I recently bought a new bike,well to say I thought i was 21 again. I guess I was just sick of sitting at home I was hurt at work and thought I could handle the weight of the bike. Well I thought wrong, I would like to know if it is worth my time and money to buy a sidecar,I guess what I am asking is it hard to ride a bike with a sidecar? I am not a hot rodder on a bike,I just need help with the weight and balance cause the balance I guess went downhill with the injury,gosh I feel like such a bonehead 4 thinking I could actually handle the weight I quess I am more disabled than I wanted to believe.If I could get any tips from anyone as how to handle a sidecar it would be greatly appreicated.OH by the way miss smartypants here bought a 2005 harley softail delux I know I am the brightest candle in the box. I just want to ride and have some fun without killing myself or anyone else thanks everyone 🙂
Well I don’t know how you are disabled but I am missing my right leg above the knee and have been back riding for about 5 years. If I can maybe you can too. You will fine more around here.
l have had 3 cervical spine surgeries, and I can barely hold my mellon up no not the ones on my chest either,I am in pain 90% of time but I try and keep a postive attitude, like I said before I just really want to know if it takes more upper body stregnth to ride with a sidecar because that is what the problem is balance and upper body, thank you and have a good one
Hello Maureen,
When I was a student for 8 years I didn't know what a day without pain is. and frecuently I had partial arm paralisations. So I had to sit on the bike and lift with he other arm the bad one to the handle bar. Riding all year through both solo and rig. In the last 3 years troubles came back. (Against doctors indications I never take pain pills and do relatively hard body work which gave me 16 years of backpainfree and paralisationfree time except frequent soar muskles:=> I feel my body, so I am allife!)
A buddy back in Germany never recovered his right arm muskles, its just hanging there. He passed over on his fathers R60 rig the gas and break to the left and put some push buttons to the right glove and right handle. done for all year round riding and camping.
The oldest rig pusher I know was 86 with some handycap and made still long tours of 200-500miles a day.
As you seem to be in the same situation and tell yourself:
"Attitude makes the difference"
Or my aunt said to herself "every 15 minutes:
"I want to live!"
(she passed over the docs prediction of life expectance of 6 month by 5 1/2 years)
I want to encourage you, but you need to take a few things into account:
1. the bike should best have (but not needs to have) pretty soft suspension and a confortable upright riding position (like for example on a BMW GS) for not to get so many hits into the back. Leaning to the back and stiff suspension will cause you unnecessary pain.
2. get yourself the lightest helmet available. Kevlar is perfect. (aditional I use a spline protector ("turtle") for 25 years now, in 2 accidents it helped a lot)
3. you need to have easy stearing. Best go with leading link fork in the front.
4. take it calm and slow. you have to start learning new and train your muskles.(read the 2 books in the download section: I'd start with the german one, but that is just a question of taste)
5. I would recommend a relatively light arrangement. (650-900ccm) As heavier the rig as more difficult for your body.
My wife is not fond of my seldom long distantance rides from which I get back often with strong pain for weeks and month, but to me those days are
LIFE IN ITS PUREST ESSENCE.
(See roads to travel section)
You will not regret it at all because of the fun and unique experiences You will have. Under the rig pushers you will find the finest and helpfull persons with great characters, who are indeed good examples.
As a friend says who passed over cancer:
"Nobody can take you what you have danced!"
Last saturday he had his 50st Birthday party and from 14:00 to 21:00 would not even step down from the dancing floor in his baby clothes"
Have a happy childrens day today!
Best regards
Sven Peter from Costa Rica
The training will give you the body thrength in a couple of weeks on the road, You never will get in bed or home.
And your dog will love to stick its nose into the wind too.
Sven
Maureen,
A sidecar will handle your balance problem but you will need steering mods to accomodate the shoulder and upper body effort needed to handle a rig.
Having the trail shortened with either modified triple trees or installing a leading link front end. Either method will work for easy steering.
Personally I use the Raked triple tree method on my Harleys to retain the stock look and still have easy steering.
Here's an '03 Softtail with one of our Velorex sidecars mounted.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
wow, I am so glad I can across this website. I REALLY want to ride again and now all I need to know is what the best one to buy would be and who would install them in wisconsin the milwaukee area or where to buy one I will be sure to research and take all the advice that everyone has given me you have no idea how much it is apreicated have a groovy day everyone
lonnie,
your bike looks great thank you 4 the pic as soon as I get mine I will also post
I'm not sure how long a trip you are willing to take but on Saturday there is a bunch of sidecars gathering in Anamosa IA. John Dennis there sells and mounts sidecars and you could get a chance to look at a variety of different brands. There will also be some people trying to sell used ones. There is a link to upcoming event at the bottom of the forums page. Just a suggestion.
thank you Joyce I will take the trip this weekend my daughter out of town going to U2 concert,I hate to sit home and do nothing thanks again maybe I will see u there
