sidecars vs trikes

Yep.... Aby-Normal, wouldn't have it any other way. 'Bout the trike vs. sidecar thing.. lets see, spend 12 - 15k on a trike conversion and maybe get an extra trunk the size of a backpack... or spend 5 - 8k on a hack and get LOTS... After putting 20K + miles on my GL1800 w/Hannigan S/C I just can't imagine trading it for a trike for my uses. I know; different things for different people, but I think most folks never consider a hack at all when it comes down to buying a bike, 2 wheels or 3 wheels. So, when that kind of conversation comes up, I put in my 2 cents worth and talk-up the virtues of a sidecar... education is a good thing =).

Lessee,
Trikes:
Take a prefectly good motorcycle, chop it in half, add a couple of car tires under your butt and expect a decent ride. Not!

You want to take three people or your dog someplace. One will have to take the bus.

The trike may have a trunk for extra stuff. So has any touring solo bike.
But golf clubs? Not!

Down the road you decide to sell it: "For sale, XXX bike with XXX trike conversion." Wow! Where are all the buyers, why the huge drop in value?
Bite the bullet, Cowboy.

Dollar loss on your investment? Bigtime!

Sidecar rigs:
You still have a perfectly good motorcycle with a decent ride, with or without car tires.

Three people or the dogs? No sweat, climb aboard.

Golf clubs? They won't fit in the trunk so toss them in the boat.

Down the road you decide to sell: "For sale, XXX bike with attached XXX sidecar will separate."
Expanded market including bike buyers, sidecar buyers and those looking for a turnkey outfit. Value on par with Kelly Blue Book or NADA retail prices for the bike and the sidecar.

Dollar loss on your investment? You might even make a buck if it's a
skookum rig.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Sidecars vs Trikes?
No comparison..the only thing they have in common is the three wheels. Too bad so many are uninformed about sidecars. If they were to weigh the pros and cons there isn't really a contest. Lonnie's input is spot on and coudl even be carried a little farther if need be.
Biased? No doubt. Accurate? Yes.
Claude

Originally written by claude #3563 on 9/7/2007 3:01 PM

Sidecars vs Trikes?
No comparison..the only thing they have in common is the three wheels. Too bad so many are uninformed about sidecars. If they were to weigh the pros and cons there isn't really a contest. Lonnie's input is spot on and coudl even be carried a little farther if need be.
Biased? No doubt. Accurate? Yes.
Claude

I agree completely. To me a sidecar is like a bottle of fine wine. There's fun and adventure in just owing one. Riding one is a joy. There is really no comparison to a trike. We are talking about two different leagues.

The cost factor in installing a trike and having parts paint-matched could approach $15,000. The chance of ever recouping that any any time in the future is practically nil.

Another issue is the level of modification needed to change a bike to a trike. It can be daunting to say the least. If there is any welding or cutting (some require this) then the changes are non-reversible. (gulp)

If I remove my sidecar (probably won't ever do this) then I still have a nice motorcycle. Not so with a trike.

'Nuff said.

Let me play the devil's advocate here:
From what I have seen trikes have much less depreciation and a higher resale value than sidecars. there seems to be more market for them and very old bikes with new trike conversions sell well above the market value of the bike. Sidecars can be very difficult to sell and I have see very high end sidecar combos go for low bluebook of the bike alone and often set for a while with no takers

Trikes and sidecars handle very similarly with some claims, which from my observations may be a little exagerated but near the truth, that trikes corner faster and with more stability than sidecars. From my observation in class, trikes seem to be less intimidating for beginners to learn to drive.

People choose trikes for the same reasons they choose sidecars: they strike a chord and trigger that "I want one" response; they address balance or handicap issues; you can drive them safely in inclement weather; they are percieved as a safer way to enjoy motorcycles.

While I will always prefer sidecars to trikes, I think the USCA would be smart to reach out to the trike community and be more inclusive. They aren't that different from sidecars and as a growing market segment could infuse new blood to our membership. Many of the sidecar builders have already realized this and have expanded thier line to include trikes.

4 wheels bad, 2 wheels good three wheels best!

Originally written by RedMenace on 9/8/2007 10:06 AM

Let me play the devil's advocate here:
From what I have seen trikes have much less depreciation and a higher resale value than sidecars. there seems to be more market for them and very old bikes with new trike conversions sell well above the market value of the bike. Sidecars can be very difficult to sell and I have see very high end sidecar combos go for low bluebook of the bike alone and often set for a while with no takers

Trikes and sidecars handle very similarly with some claims, which from my observations may be a little exagerated but near the truth, that trikes corner faster and with more stability than sidecars. From my observation in class, trikes seem to be less intimidating for beginners to learn to drive.

People choose trikes for the same reasons they choose sidecars: they strike a chord and trigger that "I want one" response; they address balance or handicap issues; you can drive them safely in inclement weather; they are percieved as a safer way to enjoy motorcycles.

While I will always prefer sidecars to trikes, I think the USCA would be smart to reach out to the trike community and be more inclusive. They aren't that different from sidecars and as a growing market segment could infuse new blood to our membership. Many of the sidecar builders have already realized this and have expanded thier line to include trikes.

4 wheels bad, 2 wheels good three wheels best!

I don't know where you are but it's been my experience that neither sidecars or trikes are particularly easy to sell.

As far as cornering speed or stability being better on a trike, that's arguable, isn't it?

I guess they could add trikes to the venue around here. It would be OK with me. I don't think it would be too popular with the trike people. The ones I've talked to spent time running down my rig and puffing their trike. Maybe they're not all that way....just the ones I've run into.

I started this thread so I thought I'd add a few thoughts.

I guess that I never considered a trike even though I got plenty of advice. The sidecar set up really appealed to my mechanical nature. Plenty of struts, turnbuckles,and assorted hardware all holding the tug and chair together. Nothing covered up (at least not on my bare bones Valk) everything hanging out for everyone to see. Not much different than the first rigs of many years ago.
I guess I've always been a kinda Stearman biplane kinda guy, not a Cessna person. If it weren't for my habit of always wearing a helmet, I'd be wearing a Snoopy aviators cap, goggles, and a white scarf (a short one)as I drive the rig. I knew that sidecaring would be harder than driving a trike, what with the asymmetrical reaction but I also saw it as a challenge. I take some satisfaction in the fact that my 36 and 43 year old sons who've been riding their Valks for some time, won't drive the rig. At my age, seeing the eventual end of my long fascination with two wheels, it is with satisfaction that I've knowingly regressed to what many believe is an old fashioned mode of three wheel transportation, the sidecar rig.
So I'll gladly let other people drive their trikes with gleaming Tupperwear covering up all the mechanicals, that's fine, that's their thing, I'll stay with a prime motorcycle and a classic sidecar and let all that mechanical collection of parts hang out for everyone to see and for me to enjoy.

Wayne, the Ole Geezer.

Kinda like we've been dogging the trikes here? 😉

Trying to put together a trike for my classes I have been lurking on the various trike lists-my impression is there isn't much out there - it is either very disorganized or membership is way down or it is a highly commercial format. Europe has some interesting stuff going on, particularly in the UK but not so much so here in the states

I am pretty sure the trike segment is growing faster than the sidecar subcult of the moto community. I suspect we would be able to provide a useful service to new trikers as well as gain in membership and new perspective if we provided a forum here and a welcoming, inclusive attitude...

Lady Draco , a member of the VRCC, has two trikes, both of them California sidecar conversions of the Valkyrie. She and her husband just came back on a 7200 mile tour, her on the trike, and he was on a Valk.
There are a number of trikes in the VRCC but I think where most of them are is in the GWRRA. In the GWRRA the trikes blend in. In facto, just today, there was a bike show in our town for "Bikes and Trikes" I drove past and all the trikes were Gold Wings.
As a former member of the GWRRA, I've found that GW trikes are accepted on the same level as GW bikes.

This project is what got me interested in trikes. Way more complicated to put together than a sidecar, so far it has been lots of fun
http://adventuresidecar.com/Piglet/piglet.htm

Isn't this site called 'sidecar.com'?
Doesn'T letters USCA stand for United Sidecar Association? (With exception of the former USCA-SSP in which they were 'just letters'according to Mr.Hough of course)

There was a proposal some 7 or 8 years ago by then President Jim Cain that the USCA actively recruit trikes into our membership. It met with a lot of oposition from many sidecarists.

Our mission statement says: "the primary mission of the United Sidecar Association, Inc. is to promote the development, interest and general welfare of sidecaring."

Now on the other hand you don't have to own a sidecar to join, just have an interest in sidecars. I guess if we were a three wheel club instead of a sidecar club things could be different.

I have a Goldwing/sidecar rig, so I also follow the GL1800 forum. As others noted,with Wings, the trikes are very accepted, althgough I think the sidecars are too. Actually, I think it has to do with the demographics of Wing owners in general.

On our recent trip to Alaska, we talked with quite a few couple touring on bikes (nearly all Harleys, a few Wings). Not surprisingly (to this group) we got an awful lot of interest. Most just couldn't beleive how comfortable Connie was, how much luggage we had, and how cool sidecars are.

I think the interest in trikes over sidecars is the perception they are safer and easier to ride. I think in some cases, folks are comparing older sidecars to modern trikes.

Originally written by gregbenner on 9/8/2007 7:57 PM

I have a Goldwing/sidecar rig, so I also follow the GL1800 forum. As others noted,with Wings, the trikes are very accepted, althgough I think the sidecars are too. Actually, I think it has to do with the demographics of Wing owners in general.

On our recent trip to Alaska, we talked with quite a few couple touring on bikes (nearly all Harleys, a few Wings). Not surprisingly (to this group) we got an awful lot of interest. Most just couldn't beleive how comfortable Connie was, how much luggage we had, and how cool sidecars are.

I think the interest in trikes over sidecars is the perception they are safer and easier to ride. I think in some cases, folks are comparing older sidecars to modern trikes.

..........................................................................
I hesitate to bring this up but here goes anyhow. I have dealt with numerous people in the past who had intended to get a sidecar and went to a class to get a headstart in learninghow to ride one. I do not think (hope not anyhow) it is emphisized today as much as it used to be but these folks, potnetial sidecarists, were put off by over enthusiatic instructors hollering at them to 'get their butt off' when making turns. Their impression of sidecaring was ruined as they came away from that crap thinking they had to be gymnists to opperate a sidecar safely. Many said they were going to get a trike and some did inspite of what some of us tried to tell them. Who knows what kind of report they took back to their locval GWRRA chapter. Too bad simply too bad.