Edited the first post with a short cut link to the post above about the second test ride thoughts. Someone who might be interested in the combination, but doesn't want to read through 11 pages of my drivel, no longer needs to. Also changed the title to better reflect how the rig actually came out.
I don't think this is "unintimidating or beginner friendly". But it is a whole lot of fun. 🤩
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Worked on the lighting today.
Overall I feel kind of "meh" about it. It works but definitely lots of room for improvement when the head light gets added.
Not convinced the Running/Turn Signal lamp under the front lip of the sidecar fender is easily visible for oncoming traffic. For now the bike's right front turn signal will stay active.
Happy with the rear sidecar light (added an 1157 LED bulb). Temporarily using a passive 3-2 wire trailer converter to get Brake/Turn & Running lamp.
Under seat of the sidecar is a mess. It will all get cleaned up when the air compressor and battery is mounted.
I'm using part of the excess discarded trailer harness just to get a lighting ground through the SAE harness. lol
Made a sub-harness to plug into the factory harness for brake and running light.
The way it is setup one connector is disconnected for the sidecar lighting harness, and the SAE connector is unplugged. The right turn signal lead then gets plugged back into the oem sub-harness via a bullet connector.
Both the SAE harness and the sidecar light harness slide out under the fender, and stay with the sidecar when it is removed from the bike. Super easy to do.
For the sidecar lights, the front running/turn signal is a Harley Davidson aftermarket kit. Just lengthened the harness. Originally thought this was going to be the "hot setup", but I don't think folks are going to be looking under the front lip of the fender. P-clamps would be a better way to secure the harness.
The original rear sidecar light has some interesting wire colors.
Yellow is ground
Brown is brake/turn
Green is running
Blew a fuse before realizing my mistake. lol
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If it's a light then it's should be visible, in the dark anyway.
People may need a second headlight to be sure in the day.
Otherwise just weave your wa6 down the the road to make em nervous.
It's kind of hard to do the old "two motorcycle headlights split" trick from the movies with a sidecar. 
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
250 miles of fun on the rig now. Yesterday's ride was 50 miles of the worst roads in this area. Wanted to see if anything would break, or come loose. Rig did great. I may have a few loose fillings. Seriously, I'm impressed with how taunt everything is. The rig will do well to get a steering damper though. It is twitchy over poor road conditions. Going to have to get creative with mounting one up. Thinking along the lines of a short shaft Hyperpro or Ohlins to fit under the steer head. Leaning towards the Hyperpro RSC.
Today was 50 miles in some pretty strong headwinds on U.S. 40. This is where the small displacement shows. Thankfully the sporty styling with the small fairing allows for a pretty good tuck position. The wide bars allow for using one arm/hand, and tucking the other in. Was able to maintain between 60-65mph with the bike in 4th and 5th gears. Long, fast freeway riding is not what this rig is about, but was a good test. Lowest fuel mileage reported on the display was 34mpg, and the overall average with the sidecar has dropped to 76mpg. Think that will continue to drop, until a more accurate reading is attained.
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Sounds like it will hold together. I bet the light weight is nice in the rocky stuff.
Steering dampers are nice in the rocks, as well. I like the mscmoto one I mounted on the steering head, it has held up to some abuse. They claim a lot of adjustability, but in practice, it feels to be mostly binary.
I leave it on max, most of the time. It isn't needed on the pavement, since I got most of the flex out of the system, but it absorbs a lot of the twisting in the rocks.
When I raced Off-Road and MX, the bikes all were fitted with Scotts dampers. The Scotts dampers have separate high and low speed circuits, and adjustable sweep for each direction. I like low speed damping almost completely off (especially on an MX track), requires too much body language/energy. Of the different dampers I tried the Scotts dampers suited my riding style best.
Everything is built so compact on the Speed 400, that a Scotts damper would be very difficult to fit, and have it work properly. The tie pin needs to be extremely stiff in its mounting. Same for any damper really. The cylindrical dampers make mounting much easier, but not sure I'm going to like the single adjustment in comparison to the Scotts damper. Kind of a spendy experiment. Will probably start on it early spring. If I don't like the way it works, I'll send it back. So don't want to sit on it for six months.
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Scott, it's funny, coincidental, and ironic that I got the exact same reply from the exact guy at Hyperpro BV in the Netherlands, when I asked him two days ago about a Steering Dampener for a Honda Africa Twin.
My reply to him was that he is forcing me to leave the beautiful Netherlands, and I may take Ad Donkers @ LBA Sidecars with me, solely because they don't make a Steering Dampener for a Honda Africa Twin.
I can see possibly not making one YET for the Triumph Speed 400....but the Honda Africa Twin....are you kidding me. ???
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
@miles-ladue , This is about the only choice, these days, for a steering stem mount damper for the AT:
https://www.mscmoto.com/honda-crf-1100-africa-twin-19-23-rm3-steering-damper
Scotts made one for awhile, if you could find one for the 2019 on back model, Ohlins knocked off the Scott unit for awhile, but suddenly stopped.
Of course, there is always fleabay:
I think Mike Paul has had some positive results with this Chinesium unit:
My first choice, hands down, take-my-money Please!!! would be the genuine Scotts damper. The reasons are:
- I've used them for two decades racing dirt bikes, and am very comfortable with setup and how to get the best from this damper based on my skillset, and needs.
- Separate adjustments for high speed, low speed, and active area of sweep.
- Rebuildable.
- Made here in the Good Old U.S. of A..
All that wrote, for the Ultimate Africa Twin Alaska rig it might be worth reaching out to Scotts and discuss the rig, and it's use. These things are spendy, and it would not be cool to have a failure in the middle of Grizzly Lunch Time, AK. Or even Mosquito Lunch Time, AK.
Side note: Last I checked Scotts makes two versions of their damper. A dirt and street version. My understanding is same adjustments, different valving. Another good reason to discuss their recommendation. Looks like they still list the mount for the AT. Might be worth calling, if you are interested in their system.
https://www.scottsonline.com/ShopYourBike_Products.php?Bike_ID=7716#
As a side note, I think Strongbad (don't know his real name) raced with Scotts dampers as well. He would be another person to get good input from.
May the Force be with you Jedi World Travel Master Ladue!
ETA: if you go with the Scotts damper kit, it is worth getting the big knob for adjusting High Speed Damping circuit. This will make the initial tuning much easier than carrying a screwdriver in your pocket. Once tuned, you may not need the knob again. I only made minor tweaks between MX and off road races.
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Scott, my only reason for posting about the steering Dampener was because I read your post on that "other" sidecar forums, and thought it was funny that I too got the same reply that you got, from the same person.
My decision...test Squatch on the first ride up to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in 2026.....see if it needs a steering Dampener or not.
Squatch doesn't like to be constrained.....it's like putting a dog collar on a grizzly bear.
If I find it needs one, I can add it in the '26/'27 Winter.
And....Strongbad's real name is Craig
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Scott, my only reason for posting about the steering Dampener was because I read your post on that "other" sidecar forums, and thought it was funny that I too got the same reply that you got, from the same person.
My decision...test Squatch on the first ride up to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in 2026.....see if it needs a steering Dampener or not.
Squatch doesn't like to be constrained.....it's like putting a dog collar on a grizzly bear.
If I find it needs on, I can add it in the '26/'27 Winter.
Limiting the number of failure points is a good thing! 👍
I'm betting these companies get all kinds of similar requests. Probably has the answer on speed dial, ..."New and Improved with AI email Scrubbing Bubbles." 🤣
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At the far end of this dirt road is my newest favoritest lady. She does custom auto upholstery, and is going to do the upholstery on the Spyder, along with a tonneau cover. 😎
I need to make a new seat bottom plate, shorten the wood side panels, and make a plate to sit just above the seat back for the rear of the tonneau cover to attach (so the trunk will open without unsnapping the tonneau). Then it all goes to her very capable hands.
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@scott-h I kinda like the light under the front lip of the hack fender, but I think you want to crank up the brightness to obnoxious levels to make it useful. I'm sure there is something on the Superbriteled.com site that would do it.
