Trans-Moto

jacreeves - 9/28/2013 9:23 AM
Has anyone had any experience with Trans-Moto sidecars out of Quebec? I saw some of their stuff at The Lone Star Rally in Galveston, Tx. But I would have to have it shipped to Texas, sight unseen....

 No experience with them, and have not yet seen one of their rigs in person, but I have been oogling over the photo's of their TM-405 for several years:

 

 

I'm kinda partial to orange:

Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox

 

I spoke with Sylvain at Trans-Moto and they are extremely helpful and ready to share the details of their product. They are one of the few companies who actually will call you back if you leave a message. I was thinking if their product is half as good as their customer relations, it might be worth the risk. I was thinking about putting one of their Bimmer units on a 2008 1200 Sportster. He says they can accent the black sidecar to match the original black and orange that came on the little Harley. Shipping to Texas is 700.00!

We can also help you with a sidecar for these bikes, We usually do not have to call you back as we usually answer our phones but if you do leave a message we do phone back. If the $700 the quoted also includes crating the sidecar, that is a fair price. Our sidecars would run $210 to crate and about $450 to ship depending on exactly where it is going and if you need lift gate service.
At the bottom of this link http://www.dmcsidecars.com/the-result-of-improper-sidecar-mounting-and-the-proper-fix/ you can see what our mounts look like for your Sportster and you can also see what is involved in mounting a sidecar to your Sportster. We also have triple tree's ($550 in stock) to lower the steering effort with the sidecar.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

Thank You so much for the info. I just now read your post and I appreciate it. I'm really undecided about which route to take. I would love to have something that would be of use on the highway and I would like to stay with an American bike, simply because that is what I know. Do you think a 1200C would be an appropriate tug for one of your sidecars?

Thanks Again!

I assume you are asking about a Harley 1200C not a BMW R1200C, either bike will work well for you.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
www.dmcsidecars.com

I run a sporty with a rig ...no problem power wise ,but tire choice is very limited ,unless ya have lots of $$ to spend for changing swingarms and front end parts for fitting a car tire.

for trans-moto....very high quality stuff and super great customer service..I know some people that have their stuff and are very satisfied and they were not taken to the cleaners $$ wise!!

Thank You very much for the info. Their products look superb and they were very informative. I guess I just had some reservations about hanging a sidecar off of a 1200 Sportster. I have been thinking about just purchasing a complete rig but, the Trans-Moto stuff looked so nice, I hated to dismiss it completely.

Thanks Again!

I am researching this very thing. I run a 1200c Sporty and will have to either trike it, or hang a side car on it due to my arm. I am really leaning toward DMC or Trans Moto and doing the work myself.......maybe. lol Both companies have been great with info, and at the end of the day all options cost pretty much the same. But for us, the option HAS to include easy lateral in and out for the Lady, and a comfortable ride for her.

jacreeves & professir, our 2002 XL883R Sportster with a Texas Ranger sidecar has been a good rig for the 5 years now, returning ~42mpg at ~55mph - absent a headwind. The rigid mount 883 does vibrate some, but it is not bothersome up to 62mph -- most children that have ridden in the sidecar fall asleep within 30 minutes. The 1200 Sportster engine delivers it's power along a little different torque curve, but I haven't ridden one enough to explain it.

We have made 2 changes that have transformed the XL883R into a excellent tug: 1) Geared it down 4% with an aftermarket front belt pulley, making 1st & 5th gear much more usable -- I'd suggest gearing the 1200 down by using the front belt pulley from an appropriate 883 model; and 2) installed 5-degree "raked" trees -- this "power steering" transformed the rig from a 1/2 day local explorer to an all-day traveler.

The 883R does have a 19" front wheel/tire -- I'm not sure how the 21" wheel/tire works on a sidecar rig.

I took my 21" front wheel off for a 19" ,more tyre choices and better tracking...for the gearing a 28 tooth front belt pulley is best. I know my 1250 sporty as good torque , but that can be changed with different cam set ,I'm running some Hammer 560's right now and it pulls great and my compression is not stock (10.5/1) so its a little diff. then a stock 1200.