Hello,
I'm new to the group, and this is my first post.
I'm a lifetime motorcycle rider 40+ years, but a new sidecar outfit owner, and rider.
I've combed through the site, and aside from the Hal Kendall books I found, there's no up to date links to training centers or info.
I live in Northern New Mexico (Santa Fe area) and would very much appreciate ANY beta y'all may have on training.
Thank you kindly!(Hopefully 3rd times a charm...tried posting 3x but site keeps hanging up !)
Welcome to the USCA and our forums, David. If you look at the "Sidecar Training" link on our website (main menu) you will see a link to the "Iron Buffalo" trike and sidecar training website there (in Denver). I don't know of how current the listing is or the quality but there is a resource for you. Maybe others can add to the thread.
https://www.sidecar.com/sidecar-training/
https://www.ironbuff.org/riding-courses/trike-sidecar
Jerry
I fly (and ride) to free my mind from the tyranny of petty things. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Welcome David! I live in White Rock NM and have been a 2 wheel motorcyclist for 57 years. I got my first sidecar 3 years ago. I took a 3 wheel course (sidecars and trikes) in the Denver area about 6 years ago with Colorado ABATE.
Feel free to contact me anytime for a ride or to talk.
-Jim
Quote from Viajero on May 22, 2023, 8:11 pmWelcome to the USCA and our forums, David. If you look at the "Sidecar Training" link on our website (main menu) you will see a link to the "Iron Buffalo" trike and sidecar training website there (in Denver). I don't know of how current the listing is or the quality but there is a resource for you. Maybe others can add to the thread.
Thank you for that I'll check it out!
Quote from James Gross on May 23, 2023, 12:08 pmWelcome David! I live in White Rock NM and have been a 2 wheel motorcyclist for 57 years. I got my first sidecar 3 years ago. I took a 3 wheel course (sidecars and trikes) in the Denver area about 6 years ago with Colorado ABATE.
Feel free to contact me anytime for a ride or to talk.
-Jim
Hi Jim, Thanks! I'll check out ABATE as well. Is there a PM function on this forum - I don't see a pull-down?
If not my email is dsafian@mac.com, if you contact me, I'll follow up.
All the best,
David
Is there a PM function on this forum - I don't see a pull-down?
All the best,
David
David, if you look under the person postings info on the left you should see Private Message in Blue. just click it to open the message options
AH - I see, said the blind man! thx
A question was recently brought up about sidecar operator training in the western US, specifically California.
If anyone has knowledge about current sidecar operator training, would you please reply and give us a current "state of affairs"?
Many thanks!
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
A question was recently brought up about sidecar operator training in the western US, specifically California.
If anyone has knowledge about current sidecar operator training, would you please reply and give us a current "state of affairs"?
Many thanks!
Mr. President, if I may make a suggestion...think about the feasibility of having a ONE hour class on either Friday, or Saturday, or both days, during the USCA National Sidecar Rally in Mena, Arkansas next June, 2026, so that relatively new sidecar owners, or complete newbies, can get face to face instruction from experienced sidecar drivers.
It would mean two things need to happen:
Finding a volunteer that is truly experienced in sidecar operation, willing and able to instruct others, and will offer up an hour of their time on either Friday, Saturday, or both days.
And secondly, getting newbies and relatively new sidecar owners to be frank and forthright with themselves, and acknowledge that they could use some outside assistance in learning the proper procedures for operating a sidecar rig.
Finally...NO...I do not volunteer for the instructor position, as I believe there are others much more qualified in the skills of PROPER sidecar operations, than I.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
I agree this would be a good learning experience at a rally. I Learned more about sidecars at Topsham this year then I ever new. A focused class you be great.
Hmm. Maine to Arkansas .. I would like to do that.
After the sidecar training fatality 7-8 years ago, Evergreen Safety Council was forced to rescind all licensing of its S/TEP curriculum which it distributed for free. Unfortunately, almost all basic sidecar training was reliant on this curriculum. Today it is all but impossible to find training. The MSF training to get 3-Wheel certification (some states such as VA require I to operate a sidecar) is almost exclusively a reverse trike class featuring the CanAm product line.
with this in mind, do we as USCA have a role in building a sidecar curriculum that could be reproduced and used by any member helping a new pilot get started?
@jamesmortonsmotorcycles-com Yes, I do believe that we must have some role in developing a curriculum. Unfortunately, given the thin boots on the ground and relative age of the membership, that may be more than we currently have available for intellectual property resources. Does the evergreen curriculum exist in electronic or print form that might be adapted?
Also, James, can you elaborate a little on the event that caused the demise of Evergreen?
Our members will forget more than any governmental approved body of institutions will ever possess. Getting that knowledge into a working “document” (I use that word pejoratively) is an ambitious goal, but one that may be worth putting some thought and effort into.
What do others have to say?
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
James Carlisle @jamesmortonsmotorcycles-com, first and foremost...WELCOME to the greatest show on Earth, or any of the odd numbered planets.
The use of the term or wording "Evergreen Safety Council" is a bit misleading for those of us IN THEE Evergreen State, which is Washington State.
The Evergreen Safety Council @ https://www.esc.org/ does not appear to offering schooling, or certification of any kind for the S/TEP, or Sidecar and Trike training classes.
As Thane asked...please elaborate on the sidecar training fatality 7-8 years ago, that caused the demise of Evergreen?
However, in Washington State, which is THEE Evergreen State, we do offer S/TEP training, classes, and certification, through:
https://motorcycletraining.ws/sidecar-trike-education-program-s-tep/
I know, because I have taken this class almost a decade ago, whilst my wife (lucky her) got automatically grandfathered in as a sidecar licensee, without having to take the S/TEP classes and certification.
In THEE Evergreen State, aka...Washington State, a Sidecar or Trike operator must have a specific endorsement for operating a 3 wheeled vehicle, irregardless of whether they already have a 2 wheeled endorsement on their state issued drivers license.
So, you need a 2 wheeled endorsement to operate a 2 wheeled motorcycle in Washington State, and you need a separate 3 wheeled endorsement to operate a Sidecar or Trike in Washington state.
Having said all that....I will offer my personal services to teach/train/instruct any sidecar pilot that would like to learn how to properly operate a Sidecar rig in Western Washington.
I still strongly suggest that at some point you take the official State mandated S/TEP class, offered at:
https://motorcycletraining.ws/sidecar-trike-education-program-s-tep/
However if a Sidecar pilot wants/needs additional training, aside from the very little they receive in the class above ^, I will offer my services to instruct them.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
@miles-ladue, here are my answers to your questions as I can prove them.
”Evergreen Safety Council” was not intended to mislead. If you can find your old S/TEP Manual you will see that Evergreen Safety Council was the curriculum developer and purveyor of the program. Everyone using it was doing so under a free license from them.
Beginning in 2016, as an MSF Rider Coach, I coached the S/TEP until it was rescinded. Then MSF in conjunction with CanAm created the new 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course Although I coached this too, it has almost no applicability to a Sidecar.
Many, if not most, states today have 2-Wheel and 3-Wheel licensing.
I don’t personally have the specifics on the training fatality but will work to get it to you all