I just bought a 97 Harley FLSTN with a Liberty sidecar -
- looking for any sidecar contacts in the Sacramento/ El Dorado Hills Area
i.e. service shops -- driving tips---
I have read all the books - (which Arnold forgot to read) and I am looking forward to my "learning curve" on this rig...as I trade 2 wheels for 3 ..
my "verticaly challenged" wife plans to also give it a try - so she can vacate the back seat of my Excelsior-Henderson her first stop wil be a new rider course to get an M1 classification.. unlike Arnold ..
John El Dorado Hills CA
my email is rrw76@aol .com
Hope for your (and her) sake the rig has Pete's raked triple trees for easy steering.
I have been under the assumption that the State of California does not require a special motorcycle endorsement for driving a three wheeled vehicle. A drivers license is sufficient. Is there a new law on the books, or am I mistaken?
If not required, why would "The Terminator" necessarily need one?
Lonnie
yes Pete set the rig up perfect with Liberty raked trees ...the only thing it does not have is reverse and a "skilled" driver "yet" ...
so far there is a loop hole on the California license for 3 wheelers...so you can get by with a reg license ...
it's insured as a motorcycle and Allstate wants a motorcycle drivers license for all drivers... to have coverage on it ... not wanting to take a chance she's getting an M1 classification on her CA license -- Arnold used the loop hole to get by without a ticket -- and if he had a major loss the insurance could of wiggled out of coverage .... but having deep pockets he did not have to use any insutance coverage I am sure ...
have you noted that no pics of Arnolds side car turned up on the web -- I read somewhere it is a camo color...
Not all companys require M1, mine doe's not. It is Markel American Ins.
Ron in Co
USCA State Rep
I'd check with your company claims adjuster -- I find agents will say anything to sell a policy ...
Congratulations John, and welcome to the sidecar world. I am glad that you have had a chance to do your reading homework, so you are aware that piloting a side is different then the solo rig... While it is true that one does not need a M1 license in CA to drive a rig, I think that it is an excellent idea that your wife is taking the MSF class. While the class will not teacher her how to manipulate the rig, it will teach her other skills that all motorcyclists should be aware of, i.e. the simple rules of search, identify., predict , determine, and execute. It will teach her what to look for, and so many other concepts that one needs to survive in a world of four wheels. As you probably have read, beginners with little motorcycle riding experience have no trouble remembering that you don't lean to make corners. :-0. Anyway, congratulations to both you and your wife.
As to your question re: riders in your area.. There is going to be a sidecar rally at Lake Berryessa May 20th. Contact: Don Van Zandt about the rally. I believe he also knows other riders in your area. . I think his address is still listed at the USCA WEST website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USCAWest/ and may also be in the calendar section at this site. The WEST site also has information re: sidecar training classes offered by Vernon Wade in OR.
If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me. Gail, Cal Rep USCA
p.s. Hope to meet you and your vertically challenged wife... I can relate to her! Ride safe, gp 🙂
Gail
thanks for the info ---I am learning so much -- went to the group and got the info
The Northern California Sidecar Club ( NCSC ) is hosting their
third NCSC Picnic/Rally at Oak Shores Park (Acorn Beach) on the shore of Lake
Berryessa, Calif. on May 20, 2006.
we will try to be there--look for a green & silver HD & sidecar- with "Woozy Moose" painted on the side
it's only about an hour from here - we live right next to Folsom Lake .. overlooking Folsom Prison
after 43 years of playing mostly with classic cars and hot rods ... this sidecar thing looks really exciting--plus we have a Boxer who loves to ride around in our 1940 Merc with the top down, she now fills the sidecar very nicely ...wearing her "Doggle goggles "
With a sidecar named Woozy Moose, and a Boxer with Doggles, you will be right at home with us sidecarists. I hope that one of these days, you get a chance to attend a rally, and meet Tom Reardan, and his boxer, Archie. (Archie wears doggles too) ... We sidecarists are so friendly, we even try to find friends for the dogs! 🙂
Unfortunately, I will not be attending the Lake Berryessa rally, as I will be in the process of returning from the 2nd Annual Butterfly Rally. It is a Rolling Rally, starting in Roswell, NM. .-- Maybe I'll make Berryessa next year, as there is some great riding country up that way, and I love meeting other sidcarists.
I hope you can attend the rally. I am sure you will have a great time. Take lots of pictures, and write an article for *The Sidecarist* - share the experience with the rest of us. In the meantime, have a super time learning the Art of Sidecaring ... Ride safe, gail
There is no new law - there is an OLD agreement between the CHP, the DMV, and CAL-TRANS - that as long as you have a car license you can drive a motorcycle with a sidecar in CA. That agreement is STILL in effect. Just checked with the DMV in CA.
No - the Gov did not need a M/C license. He was LEGAL!
The elite liberal press hate the Gov and want to stir up political garbage just kept at it because - occasionally, the Gov would ride his bike SOLO and then he would NEED his M/C license - but he was not stopped or caught then. So they were pissed off.
However, I also talked to the Gov's office. He will be getting his M/C license - some day - for WHEN he will drive his H-D solo!
And how many hundreds of times have you ran a yellow light (a technical violation) or exceeded the speed limit or forgot to give a turn signal and NOT turned yourself in?
Give poor Arnie a break.
