You know, I realized a long time ago that I mainly push/pull with my left hand when riding on two wheels... I wonder if this is what a motorcycle psychologist would call transference?
Joe- forgot to say I can't wait to hear about the ride home.
When the chair is in the air, this is called "reversionary" steering. You are reverting back to steering a single track vehicle. Just like a solo rig only a lot more lopsided.
Single track: push left to turn left, push right to turn right. Two or three track vehicle: Pull/turn laft, pull turn right. Just aim where ya wanna go.
IT'S HERE!!! Well, there actually. Goin' down to Aces & Eights tomorrow to get all the paperwork done. Car still has to be mounted so it'll probably be a few days until I can get it home, but I will definately share the details.
Lonnie, one question, just so I've got it straight in my head (not that I'm planning to fly the chair on my way home, but, you know, stuff happens). OK, so you're in a gradual RH turn, and the sidecar wheel lifts. Now assuming no obstructions, traffic etc., the goal (at least my goal) is to get the wheel back on the ground. I know you can ease on the front brake or come off the throttle slowly, but assuming you want to do this with steering only:
It would seem that if you tried the usual 2 wheel strategy to initiate a LH turn, ie. countersteer to right, the bike would lean more to the left and just make matters worse. If you countersteered to the left the bike should lean right, putting the wheel back down. This would be the normal reaction anyway I think, because the reflex would be to do the opposite of what you are currently doing. That is to say you've been turning the handlebars to the right. Bad stuff starts happening (wheel in the air) so you do the opposite (turn handlebars to the left) to make the bad stuff stop happening. I understand that if the goal is to actually DRIVE the rig with the wheel in the air, you have to start driving like a regular motorcycle with a wierd attitude, but if you just want to get the wheel back down wouldn't a gentle turn of the handlebars to the left accomplish this?
Joe
Hi,
I've been following this thread now with great interest. I live in Roanoke, VA and I've been trying to figure out a way to put a sidecar on my Honda Shadow 1100VT. I don't know of any dealers in VA, nor do I know of anyone locally that can install one if I have it shipped to them. I'm not against going to bordering states. And if anyone has any suggestions of a good inexpensive sidecar, I would be grateful. Thanks
Joe,
Wheel up in the right hand turn. Different ways to get it on the ground.
Back off on the throttle, Engage the clutch, tap the rear brake and WITH PRACTICE, Apply some throttle and the front brake simultaneously to keep the front suspension unloaded and high and let the car settle down. Straightening out the steering to settle the hack is fine if you are not in a tight traffic situation where it will put you in the oncoming traffic and in harms way. (Or off the cliff and in to the river).
You've got some time. Why not download Hal Kendall's book on Driving a Sidecar Outfit and study up? It's available on this site.
On the trip home with the new rig, put some ballast in the rear of the sidecar and obey the posted limits. Then get out the books and find a vacant lot and practice what is preached. A sidecar class is also an option.
Enjoy your new rig,
Lonnie
Hi Dooley,
I can't tell you anything about inexpensive sidecars, but I can tell you that there are dealers in VA. I live about an hours drive north of Roanoke and California Sidecar is about an hours drive east across the Blue Ridge from me in a little community called Colleen which is north of Lynchburg on Rt 29. They put a new frame under my sidecar and installed it for me in 2000. They're at most of the big rallies if you want to talk to one of their reps or ride over to Colleen for a visit. They're nice folks and it's a nice ride.
Connie
Thanks for the information, I will have to look them up, any excuse for a road trip is a good excuse.
Hello Everyone,
I'm new to this board and to sidecars in general. I've been riding motorcycles for only about 4 years and just couldn't resist getting a rig.
I recently puchased a HD Electra Glide Classic with a matching sidecar and all I can say is what a hoot!
Each time I ride it is like a day at the amusment park when I was 12 kissing the cute girl from math class; this is fun.
It also scarred the crap out of me the day I picked it up, hum, also like the girl, come to think of it.
I am still new enough to motorcycling in general that I didn't have to unlearn much, riding is still a conscious process for me.
I found that reading the yellow book, Hal Kendal's manual, practicing in a parking lot, adding some sand bags and above all keeping my speed down has made the learning process very enjoyable.
I've also put in quite a bit of time on some twisty and hilly roads. Nothing like a few sharp downhill left and right turns to get and keep my attention.
I've found it rather easy to pick up the car. First I simply did that. I squatted down and lifted it to get a sense of the bulk. Then I stood on the left floor board and held the hand grips and pulled it up with some effort. Then as suggested I rode in a decreasing radius right hand turn and until it lifted and lastly I used the quick turn right to lift the rig and then straigthen it out to keep it there. Not long mind you, just enough to feel what it is like.
The few times that I have felt the car unweight in a turn proved to me how valuable this exercise was. Rather than panic I rolled off the throttle a little and the car settled right down. I had a vetern tell me that rolling off the throttle won't always bring the car down, is this correct? It seems counter intuitive.
One of the charteristics of the rig that I hadn't read here (yet I'm sure) is how quickly they can stop. The TLE has it's own break and with all three wheels on dry pavement this thing can really come to stop quickly.
I'm planning on riding all year round, well mostly any way. Any tips for riding in the winter, other than not to?
Thanks for all of your postings. I've been reading them pretty regularly and they have really helped.
Anybody know of any training course in the North Conway N.H. area this summer. That's near Laconia for those not familier with the Live Free or Die state.
Thanks
DB,
Snowmobile suit, heavy waterproof boots, fleece neck wear, go to hippohands.com to keep your hands warm. Plug every hole you find. Don't bother looking now, but you'll sure feel every hole this winter! Thinner oil in the bike. Windshield w lowers. SHEEPSKIN SEAT PAD all year round. I like alaskaleather.com
Thanks for the tips Lonnie and DBrochu. The trip to the dealer was a disaster, but not for the reason you might think. The 2003 H-D touring models are under a recall for a defective main power relay, which can cut out for no good reason at any time. Although I've never had a problem with my '03 Ultra I've been trying to get a replacement for over a year with no luck. Seems about 2 million bikes need to be retrofitted and the supplier can only produce about 600 per week. Anyway, I'm zipping down I-75 for my 4:30 appointment at Aces & Eights to get all the paperwork done on the new rig and all of a sudden everything goes dead. I mean everything - engine, lights, instruments, radio, total silence. Luckily one of the service guys had told me what to expect if the relay pops so I didn't panic. Coasted over to the side of the road and stopped. As I'm trying to decide whether to call HOG roadside assistance (I think I'll upgrade to the premium package)the relay cycles back on (the guys told me it would reset in a couple of minutes). Okay, start 'er back up. Problem...lousy power and stalls at anything less than 2000 RPM -- seems no one ever mentioned that when this happens you have to actually turn the ignition switch completely off for a few minutes to allow the EFI computer to reset it's brain also. The rest of the trip down - which by now was in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic was an exercise in digital (the finger kind, not the computer kind) gymnastics trying to keep the throttle cracked while working the front brake and avoiding all those frustrated drivers who haven't yet had the common sense to ditch those 4-wheel gas hogs for a 2 or 3 wheel vehicle that actually makes going places fun - well, at least until today it did. So I get to the dealer and now I'm trying to decide do I go to the service dept. before it closes or to the sales guy to get my new outfit and who cares how long it takes to get the old one fixed. Trying to do the mature thing, me & the hog limp over to the service dept. Wait my turn. Explain the problem. Get a sympathetic look and a shake of the head. The first service opening is about 2 weeks down the road, but it really doesn't make any difference 'cause it'll take at least 2 months to get the part - maybe. For the first time, a teeny bit of panic sets in. Rush over to sales, trying to figure out how I can get insurance on the new rig since it's now after - well after - 5 o'clock. Find the sales guy. Sorry Joe, but you missed your appointment. Like to help you out, but the next customer is already here to pick up HIS new bike. But don't worry, the sidecar hasn't arrived yet, just the bike. We'll just do all the paperwork once the hack gets here (!&*$/%!!). OK, fine, I'll just come back - oh but wait - bike does't run. Gotta get home before I can get back. Now real dilemma. Call wife - honey, could you - uh - stop making dinner and drive down to Mason (about 45 minutes) to give me a ride home - seems there's a little problem...Respone - can't print it here. Dinner stops, wife leaves. Go to pull bike into service area to leave it and wadayaknow, starts right up. EFI computer now reset. Call wife to tell her to turn around, life's OK now. No answer. S**t! Forgot to charge her cell phone last night. 45 minutes later wife arrives - bike purring nicely - really not a pretty sight.
So anyway, we made it back home pretty much in the same condition we were in before - old bike running, new bike in Mason, and hack somewhere between Milwaukee and here.
Well, like Tom Hanks said in Apollo 13 "gentlemen, we have just had our glitch for this mission. Everything from here on should be smooth sailing".
I hope.
Joe
