What is a good setup for hot weather?

Enclosed covered sidecars can be oppressive in hot/humid conditions. Sidecars with openable side curtains will protect from the sun while allowing air circulation. It depends upon the passenger's comfort needs. Some prefer open cars.
Shaft or belt drive would be preferred (by me). Water cooling is good if you will be travelling slow, or in crowded road conditions where long stops with the engine running will be the case. With todays lubricants and engine technology overheating isn't the problem it was years ago.
I've operated air/oil cooled bikes in the hottest conditions, 120F+ (Mojave desert, Death Valley, Corona desert) with no problems .

Lonnie

ldroduner - 5/18/2011 2:59 PM

My wife & I are thinking about getting a cycle and sidecar. We live in Florida. Any tips on a good setup for riding in hot & humid weather? After reading posts on this site, I'm leaning towards a water-cooled, shaft-drive bike, but what is a good setup for the sidecar?

We also live in Florida (Venice). We have a Hannigan Astro GT sidecar with a removable hardtop. We recently upgraded the body and got their air conditioning option at the recommendation of a friend who has a similar sidecar on a Gold Wing. It is a system that circulates ice water through a heat exchanger. We had them install a larger than standard (five gallon) cooler because of the high heat and humidity here in the summer. I can send photos if you like - just send me a private message with your email.

As for the bike, I have encountered no problems with overheating with our Sportster with synthetic oil.

As for the sidecar, short of air conditioning:
A sheepskin seat cushion/cover really helps with sweating/comfort;
An open sided cockpit cover to shade the passenger is helpful (we don't have one); and
Pop vents on the sides of the windshield help ventilate (if suitable for the sidecar)

Once the temperature breaks 92*F it just gets hot and you just have to want to ride.

RogerE - 5/19/2011 6:30 AM

ldroduner - 5/18/2011 2:59 PM My wife & I are thinking about getting a cycle and sidecar. We live in Florida. Any tips on a good setup for riding in hot & humid weather? After reading posts on this site, I'm leaning towards a water-cooled, shaft-drive bike, but what is a good setup for the sidecar?

We also live in Florida (Venice). We have a Hannigan Astro GT sidecar with a removable hardtop. We recently upgraded the body and got their air conditioning option at the recommendation of a friend who has a similar sidecar on a Gold Wing. It is a system that circulates ice water through a heat exchanger. We had them install a larger than standard (five gallon) cooler because of the high heat and humidity here in the summer. I can send photos if you like - just send me a private message with your email.

Have you used this much in high humidity? Most manufacturers of this kind of thing recommend against them in humid conditions, saying they can make you feel even worse.

I have a small solar powered fan, actually sold for carrying pets

and a vent that can be opened in the front of the sidecar. The vent allows air movement when moving, and the fan is adequate when stopped or moving slowly.

Another good option is the vents from old Vetter fairings. http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Online_Store/Replacement_Parts/Details.html#Anchor-Original-46384

Just cut a hole and pop one in. They actually work as a skylight in the nose of the sidecar as well.

You can also build a swamp cooler out of any ice chest... http://www.instructables.com/id/Portable-12V-Air-Conditioner---Cheap-and-easy!/

But again, it won't work well in high humidity.

750 cc or larger , liquid cooled, low profile for center of gravity, heavy solid frame to fasten to.
I get along fine with a 750 Honda Aero and a Kenna. I will be topping 3500 feet altitude today with a lady passenger and do not anticipate problems.

I live in the middle of the pacific ocean, and expect todays temp to be in the mid eighties.

Phelonius

did the photo posting protocol change? The last three attempts to post photos have done this.

WTF ?

Phel, I don't know why, but seems I can post the photos with the same protocol:

Phelonius you seem to fit our local saying:
"Young mice for old cats!"
Enjoy your summer we have already deep rainy season.

After fighting our steep hills and tropical weather i'd always go with water cooled four strokers.
Aircondition in a closed sidecar will need extremely high curent and will propably not have enough grunt to pump the heat out of the sidecar as well as it will cause humidity and fungus. Open air without screen is my prefered way to go. By the way it saves a lot of gas and lets you monkey more. (I sometimes bow even over the passenger)

Sven 😉