I am in Toronto Ontario Canada
I just put a brand new Hannigan Conte on my 1100Shadow Ace. It's a little overwhelming right now. I'm not sure whether it has enough power. It definitely has adversely affected my gas mileage. Turning with this is a whole new experience. I expect to have arms like Popeye by the end of the summer. After this weeks riding I have decided to get a complete bike tune up as well. Anybody have any encouraging ideas for me? I'm a complete noobe!
I am brand new too, I've been riding off and on for 50+ years, but this is my first sidecar, but I can tell you that you've come to the right place.
These folks hold a wealth of knowledge from people that actually ride these.
As for whether your bike is powerful enough, I'm riding a 1300 VTX with an Escort on the side, and have no problem walking around the cagers @ 70+. if you think about it, the older Harleys and Indians were 45 CI, or roughly 750cc if I remember right. You shouldn't have any problem with your 1100.
By the by congrats on your new setup.
I've already learned one thing, if you are soloing put ballast in the sidecar.
So there you go, my first lesson is paid forward.
Doc
Good advice for both of you is to have steering modifications to reduce trail and make steering a fingertip job instead of a shoulder job. You'll be glad you did.
One good source for triple tree mods for trail reduction is Side Effects in Kamloops, BC. Their website lists an email address but they don't check the email often so for best (quicker) results give a call to Peter or Mary Smith instead. 250-573-2364
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Welcome aboard! You'll never regret adding a hack to your motorcycle. Power?? My '07 Triumph Bonneville's parallel twin is 865cc, and it easily hauls my Dauntless M72D sidecar, with a passenger at 70+ mph on the highway. And yes, w/o a passenger I always carry 60lb. of ballast to help ensure I don't inadvertently "fly the car," especially during sharp right-handers.
The triple tree advice is very sound. It will be like suddenly having power steering.
I have a Hannigan Classic on my V-Star 1100 Classic and it's definately not underpowered. Like Lonnie said above, installing modified triple trees will make a hugh difference in the enjoyment
of riding your rig. Mine was done by Side Effects. The difference in ease of steering and stability is amazing.
welcome maybe see you @ some events .you got plenty of pwr just don`t think your going to jack rabit on take offs there are plenty of 650/850`s out there i ride 1200 harley.again welcome
I forgot to mention, my bike had the Champion fork mod installed, the setup was done professionally by the shop I purchased it from. It absolutely makes all the difference in the world. I had driven a trike that hadn't been modified and it was more like driving an Army 2 1/2 ton truck without power steering, than driving a motorcycle.
I hadn't even thought of that because the shop I bought mine from ALWAYS puts the fork mod on any bike that gets a third wheel, be it sidecar or trike.
I understand that a bike that has been modified doesn't handle the same as an unmodified one if detached but I haven't even considered a disconnect since I got the setup.
Doc
Any shops NOT 3000 kms on the other side of Canada that anyone can recommend? eastern Ontario or Western Quebec?
Hack'n - 3/24/2010 11:07 PM Good advice for both of you is to have steering modifications to reduce trail and make steering a fingertip job instead of a shoulder job. You'll be glad you did. One good source for triple tree mods for trail reduction is Side Effects in Kamloops, BC. Their website lists an email address but they don't check the email often so for best (quicker) results give a call to Peter or Mary Smith instead. 250-573-2364 Lonnie Northwest Sidecars
Welcome to the world of Sidecaring.
everyone gets reduced gas mileage when going solo to sidecar,it is caused by the extra weight of the sidecar, wind resistance,and rolling resistance of the third wheel on the road. if you cant fly up hill like you used to,use the gear box,find a lower gear, better to rev the motor than have it lug, by july you should be having a lot of fun,bring it down to vermont to the national rally,hope to see you there,check if you need a passport. good luck .
everyone gets reduced gas mileage when going solo to sidecar,it is caused by the extra weight of the sidecar, wind resistance,and rolling resistance of the third wheel on the road. if you cant fly up hill like you used to,use the gear box,find a lower gear, better to rev the motor than have it lug, by july you should be having a lot of fun,bring it down to vermont to the national rally,hope to see you there,check if you need a passport. good luck .
It's been my experience that adding a side car is kinda like pulling a sled full of bricks, the speed comes down as well as the gas mileage. However, I'm having so much fun that I hardly notice it.
I'm sure I'll get used to it. I still think it's fun but I am getting a full tune up because the bike isn't running that well. Once I do that I'll reassess the situation for a couple weeks.The rig runs straight with no speed wobble anywhere. I just have to get used to the push pull in the steering to handle the weight. I have to admit it will be a physical challenge for a while
Do you have steering that is modified for trail reduction? Compensating for the push, pull from accelleration/decelleration is soon learned but heavy steering from too much trail and a steering damper is always a lasting problem.
Lonnie
I have never required a dampener because I've not found a speed wobble anywhere at any speed. I do have heavey steering though. I have not done the triple trees yet
