sidecar handeling

Whichever CSC sidecar you choose to mount will be a rigid mounting to your bike. At that time you will have a dual track vehicle that will no longer steer as a solo bike. Airplanes, boats and solo motorcycles will bank in the turns, a sidecar rig will not. You now have a two track vehicle (like an automobile) you must steer left to turn left and steer right to turn right. No more countersteering as with a single track solo bike. Turns toward the sidecar (right) will be easily accomplished. Turns away from the car (left) require considerably more effort unless you invest in steering modifications to reduce the trail on the bike (Recommended).
A steering damper will probably be needed, which will slow the steering and cause some resistance at low speeds. It will however eliminate the (normal) tendency for the outfit to wiggle it's nose (wheel wobble).
As far as the passenger is concerned, the ride itself is quite comfortable due to the car having full suspension. Entry and exit ease will depend upon which model of sidecar you choose. The same applies to seating comfort. Some aren't all that comfortable for long periods (just like some cycle seats).
Expect to lose 20 to 25% of solo gas mileage with the sidecar attached due to weight, friction, and wind resistance.

Originally written by Hack'n on 8/23/2005 5:28 PM
Depends on the passenger, too! :^))

Whichever CSC sidecar you choose to mount will be a rigid mounting to your bike. At that time you will have a dual track vehicle that will no longer steer as a solo bike. Airplanes, boats and solo motorcycles will bank in the turns, a sidecar rig will not. You now have a two track vehicle (like an automobile) you must steer left to turn left and steer right to turn right. No more countersteering as with a single track solo bike. Turns toward the sidecar (right) will be easily accomplished. Turns away from the car (left) require considerably more effort unless you invest in steering modifications to reduce the trail on the bike (Recommended).
A steering damper will probably be needed, which will slow the steering and cause some resistance at low speeds. It will however eliminate the (normal) tendency for the outfit to wiggle it's nose (wheel wobble).
As far as the passenger is concerned, the ride itself is quite comfortable due to the car having full suspension. Entry and exit ease will depend upon which model of sidecar you choose. The same applies to seating comfort. Some aren't all that comfortable for long periods (just like some cycle seats).
Expect to lose 20 to 25% of solo gas mileage with the sidecar attached due to weight, friction, and wind resistance.

Hi Lonnie,

I'm not sure if I read what you posted about right turns being easy and left turns being difficult cross-eyed or if we just disagree on which turns are difficult, but.....for me, taking a right turn is the difficult one. Left turns are a piece of cake! Do we disagree or did we just say the same thing differently????

Connie

Connie,
Are you referring to potential lifting of the car?
In my experience, with a right side mounted car it takes less steering effort to drive the bike around the car (right) than to force the car around the bike to the left.
With the use of the rear brake and decceleration the car will drive right around the bike of course, but I was referring to basic steering forces and not giving a driving lesson.
Unlike yourself, the questioner has no driving experience with sidecars. Tricks like throttle and braking usage, lane position and maintaining a straight line while on the throttle and braking are best learned on the range or road as you know and trying to explain them at the git go might be a bit confusing.
Am I forgiven?

Lonnie

Thankyou for your response

I have been riding solo for some 35 years. My wife and I enjoy riding and we have an 11 year old daughter that also likes to ride, I have thought of buying a bike for my wife I just dont think she can handle a bike, so the side car will fit the family for rides. I am open for any comments you may have.

Thanks Again Rick

Dreamer,
just m,ake sure youput them both in the tub. passengers on the bike with a sidecar is a very dangerous thing to do.

BOB

THANKS FOR THE HINT, I GUESS I SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A 2 PERSON TUB, ANY THOUGHTS ON MAKE OR MODEL

RICK

dreamer,
there are numerous brands to choose from....Hannigan, Motorvation, EML, California, just to name a few.
check them out in your search engine.

Hi Lonnie,

There's nothing to forgive, but you're forgiven, anyway! I'm absolutely positive that you know way more about sidecaring than I ever will! Sometimes I have a hard time understanding something that I do without even thinking about it when someone describes it with words. Right now, I'm trying to get the hang of riding two wheels again. I've done it before, I know I can, but all the talk about steering and counter steering and riding (or driving) sure confuses this silly "girl" sometimes! Guess I just have to do it and forget about putting actions into words!

Confused in VA,
Connie

Dear Confused,
Just remember: To initiate a left turn, push lightly on the left handgrip.
Push right to go right and it will all come back to you girl.

Oh, yeah: Remember to put your feet down when you stop or that bike can get real heavy. LOL

Lonnie

...and remember to put the sidestand UP !

Hi Guys (Lonnie & Ernie),

Thanks for the tips! I have to admit that I haven't been doing much riding this summer except as a passenger, so I'm a bit rusty. But I did take a little ride on the V-Star this evening and I think it all went pretty well. And you can bet that I "N E V E R" forget to put my feet down, picking them up is the problem! Well, I'm getting better at that, too. I guess that I'm pretty spoiled for things like Tulsa windshields, fairings, CBs and radios. All of that wind in my face makes 40 mph feel like I'm doing 80 mph, and all of those bugs that we have here really hurt! (Well, we have quite a few less after my ride. My face looked like a bug massacre had taken place on it). And as I recall, if you don't put the kick stand up, the motor dies when you put the bike in gear. Right now, I don't even think about riding without my husband going with me and believe me, he watches me like a hawk. I hear about any little thing that I do wrong. Anyway, I'm getting there and I'm having fun! So, now as the advice always goes. . . . it's practice, practice, practice!

Connie

Connie, I've sold a bunch of bikes to women and talk to them quite frequently. I have a strong suspicion that women would keep riding much more than they do if it wasn't for the boyfriend/husband always carping at them and making them a nervous wreck.

Well Lonnie I was Hack'in yesterday and the thing steers like a mack truck without power, I know I'm missing something cause the women ride 'em, the right hander seems harder to me, I know I'm fighting it.