In the book are exercises, and course layouts to do some basic practice.
Have fun! Hope you'll post up your adventures and mis-adventures! Makes for fun reading. 😎
OR....you can do just like I did....get on your very first sidecar rig, and drive it...period !
After 6 years, and 7 sidecar rigs, turns out I am the 3rd best sidecar pilot on Earth.
As a SCCA Street Survival skills instructor I will probably take ideas from all and modify to my tastes. I am a bit from the seat of the pants school. There was this early dicey incident on my friend's Hodaka and a big drainage ditch. Bike survived it better than this noob!
A Hodaka Wombat was my first bike. Back then I didn't know the difference between safety wire and bailing wire. I spent many days on the side of the road putting the clutch basket back together. lol
Just remembered you live in the land of Sidecar instructional schools. Just in case you want to meet up with fellow sidecarists for a day of good natured ribbing and fun.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Just remembered you live in the land of Sidecar instructional schools. Just in case you want to meet up with fellow sidecarists for a day of good natured ribbing and fun.
An important note on taking a 3 wheeled certification class in Western Washington is...when I took that class more than 10 years ago, the sidecars they had available in the class were absolute garbage, and I mean that as nicely as I can say it. In real world terms, they were very old Honda 350's, and Kawi 350's, with 5 dollar sidecars attached to them, and extremely poorly put together. The only other 3 wheeler they had in the class, was a donated Can Am Spyder, that was maybe 2 years old. I opted to drive the Spyder as much as they would let me, but did have to drive the sidecar rigs (gulp) too.
My suggestion is...if you sign up for one of those classes, ask them in advance if you can bring your own '95 BMW K1100 LT Touring w/EML GT-2000 sidecar rig, for you to learn on and be tested on...and if they say YES...make sure that they know that NO ONE ELSE in the class is going to be allowed to drive YOUR '95 BMW K1100LT Touring w/EML GT-2000 sidecar rig.
Do NOT volunteer or offer your rig to others to learn how to drive a sidecar rig. That is for the school to supply 3 wheeled vehicles for.
And yes, Neil @northwetneil, in Washington State you are required to have a 3 wheeled endorsement on your drivers license. The 2 wheeled motorcycle endorsement will not suffice to satisfy an LEO, if they stop you.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
So new to me rig is home. No drama in the 80 mile trip other than I trusted the fuel gauge. Molly (second owner,) thought I had enough gas to make the trip and it was fresh fuel last week. Ran out outside of Elma about 10-12 miles from home. Gauge was just touching red, should have been a 1/4 tank left. Silly me trusting a 29 year old gauge. Missus was following me in the truck so she went and got some fuel in yet another can can. (I usually have one in the truck for tools.) Make it home no worries. Many things feel like this was meant to be and felt like full circle. Their family lived out my way for several years and Molly got her Bike endorsement in Aberdeen. Today is her late husband's and Son in law's birthday. My late father in law's birthday is tomorrow. The bike came with a few books, 2 of them from late 80s and were from United Sidecar Association. There are some other weird synchronicity. Weird was originally defined as fate, as first description, in the 1938 Websters Dictionary. Anyway, looking forward to getting more familiar with this cool classic. The original owner clearly knew what he was doing when he set up this bike as new. a ton to learn but looking forward to it. Here's a pic or 2.
Yeah I had already decided if I am going to spend time doing the drills for my endorsement it would be smartest to do it on what I plan to live with. Thank you for the cautionary warning as it would be in my nature to help out by letting folks maybe use my rig, but the stingy biker in me was having issues with that beneficence. I had already completed some research about endorsements thus why I paid and took the written test to get a permit to drive the hack, not at night or with a passenger. Permit is good for 180 days. I can get some practice in and take the endorsement class.Just remembered you live in the land of Sidecar instructional schools. Just in case you want to meet up with fellow sidecarists for a day of good natured ribbing and fun.
An important note on taking a 3 wheeled certification class in Western Washington is...when I took that class more than 10 years ago, the sidecars they had available in the class were absolute garbage, and I mean that as nicely as I can say it. In real world terms, they were very old Honda 350's, and Kawi 350's, with 5 dollar sidecars attached to them, and extremely poorly put together. The only other 3 wheeler they had in the class, was a donated Can Am Spyder, that was maybe 2 years old. I opted to drive the Spyder as much as they would let me, but did have to drive the sidecar rigs (gulp) too.
My suggestion is...if you sign up for one of those classes, ask them in advance if you can bring your own '95 BMW K1100 LT Touring w/EML GT-2000 sidecar rig, for you to learn on and be tested on...and if they say YES...make sure that they know that NO ONE ELSE in the class is going to be allowed to drive YOUR '95 BMW K1100LT Touring w/EML GT-2000 sidecar rig.
Do NOT volunteer or offer your rig to others to learn how to drive a sidecar rig. That is for the school to supply 3 wheeled vehicles for.
And yes, Neil @northwetneil, in Washington State you are required to have a 3 wheeled endorsement on your drivers license. The 2 wheeled motorcycle endorsement will not suffice to satisfy an LEO, if they stop you.
Right On! Sounds pretty epic. Looks great! 👍
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Ok been looking it over getting familiar in-between honey dues. Very happy about the many thoughtful details and efforts made to make this awesome from the start. I have the radio info/security card and some BMW valve stem covers! There are some details and little issues like loose screws on custom Wind vane to try and cool my left leg. Not in the right place for my height so I'll remove it and rethink the idea. Tank and radiator do contribute to hot crotch. So I can see that the head steering bearing may need looked at I was advised that the car tires on the bike should be about 23-26 pounds and the chair at 12-13. These pressures numb my mind but I trust her for what she knows, folks got any info on this? I still need to read through the books. Truly getting slack jawed at how unique this rig is. There are little fixes like snaps for the nose bra need repaired, and many other little things, but I'm quite happy.
Neil, those air pressures you posted above are WRONG.
The Sidecar tire should be a minimum of 25 psi, or all the way up to 35 psi, depending on what tire, size, etc . There is no way on planet Earth that an experienced Sidecar pilot would run 12 to 13 psi in that Sidecar tire. Maybe she meant "bars", rather than psi.
Again, tire pressure in ANY tire is dependent on tire size, brand, model, age, and....where it is mounted on the Sidecar rig.
Example: on my '19 Honda Goldwing w/ Hannigan Dream Sidecar, I have 40 psi in the front tire, 38 psi in the rear tire, and 32 psi in the Sidecar tire.
All depending on brand, model, size, etc.
In my opinion, you "car tire" on the front of your rig, should be a minimum of 30 psi. The rear tire should be a minimum of 35 psi, and the Sidecar tire should be a minimum of 25 psi, and I would lean closer to 30 psi.
Too low of air pressure will make your rig handle like a 1959 Edsel, with original bias belt tires, that has been sitting in an old barn, dirt floor, and the tires are now square, due to sitting for 60 years.
First thing first, check the AGE of each tire. Check the DOT date code on each tire. If they are less than 5 years old, inflate that front tire to 35 psi, rear tire to 35 psi, and Sidecar tire to 30 psi..... then go drive it.
You should notice a huge difference in how it handles.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
I wonder if that was confused with bars, too. She had preset the tires before I picked it up. Just refilled them and they were super low. I have never driven an Edsel but it drove alot like Grandpas old New Yorker!Neil, those air pressures you posted above are WRONG.
The Sidecar tire should be a minimum of 25 psi, or all the way up to 35 psi, depending on what tire, size, etc . There is no way on planet Earth that an experienced Sidecar pilot would run 12 to 13 psi in that Sidecar tire. Maybe she meant "bars", rather than psi.
First thing first, check the AGE of each tire. Check the DOT date code on each tire. If they are less than 5 years old, inflate that front tire to 35 psi, rear tire to 35 psi, and Sidecar tire to 30 psi..... then go drive it.
You should notice a huge difference in how it handles.
Definitely much better. That was a long 85 miles. Only did a couple loops around the neighborhood but can see it's going to be much better. The bike tires are from 2011, the sidecar is 2021. They all look brand new and are 175 / 65R 14s, 82H. Also my odometer was right at 100 and I know it was an 85 mile trip so the miles are showing way over the probable 69k the bike has. No wonder I was wishing it was a 6 speed. It was showing a bit over 70 at 4000 rpm which was really barely 60 mph. Now the slightly shorter gearing is probably a good thing with this big rig and I'll be maintaining at the miles shown since it is working harder. . Rear at 35, front at 30 and side at 28 for now. Need to get a key made which may be interesting since I have only one and it's a weird old blank. The locksmith I'm working with may have a blank that will work. Will find out soon. Downloaded and printed the owners manual. A lot to get used to, but really stoked about it.
I looked at the rims closer again and realized they are stamped EML so not sure. With the type of construction they almost look heavy but not sure. May learn more when I start to carefully clean them up.Is the rear wheel from Stroker? if not, it looks nice and beefy. Leading links on the front will make it steer easier than any other modification.
EML are nice chairs from all accounts.
Neil.......oh, Neil.......
Those wheels are EML wheels, and NOT Stoker wheels, or Stroker wheels.
On the current tires, despite the 13 years old tires on the bike.....just use them, and use them up. Go through the training process, learn all the insider information, get used to your new sidecar rig....then.....next year buy new tires for the bike. That 3 year old sidecar tire is probably just fine.
Put the front tire at 35 psi also.....then keep both bike tires at 35 psi....on these 13 years old tires.
Use em up....and we can figure out correct tire pressures when you get new tires next year.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
It may need some work but the K1100 were the best engines IMO. I rode the '96 K11RSA for 10 years before selling it. No issues as long as it was maintained.
Great buy. Go for it.
Those wheels are EML wheels, and NOT Stoker wheels, or Stroker wheels.
On the current tires, despite the 13 years old tires on the bike.....just use them, and use them up. Go through the training process, learn all the insider information, get used to your new sidecar rig....then.....next year buy new tires for the bike. That 3 year old sidecar tire is probably just fine.
Put the front tire at 35 psi also.....then keep both bike tires at 35 psi....on these 13 years old tires.
Use em up....and we can figure out correct tire pressures when you get new tires next year.
Yes EML but I still wonder who they subcontracted. The whole bike and car was setup in LA before he brought it back home up here, from what she told me about the original owner. It is rare for companies to make their own rims in house, at least it was rare to the automotive world I worked in. So like BBS was the maker of BMW auto rims. The outer part where the bead sets appears to be steel, I'll be checking with a magnet to see if the other parts are Aluminum alloy. Custom rims were not my strong suit when in the auto business though my Lotus Europa had titanium and my RX7 race car had light 10.5 pound aluminum ones. Been busy clearing some more space in my garage and getting unpacked some more, we recently moved here so not completely moved in yet.
I totally agree about bringing the front tire up more and I am confident in the tires as they look very fresh. May have been new old stock. I'll keep an eye on them. I've been reviewing the owners manual at night and looking through the 3 wheel info. We've got some really nice weather so I plan to putt around on some errands nearby and get some more feel for it.
And all I have found on the K1100 agrees with you Kid Ordinn. Should be a solid rig. 
Congratulations on your new rig. Smart idea to pickup one that is already pretty well sorted out and learn from there!
WA has the goofy idea of "qualifying" you to drive it. I'm sure that is somewhat useful, but for what it is worth, the ride from WA to AZ taught me most of what I needed, when picking up my rig a couple of years ago.
Have no fear, only a healthy respect for the recommended speed limits on curves, (for awhile 🤣 🤣 🤣 !)
Left curves, weight transfers off the bike rear wheel, over to the hack. Right curves, weight transfers from the hack to the bike. Gets to be an entertaining dance, once you are used to it, have the sag set and any damping adjustments available dialed in. You will have a blast!
Well now that I have lined the state's pockets with a new fee, I have printed my temporary License. I get to do this all over again, after I complete the course, holy moly. Meanwhile I see that my steering damper is leaking and marking it's territory. Going to add some pressure to the front tire and go out for a short ride and top off the tank so I can see where the gauge moves to. Meanwhile we were at the beach and my fuzzy co-pilot enjoyed the beach sailing in my Blokart on his prototype "sidecar." I'll see if I can up load it. Going to have to see if I can get him to accept doggy goggles.
Yikes so I went to town but just missed the locksmith. 90 degree weather, vented jacket still pretty hot and the engine was baking me. Reminded me of my 1050 triple sprint, it cooked me in slow traffic too. Meanwhile the injection needs some love as I'm getting surging/coughing trying to hold a steady throttle at 3000-4000 rpm range. Topped off tank and stumbled home. Engine died while idling when I was lining it up for the garage and couldn't kick it over. Pushed it in and put a charger on the battery showed at 95%. So a few things to look over. I ordered some iridium plugs so will look at these and the wires to be sure that's not an issue. Fuel rail and injection were gone through but it was 2 years ago and she didn't ride much after that. So a little research and professional tune up is in it's near future. The tires are pretty grabby now, I expect this will be fun in the twisties once I get the weight in the chair and I get used to this beastie.
