Hey folks just joined your forum last night so I could start some researching on riding these sidecars. Picked up this 98 HD today with only 4000 miles. I have been riding for 35 years but only 2 wheelers. Plan on taking it SLOW
64deville - 3/5/2014 8:39 PM
Hey folks just joined your forum last night so I could start some researching on riding these sidecars. Picked up this 98 HD today with only 4000 miles. I have been riding for 35 years but only 2 wheelers. Plan on taking it SLOWHey, that's sure a purdy rig. If I recall correctly, that's the "root beer & foam" anniversary colors. Good plan taking it slow, but I also recommend a S/TEP class. I took the class after 4 months of ownership, which helped me go from "herding" to "driving" the ring. In the meantime, you can get a copy of the "yellow book" (Driving a Sidecar Outfit by David L Hough) and/or Hal Kendall's information available here: http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp.
Be patient as you re-learn 35 years of riding habits - a sidecar rig is not a motorcycle. It took me a couple thousand miles to become a reasonably competent sidecar pilot.
Hey, tell us where you are - might be some fellow sidecarist in your area.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
I am in NC but did not see any riding classes anywhere close to me
Nice Rig!!!!
There are some good books online you can read for free. I am in Georgia and a member of the Georgia Sidecar Club. We have a member that lives in NC. You are welcome to come to our events you do not need to be a member even thaw year dues are only $18 which you get news letters. Our big rally is in June. No charge to be there other they your campsite. If you are on FaceBook we have a page to post you have to sign up to keep the rift raft out.
Jeff
Macon, GA
There are S/TEP classes offered in Virginia in several locations. The closest to the NC line would probably be in Danville. They get many out of staters. You can contact them through Danville Community College. The classes are great and you will get to meet other off-balance people of the sidecar world. Hopefully we will be starting classes in Martinsville, VA soon. Best of luck, great looking rig! 🙂
I defiantly recommend a class! I did not take one as I could not find anywhere near me. I did do a lot of reading before installing my hack. Being mine is my only transportation I had to learn FAST. LOL Welcome to the forum.
Jeff I see you live in Macon. That's where I bought this rig yesterday
64deville - 3/6/2014 4:45 PM
Jeff I see you live in Macon. That's where I bought this rig yesterday
What part of NC do you live in? I sure did not know about this rig sure looks really good.
Jeff
Just outside Winston Salem. It was a 6hr ride each way. What are you riding
64deville - 3/6/2014 6:17 PM
Just outside Winston Salem. It was a 6hr ride each way. What are you riding
My only transportation like most of my 44 years of none stop riding mostly motorcycles but now do to my age and health a rig is a 02 Ultra I bought new and a 06 Harley standard sidecar. She now has over 97,000 miles on her and if it where not do to my situation would have many more as well I would have my last five states coming soon. She is not as pretty as yours and a rig of many colors but I really enjoy her just like she is. She is driven daily no matter the weather as I do not like cages.
You can buy the 'Driving a Sidecar Outfit' (David L. Hough) self training manual from the Evergreen Safety Council in Washington state or thru Whitehorse Press. It is the work book used at the classes but it was originally designed to serve as a self training aid, many do it this way and succeed. Best $35 you will ever spend regarding this sport. There are no doubt copied (shared?/stolen) ones available free online, if you can do that and look yourself in the mirror, i'd hope not. The class is a great idea but not the only way.
You can read Hal Kendall book online at no charge.
http://www.sidecar.com/Files/SC%20OP%20Manual.pdf
I'm sure Hal intended that to be so and the knowledge imparted is well worth the reading. I'd forgotten about that, Thanks Jeff. Quite unlike the copied/pasted versions of 'Driving a Sidecar Outfit" that are pirated around the internet. Stealing is just as tacky when folks chose to call it 'sharing'.
I had a 95th Anniversary stage II Road King rig. Had most every Harley accessory on it but needed Liberty raked trees to be a first class touring outfit.
Lonnie
Gee Lonnie, couldn't you just renew your gym member and pump some iron? hahaha!
