Side Car Questions

I have virtually the same bike (an 1100 ACE Tourer) and am planning to put a URAL chair on it based on styling compatibility and comfort for my wife. She likes the access in and out of the chair and the fact that the seat in a URAL sits higher than most any other chair we've tried. My wife has been test sitting chairs since before we bought this bike to find the one she likes best. (neither of our current sidecars is very comfortable for longer rides)

That is my recommendation. Meet with some local sidecarists (we have members in the Roanoke area) and have the missus test sit some chairs. Wouldn't hurt you to try out the sideseat since you might find Mrs. Dooley deciding she wants to drive.

Your bike should be able to handle nearly any sidecar available today. A brake on the sidecar is generally a personal preference thing and dampers are an as needed item. Jay or Lonnie will be better able to address that question as well as mounting questions.

As I recall VIrginia does have a sidecar safety course available in the Roanoke area. This should be one of the first stops in your sidecar journey!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dooley,
All the MFGs products you mention are compatable with yourShadow. It's a matter of personal preference in fit and style from there on. Bob has it right about letting Mum pick the most comfortable. The three all have different styling so that's a matter of what looks good in your eyes. The 562C Velorex has a locking trunk a 20" comfortable seat and is well accessorized, has a mounting system included and classic styling. The 700C has a swing open entry and locking trunk. The 565 Tour has a swing open entry and locking trunk. The URAL is very easy to get in and out of. It has a 17" wide seat, a latching outside trunk lid, few accessories and no top, it is all steel and fits only /2 BMWs or M72 clones without an extra mounting system. I haven't seen the new Kenna doublewide but the single passenger ones were art deco in appearance and somewhat bulky in my opinion, quite roomy and I don't know what is included accessory wise in the purchase, or if the new models include a trunk.

try to come to RON DEE VOO the 1st weekend in august. Union county sportsman club Wiekert PA. cLAUDE give him the details...........fly

We have a Yamaha Vstar 1100 Custom, very comparable to your bike. We installed a Velorex 562 on it and it has been great. The sidecar is light enough where you can have the brakes on the sidecar usable or not, although I recommend that you use them. (I slid once when I got caught in a rain storm, felt like the sidecar wanted to keep going, LOL). I hooked up the brakes, and have had no problems since then. If you are handy, installation is fairly easy, and www.warkshop.com has complete instructions, to include photos of installing it. Give Bob Wark a call too, he makes some fairly inexpensive parts that make installation easier and more compatible with different bikes. He also has very reasonable prices on his sidecars. I do not work for him, I just had a very good experience dealing with him, buying parts, over the phone, etc.

Pictures of the completed setup are here:
http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=163

I have since added many things, IE: leather cupholders, butterfly vents for more airflow in sidecar, etc.

Good Luck and God Bless,

Tim and Tanya
Christian Motorcyclist Association
Motorcycle Rider Volunteer Network
American Bikers Active Toward Education
United Side Car Association

Thanks for all of your input. I've spent countless hours on the net researching and trying to learn from sidecar owners. I spoke with a guy on a Harley w/sidecar at a gas station. I was hoping for some insight to see how he liked it, suggestions, etc. Well he looked at my bike and told me you can only put a sidecar on Harleys. Hondas aren't good for long distance or pulling a sidecar, they don't have enough power. I thought about disagreeing with him, and then realized it wasn't worth it. Anyway thanks for the information. There aren't many dealers in VA or my surrounding states, so it looks like I'll be internet shopping. That brings in mind a question, Why are there so many more shops, dealers, etc, in the midwest? I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks again.

cHRIS,
Just a thought but you are only a little over 350 miles from where the ISOK Sudecar RON DEE VOO will take place in central Pa.. Come on up and join us as there will be a wide variety of sidecars there for sure. Be sure to bring your wife so she can test sit some of them 🙂
For more details on this event and directions go back to the 'forums' page here and click on 'Other Events and Rallys '. I had posted details yesterday but someone else posted since then so it is no longer visable unless you click on 'Other Events and Rallys '.
The USCA is a sponsor of this event.

OR TRY CLICKING HERE IT MAY WORK:
http://tinyurl.com/a4pqr

We've all encountered the "only on a Harley" mindset. Before I bought my Valkyrie, I stopped in at the local HarleyKawasaki Dealer in Eau Claire. I liked the looks of the 1500 Drifter, and thought it would be a good match for my Dnepr sidecar. The dealer told me that the smallest Harley made had more then twice the horsepower and torque of any Japanese motorcycle on the market, including the ones he sold. 🙂 I laughed all the way to the Honda shop.

LOL....
>>The dealer told me that the smallest Harley made had more then twice the horsepower and torque of any Japanese motorcycle on the market, including the ones he sold. :)<<<

And should we know the name of this dealer so we can avoid his place...or will looking for the parked space ship be sufficient?

Sport Motors on Hwy 53. This is the same shop that tried to say that the run flat tires that have become so popular lately are maid for meter maid vehicles and should not be used at highway speeds. In defense of the shop, I've been told the original owner retired 4 or 5 years ago. Maybe these guys are just learning. In the mean time, the shop in Black River Falls is much more knowledgeable and sidecar friendly, as is the HD/Ural dealer in New Richmond.

Dooley,
Just remember, if you do find a sidecar for your Honda, that the only way you can haul it home is with a "FORD Harley Davidson Special" pickup. No other pickups are strong enough or have enough panache to do the job because they aren't built "FORD" Tough!!!!! If they ain't got the Bling, then they can't do the thing.
But then maybe they're only allowed to haul Harley sidecars (or profilers).
All seriousness aside, I don't think a sidecar will fit in the Honda pickup unless you stand it on end. The sidecar, I mean.

Good luck with your quest,

Lonnie

Wish I still had my 61 panhead police bike. That thing was faster than any of the hyabusa's on the road today.
Hand shifters forever
Claude , who thought that spark advance on the left bar was a lot of fun too when you asked other to try starting it for ya..LOL.

Claude,
My '50 Pan had a coil spring connected to the distributor. I'd stretch it out to retard the spark, Kick start it and then I had "Automatic Advance" when it was running and relaxed the spring. None of that "old fashioned" twisting the grip stuff for me.
I still always kept my knee bent while kicking just in case I forgot to hand retard the spark. That FL could throw ya over the bars with a stiff knee and no retard if it didn't start.
Don't miss it a bit. I'd much rather have a callous on my thumb.
Heh,Heh,

Lonnie

Tell ya the truth.. I really don't miss kicking over those old machines myself. Rememebr making fun of those 'sissy' push buttons years ago but now have accepted the fact that they are a great way to go. I guess we can let th egoo dold day sbe th egood old days and be content. I can still rememebr kicking over that old goldstar when it stalled in traffic in 100 degree weather with cars backed up behind honking the horn...real bikers were sweaty and greasy I gueSs but times have changed...not really for the worse either in many ways.
I wil shut up now...LOL.

Just for shits and giggles, but the facts speak for themselves. The fastest and strongest machine out there, was a goldwing, GL1500, stripped down to bare essentials. It outran all other machines 2 years ago at the AMA annual trials, where ALL brands were represented. This kinda reminds me of a joke. What does a Harley and a hounddog have in common?......they both piddle where they sit, and both like to ride in the back of a pickup.

Tim