Hi: I am looking to put a sidecar on my 02 1500 Kawa Drifter. I have been looking but, I have seen anyone who has done one (though there must be many out there). I am concerned about possible mounting problems but I'm also looking for a style that will fit the Drifter. Price is also a consideration because I don't want to spend more than I did for the bike originally just to add the sidecar.
Jeff Pauly
Uncle Blasto had a Champion Legend on a Drifter. It was a beautiful combo! He also added aftermarket repro Indian style fenders and seat to complete the look.
i put a Hannigan classic on one earlier this year.was a nice rig.
We make a mounting kit and have mounted many different sidecars on these bikes. We have a lowered color matched Ural in the shop right now that I can email you photo's of. We are also developing a "Raked" triple tree for this bike. We just finished one for the 2000cc Vulcan as well as the 900cc and will have one soon for the new Shadow 750
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
866-638-1793
www.dauntlessmotors.com
In my opinion, the nicest looking Drifter with a sidecar outfit is the one that Mary Sontag's son has. Mary owns Motorvation Engineering (who advertise in the Sidecarist and on this site). She has pictures of the outfit on their website www.motorvation.com Take a look, I think you'll like it. Motorvation Engineering and Mary Sontag are the best folks to deal with in my opinion. I had zero problems when I bought my chair.
Speaking as an Indian owner, I'd say the Champion Legend body would look more "period correct". You could get a repop front fender and figure out a way to mount it (but new fenders are not cheap...)
Have to say, though, I've always admired the look of those Spyders.
Thanks, I will look at your site, I want to look at all my options and costs before I make a decision.
Jeff
We mounted one of the first Spyders with the Indian style fender on a '99 Drifter. We worked with Motorvation to get the independent brake pedal so it aligned with the rear brake pedal on later cars.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
Thanks: I did look at their site and I agree it is a very good looking rig. Cost is a factor and I am also wondering if I will need to also change the rack on the bike as well. I don't want to so change things on the bike so that I cannot go back to a standard ride when I want.
Jeff
Lonnie: What else did you need to do ? Did you need to change out the triple trees, add a front dampener ? etc. My Drifter is black, so that seems to one of least of my cost worries. As I mentioned on another reply, I don't want to so change the bike so as not to ride it solo when I want.
Jeff
Jeff,
No steering mods were performed as the rig handled well without a damper the way it was set up. No wobble detected hands on.
I do not use dampers unless a nose wiggle is uncontrollable. They make the steering too cumbersome and one loses road feedback to the handlebars.
Another problem is possible bump steering with a damper which makes for a poor handling outfit.
I did use the passenger footpeg mounting position for one of the sidecar mounts.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
Preacher Pauly:
You might want to check out my Spyder in the photo album on this site under SCT100...
It looks really nice. Apart from the special paint, was everything else from the Motorvation or did you add things on later like the windshield ?
I did a bit of fiddling.
For one thing, all the Spyders come with a recess in the fender for a HD style tail light, something I didn't realize until the completely painted tub shipped so I had the recess glassed in in our bodyshop and had Motorvation re-paint it. Somehow, anything HD on a Brit bike is in poor taste.
I built the brake pedal attachment system in my machine shop and changed all the fasteners to A325 hi yield socket head capscrews and all exterior in-plain-view fasteners to stainless. I pinstriped the outfit myself in, yes, paint not tape and the windshield is a Motorvation acessory. The auxilliary light went from a sealed beam to an H3 unit and all suspension pivot points run in sealed roller bearings now.
I had no budget constraints whatsoever. The chair is worth appreciably more than the bike and no, it's not for sale.
Did you get the hardware you changed out from Motorvation or did you use another source ? I may consider a possible used unit and I may need to change things out. I would prefer to upgrade to the best available considering how it will be used.
Jeff
