Often times when we hear negativity about sidecars it is that the people did not learn to ride the sidecar however often it is also that the sidecar is either a miss match for the bike strength and weight wise (this would not be the case with your bike and sidecar) and often it is due to the sidecar being mounting poorly. If the sidecar is not mounted correctly it will never work correctly. "Universal" type mounts seldom work. Home made mounts can work fine or depending on the skill level of the person making them can be down right dangerous. Years ago I saw a BMW that had been mounted using steel from a bed frame! We can provide bike side mounting hardware however the bits and pieces for between the bike and the sidecar are not so easy as Watsonian uses an odd mounting system and odd bolts (when was the last time you saw 3/4 20TPI ?) When we do these in house we start with our bike side mounts, put the sidecar next to the bike and work out what we need to make the connection.
We also offer triple tree's to lower the steering effort with the sidecar.
Let me know if we can be of any help.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcidecars.com
866-638-1793
Blueeyedmichael - 6/3/2017 10:32 PM
I have been tokd Honda added a gear in '83 .. does yours idle know nda high in 4th with the sidecar? I was thinking it might make no difference given the added weight to pull ..
I think the changed the gear ratios in '83, they didn't add a 6th gear. Honestly, I can't tell you if the '82 or '83 ratios are more or less rig-friendly. I can tell you that I don't do many highway miles so rarely make it up to 5th gear anyway. Pulls like a freight train in gears 1-4 and glad to know that 5th is there if I need it.
Good point, Jay. I'm sure the overall design, setup and quality of the rig is a big factor in how easy (and safely) it is to ride, although I have only ever owned one rig. Fortunately for me my rig is a good one -- you built it for the original owner. My rig steers and trails beautifully, and I have experienced none of the problems that can occur with sidecars.
Hey Mike you have absolutely come to the best place in the world to ask questions about sidecars, sidecars aren't for everyone but they are fun to drive if its what you want to do. Most times the people I have found to talk negative about them were the folks who knew everything , done everything and mounted the sidecar themselves with little advice from someone with experience. What happened was they didn't have the setup right and either fought the bike to drive it or almost wrecked because of not understanding how it worked. Not making assumptions but at your age you would seem to be some one to take your time and learn to drive one of these things. I have a small Velorex on my Sportster and have been running it for 6 years now and love it . Last month I bought a California Friendship II for my wifes 1995 Ultra Classic and will be mounting it in the next couple of weeks
Doug is right! If there is anything we sidecarists is good at it is free advice. That being said most of these guys have been around for a while and know a lot from experience. I mounted my first sidecar. I struggled with the handling. after 20+ years and 65K+ miles riding rigs set up by pros I can say that it is good to pay someone to do it right or have someone helping you that has done it right.
Hang in there. It is a great adventure and a great bunch of people.
Free advice sometimes cost a lot. Ask 50 riders a question and you might get 48 different answers. None actually wrong,they fit the one giving the advice. May not fit you exactly. You have to sort through it. Sidecars are a lot of fun. People can't use the excuse I didn't see you. May run over you looking at your rig.
J.R.
USCA sec.
Tex. rep
