Shipping a Sidecar Rig to Europe

Evening Miles

Safe trip old chap. Looking forward to my new ride and new experiences that will go with it =)

Earl Grey and Honey will be waiting along with yes you've guessed it Stroop Waffles.

See you soon 

Steve and Cyrus

Our flight is over Kansas right now.... just open the plane door and let me out....at 30,000 feet.

I can find my way to Buffalo....if I survive the hard landing.

Picked it up this morning in Orlando.

Right now in Tallahassee for the night. 

What kind of people live in a state where it's 85 degrees in January  ?

Only a sub 300 miles day, but sweaty non the less.

Will take Road Ready pictures tomorrow morning,  with the windshield installed,  and most of the "masking tape" removed.

NOTE:  When I shipped this rig TO Germany,  I  intentionally wrapped any contact points with BLUE painters tape,  to protect any "rub spots", and that Blue painters tape came off very easily. 

Because we decided to ship this rig back to the USA much sooner than anticipated....I  didn't have,  and couldn't find any Blue painters tape, so....foolishly....I found and used some generic "masking tape."

Well, that was a mistake. 

About 90 % of this "masking tape " basically melted to the bike and sidecar bodies, so I have the unenviable task of peeling itsy bitsy pieces of tape, so far about 1,000 pieces of tape shreds, then cleaning up the glue residue. 

It's all coming off....thankfully I have a full can of WD-40, so that dissolves the glue residue quickly.

Before I arrive in Buffalo,  Kansas....the entire sidecar rig will be clean, shiny, and tape free.

NOTE: Being the frank and forthright guy I am, I will not shy away from acknowledging when a problem arises, even on a Honda Goldwing. 

Bike started perfectly in the warehouse.....did the windshield installation,  packed things for the road trip....and started off.....when suddenly I see that none of my instrument causes are working.  They were working on start up in the warehouse,  but now that I am on the road....no instruments working, no aux. driving lights,  etc.

Bike runs fine, but....

I drive it about 30 miles up the Florida Turnpike,  to the first Service Plaza on the Turnpike,  and park in the shade.....85 degrees out.

First things first.....get off the bike and do a walk around to see if someone might have put a BMW or H-D sticker on the bike,  as those brands are prone to have these issues.

Next, pull the left sidecover, open the fuse panel, pull the  20 Amp fuse for the instruments gauges....find that it's blown....installed a new 20 Amp fuse, reinstall left sidecover....confirm everything works correctly again.....go inside to buy a Stromboli and  RedBull.

The next 250+ miles were without incident....except the 85 degrees temperature. 

I'll just plant this right here....waiting for pictures tomorrow morning,  before I take off on a....580 miles drive....through 4 states.

Tallahassee. Florida to McGehee,  Arkansas..

If you'd started in Key West, you could have picked up Steve and Cyrus, and headed to Alaska.  Maybe set an IBA record for the three youngest to make the trek.  

Glad to see all is going swell, and sweltering. 

Today's Sidecar drive....593 miles in exactly 10 hours, and that time includes the 5 fuel stops.

Fuel stop in F L O R I D A

Fuel stop in Alabama 

Fuel stop in Missi-ssi-ssi-ssi-ssi-ppi

Fuel stop in Ark...

That really long spelling of Mississippi is because there were 2 fuel stops there.

And, for the buyer of this 2015 Honda Goldwing Sidecar rig.... you already own a 1995 Goldwing, so you know it was the 20th Anniversary year. This 2015 Goldwing is the 40th Anniversary year, so....look at the Honda 40 years Anniversary badges on the bike...AND on the Sidecar.

Nicely done Miles

I hope the old bones are not giving you too much grief. Just under 60 average speed good going with stops, what kind of MPG are you getting? 

Its dump the pump day tomorrow but all is going well, nothing unexpected.

Steve And Cy

My butt is numb just thinking about it...  Safe travels

Posted by: @none

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Nicely done Miles

I hope the old bones are not giving you too much grief. Just under 60 average speed good going with stops, what kind of MPG are you getting? 

Its dump the pump day tomorrow but all is going well, nothing unexpected.

Steve And Cy

Steve, one one tank full I got 32 mpg.

That's not usually what I get when in "Miles mode"....which is usually between 27 to 30 mpg.

But I was thinking....how would  Saint Ives drive this rig ? Frankly,  I  believe that you will average 33.5 mpg.

BTW, that 59.3 mph average included 5 fuel stops.

QUIZ TIME: Do any of you know how to properly calculate driving speed, knowing that the distance covered was 593 miles, and Start to  Finish was exactly 10 hours, but within that time period was 5 fuel stops, so....what was the actual driving speed....to end up with 593 miles in 10 hours....and accounting for 5 fuel stops ????

If anyone gets the correct answer, you win a life-size STROOPWAFFLE.

Hint: the correct answer is NOT 59.3 mph driving speed. 

Na i would be a bit quicker than that for sure, and yes i would be enjoying the heck out of a Miles Ladue reworked rig=)  i suspect you were averaging around 79.3

Tomorrow's ride will be a more reasonable 468 miles, anticipated to take 7 hours, which means....with 3 stops along the way, it will take me closer to 8 hours.

McGehee,  Arkansas to Chanute,  Kansas.

Posted by: @none

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Na i would be a bit quicker than that for sure, and yes i would be enjoying the heck out of a Miles Ladue reworked rig=)  i suspect you were averaging around 79.3

You, young Englishman, do NOT win the life-size STROOPWAFFLE. 

And, there really is a mathematical formula for calculating this. 

Ia m sure there is a formula and at one time i would have known it. But lets say  your stops were 20min nor the 30 i had originally thought then 69.74 may well be closer to the truth. Enjoy your evening and who knows you may even get a decent sleep =)

I just like to know your average speed over the posted speed limit.