My wife and I flew to Nashville TN on Monday, got a ride to Hannigan Motorsports in Murray KY on Tuesday and picked up our rig - we had an Astro GT sidecar added to our 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1700. Rode it back to Nashville Tuesday, Macon GA Wednesday, Orlando Thursday and home to Wellington FL on Friday. The only one in the world like it so far - our bike was the first of the Kawasaki 1700's that they added a sidecar to. We can't believe the attention that this thing is drawing!
That looks great. They do really nice work. I bet it handles nice too. My current rig was setup by them and I love the way it drives.
Wish I would have know as I live in Macon and we could have had coffee or something! Nice rig! Is this your first rig?
46u - 5/1/2010 6:39 PM
Wish I would have know as I live in Macon and we could have had coffee or something! Nice rig! Is this your first rig?
Yes, it is our very first. I read a LOT about riding and handling before we picked it up, then got an extensive lecture and lesson from Dave Hannigan before he turned us loose. I actually had much less trouble adapting to the handling characteristics than I imagined I would. I managed to keep it on the road and not do anything stupid for 1,000 miles on the way home. The biggest issue I had for the first hour or so was not staying far enough to the left in the lane. My bride kept telling at me to move over. They did not have a Steer-Lite kit available for this bike so the steering is a bit heavy. The car has electric camber control (used to lift and lower the car) and I cannot imagine driving it without this feature. I adjusted the car up and down constantly to adjust for both the camber in the road and taking pressure of the bars in right and left turns. We would not have been good company the night we stopped in Macon - we were beat after driving all day, including passing Atlanta at rush hour. My wife is in love with the comfort and convenience of the sidecar - she spent her time reading, doing crossword puzzles, filing her nails, etc. etc.
Once you get use to it how many miles a day to you think you will be able to do? Yes I am doing all the reading I can before I install mine not only about driving one but all so setting it up. I wish I could afford to paint mine the color of my bike but black goes fine with red.
46u - 5/1/2010 7:53 PM
Once you get use to it how many miles a day to you think you will be able to do? Yes I am doing all the reading I can before I install mine not only about driving one but all so setting it up. I wish I could afford to paint mine the color of my bike but black goes fine with red.
We did 400 miles on Thursday, and that is all my butt can take anyway. We don't plan on much long-distance traveling, and I wouldn't think about doing any more than that under any circumstances in the future.
I have not rode much in past 5 years do to things beyond my control but when I do ride I do many 800 to 900 mile days. I have to be able to do at least 7 or 8 hundred a day. When I rode to Alaska did over 10,000 in just a little over 4 weeks.
I haven't seen a bunch of 800-900 mile per day sidecarists. Or solo riders as far as that's concerned. 10,000 miles in 30 days equals 333.33 miles a day. That's a nice liesurely pace for a hacker.
Most of the hackers I'm familiar with like to take the back roads, smell the roses and stop and take lots of pictures.
When much younger getting from point A to point B seemed really important but as the years passed and I went over the same roads, I found that I'd missed a lot things in life and found that riding the Byways, enjoying the sights and sounds around me and meeting new people were much more important than the destination. Many times we don't even get to our planned destination having found better routes and places by talking with the locals we meet in out of the way settings.
Lonnie
Old Fart
Hack'n - 5/2/2010 7:25 AM
I haven't seen a bunch of 800-900 mile per day sidecarists. Or solo riders as far as that's concerned. 10,000 miles in 30 days equals 333.33 miles a day. That's a nice liesurely pace for a hacker.
Most of the hackers I'm familiar with like to take the back roads, smell the roses and stop and take lots of pictures.
When much younger getting from point A to point B seemed really important but as the years passed and I went over the same roads, I found that I'd missed a lot things in life and found that riding the Byways, enjoying the sights and sounds around me and meeting new people were much more important than the destination. Many times we don't even get to our planned destination having found better routes and places by talking with the locals we meet in out of the way settings.Lonnie
Old Fart
Yes Lonnie, my thoughts exactly! That is what makes sidecar riding so wonderful !
Last ride with my lovely wife - fall 2009
SIGI
Congratulation Roger !
Your rig looks really great. I`m sure you`ll enjoy and love it. We wish you always happy and safety rides. Take care.
Greetings from the other side of the pond.
NANNY & SIGI from Germany
Hack'n - 5/2/2010 1:25 AM
10,000 miles in 30 days equals 333.33 miles a day. That's a nice liesurely pace for a hacker.
Being we stayed in some places 2 or 3 days that is only a average per day not showing the long days on nothing but being on the road and is not really a good comparison. If you have ever done the Alaska Highway you know that your average per day goes down do to the road, herds of animals in the middle of the road, road construction as well as the site seeing. 😉
Ok Roger!
I ride from Freeport FL to Delray FL, about 700 miles in one day, now that my sister has moves to Boca Raton it will be a good 700 mil. Good luck and I will see you in the next few weeks. Bill 🙂
Super rigs guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What sort of gas mileage do you get?
46u - 5/2/2010 2:53 PM
Super rigs guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What sort of gas mileage do you get?
I got 30 mpg running 60 to 65 mph on the freeway this past week. I just filled up today and will drive back and forth to work this week so I'll check again later in the week. I was getting 36-37 mpg.
I have not checked my millage lately but I was getting 32 to 36 with rig
