I just had installed on my 2003 Road King a 2003 Ultra Side Car. Being new to sidecars I found that the handling was not as "natural" as I originally thought. If anyone has any suggestions for learning how to handle the bike or any other suggestions I would appreciate it.
You now have an asymetrical vehicle with a slave wheel on the right side. When you accellerate it will lag back pulling to the right. This is easily controlled by keeping both hands on the bars and a slight push to the left. When slowing the car will push to the left, also easily controlled. Put some ballast weight in the trunk (at least till you are used to the sidecar) to help keep all three wheels on the ground during a right turn. A sharp turn will cause the sidecar wheel to lift off the ground and may prove quite entertaining.
There is info here on this site that can be downloaded on how to operate a sidecar rig. Read the book and practice what you have read. Then practice some more till you are familiar with the rig and it's idiosyncracies. (No "hands off" driving.)
If you find the steering is too hard for comfort there are vendors here that offer steering modification that reduce trail and make steering quite easy.
Lonnie
How do you think Popeye really got his big arms? He was probably a sidecar pilot after he got rid of his motorcycle. 🙂
