Hello to all
I was thinking on getting a sidecar setup and wanted to see if anyone here could help me out. What I am looking for is something that I could take on and off with out too much work but I would look at all set ups. It will be going on a V-star 650. I want something just for small trips with my wife and my two small boys ages 2/5. Just to ride them to school or go get an ice cream. I have always had some interst in them sence seeing my Grandfather riding my old man and three of his brothers and sisters in a hack. My Grandfather and family won many awards in Laconia back in the 50's. I have some cool black and white pics. Anyway, I am a bike builder and am pretty handy. What ever I can not do I have someone in my family that could. So if anyone has any kind of plans I would not mind building my own. After all that is what my Grandfather did. But I would like to compare cost. If I can get one for the right money I could always make it work. My old man travel all around the states so if anyone has anything for the right price I can see what I can do to pick it up. I am not looking to spend alot for I am not sure how long and if the boys would even like it. But I would like to give it a shot...Thanx for your time...Jason
First, you will need a sub-frame. My old Beemers come sidecar ready, so I don't know much about sub-frames, but I imagine it might depend on what kind of sidecar you get. ? ? ?
As far as the tub itself, check the classifieds here, BMWMOA, Craigs List, but up notices at the grocery store, eBay, etc.
I'm not sure your bike will pull 3 passengers and you. You'll probably want lower gearing. Also, Most folks would tell you it's very dangerous to carry a passenger behind you on the bike. Especially for a new driver.
Last- the boys will love it.
A V-star doesn't have to have a sub-frame to mount a sidecar since they have a complete perimeter frame.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
Sorry. I'll sit down now...
Have done V Stars both ways, with and without subframes. The subframe has it's normal advatages.
The 650 V Star does make a nice sidecar hauler for it's size.
I am not sure if I know what your talking about but my v-star has a cradle frame like most any other bike. It is not like a sport bike or a virago that the motor hangs in the frame. I do not see were that would be a problem but if I am missing something please let me know. As for power, I am not planning on going very far with the hack on. Just around my small town. What is the biggest issue(or any) with riding with someone on the back? I have pics of my grandfather doing it back in the day. I am just trying to learn. Thanx for all your help...Jason
Maybe it is just me, but from what you originally posted I sort of feel you are wanting a sidecar for all the wrong reasons and you will likely find more frustration than benefit with the end results. It just seems like you are wanting a pop-on and pop-off device for something that you may or may not use for any length of time. Add in the differences in learning to actually drive the rig safely, and then adding it to a bike as yours just seems like you will end up with something you expected more of than what it will offer you in modifying your rig.
It is not just a question of being skilled enough to be able to coble one together though. Sidecars are not generally cheap to install or to do a home made version and then properly install. The bike's trires are something to consider as well, as your pusher is going to get some different wear than maybe you are used to. Popping one on or off for daily decisons on which to ride, is where I am thinking you may not find the average sidecar set up to your expectations.
It certainly isn't that what you ask can't be done, and I hope you get some good plans if you want to go that route after all. I am just thinking that your end result may be quite a bit different than what you thought you wanted or expected. Of course, it is your choice to get the info and persue what ever course you choose, but I am just saying that I feel you are looking for something that your bike and (any) hack combo won't fully give you as you envision.
Good luck on it though.
Huey
Check out these guys in Mass: http://www.ironstoneventures.com/ They do sidecar safety training and usually provide rigs as part of the deal. It's a great way to try before you buy - you'll have a much better sense of if this is something you want to pursue or not.
Huey; Thanx for your input but I have a ? for you. What are the right reasons and are they right. I was thinking it was alot like motorcycles. Some people do it to save money on gas, some do it just for fun on the weekends and for some it is a way of life. None of the reasons are right or wrong. If I do not mind taking it on and off and by doing that it will cause me know harm than I would be up to the person(like me)to find out if it right for me. It worked for my grandfather as he used a hack to get the family to the race were he then took it off, did the race and then put it back on to go home. As far as $. I do not mind spending it. But if I can build one just as good for a lot less than why not. So please let me know if I am missing something here. I really like the help I have got from the replys. But if it is just your opionon, we will just leave it at that...thanx Jason
Stevewoo; I will check that out. Thank you very much...Jason
Jason,
There are some who take a sidecar off and on to enjoy 'the best of both worlds'. There are many who have the idea of doing it and just end up leaving it on though.
One of th enice things about sidecars is that one can enter into sidecaring with a pretty much stock bike and have a lot of fun. He or she can go from that point to wherever they feel like.
Will a stock bike perform weel as a sidecar puller? Not bad at all in most cases but it sure can be improved upon. Is a stock bike acceptable as a sidecar puller? Yes. In fact there are mosr basically stock bike sout there yanking around sidecar than anything else.
Done the line if the sidecar addiction grows larger you may very well find that you will begin thinking of how to make a rig handle a little better, maybe steer a little easier, maybe carry more fuel, get better tire wear and so on.
In the meantime you can run what you have and , who knows, maybe will just decide to stay with it. Not a big deal.
Facts are that the more dedicated a bike is to be a sidecar tug the less it will work as a solo bike. How far one wants to go is a personal choice.
The number one main thing regardless of where you want to go is to have fun with what you got and do it safely.
As far as building a sidecar yourself goes there is no real rocket science involved. If you are handy in fabrication and understand how sidecars adjust and what a safe hookup consists of you can do it. Try and look a few over and do some research. Granted, there is a lot more invloved than just adding a third wheel and riding the thing but if you do your home work you will be okay.
Originally written by Blazinbikes on 7/29/2007 12:39 PM
I am not sure if I know what your talking about but my v-star has a cradle frame like most any other bike. It is not like a sport bike or a virago that the motor hangs in the frame. I do not see were that would be a problem but if I am missing something please let me know. As for power, I am not planning on going very far with the hack on. Just around my small town. What is the biggest issue(or any) with riding with someone on the back? I have pics of my grandfather doing it back in the day. I am just trying to learn. Thanx for all your help...Jason
Jason,
A subframe is a frame work that will allow you to place the sidecar mounts in better position for ease of adjustment aand also assembly and disasembly from the bike. It will also add strength to the whole deal if done right. As stated a bike like yours may get by without a subframe but it does have it's advatages.
The bad side of a passenger on the back of the bike has to do mainly with weight distribution, suspension action and the results of both in turns, mainly right handers. If not set up properly it can be very dangerous.
Read the material offered here for free written by Hal Kendall. The link to it is in my signature below.
claude; Thank you very much for your info! I do understand what you are saying and it is very helpful. That is why I came here. For guys/gals like you that could let me know what I need to do to so I and my family can have fun but more inportant stay safe. There is no doudt in my mind I could build one. I just want to learn as much as I can so we can be safe. That is why I want to make sure I am getting are good facts not opionons. We are all in this for our own reasons and I know the die hards might look down on me but that is ok. At the the end of the day I am ok with me. I know that there are better ways to set up the bike and so on, but this really will be a low speed, around town, part time thing for me. If I change my mind late I will build a set up just for that. Thanx again and I hope to see you on the road...Jason
Ernie,
I was reading your response to the guy considering a sidecar, you said "it's very dangerous to carry a passenger behind you on the bike" Are you talking about a bike with a sidecar or in general?
Ernie,
I've been reading other responses about riding 2 up with a car. I do see there could be issues, however I also understand what others are talking about as well. I have never rode a bike with a sidecar, but it won't be long now till I have one. I want to get it bought and paid for now so once I get too old to ride say around 80-90, (LOL) I'll already have a bike with a sidecar! My collection of bike (3) are all Harley's. I do enjoy reading all information I can get. Thanks.
Jim
