Hi everybody! I am new to this forum and wanted to get some opinions from you experts out there. I want to add a sidecar rig to 2002 Indian Spirit motorcycle (see attached pic ). The bike is basically the same as a harley wide glide. has the same frame as the late model chief(99thru 02)1442 cc motor 5spd trans. I would like to get your opinion on the following;
1. How heavy or light should the sidecar be to handle properly.
2. I know I will probably need a subframe. Vendors that may have mfg. these?
3. Style: I kind of like the retro look of the ural, legend; in your opinion what style wouldnt look good because price is a factor.
4. Many of these sidecars com std with 19" wheels. the sprit has 16 " wheels. Does the sidecar wheel heed to be the same.
5. The primary purpose for the purchase is so my wife can ride in it as well as the grand kids. She is 5'11 what would you suggest for minimum lenght/width /legroom?
6. I have driven a ural rig a few times and it is a blast. Is it better to just buy a complete rig that is setup for a sidecar? Does attaching one produce ill effects on a bike that was not originally setup for a sidecar?
7. Can most of these sidecars be removed if you want to ride two wheels?
Thanks for your opinions! John
John,
I copied your post below and added my comments within your verbiage. My comments are within the <>> symbols. I am no expert but have been around sidecars fro a little over 20 years and have mounted various combinations as well as built a few rigs from scratch. Hopefully Lonnie Cook will chime in as he has been doing this for a long time for a living as has Jay Geise from Dauntless. You may find some ,possibly varied, responses on your questions.
John wrote:
Hi everybody! I am new to this forum and wanted to get some opinions from you experts out there. I want to add a sidecar rig to 2002 Indian Spirit motorcycle (see attached pic ). The bike is basically the same as a harley wide glide. has the same frame as the late model chief(99thru 02)1442 cc motor 5spd trans. I would like to get your opinion on the following;
1. How heavy or light should the sidecar be to handle properly.
>>Most agre that th esidecar should weigh about a third of the weight of th ebike. This is not cast in stone as the distance the sidecar is mounted away from the bike help to stabilize things too. To me heavier is always better than lighter FOR STABILITY.<>Dauntless Motors is a good place to check. There are others out there too.<<
3. Style: I kind of like the retro look of the ural, legend; in your opinion what style wouldnt look good because price is a factor.
<<Style is of course a personal issue. I like to see the more retro look on a Harley though. The ones you mentioned would both look great<>no<>Try to get to a sidecar rally and try some on..that is the best idea really<> SEE #7 RESPONSE BELOW<> To have a really good sidecar rig there are modifications that can be made to the bike to make the rig a more suitable sidecar outfit. These are not totally necessary but once bitten by the sidecar bug many will continue to modify their bike in an effort to make things better and better. In relation to your question #7 many of these mods are not practical if you intend to switch back and forth between solo and sidecar usage with the same bike.It should be said that many folks have gotten into the sidecar world with the intention of switching back and forth and typically after a while have decided to leave the sidecar on. Sidecars are very addictive. Keep in mind that a sidecar outfit IS NO LONGER A MOTORCYCLE..It looks like a motorcycle, feels like a motorcycle when you sit on it and sounds like a motorcycle ..BUT ..IT AIN'T ONE NO MO.It is a sidecar outfit and that ain't a bad thing 🙂
Go to the homepage here and download the books by Hal Kendall. They are provided free by Hal and have some great information on setup, weight comparisons and riding instruction.
Claude,
Hey Bro!, thanks for saving me a lot of typing. Good response, as usual.
Lonnie
Claude:
Thanks so much for the good advice it makes sense. Do you know of any sidecar ralleys coming up in the new england area? Thanks
Note there seems to be a conflict of dates on the posting below. Please call th econtact person to verify details.
9/10/2005 Sidecar campout Northeast New York
Paradise Pines Campground PO Box 180 4035 Blueridge road, North Hudson
New York 12855
Call campground for reservations 800-232-5349 Tell them that you are
with the sidecarists.
Weekend camping package pricing includes all you can eat clam chowder
Followed by surf & turf rib eye steak and 8oz lobster tail.
this is a solo and sidecar event more info. call
Millie Pease 860-688-1579 of the new England Moto Guzzi club
Dale Cochran 413-596-8295 USCA Massachusetts State Rep.
This event occurs every year on September 9th (All day event)
click here:
http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/calendar/event-view.asp?EventID=230&year=2005&month=9
and here:
The USCA Northeatern regional Site
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/USCANORTHEASTREGION/
and here:
The NorthEast Three Wheelers site
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/NE3WheelersClub/
and of course the link to SCT shown in my signature below.
These last three sites are yahoo sites and you will have to get a yahoo name and password. No big deal though and they are free. SCT has over 2000 members and typically generates over 1500 posts per month with many members from different areas of the country and the world.Most of us belong to most of the sites.
Why not just get a Harley sidecar? Indian and Harley SCs didn't look that much different back in the '30s-'40s. Put a bicycle horn with a red bulb on the handlebars and a Duna would look pretty cool. Motorvation makes a good looking sidecar that would look good- they might have mounting stuff for a >gulp< can't believe I'm saying this- "new Indian"
Sorry, but I have a '48 Chief. As far as I know, Indian went out of business in '53.
Thanks Ernie;
I know its tough to accept the new ones. I would like to afford an old one some day. The Irony is when Indian went out this time it was almost for the same reason as the original company MISMANAGEMENT and GREED. Hopefully Stelican (chris craft boats) the new owner will get it right. The Gilroy boys shafted a lot of my friends with that POS bottlecap motor. Just didnt want to be like the rest of the world and ride an HD thats why the indian appealed to me and looking back I wouldnt have it any other way. HD sidecar is an option but a little out of my price range 7K plus. I'll keep lookin I am in no huge rush with the white stuff comin. John
I have a used mount set missing only the lower front mount for your bike.
One problem with the idea of pulling the sidecar off of this bike and riding it is that the front lower mount hangs pretty low.
The Champoin Legend would work great on your bike. There are photo's of one we did on an 03 cheif on our web site www.dauntlessmotors.com The Ural also would be nice especialy if we lower it.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
Thanks Jay. I will PM you.
jOHN,
Hey here is something to consider. Stacy Goff has a rig for sale with a Legend sidecar and is up pretty near to you. If you bought it you could put the sidecar on your Injun (Note the legend is a copy of an indian hack) and then sell the bike you got from him etc to recoup part of your investment. Just thinking out loud. Won't hurt to give stacy a call anyhow. If you do be sure to say hello from me.
Here is his ad from this site and email addy:
>>leading link, electric leank trailer hitch,
42,000 miles
gm alt on hack wheel
runs good dependable
east windsor ct
stacy
hosersbg@aol.com <<
Hey Claude;
Already been in touch with stacy. Thanks for the suggestion she sent me some additional pics. Was trying to get an idea on the price to paint it. Will probably expensive but you are right the legend car goes good with the indians. Down the road I may take the illusion flames sheet metal off and put my old black and cream back on, more retro. Guess we all gotta grow up sometime. thanks
Take a long look at the lower front mount on the "Indian"/Legend combo if you're thinking that way. If you can find a better way to mount it, do so. A pack of smokes will barely fit under it and a speed bump in a mall parking lot won't.
Look at Indian/Bavarian Classic rig at Albums/Hack'n/S'more, pictures #3, #4, #5.
(His dad did the fender skirt, I would have "S" curved it).
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
nwsidecar@aol.com
John,
As far as stacy goes...the 'she' you mentioned is a 'he'. He ain't too big though so maybe your mistake ain't that big a deal...LOL. Stacy...you readin' this? Just kidding buddy.
Oh, and the comment you made about having to grow up someday? Man don't even think about it. I have met some 'grown ups' and they are about as much fun to be around as a box of rocks. They also seem so baffled by life and serious about stuff if you know what I mean.
Just passin' thru.....
Claude
OOOOPS!!!! Sorry Stacy. Thought about that after I posted the message. When I meet up with ya the beers on me! Your right Claude some grownups are pretty dull. I just get carried away sometimes on two wheels and before I get carried away in a box ,I just need to adjust a tad and realize I'm not twenty anymore. KTRSD Later
Well folks I finnaly purchased a sidecar. harley TLE ULTRA in real nice shape. Course my Iron Indian Bros will probably never speak to me again for puttin anything HD on an Indian but so be it. The paint closely matches one of the colors in the illusion paint on my bike so it should look ok. Classic style with wide white wall. Will probably need some advice on the hitch so please dont get upset if I ask a lot of questions.(like I havent to date). Will be picking it up on tuesday. Thanks for all your help. Later
