My wife and I bought a GL1200 with a California Friendship III sidecar this year. We've been riding it EVERYWHERE with our son and pug. Definately the best investment I have ever made! The only thing I dislike, is the slight lack of power the 1200 has with all of us loaded up. Mainly up hills and such. I also own a VTX1800 Retro that I have talked to Jay at Dauntless about mounting the hack too, but I keep wondering if maybe a GL1800 would be a better choice? Obviously it would be more cushy and have reverse, but I am curious what others thoughts are? You don't see too many VTX's running that big of a sidecar, but I have to imagine it will handle it no problem!
Hi Billybob, nice rig you got there. I think the gl1800 would pull the hack much better than the vtx. The gl has a nice 6 cyl engine as opossed to the v twin . I'm new to sidecars but I owned a vtx for years and loved it but I think the gl has a much smoother powerband.
No problem with power with either. Do you prefer a naked bike or want the wind protection and amenities of the Touring bike. Many prefer to keep their naked cruiser for solo riding if the budget can afford a new tug.
Lonnie
GL1500 will be good too. Steel frame and you will pay lot less for it.
Quote: "The only thing I dislike, is the slight lack of power the 1200 has with all of us loaded up. Mainly up hills and such."
It is normal. Try to shift down 1 gear.
Discuss that with Jay. Both he and Gary at Motorvation convinced me to buy a 1500 instead of an 1800 Goldwing for a tug. Not because of the aluminum frame, but rather because of the work involved and the end product.
If you want to see how a 1500 handles a Friendship 3, bring the family over to Menomonie and take mine for a ride. If you come up 29 from Prescott, it's maybe 90 minutes to my place.
Hack'n - 6/29/2011 2:15 PM
No problem with power with either. Do you prefer a naked bike or want the wind protection and amenities of the Touring bike. Many prefer to keep their naked cruiser for solo riding if the budget can afford a new tug.
Lonnie
My VTX is dressed out at the moment. I actually have a full RoadGlide fairing waiting to go on if I do mount the hack to it.
But it isn't quite as cushy as the wing LOL
SidecarMike - 6/29/2011 11:54 PM
Discuss that with Jay. Both he and Gary at Motorvation convinced me to buy a 1500 instead of an 1800 Goldwing for a tug. Not because of the aluminum frame, but rather because of the work involved and the end product.
If you want to see how a 1500 handles a Friendship 3, bring the family over to Menomonie and take mine for a ride. If you come up 29 from Prescott, it's maybe 90 minutes to my place.
I emailed Jay, and he said either would work...but that we would have to get more creative to mount it to the GL vs an almost direct mount to the VTX. I go back and fourth on which would be better. I may have to take you up on that test ride. My Father in law has a 1500 and loves it. Would be nice to see how the 1500 pushes the hack around the block. The big thing is I already own the VTX free and clear...and it makes the most sense to use. But part of me says the wing will be more comfortable for longer trips with the family. I wonder how the Friendship III would look on the X. I've only ever seen 1 VTX with a hack in person, and it looked to be a texas sidecar
it is a little lower to the ground than the california sidecar
No Cal III's but here's couple of VTX 1800 rigs.
Lonnie
thanks for the pictures. That Bavarian Classic one looks nice! good retro look for the VTX
A lot of early 1800 had problems with welds on the frame with out sidecar. When you add big and havy frendhip III with load... I am not brave enough to ride this kind of bike.
I guess I had never heard that...but I also have not really followed goldwings much
The owner of the VTX with the BC URAL rode it up to Prudoe Bay, Alaska as is (with the naked bike). Not my idea of a fun ride.
Lonnie
Nice looking rig there Billy! Good thing you got the double, what with your son's extra wide grin!! Looks like he's loving it.
He does LOVE it!! The double is nice also, so my wife can ride in the hack with him. Although he prefers to ride by himself. LOL
