First things first Hello everyone my name is Tom I live in SC 53 years young and have rode since I was 12 . I have never rode or drove a trike or sidecar rig so I have a lot to learn about them,I'm wanting to attach a sidecar to my 03 Honda VTX1800R any advice on the right size car mounting or even riding would be appreciated . I will be mounting this car myself 33 years of auto repair work should help me somewhat I have not bought a sidecar yet, been looking at a lot of low end cars both new and used maybe I'm kidding myself but I'm trying to keep the cost down around $3500.00 . Like I said 33 years of body and paint work I can turn $@#% into syola . I've been looking at the Velorex model 563 I can buy new shipping and all for $3300.00 just a little concern that it might be a little small for my bike. I passed up a Velorex model 562 for 1650.00 used shipping include .I've even looked at the Urals with the idea of using the sidecar and selling the rest... I don't want to spend much more that the 35 thanks for any help out there... O yea I want this car to carry my girl (Saddie Lad and Chow mix) with me when ever I ride 🙂
Hi Tom, I used to ride an 03 vtx 1300s but I got hit and lost my leg, now I ride an old kz650 with a friendship 1 sidecar. I remember there was a guy on the vtx forum that had a nice sidecar rig. Talk to some of the guys from this board who do installations and they can steer you inthe right direction.
Here's a pic of a Kenna Double mounted to a VTX1800 -- seems a pretty good match.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
All Velorex sidecars are way to light duty for a 1800cc bike. Our least expensive sidecar that we make that is strong enough for the VTX is our Kenna single at $3695 which includes bike specific NOT universal mounts. Our most popular sidecar for your bike is the M72C at $4995. These are both made by us in our shop in the USA rather then over seas like the Velorex. They are both strong enough for the largest bike out there. For your bike we also offer triple tree's to lower the steering effort and you can run an automotive tire on the stock rear wheel.
If you find a used sidecar, feel free to contact us before you buy, some sidecars by the time you make them safe for your bike they are not such a good deal. We also can provide mounts for most sidecars however for "ural" type sidecars (Ural's, CJ, Dnepr's) you must cut off the lower front mount, weld in an adjustable mount, weld a new lower rear mount to the frame and replace all of the lower mounting arms with what we call bosses and clamps.
You might also look into taking a sidecar class www.esc.org and buying the book "Driving a sidecar outfit" which we sell for $34.95 you can also buy it several other places.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
jay@dmcsidecars.com
I live in SC, if you'd like to get a look at the setup I've got, 1300 VTX with an Escort sidecar, I could meet you somewhere. You'll really enjoy a sidecar rig, but like someone said, the front fork modification makes a world of difference. I'd be willing to give you a chance at riding mine to get a feel for it. If you've ridden 2 wheel bikes it is a bit of a learning curve, I've ridden for a total, off and on. for about 50+ years but all on 2 wheels. My first time to pick up that sidecar wheel put new understanding to pucker-power!
But, now I will, occasionally, pull it up, just to remind myself how to react when it comes up.
send me a pm and we can arrange to meet and you might want to bring a camera to get some understanding about the geometry of how it goes together.
Doc
The Velorex sidecars are great for the middleweight cruisers but not a match for the heavyweights like the VTX 1800, Valkyrie or the big full dress baggers.
Here are a couple of nice VTX 1800 rigs I've set up with a URAL Classic and a Kenna single standard.
Lonnie (Velorex dealer)
Northwest Sidecars
I too looked at the posibility of adding a sidecar to my 2003 VTX 1800R, and came out better buying a whole rig already set up and keeping the VTX on 2 wheels. Now we are looking at selling the X and keeping the sidecar rig =}
It's funny how we go about things. I've been brought up in a world of 'doing my own things.' Having had parents who were mad keen motorcyclists (and outfit riders/racers) I think I was born to breathe fuel not air.
Seriously though, my very first outfit was something that a workshop built. I'm not light and I'm not (well wasn't) light on the throttle when I took up sidecars at a pretty early age. People say I had a genetic modification that made me like the crazy things.
Over time, I got to play with building my own and all these decades down the track I continue to do so. I love it!
A few years back I bought a VTX800C with the only mindset of building a chair. My mum who'd had 3 strokes and other major health issues still wanted to 'ride.' I had a bmw chair at the time and basically she never wanted to be anywhere else! I liked the idea of the X even though I wasn't so fussed on it as a 2 wheeler. 4 days after I bought it, Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer - so it got ridden occasionally as a 2 wheeler and left in the shed. (I like sports bikes).
A year later, I got my head around pulling the X completely to the ground - built a full sub-frame, put on a 5 point mount - single boat on a double frame - toolkits, battery etc through the middle - 6* rake front with 2" extensions, changed shocks bit longer - heavier springs) at the rear - performance mods - 2 up switchblade - auxilliary petrol tank in sidecar, braided lines... CT on rear, changed profile on front... etc. It took me 6 weeks to build 'my' beast. It is designed for me - the way I like it!
It's a heavy bike, framework is biased wide simply because it is a beast! All my outfits have had links on them except the X. I liked the look of that big front - so I raked it. The rake is outstanding! The beast is simply a joy to ride (on a long haul or up a mountain).
For many buying an outfit is more beneficial than building one - for me I get so much joy from building them and 'playing.'
I'm heading the opposite direction now - my next outfit build will be a light weight on a light weight bike (sidecar is ready - I'll know the bike when I see it!)
As you can see, I'm not a big photo taker 
Michelle
Sidecar_Girl - 5/26/2012 5:44 PM
... built a full sub-frame, put on a 5 point mount - single boat on a double frame - toolkits, battery etc through the middle - 6* rake front with 2" extensions, changed shocks bit longer - heavier springs) at the rear - performance mods - 2 up switchblade - auxilliary petrol tank in sidecar, braided lines... CT on rear, changed profile on front... etc....
Congrats on the rig. But, hey, quit teasing us: We want more pics -- and riding stories.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
Teasing? I'm a girl!!!! It's allowed
Just to keep Swampy happy, here's some pics taken on the phone. I haven't read through here for years and I'm sure I had an old login years ago (too old to remember it!).
Anyhow, this was the beast I had to build. Yeah I know, IT'S ON THE WRONG SIDE! The girl is from Oz!
It gets ridden often and hard - then again, so have all the ones I've had before!!! Life is too short not to enjoy these crazy things. This one only has 50 000 on it - a pup compared to the hundreds of thousands I put on a K BMW and a GS1000G Suzuki!
