this was my first long trip driving the rig; from Huntsville to below Houston by way of I-45, then back by way of hwy 146 through LaPorte, Baytown and on up to Livingston, then back to Huntsville.
i have read a few posts, amongst all the really helpful and much appreciated advice, stating that my tug (V-Star 650) is under-powered. i am sure that this is in some sense, and relatively speaking true. however... having decided that 65mph is a safe speed to drive a rig, i found myself getting caught up in the flow of traffic and looking down to see i am running 70. i climbed Shepherd Hill (I-45 south of Willis) with no trouble on the way down and the LaPorte Bridge on the way back. i never felt the need for more speed or power.
it isn't legal to cruise at 75mph on any of the roads i travel anyway, though it is legal to do so on some roads west of here i think.
i have also driven some on dirt roads in Walker and Trinity Counties, and found it very different from being on a solo bike. i am finding that i like the versatility of the side-car, and it is much easier to ride with a passenger in the car than it was behind me on the solo bike.
Sounds like you got a good shake down in. Sounds like you're also close enough to join us for the Houston Ride for Kids at the end of the month that helps kids with brain tumors. It's actually in Humble, so closer to you. Here's the info http://www.pbtfus.org/rideforkids/events/2011/houston.html Several of us are coming down from the D/FW area and I'm bringing my rig to help them with taking some of the kids who are patients on the ride. If you don't get much practice in between now and then, you might just want to ride in it rather than volunteer to take a child, but you'll have some fun, see some other hacks, meet some great kids and the lunch with them is worth the price of admission. Look me up when you get there. I'll be the one with the all black outfit on a Honda Valkyrie. Hope to see you there.
Gary
Good to hear you are adapting the the rig. As for as power, your V-Star 650 should have similar power to our rigs. We haven't encountered a situation where we really needed more power; not to say the more power would not be appreciated. That being said, I've found I'm not comfortable handling my Sportster rig above 65mph.
Drive careful. We're attempting to work the Houston Ride for Kids into our schedule, and we hope to see y'all in Rusk next month.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
Congratulations, glad to have another TX hack operator on the road. Be careful out there.
I am also happy with 65MPH and the rig will just get there comfortably. I'm also getting used to the sidecar since last year. It's actually becoming more fun than I thought!
The Houston Ride for Kids is a great ride. I did the last two years and I'll be there this year. It's a great feeling to see the smiles on the kids faces while they're riding in the sidecar. Last year I rode with a boy and his little sister who was a brain tumor patient. She had to make a potty stop 15 minutes from the end... I felt so sorry for her.
It's an easy ride so get a little practice and come on down.
Terry
98 Harley ElectraGlide with 08 Harley TLE
thanks for the in-put. i have found a place to practice; a church parking lot. several acres paved and level. i can get the car up and keep it up a ways, but i feel i need to get some cones or buckets or something to define...staying in my lane. in other words having more control. flying the chair the little that i have makes me less afraid and so less likely to panic, but now i'm going to work on those hard right turns i might someday and for some un-known reason be forced to make. step-by-step, taking my time, having fun.
i hope to make the ride for the kids, i probably won't make the pie run with TWT the day before, too far apart in miles and close together in time. right now we are getting things together to go to Biker's Park this weekend for the Biker's for Biker's rally there. we will camp out there; a new experience.
you guys take care.
Hi Jeri. Sounds like you are taking to hacking just fine. Glad I could steer you to the little hack. See you this weekend at Bikers for Bikers. J.R.
thanks J.R. i so much appreciate you telling me about it; it is a perfect first hack, i think it is the right size/weight for the 650 Yamaha. Karen will come to Biker's Park with Tommy and Judy on friday morning and i will come after work on friday. we'll see you then.
Congratulations on winning in the bike show at Bikers for Bikers. Lot of good looking trikes that got beat out. J.R.
J.R. - 4/18/2011 9:07 AM
Congratulations on winning in the bike show at Bikers for Bikers. Lot of good looking trikes that got beat out. J.R.
+1
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
thank you. i had a great time, met a lot of great folks and saw some good friends, and the trophy is something i am very proud of. to put the hack together i took a lot of good advice and suggestions and worked hard. i appreciate that the judges recognized this and honored me with this award.
i look forward to meeting some friends at the ride for the children.
Winning a show like that right out of the box is sure a good way to get hooked on sidecars, especially when you couple it with how much fun you have driving them. Congratulations on the big win!
