I plan on getting a sidecar and have read a couple of manuals and numerous posts while I'm waiting to take a novice riding course. I understand the concepts behind the sidecar lift on a right turn and the rear wheel lift on a left turn, and I understand it would be a good thing to experience this in a controled environment as it may happen if you need to make an emergency maneuver or take a turn too hot. My question is if these handling issues happen often when operating at posted speed limits and adhering to caution sign speeds? I'm definitely not a speed rider - the road getting there is more enjoyable than being there for me 🙂
The short answer would be... No, not if your rig is properly set up and properly balanced. Unfortunately, the truth is it can happen when you swerve to avoid something or when a curve becomes suddenly sharper than you anticipate.
In 42 years of riding, I've had the sidecar come up unintentionally exactly once and that was my fault. I wasn't paying attention and almost missed my turn. I cranked the rig too hard and too fast and the wheel came up.
Make sure the car you choose is heavy enough for your bike and you should be fine.
Just practise what they teach you and don't worry, this whole sidecar thing isn't as mystical as some folks like you to think it is.
SidecarMike,
Thanks for the info. Some posts make it sound like a regular occurrence, something I was not really looking forward to…..
It is exactly what you have read, in that it can happen at any time and not something that is just caused by speed, alone. Several variables all factor in. Flying the chair with intent is generally a slow speed, controlled manuver, but flying it without any intent certainly can happen unexpectedly. It is best to prepare for it by knowing the machine's abilities, as well as the driver's limitations. Everything from steering, ballast or lack of it, speed, road surface, obsticals, and unexpected objects such as animal, auto, pedestrian or so forth can have a significant impact on things when they happen. Cranking the steering too abruptly, hitting a curb, or just getting the speed going at the exact wrong moment of a turn can be factors as well. Heck, the driving characteristics of various rigs will differ from make to make as well. Knowing your own limitations is of paramount importance, as it is indeed something that is not always planned.
As said, the short answer should be NO. The answer that will probably fit you best is that you need not fear it or even shy away from it, but understand it and practice to be prepared, as the scouts would say. Flying the chair for amusement is not generally the same thing as flying it to sharpen your skills and abilities. Learn how to scoot through slides and how to fly the chair for sure. Once you actually do it, you will have a better appreciation than what you can get from simply reading about it.
I was reading at the Russian Iron board recently, and read about a sidecarist who nicked a vehicle when he turned away and made a lane change. Nice as the fellow is, he simply did not pay attention to what was in front of him or use defensive driving. Learning to properly handle the rig in various emergency situations is really part of the defensive driving of a rig to begin with. It will bite you quickly if you forget to be prepared. Never get too cocky in what you know and what you can learn about sidecars and how they react. If your objective is to get from point A to point B on a sidecar rig, then at least always be prepared for what is between the points. Heck, I haven't even addressed changing weather conditions and how they can effect steering and handling, so you see there are indeed some variables to learn about as well.
Again, don't fear it or shy away from it, but learn from it and practice.
Good luck to you,
Huey
