Red,
I am going to call Spalding today and see about checking a bike out that has his car mounted. I do know he has one he personally, so maybe he would be willing to let me take it around the block, I don't know. I checked out Champion cars as well, they don't open near as far as the Spalding does, but the other options are not available on the Spalding, this is becomming very confusing, but I'll keep plugging away till I find all ther answers!!
Jim
I'd be surprised if he actually let you test ride it, but if he has one available he should let you give it a close look over and perhaps give you a ride to see how it works...
I don't know anything about Spalding sidecars. I'm sure they are fine. With a Heritage, a good bet would be a Liberty sidecar. They fit well on the Heritage Softail without any welding. They are very easy to talk to as well.
The vintage repro bodies are a copy of the early pre-1960's "Dutch Shoe" Harley sidecar and they can be very nice.
I agree that an electric lean would be a good feature to have on any sidecar. With the swing arm suspension on the Liberty, it might be possible to place an electric lean to lift the car and cause a change in lean so as to compensate for road crown. I'm sure that someone has done this.
Just an idea.
Thanks for the info. I have been talking with Texas Sidacar and Champion Sidecars, now I am thinking of going that route, the Spalding car has no electric lean or steering damper, he (Roger) assures me I would be happy with the Spalding car but after checking out other brands and all the inputs I have received here I think I want these little tidbits of exttras, I'm now even considering the EZ-Steer option as well. Champion says it's the difference between night and day, again all I can do is take in information I have no idea about any of these options. Texas Sidacar has invited me to come over and check out a Champion Escort sidecar in person, thats my next step, I have to have one with a flip front for easy access and the Escort has that covered. I was considering the California car at first, but their customer service leaves some to be desired, then the Spalding, no options, and now I'm in hot pursuit of the Champion, Texas sidecar does the installation and are only 60 miles away!! Thanks again.
Jim
That's how the California Sidecar is set up, with a swing arm, they use 12v linear actuator to move the car up and down as needed, great set up and the EZ steer and Steer Right mods make ALL the difference in the world in handling IMHO.
Hi Jim,
I'm not going to give you any advice on your sidecar choice, but I was wondering why you thought California Sidecar customer service wasn't up to par? If you are in Texas and California Sidecar is located in Virginia, just who were you dealing with? Did you make a trip to VA? Anyway, that point wasn't clear to me. I just couldn't let that comment about my good friends at California Sidecar go without saying that they have always been good to me. They're real nice folks and I can't imagine them not givng anyone good service.
Connie
Hi Connie,
No,I din't go to Va. I had sent several emails to California Sidecar, and finally got a reply from Scott (one reply) I sent several more emails, them called and left messages, I finally did get a call back, Scott was there as well as two others on a conference call.When I asked about their dealers here in Texas, which don't bother returning emails or calls (with the exception of one), they told me the have no control over the dealers! Well they do if the dealers are selling their products! Then the besy part, I explained that I wanted someone with experience mounting my sidecar as this isn't something I want to tackle after spending that kind of money, they said I could ship my bike to Va. and they would do the mounting! Yeah right, shipping to and from VA I could only guess what that would cost, sorry but I think that is a bunch of crap.Anyway the folks at Champion are super nice, answer all emails and calls and the Texas Sidecar dealer does too!! And he's only 60 miles away. I am going to Texas Sidacar and physicially see a Champion Escort in about 2 weeks. Ok, I'm done.
Jim
Hi Jim,
I wouldn't consider shipping my bike, either! I think that Champion is sort of an off-shoot of California Sidecar, anyway. I'm probably about the same distance from California Sidecar as you are from the Texas Sidecar dealer. I didn't buy my sidecar from them, but they set my 1500 Goldwing up for the sidecar when I sold my 1200. They really are nice folks, but I think working from that great a distance would definitely be difficult.
I watched them working on Bruce Springstein's Harley setting it up for a sidecar. I know that they went to New Jersey and picked up his bike, but then most of us don't have Bruce's money!
Anyway, I'm sure that Champion is a fine sidecar and that you won't be disappointed. Good luck!
Connie
Connie,
Well, I learned somemore bad news yesterday about Texas Sidecar that I want to share. Texas Sidecar had offered me to came and take a look at a Champion Escort sidecar they are installing on a bike for another customer,I started getting real excited as I have yet to see a Champion or a Californis Sidecar in person, I also called Champion and started discussion about the options I want, and asked about the website offering about picking options and placing an order right from the website, he (Kenny) said yes I could do that. Well who in their right mind wouldn't want to order direct and avoid paying state sales tax? We're talking about $900.00 in sales tax, so I called Texas Sidacar and told Bob I was going to order the car and have it sent to them for installation.......he told me if I didn't but the car from Texas Sidecar they wouldn't do the installation!!!! I about caved it, I can't believe this crap! Here I am about to dump 9 to 10 GRAND on a sidecar and now I'm told Texas Sidecar won't install it if I don't buy it through them!! This really sucks. So, it's back to the drawing board, there are several Champion dealers here in Texas so I'm thinking I'll just buy the car then find someone to install it for me. Hell, I bet if I paid good someone on here could possibly help me out!! Then the last hurddle is Champion wants a painted part to match the paint from, I offered to buy the anniversary paint from Harley but they (Champion) said they don't do it that way Geez! So I'm trying to find a used gunmetal blue part on Ebay to send them, as soon as I get a part to send and can see a car in person I'm ready to place my order, I'm not opposed to a California car either but I need to see them both to see which one will best fit our needs. I hate to have to argue and fight to spend this kind of money,I can't believe the nightmare it's been already!!
Jim
Jim,
I'm a little confused so help me out here. If you order from Texas Sidecar is the install included in the price? By ordering direct while you save sales tax are you in turn paying any shipping fees? When you call other dealers make sure to ask them how many sidecars they have mounted because sidecars are a special deal, much different from trikes which Champion also sells.
Joyce,
Texas Sidecar charges it's customers retail price the same as Champion does for a sidecar. Texas sidecar was going to charge me an additional $1125.00 to install the EZ steer and the sidecar. Champion automatically includes the shipping in the price of their car when you place an order. Sure wish I didn't have to work for a living I would just take my bike to California Sidecar and hang out till they had it ready to go. Champion cars and California cars look almost teh same, that's why I really need to see them both before I make the final decession. I keep getting stuck in the mud!!
Jim
Here is the last actual email I received from Texas Sidacar:
Jim,
I just received your message that you will be buying your sidecar directly from Champion. If this is the case, I'd like to make sure you understand that I will not be doing the installation for you. Our primary focus is manufacturing our own sidecars and selling and installing them as well as the other brands we represent. We cannot stay in business, nor want to, by doing all the sales work FOR Champion Sidecars - advertising, emailing, face-to-face educating and selling in our showroom - and then have the customer buy directly from Champion.
There are a number of Champion sidecar dealers in Texas and I'm sure you will be able to find one that can show you an Escort and will be willing to handle the installation for you.
Good luck with your purchase.
Bob
Bob Darden
Texas Sidecars & Trikes
11672 S. Hwy 78
Leonard, TX 75452
903-640-2149
The install amount does not sound unreasonable to me. Does that include bike specific mounts? I can say from experience that if you start from scratch and know nothing about alignment and attachments that a professional install can save you a couple of years of misery.
And here is the actual email stating the labor rates from Texas Sidecar:
Jim,
The email with the pictures didn't make it - I'm on dial-up and emails that large just get killed off in my mail filter. It just takes way too long - if you can shrink them, that would be great.
You are right, of course, on the sidecovers. I'm thinking FLH as that's about 90% of what we deal with. My last Harley was a new 73 superglide - that dates me, doesn't it. There's lots of reasons on the paint - one main one is that you're going to be buying something mixed by someone that's been on a shelf for who knows how long. It wouldn't come close to matching and Champion would be responsible for it. We've shipped them fenders too and there's never a problem (which means yours would be the first). Sometimes you can buy parts new too but with HD they probably don't come painted.
After the last triple tree swap I did, I decided to let the customers take their bikes to the Harleyshop for that operation. I'm not sure what they charge. I was charging $400 and would still do it if the bike was not equiped with a touring fairing with all the radio stuff, speakers, etc.
Bob
Joyce,
The installation amout is fim=ne with me. The bike specific mounts are ordered at the same time the car is ordered. The whole issue is me not wanting to buy the car from Texas Sidecar.I just don't want to pay 8-9 hundred dollars in sales tax! I would not even attempt the install on my own, I will definately have a sidecar dealer do it, even if it means hauling my bike somewhere to get it done. Your information is very usefull to me, I need all I can get. Thank you.
Jim
