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What Is Your Ultimate "Dream Rig"?

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(@scott-h)
Posts: 774
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

What is your ultimate dream rig?  Or do you already have it (why is it your "ultimate rig")?  Could it be just one, or would you really need two to make all your dreams come true?

I was over on the Cloudy Nights web forum (Astronomy site), and there was a topic of "if you could only have one telescope...".  Got me thinking about a telescope kit I sold like a total dumby, and what the "ultimate Sidecar rig" would be.  With that in mind...

If I could only have one sidecar rig, the ultimate setup would be a '20-'22 Africa Twin Adventure Sport repainted to match the 2018 Africa Twin Adventure Sport red, white and blue paint scheme.  Not sure if it would be DCT, but maybe.  Then it would need to have a Claude Stanley sidecar setup, and an e-drive aux unit with separate thumb throttle. 

If I could have two, the second would be based on an Indian Heritage, with a Texas Sidecars Tomahawk SE.  Spoke wheels,  Chrome grill, Two tone Maroon & cream, tan leather with so much leather fringe everywhere I'd have to upgrade the springs.  

 

Side note:  The closest I could come to just one telescope rig is a 9.25"- 11" Schmidt Cassegrain on a CGX-L mount, and replacing the original supplied finder scope with a Lunt 152mm double stacked Universal Telescope.  That's actually cheating.  But I'm a Smokey Yunick kind of guy. 😎 

 

 

Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃

 
Posted : November 21, 2024 10:22 am
MJ, Ben Franklin, Brstr and 2 people reacted
Thane Lewis
(@thane-lewis)
Posts: 505
Moderator
 

I have quit looking at rigs other than to keep eyes open for those interested.  I can't see wanting or "needing" another specialty rig at this point.  But that's how I generally roll anyway.

Illegitemi non carborundum est!

 
Posted : November 21, 2024 11:25 am
(@scott-h)
Posts: 774
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Posted by: @thane-lewis

I have quit looking at rigs other than to keep eyes open for those interested.  I can't see wanting or "needing" another specialty rig at this point.  But that's how I generally roll anyway.

And you have a pretty "ultimate rig". 😎 

 

Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃

 
Posted : November 21, 2024 12:32 pm
(@brstr)
Posts: 281
Honorable Member
 

One that only needs one more modification to make it perfect.....

 

Wait!

 
Posted : November 21, 2024 5:40 pm
(@archtique)
Posts: 5
Active Member
 

A Stoye TM or TS hitched up to my Halcyon 450.  New to this forum, and looking for builders/installers in the sidecar industry.  I know they're out there, but damn they're hard to find.  

 
Posted : November 21, 2024 9:10 pm
(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 1031
Noble Member
 

Posted by: @archtique

A Stoye TM or TS hitched up to my Halcyon 450.  New to this forum, and looking for builders/installers in the sidecar industry.  I know they're out there, but damn they're hard to find.  

Tony Guinn, actually, all the sidecar builders, manufacturers, custom designers, fabricators are all quite easy to find, and we know where they are all..World Wide....not just in the USA. So, if you ask us, we can help you out by telling you the Who, What, and Where.

Given that you post above is your very first post, could you give us some help, in helping you?

WHERE are you ? Have you owned a sidecar rig before ?

 

Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : November 22, 2024 9:00 am
smitty901, Brstr and sheath reacted
(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 1031
Noble Member
 

Okay,  I will  participate in this flight of fantasy,  purely  out of  respect for  Scott, the  owner of the  SYZ...Screaming Yellow Zonker....which most sidecarists would  consider  an Ultimate  Dream  Rig, and would like to  own themselves. 

Aside from the  sidecar rigs I  currently  own, one of which  actually  has a Hannigan  DREAM  Sidecar attached to the bike,  my fantasy of an UDR....Ultimate Dream  Rig....would be one  that I  initially  attempted to  build a few years ago. 

In 2016 & 2017 Honda brought the Crosstourer, or VFR1200X to the US, and the same bike was available in  Europe  for a few  years before  that,  and after that.  In my opinion the Honda VFR1200X is Honda's version of the  BMW R1200GS, a bike that is  widely used  around the World  for sidecar rigs.

And, Honda offered this VFR1200X in both manual  transmission,  and the DCT transmission. 

I ordered one in 2019 from my local  dealership,  and they  found  that the  regional  warehouse  still had a brand new  2017 VFR1200X-DCT in stock.....with a VIN that ended in 00007, as if this bike was destined for Bond....James Bond.

I also found a "still in the  crate" former DMC Expedition sidecar at a Portland  area Ducati  dealership  that  no longer  had a need for it,  so I bought it. 

Fortunately for me,  my plan to  have Mike Paull do a complete build for me was sidelined, as Mike Paull declined to  work on Honda's at that time,  despite having  LBS in the  Netherlands  agree to  build all the  subframe,  the Leading Link front end,  and all associated  mounts, then ship them to  Mike Paull.  His refusal to build this rig for me  was a blessing,  because I  avoided having a  former DMC Expedition sidecar,  that  would have  proven to be THEE weak Link in this build.

So, I  sold the  2017 Honda VFR1200X-DCT that I  had already  prepped the  bike with two sets of Rigid  Industries  driving and  fog lights, Giving hard bags, etc, etc, etc.

If I were to  have a UDR built today,  it would  again  start with a  2017 Honda VFR1200X-DCT, then have Chuck Loftin in Eugene,  Oregon  build  the Leading Link front end,  build the  subframe for the bike  out of Docol R8 tubing,  build the sidecar  frame out of Docol R8 tubing,  then build an all aluminum cargo  box as the  body of the  sidecar,  with matching  17" tubeless  wheels  at all 3 corners.

A shaft drive, V-4 fuel injected Honda engine,  with Honda DCT transmission,  with all wiring  done by myself,  but all structural  build done by Chuck  Loftin...@@54vintage,  would be a very powerful drive train, with a relatively lighter weight sidecar,  but very utilitarian,  extremely  reliable. 

If I  were 30 years younger,  and not married,  this is the Ultimate Dream Rig I would  build, as it would be  suitable to  drive on 6 of  7 continents.

Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : November 22, 2024 5:03 pm
MGV8, Brstr, sheath and 1 people reacted
(@scott-h)
Posts: 774
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

I had forgotten about the Cross Tourer.  That is a very capable bike.  Would make an epic exploring rig. 😎 Also like your idea of the aluminum tub & Chromoly tubing. 👍  

I'd like to try Docol R8 tubing on the next build.  When I was into building off road rigs it wasn't available.  For a home builder it seems like a great alternative.  Especially for those of us who do MIG, and not TiG.

https://competitionmotorsport.com/products/docol-r8-advanced-high-strength-steel?srsltid=AfmBOopn6igp4muUyIjd9pBwW2hh7OVGsdiq1ph48_hSGln3D94xp4pq

Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃

 
Posted : November 23, 2024 9:40 am
(@archtique)
Posts: 5
Active Member
 

Posted by: @miles-ladue

Posted by: @archtique

A Stoye TM or TS hitched up to my Halcyon 450.  New to this forum, and looking for builders/installers in the sidecar industry.  I know they're out there, but damn they're hard to find.  

Tony Guinn, actually, all the sidecar builders, manufacturers, custom designers, fabricators are all quite easy to find, and we know where they are all..World Wide....not just in the USA. So, if you ask us, we can help you out by telling you the Who, What, and Where.

Given that you post above is your very first post, could you give us some help, in helping you?

WHERE are you ? Have you owned a sidecar rig before ?

 

Hello, and thanks for the reply.  I'm in Lakeland FL, and have owned 2 rigs, Vespa PX150 and Ural Tourist.  I've just recently started the hunt.  Found a Stoye at Blue Moon Cycles, but it got away before I could react.  Any direction you can provide would be great!

 

 

 
Posted : November 24, 2024 7:37 am
(@michael-lydon)
Posts: 20
Trusted Member
 

A high performance sidecar rig, with hub center steering, car tires all around (relatively narrow) powered by a BMW R1100 motor. Not looking for the GT type rigs from the Bill's. Looking for more of an MGB vibe. Light, nimble handling, adequate, but not overpowered, with a custom built fiberglass sidecar.

 
Posted : November 24, 2024 8:56 am
Thane Lewis, Brstr, FlyingMonkeys and 1 people reacted
 MGV8
(@mgv8)
Posts: 210
Reputable Member
 

I am not sure, as I already have about the perfect rig for me, times two.. Thank you AD and Mike of LBS fame and Brock Smith from the former Side Effects .. Of course the formula for rig ownership is Ultimate Rig=N+1   Where as N is the current number of rigs you own.   Hmmm do I have room for one more? I am sure it will be the ultimate. LOL 

 
Posted : November 24, 2024 8:26 pm
(@scott-h)
Posts: 774
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Posted by: @mgv8

I am not sure, as I already have about the perfect rig for me, times two.. Thank you AD and Mike of LBS fame and Brock Smith from the former Side Effects .. Of course the formula for rig ownership is Ultimate Rig=N+1   Where as N is the current number of rigs you own.   Hmmm do I have room for one more? I am sure it will be the ultimate. LOL 

Don't introduce them to each other what ever you do!  😯 

I once had perfection times two.   Kay was an accountant with a large auditing firm.  She was a hoot, and loved adventure outings.  Edith was a bank teller, and very serious.  She loved to go dancing.   One day by shear happenstance they met at the bank and started talking.  Well, that ended that.

Moral of the story:  You can't have your Kay and Edith too.  😉 

I'll be here all week... Try the veal.  

 

Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃

 
Posted : November 25, 2024 8:54 am
MGV8, Brstr, Ben Franklin and 3 people reacted
(@smitty901)
Posts: 794
Noble Member
 

 I have it. Hannigan Twin Classic on a 2017 RGU first, then a 2020 RGL going on a different 2020 RGL .

My demands were simple.

It had to work for Payton.

It had to done right. Handle well and run at highway speed. Hannigan covered that.

No spoke wheels. Sidecar must use a car tire.

Must have ECC and disk brakes.

I wanted a wide tub. Twin Classic did the job.

If needed parts had to be easy to get.

Easy to remove and put back on.

The sidecar has been on 2 bikes so far 82,000 miles total on it.  It is now going on the third bike.

 

The 750 Rig works for what it was meant for. Doing stupid stuff.

 

  

 

 

 
Posted : November 25, 2024 9:07 am
MGV8, SwampFox, Brstr and 3 people reacted
 Drew
(@andrew-baker)
Posts: 334
Prominent Member
 

First.  You can have more than one one.  (Thank goodness or we'd all still be straddled with our first hormone-selected partner.)

Second.  This thread is screaming for pictures.  IE.  What is a Stoye TM or TS? (in fairness @archtique can't post pics until they post once more)

Third.  See "First".  I just built my ideal rig but you can have more than one one.

 

Soooo-  Here's my next ultimate (after my current ultimate) rig.

I've been saving my change ever since this one came up for sale a few years ago.

To quote Wayne as he drools over a Fender in Wayne's World.  "It will be mine. Oh yes. It will be mine."

 

BMW R1200RS with Ruko Shark sidecar and Center Hub Steering

IMG 2084

 

IMG 2086

 

Screen Shot 2021 07 17 at 10.49.02

 

IMG 4095

 

R12RS Shark (70)
 
Posted : November 25, 2024 11:51 am
MGV8, Philippe Murat, Brstr and 5 people reacted
(@ben-franklin)
Posts: 201
Honorable Member
 

This one... 

Now about that super charger, 2wd on demand, hack frame that isn't made out of butter, subframe that isn't made out of butter, etc...  Only money, right?

20241028 222023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Posted : November 25, 2024 4:47 pm
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