New to Sidecars. Please help

Welcome to the slightly off-center world of sidecars Dino!

Some of the GL1800's have a frame recall. You may get Honda to fix it at no charge, here are the details: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM11655665/RCSB-05V027-3828.pdf

Check for all recalls by VIN number: http://powersports.honda.com/recalls.aspx
Forum discussions on GL1800 recalls: http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/2-goldwing-technical-forum/262001-gl1800-brakes-frame-recall.html

Hi Carmine,

Where in CT do you live? I live in Mystic and am always looking for someone to take a ride with on our sidecars

Don

As far as I know it use to be recall on 01-05 1800 frames. You can stop by at Honda dealership and ask them.
Most likely you asking about Frendship III California Side Car. I did see some 1800 with this sidecar.
Most likely it's coming off a 1995 GL1500 since Honda did not made 1500 in 1985. Old brackets will not work on 1800.
I think DMC sidecar makes correct mounts for 1800. Personally i like 1500 better for sidecar use. You can keep 1800
for 2 wheeling and pick up 1500 for not a lot of money (2-3k)for sidecar use. Then your mounts will work.

VLAD - 3/31/2017 9:42 AM

As far as I know it use to be recall on 01-05 1800 frames. You can stop by at Honda dealership and ask them.
Most likely you asking about Frendship III California Side Car. I did see some 1800 with this sidecar.
Most likely it's coming off a 1995 GL1500 since Honda did not made 1500 in 1985. Old brackets will not work on 1800.
I think DMC sidecar makes correct mounts for 1800. Personally i like 1500 better for sidecar use. You can keep 1800
for 2 wheeling and pick up 1500 for not a lot of money (2-3k)for sidecar use. Then your mounts will work.

Why is a 1500 better for Sidecar use than an 1800? I would think that the better brakes and FI alone would give the 1800 a leg up..

Steel frame is lot stronger for sidecar use. How do you figure out a better brakes on 1800? Saddlebags is bigger on 1500. Sitting position is better for bigger riders. I have 2 1500 and never had need for FI. Carburetors work just fine going from see level up to 13K feet.

Besides what the the ratings say I went from a 1500 to an 1800 and the brakes are better. Never said that carbs were bad but FI is better. I don't have to let my 1800 warm up with the choke on when it's cold out. I'll give you the seat, I never changed the seat on my 1500 and put 60K on it, 1800 got a Russell. Stronger frame? Can't argue knowledgeably on that one so I won't. Bags you are probably correct but I've never had to leave anything behind that I carried in my 1500.

I was kinda hoping for some driveability comments to see if I should leave the hack on the 1500 instead of moving it to the 1800..

We can provide the mounting hardware. The Alloy frame is not an issue, when Honda first came out with these bikes they did have some frame recalls. When we designed the mounts we researched where the frames were failing and made it a point to bridge every point such that if the Honda frame were to fail, the sidecar mounts would hold it together. We have been building these mounts since 2001 with no known issues at all with the mounts or the frames of the bikes. I put about 50K on a 2001 with a two seat sidecar using our mounts. Visually our mounts look like we simply welded onto the front crash bars, we did this so that you would not have to trim the fairing plastic. What we did is replace all of the hardware that the crash bars attach to under the plastic and then built new heaver walled crash bars. The rear does requires trimming the back of the triangular plastic part that goes around the passenger floor board other wise no other plastic trimming is needed.
The GL18000 is a fantastic sidecar bike, one nice thing about it is that you can run an automotive tire on the stock rim.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

Don,

I'm in New Britain, not that far. I don't have a sidecar yet. The one i was looking at was sold. I need to check on the frame recall and also check out the mounting info i got from "jaydmc" If you want to touch base call me at 860 816-9150

Thanks everyone for the advise and welcoming me. The sidecar I was looking at was sold, so still looking. I'll be checking out the frame issue with Honda and calling "jaydmc" for mounting info. I'm 52 and have been riding since I was 16 so I know I need to find someone that will let me tryout a sidecar first to make sure I really want one. Don let me know if you would think about it. I know it's a completely different way of riding and i've been reading up on it. We need something for when we go on vacation to be able to take the dogs. I've wanted one since i was 16.

Thanks again everyone

The Big Ragu

Why not take a sidecar trike class, bikes are provided http://evergreenmotorcycletraining.org/
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

Carmine,

The class is the best idea but... The USCA national rally is coming up pretty soon, this July. If nothing has come up before that, come over to Corning. NY for the rally. There will be a skills refresher taught by Claude Stanley on Friday. You'd need a rig to take the class but you'd learn a lot by watching and I'm pretty sure you could find someone to let you drive a rig. In fact, you could probably drive several to get an idea of what you like.

There will be several tech sessions. I'm planning to bring back a popular one from a few years ago, optimal weigh distribution, complete with a new set of electronic scales.

Hello Dino, I just joined the blog today and noticed you're in the market for a sidecar. I have the same California Side Car as VLAD mounted to an 2002 Victory Deluxe Touring Cruiser which I just listed on Craigslist Minneapolis last week. You can check it out there or I can send some picture files. It's a bit of a journey to come to Minnesota but it's an awesome rig. https://www.facebook.com/groups/406632662706660/permalink/1249231071780144/?sale_post_id=1249231071780144