Newbie Sidecar Questions

Hi Gary,

There are lots of folks who can probably answer your questions better than I can, but since that rig on E-Bay looks so much like mine, I couldn't resist a reply. My Wing is older, 1990 two tone pearl-white with a California Friendship II sidecar. Wings are great bikes, but I can't tell you if that is a good price, it seems high to me, but there are lots of things to consider. Anyway, if you check out all of the E-Bay photos, you will see that the sidecar does indeed have a seatbelt. Of course, I don't know anything about your financial situation, but that seems like an awful lot of money and bike for someone who only wants to putt around on back roads. We have friends who live in Evansville and I don't remember too many backroads when we've visited them, but if that's all that you intend to ride, it would seem like you could get by with a less expensive, less powerful bike.

If you've never driven a rig, I don't suggest that you buy one without the opportunity to try one out. They are definitely not everyone's cup of tea. The sidecar will most certainly lift under the right circumstances. It's best to take a class to learn how to handle a rig, but you can learn the hard way like I did. I don't recommend doing that, though!

Ha, ha - I am a grandma, good luck with driving like you're one if you buy that Wing!

Connie

HI;Was that guy trying to sell you a trike then??There are several places on here with books on riding S/C etc.As far as being dangerous I have heard of people killed on M/C too and even some in cars so I guess you always take your chances.I have a wing with a Chanpion 2 place and it has 2 seat belts in it.As far as lifting depends on the unit.I had a Guzzi with a Velorex car a very lite car and yes you could lift it on rt.turn but just learned it would do that they do often carry weight in car on lite ones.WOuld be hard to lift my wing with the heavy car.And yes they are steered instead of leaned but all simple things you can easily learn to do,Best in a big empty parking lot for beginning as there seem to be very little trainig avaiable for S/C.There are many jokes about the M/C rider who hops on a S/C and goes straight ahead at the first turn as he leans and the bike goes straight because he didn't steer the bars!DOn't panic,look and read everything you can find there is plenty of great info on this site.Good luck!!

I installed a standard lap belt in my Ural's sidecar and use it to secure my grandson's carseat. I could probably get by with just the seat belt (need to call the Highway Partol) but find that the taller back of the car seat helps support the weight of the helmet.

After a year or so of drooling over various rigs, I took a class (Adventure Sidecars) to (a) actually try riding one and (b) learn how to handle their very different handling characteristics. I came away with a much better idea of what I'd be getting into and feeling much more confident about handling one; 6 months later, I picked up my Ural and am happily gaining more experience with it.

Originally written by GaryB on 6/2/2008 1:24 AM

Hi: I've never driven a cycle with a sidecar before, although I have owned large and small cycles. I'm considering getting a cycle with sidecar so my wife and 4-yr old boy can go riding - nothing long distance, mostly just put-putting around on the rural roads.

Gary

best thing to do is have Mama belted in to the sc and holding the child on her lap,safe for both.
make sure the child also has some sort of head protection.
in a sudden stop or manuever she will be belted down and holding the child tightly.
If you ride alone with the child in the SC, then a car seat for the kid will be strapped in using the belt.

Kelly Blue Book says that a 1996 Goldwing SE would retail at $7,460. The Champion Escort would go at $1,265 for a 1996 or $3,600 or so if a 2007. The seller doesn't say what year the sidecar might be.

With those prices as a guideline, $10,000 would be a more reasonable price. Since his first bid request is $15,000 that is in effect a reserve, you would have to pay at least that much.

While the mileage is quite low, the motorcycle is a 1996. That's 12 years old. I'm quite familiar with Goldwings having owned one for 6 years in the early 1990s. Things do deteriorate and a low-mileage bike with that age almost guarantees that there will be cracked rubber goods and some leaks here and there. In particular, the tires would probably have to come off the minute you get it if they are original.

Since you are in Indiana, you would have to consider shipping the rig, a heavy cost issue.

The dealer to whom you spoke must either be trying to frighten off customers or is pushing trikes. Properly driven, a sidecar is very safe.

I'm not aware of any requirement for safety belts in a sidecar.

We recently had a sidecar mounted on my wife's Bonneville. Both of us had zerosidecar experience. I read all I could find on this forum and talked to several hack owners. I picked up the rig in Orlando and drove back to St Augustine - on I4 in rush hour traffic - after doing some practice in a parking lot. I did put five gallons of water in the hack for ballast. It is totally different than handling two wheels; but it is not difficult.As far as stability goes, yes the car can fly in right hand turns. A trike rig can also be unstable in turns. I have seen one flip on the Dragon. Riding a trike isalso different from riding tow wheels. It is learning and experience for either rig just as it is learning and experience to ride two wheels.

welcome Gary, I run a marauder with a cali 1 car , N. Falls Canada,...the high sides on the cali car are great for protecting my 6 year old, ( 3rd season) I placed her car seat in the hack and teathered her helmet( Hanns device) to keep her secure, when the rig tumbles down the highway, ...she'll be the safe one...that said, the skills to drive a rig are very different but not unlearnable,...the suspension action of the bike goes from front and back, to left and right, throwing a lot of people off as it is very unnerving as a 2 wheel pilot to feel that way. checking with the vets here, talking to installers or testing a rig in a closed area is a great place to start,....ride safe, crawf.

Hi Gary,

Another Gramma here--what is it with Gramma's and sidecars? I don't know about the Wing/chair combo---I have a 45 year old sidecar and a 31 year old XS650 Yamaha, but I just finished up a 1200 mile trip to Montana from over here north of Seattle, and had a ball! The turns going up and coming down from the passes in the mountains were fine--I just had to remember to slow down a bit on right-handers, and to be aware of cross-winds, just like on two wheels. This is my second sidecar, but my first longish trip with it, and I wouldn't go any other way! I carried plenty of clothes, tools, and a cooler with soda and food. The only downside I can see is that my shoulders get tired from the cross-winds, because you have to crab a tiny bit with the sidecar, but it was small price to pay. Another plus is having two taillights and stoplights on the highway---no small thing at night!

I used to pick my son up from grade school in my first sidecar--he loved it when I'd lift the wheel just going down the road to give him a thrill. So my suggestion: find a used chair for your bike, put some weight in it and get some miles under you. If you love it (and I bet you will) then you could look for a dedicated rig, and if not, sidecars are easy to sell.

I think you'd need to check where you live for child/passenger regulations. Here in Washington you need only a helmet for the passenger, but they must be at least 6 years of age. I'd suggest a seatbelt, even if you have to install one yourself.

At any rate, enjoy!

Barb,
As a former Washington sidecar dealer it's been my experience that the 6 year old rule is for motorcycle passengers riding astride the bike.
There is no specific age rule for enclosed sidecar passengers. Just a helmet.
I think they still have the law on the books that says: A helmet is not needed if the bike has a roll bar and the riders are using a safety belt.
I think the only things the Demo Legislature has upgraded is the licensing fees and endorsement costs. I believe their Motto is: "If it doesn't generate revenue, Fageddaboudit!"

Lonnie (Great Grampa)
Northwest Sidecars

Whoa Barb!
Check this out, more than once I've thought about a sidehack for this beastie. I bought it new in 1970 from Ray Garner Yamawhatsits in Portland. As I write this it's asleep under it's blanket in the garage... So tell me what you have tied onto your XS and maybe a little bit about the bike?
Best,
LL

Well that was silly, no pics available on this computer, I need to switch over to the Dell as my Mac is sans photos... duh.... sorry, I'll exit poste haste and have another go at it. Ardios....

Hi Larry,

Well, I have my XS650D 1977 Yam. I got her in February of 1978, and have 55,000 miles on her, still without an overbore! She currently has a 1975 tank and mufflers, and an aftermarket windshield and luggage rack. The chair is a "Mid-1960's" Spirit of America Sport Sidecar, also in quotes, since I was told that by the PO, and have no other source of identification---but it works, and the gold paint job matches the '75 XS tank. Pure luck and not good planning on my part.

The first sidecar I had for her was a homemade body on a converted dirt racer frame, and I took her up and down the west coast to visit my parents in San Diego. Ugly but cheap. This latest sidecar is much nicer looking, and tracks ever so much better! If I can find another one of the proper vintage, I have a newly acquired 1978 Triumph that is just begging for a sidecar to haul around....

Oh, and for some reason my computer wouldn't open the attachments....I take to computers like I take to electronic ignition----"not"!! I like points because I can understand them and watch them while they work....

Hi Barb,

Sounds like you had a fun ride. You should be able to open attached pics in this forum by simply clicking on the name of the file following the camera/photo icon.

Best,

Larry

nice bike larry,..having stuffed one into the side of a car 22 years ago,..I'd love to throw a leg over one again,..very clean, cheers

Hi Gary,
I am new to sidecar riding also, I just purshased my first rig in April. I found it in Union City, Indiana. It is a 1989 Honda Goldwing with a Motorvation Formula II sidecar, that the nose flips forward.
I needed something to ride my Mom with me, she is 82 and loves it!! I have ridden the Grandkids with me also (I am a Memaw), they love it too.
Prior to riding the sidecar rig, I rode two wheels and had test rode a couple of trikes. The sidecar is somewhat like the trikes, you steer instead of leaning.
I have been told by some people that they would not ride a a sidecar rig, it was dangerous. I am finding out that people are just as disrespectful of sidecar rigs as they are riding two wheels. Motorcycle riders are not given our fair share of the road, no matter how many wheels we have.
I do feel safe with the sidecar rig, it is more visible and larger, it is 7 1/2 feet wide and takes up as much room as a car. I do however watch all around, you can never be too careful.
I had tried a rig before I bought this one. I would like to pass on the favor. I am not too far from you (Owensboro, Ky), maybe sometime I could come to Evansville and we could meet in a parking lot and you could try the rig out. Bring your wife and son, the sidecar is a two seater and they both could ride.
As far as the price of the Ebay Goldwing at $15,000.00, I was blessed to find mine much cheaper. It does have over 100,000 miles on it, but I know it was well taken care of by the gentleman that rode it all over the country on the back roads going 45 MPH!! I hope Mom and I have as much fun and can travel some as he did.
Email me and let me know what you think about trying out a sidecar rig. Oh yeah, one good thing about the Goldwings is the reverse, I love it!! Don't know if I could handle the rig without it, it is quite heavy.
My youngest grandson is 6 and he has ridden in the sidecar and behind me, he loves to ride. So far I haven't had any problems here in Kentucky. He wears a helmet and the sidecar does have a seatbelt.
Don't give up, keep researching and you might try the Hack'd website that is where I found my rig. Also, inquire as to who built the rig, a professional shop or just an ad on.
Lonnie, could give you some help also, in fact he has a 1985 Honda Magna for sale.
Good luck!! Linda (Sidecar Memaw) & Myrtle (Sidecar Granny)