com
866-638-1793

Thank you, Wayne. I think the advice to forget solo riding and go for the best permanent sidecar mounting I can get is the way I'll go.

Hall

Thanks, Richard. I've bookmarked the sites you recommended and I'll surely see you in Ocala in March.

Hall

Thank you, Gary. It's nice to hear from some fellow septuagenarians. Makes me feel as though I'm on the right track.

Hall

Thank you, Jay. there are some differences between the 1200C and the 1200CLC, but you probably knew that already.

I wish you weren't all the way across the country.

Hall

Since you are talking about getting training, may I suggest you do that BEFORE you choose your sidecar?

Most courses offer rigs for use during the class. Although limited, this will give you a little more experience, some idea of whether you like driving a sidecar and a better idea of what to look for when choosing your rig.

A class is a great way to try sidecars out before you spend a bucket of money.

VW

That is very good advice.
It took me two years and a lot of looking into sidecaring before I took the plunge. Here in Indiana there isn't much chance of taking a sidecar course or even driving one.
However, if I would've tried driving one for just a short while, I might've given up on the idea, but after only 100 miles I am determined to make this work, especially since I have a lot invested in it.

i installed a hd sidecar on my 02 flh in may.it's a hoot but really slows you down a lot. and like the others have said you drive a sidecar rig and ride a motorcycle. totally different. i am in the process of buying a suzuki hayabusa for my 2 wheeler. that way i'll have the best of 2 worlds. 50 mph tours on my hd/hd rig & 186 mph sprints on my busa.btw-next mo i turn 59.

Originally written by shortcut on 11/21/2006 9:40 PM

i installed a hd sidecar on my 02 flh in may.it's a hoot but really slows you down a lot. and like the others have said you drive a sidecar rig and ride a motorcycle. totally different. i am in the process of buying a suzuki hayabusa for my 2 wheeler. that way i'll have the best of 2 worlds. 50 mph tours on my hd/hd rig & 186 mph sprints on my busa.btw-next mo i turn 59.

put that SC on a better tug than the HD, and ypu wont need a 2 wheeler...you will have 75-80 MPH touring/cruising with the Sc rig.