Which Side Car? Please?

A Kenna Standard would be a good value.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Here's my 80 lbs. Lab, Rusty. I took the seat and speakers out. A foam mattress with a Persian Rug (nothing but the best for Rusty) for him to lay on. We've logged over 20k miles together.

You have to have a "heavy" sidecar for that bike. You need a hack that is approx. 1/3 the weight of the bike in an ideal world. Hannigan is as close to you as anyone in Murray, KY. I have 2 sidecars, a Champion on a Heritage, and a GTL on my Wing. Wing is similar to an Ultra, and they make one for the BMW that matches nice with the Ultra, I've seen a couple with it attached and they looked sweet!

Do not waste your money on a Velorex or similar sized rigs, they are fine, but too light and small for your bike. Look at the FOR SALE sections and you'll see plenty of "budget" mistakes!

Just my 2 cents!

Dundertaker

Your FLHTCU CVO is (disclaimer: IMO) the ultimate tug for H-D aficionados. 6 speeds and gobs of torque and H.P. An H-D tub will have a specific connection package designed and manufactured for your specific year and model.
There will be some serious added expense. The connection kit AND relocation kits for some items a well as labor for set-up.....and matched paint.....but you will have a truly "matched" combination....and something your dealer would be happy to either trade or consign when you are ready for a new rig....most H-D dealers won't work on aftermarkets and I'm pretty sure you will void your warranty with any other make of sidecar.

Also: Your ECM can be mapped to add efficiency to the style of riding you'll be doing.

Originally written by ditch on 4/10/2008 7:24 AM

Your FLHTCU CVO is (disclaimer: IMO) the ultimate tug for H-D aficionados. 6 speeds and gobs of torque and H.P. An H-D tub will have a specific connection package designed and manufactured for your specific year and model.
There will be some serious added expense. The connection kit AND relocation kits for some items a well as labor for set-up.....and matched paint.....but you will have a truly "matched" combination....and something your dealer would be happy to either trade or consign when you are ready for a new rig....most H-D dealers won't work on aftermarkets and I'm pretty sure you will void your warranty with any other make of sidecar.

Also: Your ECM can be mapped to add efficiency to the style of riding you'll be doing.

Well the good news(if you can call it that) is that your warranty is probably done this year unless you bought a extension on it. I also have a 06 ultra/ultra side but not a SE version (yet). As for a hack the suggestion others have givin are all good. You don't have to get one thats color matched but Im sure if you got FLHTCU CVO its a pretty rig and you wouldn't want to detract from it. Also you need to know if you put a sidecar on you can forget the idea of taking it off and puting it back on whenever you want(brake lines, wireing and geting it set up again is a B ^&ch) I don't ever want to discourage any one from owning a hack....you meet the nicest people and and they are great fun to do a differn't kind on motorcycling. We love ours and have a blast taking our kids for rides. I took our dog for a ride a few days ago...but a schnauzer is a little smaller that your dog..lol. As for cost...yep its up there. but ya can't take it with you. Heck I'd rather regret somthing I did in twenty year than ask my self in twenty years...Why did'nt I. Just my .02 anyways. Best of luck on you endevors and welcome to the site. ED.

You are all magnificent to sharer as you do.! Thanks for the advice, I was having second thoughts until I checked this site out hoping for a response. The responses and pictures speak a thousand wonderful words. Thank You! John

I have a 1 year old yellow lab. I put an eye bolt in the floor of my sidecar just in front of the seat. A very short lead still allows Bailey to sit up on the seat, or lay on the floor. I always put a harness on him when he is riding, I don't think a collar is enough to hold a dog securely in the sidecar. The harness I bought has a steel ring on the chest part, I attach the lead there. Don't forget Doggles for your dog,

http://doggles.com/doggles.html

they look cool and will protect the dogs eyes from a bug strike or flying debris.

Start with short slow trips, make it fun with lots of treats. My dog didn't like to go at first. My wife would hold him in her lap and he would hide in the front of the sidecar, now he likes it and sticks his nose around the side of the sidecar's windshield for his wind in the face fix.

Dave

As long as this thread is going to the dogs...
Taylor get to try on his new leather Aviator helmet and googles.

Roy

Yes....the dog....the most important part of the equation and the only passenger who will never say "how much farther?"......

My vet told me he has seen lots of farm dogs lose their site prematurely (cornea abrasion) from riding in the back of pick-ups.....same would go for hacks.....a chest harness is a good idea.....but not a collar....a collar will break his neck if he gets thrown.

Taking long trips on the combo with my dog is a most pleasurable experience.

John, as a Harley owner, I agree with Ditch's comments, both your tug and a Motor Co car. I don't have a large dog (i.e. she's a Maltese, at 5 lbs) but a good friend does, and hauls them in his Ural sidecar. One advantage he has mentioned is the Ural sidecar has a cutout opening on the out side which make entry/exit a bit easier for some.A younger dog could , I presume, easily jump into any sidecar, but if he/she is older could it be an isuue? I would think picking up a larger dog might be awkward. Just food for thought. Good luck, you will love sidecarring.greg

I put Taylor into a harness that is then attached in front and behind him. Give him some movement but he can't get thrown out. Next are the Russian aviator google with an extra strap that goes under his jaw like the "Doggle" brand. Have put "mutt muff" over his ears and the leather helmet over them but the jury is stii out on that matter. It gets to be a bit much for him and me, buckling and unbuckling.
Roy

Originally written by gill-nielsen on 4/9/2008 12:33 PM

I would greatly appreciate hearing recommendations from those who have traveled with their dogs, and have a great deal of experience. Thank You!
John

There is a whole thread with numerous pictures of dogs in sidecars on
the Adventure Rider web pages. You may see something there that appeals
to you.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295048
ADVrider > Bikes > Hacks > Hacks-n-Pups

There is also a whole thread for "Doggles", or googles for dogs.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=313237&highlight=doggles
ADVrider > Bikes > Hacks > Doggles pix!

Entertaining if nothing else.

There is one big problem with our Heelers and the Sidecar, they just won't let me go without them so it's hard to get in a ride with the Hack off the bike. 😉

Then there is the issue of being out in Farm Country with the Red Heeler, he goes nuts whenever we are around cattle or even the smell of them. :o)
Passing a Cattle Truck in either direction can be a real distraction, sure glad I have them leashed in!

Doggles are a good Idea but is easier said than done. It only takes 15 minutes and they are off. None of the three will leave them alone.

My Shepherd Taylor usually tolerates the Russian aviator goggle but did not like the Doggles at all. The Russian goggles have a wide rubber coated leather border around each lens that seems to distribute the contact force more comfortably. He will ride most of the time without fussing but as soon as we stop he starts pawing at them. Roy