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Best match for me ? Wants and needs .

Hello
This is my first post on this forum and I am newly interested in buying a motorcycle with a sidecar .
I have a list in my head about what I want and need out of this purchase .
If I could get a few of your opinions on what rig would be a good fit for me.

Needs
-On and off road capabilites . < nothing to drasitc but gravel roads are a must .
-A certain look I have in mind . A classic style but doesn't have to be classic by defenition . (Looks older than it is )
I.E. BMW r90 1976 model . Ural I know makes an amazing bike but seriously lacks in one of my catagories .
-Top speed . Not to fast but able to take a freeway if possible. 80 mph 70 cruising .

Wants
-Smooth ride . I understand that i can upgrade suspension, seats, and the like to get a better ride .
-Easy to work on. I am taking classes on bike repair so I will be able to do a good but to this bike but since it will be my first purchase I want to be able to learn more from it .
-Distance . I plan taking this rig on long trips . From Houston where i am located to Washington is my first long distance trip .
-Price. I am limited on disposable income so something under 12k after (if needed ) modifacations or repairs.

Thank you for any input you towards my new purchase

What would your loads consist of? Passenger/s or what? How large are you? Covered or open rig?
First rig and a long tour may be a bit problematical with a vintage bike unless you have towing insurance and no tight schedule to adhere to.
Your best bet for a first long range outfit might be a larger displacement Japanese cruiser. They can keep up on the freeways, are almost maintenance free, have good front ends, brakes and drivelines, lots of parts and repair sources if needed and easy access to a myriad of aftermarket touring needs and accessories. Also a choice of water cooled or oil/air cooled which can be a factor in the hot urban climates.

The easy to work on idea is good for project bikes but there isn't too many easy tasks on the road except maybe a spark plug change, chain adjustment or a valve adjustment if it is a vintage tug. Lots of desert and mountains between TX and WA.

L.

My load would include me 180 lbs 6 1 and another passenger with the same build . I want an open hack just because of the look though . As far as insurance I will have full coverage including life flight . I will look into the Japanese cruisers . Thank you .

Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha all have good tugs to choose from at reasonable prices. 1100 cc up would be my choice for a cross country hauler that will handle the superslabs and the byways comfortably.

L.

I've got an 08 Honda VTX 1300 with Champion Escort side hack with Champion's EZ-Steer, I've never had a problem keeping up with my friends that haven't learned that 3 wheels is much more fun than 2. Honda and Harley dealerships are pretty much every where, BMW, and Ural dealerships are much rarer in most of the US, although there are pockets of them on the coastal states. Even if you can do ALL your mechanical work, you'll still have to have parts for replacements. There are often listings in the forum, and of course on some of the auction type websites, as well.
Whatever bike you get, by all means get the front fork modification, EZ-Steer is Champion's version, there are others out there as well, but unless you want to be fighting steering, and probably going to give up on sidecars, in general, by all means spend the money on the front fork, it's like power steering for motorcycles with sidecars. Everyone's brand will be the best one, Lonnie seems to be VERY knowledgeable, as are many others, and I've got experience only with my setup, but I've learned a great deal from lurking around and this forum. These folks are great, and there's little of the machismo that inhabits some of the other bike forums. Learn from these guys, and don't do like I did, I didn't start learning til I'd already lifted the hack wheel, called "flying the car!" I got my FIRST TASTE OF FEAR when that happened, and I've ridden in ambulances on the Autobahn in Germany, with German ambulance drivers!!! (%^)) Each time I do it now, I get a little more relaxed, but not to the point of careless!
Welcome to the forum and learn as much as you can from these people.
You didn't say if you've ever ridden any motorcycles, if not, that can be a good thing as you won't have to unlearn bad habits developed riding 2 wheeled motorcycle.
Good luck with your learning, and welcome to the forum.

Doc

I liked the bad habits line . That is true . I have been on and around motorcycles for awhile but have never owned on .
I was still wonder if there is a dual sport or adventure class bike out there I just "have " to know about before I buy . I am in Houston so there is almost every kinda of bike with parts available at my disposal . As far a cross country travel I will not be riding day and night anywhere . Would be okay to have an air cooled bike if I am not in a hurry to go anywhere ? Such as older BMW's I have read that they are dangerous to hack on some model due to fragging . But I just really like that older r series look . This is why I was originally looking at Urals . I would like that off road capability . Then again I need some freeway access .

WhiteyTrashed - 8/8/2011 9:58 PM

.... I still wonder if there is a dual sport or adventure class bike out there I just "have " to know about before I buy . I am in Houston....

Hi Whitey: Welcome the the world of sidecars: First, Marcus with Pineywoods Motorcycle Academy hosts S/TEP sidecar training classes up in Lufkin -- his email is: marcuscycleshop--at--aol.com.

KLR650 and DR650's both make good dual-sport/off-road rigs (I'm sure I would enjoy such a rig) but are not freeway rigs.

It appears you would prefer a rig powered by a BMW RxxxxGS bike or a Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, or maybe a Triumph Tiger. With careful selection you could likely build such a rig on a V-Strom or Tiger and stay within budget. Last spring there was a fellow over in Beorne looking to sell his '10 GS with Claude Stanley sidecar; it was one of the best rigs I've ever seen, but the price was $28,000. I do not know anyone with a V-Strom rig in our area, but here are a pics of a couple of GS rigs, but neither are within the stated budget:

Elmer's Hannigan rig:

And Bob's DMC rig:

Also, DMC has a good sampling of photos of dual sport rigs here: http://www.dmcsidecars.com/Sidecars/dualsportsidecars.htm

Lee / Summer Grove, Louisiana: Ural cT, CJ750, Burgman/Texas Ranger, Zuma 50F, MB5, TW200, CRF250L, GTV300

Here's a powerful rig for sale just north of Houston. I've seen the rig and know the owner.

From: http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/2506249593.html

2008 Suzuki C109RT VLR 1800 TH8 Boulevard Touring Bike with Ranger Sidecar (by Texas Sidecar Co.) 11000 miles immaculate condition....
Contact 936-328-4443 ... $11500

Lee / Summer Grove, Louisiana: Ural cT, CJ750, Burgman/Texas Ranger, Zuma 50F, MB5, TW200, CRF250L, GTV300

You have an interesting set of requirements:
1. Freeway capable.
2. Vintage look.
3. Gravel road capable.

Here's my not-real-knowledgeable $.02

- I'm guessing a Ural (or other metal) sidecar would be the best choice for bashing around dirt roads - compared to fiberglass cars.
- 1st gen BMW GS with a Ural car. Even then, the R80GSs and later R100GSs will be a little short on freeway power.
- A Triumph Scrambler. Vintage look, same performance as R100GS. Reasonable dirt road performance. A new bike and sidecar would be a little less than $12K. Used would be less.
- Ural with an R100 engine in it. Other transmission/driveline/suspension upgrades may be required.
- a weird choice: Harley Sportster converted to a dual sport. I've seen homemade conversions online and have always been intrigued. Never seen a hack on one though. You could be the first 😉

For true freeway power you're probably looking at modern BMW GS, Triumph Tiger (1st generation ones have some issues), SV1000 etc. Not real vintage and the modern frames make adapting sidecars mpre difficult and expensive.

i have looked into all of these responses .
Some might be a bit to much bike for me .
Thanks for thinking I could handle it though .
I have looking into the Ural with the R80 guts before but I don't think I should get that carried away so soon soon in my rig owning life .
The last thing I want ia a rig that constantly has issues and makes me not want to ride it .
Someone once told me that when you buy your first bike , make sure you buy it new . Just so you can see and understand what proper maintenance is and what ppl tell you when they sell their used one . I am still a couple months away from my purchase and this forum has and continues to be very helpful . Thank you everyone .
I have contacted Marcus in Lufkin and I will be seeing him shortly . Waiting till next month or two so this Texas heat doesnt kill me from being in a open lot all day .

The triumph scrambler looks nice . I am looking at the DMC hacks and it seems they can do this combo .

WhiteyTrashed - 8/9/2011 5:26 PM

The triumph scrambler looks nice....

Here's an example: George & Aurora from New Mexico at last year's Caddo Lake rally. They have driven this rig from New Mexico to East Texas on at least 3 occasions. Note the 80/20 tires:

Lee / Summer Grove, Louisiana: Ural cT, CJ750, Burgman/Texas Ranger, Zuma 50F, MB5, TW200, CRF250L, GTV300

A little off topic but here's a picture of an "enduro" sportster with enduro sidecar on a German forum - the dreckster.

http://www.becks24.de/cgi-bin/hdub/YaBB.pl?num=1234705828