Never owned a sidecar...Sooooooooooo!

I'm in the same place as you are. I'd researched several differen types of sidecars, but I still don't completely understand which is the best type for my bike! Very frustrating.

I did find a sidecar safety class put on by our local Motorcycle Safety Council, and will be taking it the end of July. Should be interesting! It would be even nicer if I had a sidecar by then, if not they do have full rigs you can use.

Check this out, if you haven't already:

http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/thread-view.asp?threadid=4632&posts=7

Sidecar training in Kentucky. They provide the rigs. Try before you buy and talk to others about their experiences and what works and what doesn't.

Don and Leah,
Welcome to the sidecar world. Yes, it can be a challnge to learn what is what but in time if you will become more familiar with what is going on. Classes are a good thing if you can make one. Toy will be glad you did one.
David Hough's book is okay foir the most part and a good read. Hal Kendall who was co founder of the United Sidecar Association also has his liturature posted here at sidecar.com as a free download. Click here (excellent material): http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp

As far as choosing a sidecar goes it can be a fun thing when shopping around or a confusing process.
One mistake some new folks make is to get a sidecar that is too light for their bike.Light weight is not you rfriend when it comes to a sidecar.
If shopping for a used sidecar be sure to find out what is included with that sidecar prior to making a final decision. If no mounts are included you will obviously end up adding cost to your purchase.
Another thing to consider is shipping costs to get the sidecar to your door.
Asking questions here is an excellent starting place. If you have a specific bike you intend to use ask if anyone has a sidecar on a similar bike. SCT is also a very active list to get good input from. The link is below.
Going to a sidecar rally is of course a huge plus too. At a rally you will be abel to try variuos sidecars on for size and probably get a ride in one. Take a look at the schedule of events here to see if there is an event you may be abel to attend.
Warning : Sidecars are a lot of fun for many reasons and can be very addictive.

What Claude said is very true. I might add, if you are like most of us, you will try and OVER THINK the whole adventure. Your first rig will most likely turn out to be a starter kit. Whatever you think you'll want and need will change after you buy and drive your first one. If you don't like it, you'll sell it and tell your friends about your sidecar experiment. If you do like it you will start looking for a newer/bigger/smaller/fancier/simpler/ outfit or, heaven forbid, a second unit. Remember there is no logically excuse for owning a motorcycle or a sidecar other than they are fun.

As a novice I'm going to jump in here.
I'm 79 years old and i took the step because of my knees. I also have a lot of two wheel experience but this sidecaring is entirely different.
I read Hough's and Kendall's information on sidecars. I asked a lot of questions. I now have about 2,000 miles with my sidecar rig. Still a novice and cautious.
One thing that I never thought of. I've taken the load off my knees but now have increased the use of my shoulder muscles even though I've taken steps to make the rig steer easier. In addition, I seem to be aggravating my neck arthritis due to the different ride characteristics (sort of a rolling action)of the rig when hitting uneven pavement. My Valk/Spyder is set up for a firm and more controllable ride which doesn't help and contributes toward my neck problems. This particular problem is mine, due to my age.
I strongely suspect that an orthopaedic doctor would ask me to quit driving a rig.

Having said that, I enjoy the rig and practice every day. However, today I unloaded the weights in the car and I purposely "flew the chair" . My reaction was immediate, turn left to bring it down, not a good idea. I need more practice .

Well it looks like I have finalized the deal on a 1975 BMW R90/6 with Velorexport sidecar rig.

I load some pictures in a few days.

remember to have fun

Originally written by solo1 on 7/1/2007 11:43 AM

As a novice I'm going to jump in here.
I'm 79 years old and i took the step because of my knees. I also have a lot of two wheel experience but this sidecaring is entirely different.
I read Hough's and Kendall's information on sidecars. I asked a lot of questions. I now have about 2,000 miles with my sidecar rig. Still a novice and cautious.
One thing that I never thought of. I've taken the load off my knees but now have increased the use of my shoulder muscles even though I've taken steps to make the rig steer easier. In addition, I seem to be aggravating my neck arthritis due to the different ride characteristics (sort of a rolling action)of the rig when hitting uneven pavement. My Valk/Spyder is set up for a firm and more controllable ride which doesn't help and contributes toward my neck problems. This particular problem is mine, due to my age.
I strongely suspect that an orthopaedic doctor would ask me to quit driving a rig.

Having said that, I enjoy the rig and practice every day. However, today I unloaded the weights in the car and I purposely "flew the chair" . My reaction was immediate, turn left to bring it down, not a good idea. I need more practice .

...................................................................

Solo1 and others,
When just starting out with a sidecar rig people will be using muscles that they are not used to using. The result can be a little soreness here and there.
Also,until on egets more comfortable on a sidecar rig that will unconciously have a death grip on the bars and be a little tense. Thios too can lead to fatigue but it will pass.
Prctice is the key. Read Hal's liturature over and over and practice.
Take a class if possible. After the class practice.
No book and no class will teach you to be a sidecarist. These tools may teach you a lot and give you some education on what is invloved but YOU are th eone who has to practice on your own to becoem proficicent and safe.
HAVE FUN!!

The problems with the back and neck are typical and many chiropractics earn their money on many of us....But the sidecar trains you much more then the rocking chair on the porch! AND MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING !As somebody who has serious back trouble for years (1.1.07 paralysed the right hand on a 47 hour trip to the Panama border for 6 weeks) and haveing a neurologic Dr. who wants me to quit driveing: I responded him if he wants me to look for a rock right in a 90º bend...Beeing a little sour shows you you are allive and helps you become old in age but young in body and brain.As my (passed by to the other pastures) father in law told me in a dream a few weeks ago: the secret of being in good shape is good excercise and good food.I may add: keep your mind active All that you do definetely with the sidecar and you enjoy good fellowship on the road. All I do now is drive a little less harsh and shorter distances....that gives me more time to bath the worms...Petri HeilSven Peter Pan

Originally written by solo1 on 7/1/2007 11:43 AM

When just starting out with a sidecar rig people will be using muscles that they are not used to using.

Hmmm...this sounds an awful lot like excercise. Maybe I need to re-think this! LOL

Originally written by lespring on 7/2/2007 1:02 AM

Originally written by solo1 on 7/1/2007 11:43 AM

When just starting out with a sidecar rig people will be using muscles that they are not used to using.

Hmmm...this sounds an awful lot like excercise. Maybe I need to re-think this! LOL

It IS!

Going to pick up an '06 Ural Troyka this Friday.... for my 86 year old Dad, doing recovery from a quad bypass 4 weeks ago. He'll start his recouperation accessorizing the rig with equipment he likes, and continue his excersise regimen as he starts riding in a month or so.

I can't think of a better way to do cardio rehab....can you?

Norwood,
Welcome to the fold. You are going to love that R90/6,Velorex. If not, come back to the forum as some small adjustments may be needed. A Ural (or like) retro car would go well with your R1200GS, as well. Like learning any other new skillset it is best to start slow so you can go long. Enjoy!

K1100LT/EZS, R1100GS/Ural

Thanks all for the information, I have started to download the links and begin to read the info. Like I said in first post, the knee replacement will give me time to read..maybe I can at least sit on it in a few weeks.

Also, thanks for making me feel welcome on this forum, I look to many years of enjoyment of the sidecar and this forum.

I'll keep a eye out for future classes as well, the Kentucky school is too soon after the surgery...but I will wait on another.

Solo1, although you probably believe your rig is properly set up, you may want to at least check things over to see if alignment may be a factor contributing to your knee probems. Anyone with neck or shoulder problems should actuall do the same type of checks as well. Additionally, look at your seating, your risers, how far you sit back on your rig and so forth. Have someone else look at your body alighnment as you sit in your normal riding position to see if there is something negative you are doing without even thinking about it. Making the ergonomics of it all work the best may be something that a slight adjustment of your steering, your seating, brake positioning, and/or your handlebars may be improve upon. Some folks may not realize it, but even tire inflation can affect the overall steering and maneuvaribility as you fight with the handlebars and such. Being new also means a certain amount of break-in time required for those unused muscles you are now exercising as you adjust your body to the rigors of driving a sidecar rig in the first place.

It may sound a bit odd, but there are variences on the way each sidecar is actually set up. Your's may have been properly set up, but just not for your particular riding. Heck, even the shocks may be something to look at for possible change or adjustment. I'd at least check those issues out.

Granted, the most of the thread is addressing riding problems, but one has to also realize that each person's body is a bit different as well. Bone spurs, arthritis, age, knee replacements, and many old injuries can really hamper a person when it comes to the comfort factor of riding a sidecar rig. You may have to get your own health into a better control in regards to your knees, as repetative motions and such will only continue to put stress on the old body parts if there isn't anything that effectively relieves them. Me, I am guessing that something is amis in the ergonomics factor, your steering, your alignment, your seating, your posture or so forth, instead of just the norms of sidecar driving taking their toll on your body. Just my guess on it, but there at least other areas to begin to look at before having to hang up the old motorcycle sidecar keys for good. Maybe you can transition to being a hack monkey if things get worse in piloting the rig.

Me, I got a bum right arm that can cause me problems. Poor steering would only make them worse, so all of the above are certainly items for me to check over as well. Making it all work well may take a bit of effort in tracking down what isn't quite right as well. It may be something that is really, really easy to modify in the long run.
Good luck on it,
Huey