Sidecar overload ??????

If you are having as much fun as I am you are in for a world of excitement - two pieces of advice that really helped me and I am a newbie just like you!

1) Purchase and read several times "Driving A Sidecar Outfit" second edition (800) 736-1117 - once you have read through the book practice the exercises in it.

2) As soon as you can sign up and take the S/TEP course in your area. I am not sure where you are located but this will give you a starting point
http://www.esc.org/

3) Please make sure you follow the loading rules in the "Driving A Sidecar Outfit"

Have fun - ride safe - enjoy that family while you can they grow up very quickly

Thanks for the advice I tried to purchase that manual the other day
at a Barnes and Nobles but they didnt have it. I will call the # you provided and order it ASAP. I have downloaded all the free manuals I could
find at this point evan the ones available thru United Sidecar Assoc.
But as far as my original question could you satisfy my immediate curiosity as to what the book says about two up and sidecar passenger ssafty? Id rather be disappointed now then later if I wont be able to take
the entire family for a ride all together.
Thanks Again, CM

The Book advises that the 2nd Adult Passenger ride in the sidecar and then the youngest child ride in the sidecar with adult -- the oldest child ride as the passenger on the bike.

There are many riders who would put the adult on the bike and the kids in the sidecar car. Good to excellent riders will have no problem with this, until there is an emergency and the sidecar is loaded wrong. This could cause a deadly accident or cause mortal injury to riders. I know you would not want that for your children or life partner (wife). (Please I do not mean to be harsh, but I take safety as a high priority) Four up is a lot to deal with so you may want to wait until you more exp under your belt. The older child riding as a passenger on the bike you also need to make sure they are old enough to handle that responsibility.

The book covers a lot of information about weight and roll limits that are important for you to know and have in the back of your head as your ride.

Please do NOT take my word for this but seek out advice from other more experienced riders and the book and the S/TEP course will help a lot.

The S/TEP course is also important for you and your life partner if they are going to ride with you a lot. You would be surprised at how much information they will get from the course and will in the long run make you a safer driver.

Ride Fun Ride Safe

If you do decide to ride with your wife on the pillion, have her take the S/TEP class too. Even if she never drives the rig it will give her a much better understanding of the dynamics and risks involved in riding with a passenger on behind. If your passenger can work with you as you ride you can mitigate some of the risks involved with less than ideal weight distribution. It is still not recommended practice, and I suggest you get more experience before you try riding 4 up.

Also be sure your suspension and brakes are up to the additional load. Upgrade if you can.

Thanks for the advice. I will not ride my family in that fashion if it is the slightest bit dangerous. My wife will have to take a seat in the sidecar for safty sake. No one will ride with me until I am confident
and comfortable steering and maneuvering the entire rig.
Aint no fun if somebody gets injured or worse. Yes safty first.
Thanks, CM

the harley manual says that the passenger load in the sidecar must be MORE than the passenger load on the rear of the bike.

if you have three folks - #1 @ 250, #2 @ 190 #3 @ 100

and the rider is #1 - then #2 goes in the sidecar and #3 goes on the back of the bike

the big gotcha is that you must not exceed the axel wt rating of the rear tire of the bike

I have the same model. Keep an eye on the hardware that attaches the sidecar to the bike. If you have installed the drum brake on the sidecar, disable it as it tends to lock up. also, i used pipe insulation to add cushions to all areas of sidecar where arms might come in contact.

Originally written by ckmart on 7/31/2009 9:04 AM

I just purchased a new bimmer steel sidecar for my 2004 Harley Road King.Sidecar weight with all mounting hardware is approx 275lbs.If I stand realhard on left side foot board I can get the sidecar to rise about 4 inchsoff the ground. I think this is a good match for my bike. It took me a long time to align her but she tracks real good. Not to much wobbleand not alot of pull right or left on acceleration or braking. This is my first sidecar and I am in the training mode at this time.Getting used to driving this rig taking it slow on turns and such. I ampracticing in an empty parking lot with ballist to get used to how she handles at differant speeds, turning, braking etc.Now to my Question. I purchased the sidecar in order for my family toride with me. Is it safe to carry all of us at the same time?Myself 200lbs my wife 140lbs on the Motorcycle my two children in thesidecar. The sidecar is a two passenger in line model with a rumble seat where the trunk usually is. My children both weigh about 80lbs each.Thats 340lbs on the bike 120lbs in the sidecar. I concerned about pushingthe center of gravity especially on right hand turns. I have read all theinfo I can find but it only warns about a passenger on bike without anyone in sidecar as being dangerous. I cant find any info about two up on the bike and passengers in the sidecar.I want to have fun with my family but their safty is much more important to me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks CM

Thanks for the info. I already covered the rumble seat supports with
pipe insulation. I did not purchase a drum brake I was forwarned about
them locking up. Who did you purchase your Bimmer from? I got mine from
Trans-Moto in Canada. What kind of troubles have you been having with your
hardware? The frame on the bimmer is much higher then the sub-frame for
my motorcycle a 2004 Harley Road King. This puts the lower mounts on a
steep downward angle from the sidecar mounts to the subframe mounts. I
was having trouble keeping the sidecar frame level because the mounts
no matter how tight I made them would roll so the sidecar would come
off level and pitch back down toward the bike. This problem is fixed by
drilling through the tube portions of the front mount were one fits inside the other and adding a set screw so she cant roll. This can also be done
with the rear lower support as well. The second promlem I encountered was
with the rear upper support. It just seems too long. I had to set my lead
back to the minimum of 6-7inches so she would fit with the threads turned
almost all the way in. I also had to mount her with the arch of the bar
sloped down instead of up so it would clear my saddlebag guard. My rig is set up as such. I have a level frame with 12 inchs of ground clearence because of the 19 inch wheel she is high. 47 inch track a lead of 7 inchs 1 degree lean out and 3/4 inch toe in. She rides well with these settings but only if there is weight in the sidecar so I add about 80 lbs of ballast when there are no passengers. I would like to know more about
your sidecar your likes and dislikes. I only hooked mine up the other day
and have not had a chance to take her out on the highway yet. Not until
I get used to how she handles. I have been practicing in a parking lot.
Thanks and ride safe. Chris M