I am in Northern California. I am here mainly to become more informed. The story is that I was hit by a pickup truck a few years ago while riding home from work. After over two dozen surgeries over three years, another year of healing, therapy, mobility restrictions and losing a lot of weight I gained from not being able to walk for a year, I finally attempted to see if I could still ride. Well I could, but two things stood out. I needed to make some adaptive changes to the hand and foot controls, and that due to many factors, coming to a stop was very uncomfortable. Three wheels has always been my plan B. At the same time, I was doing a makeover on my rigid bike as a way to teach my hands to work again, (I lost about 50% use of them). When that bike came off the lift, I added a third wheel to it so I could concentrate on building the adaptive parts I needed. It definitely isn't a sidecar, and reading through the technical section here, I seemed to have gotten everything wrong designing it. But it has worked remarkably well for me. I always intended that third wheel to be temporary, but I want to prepare for my plan B. I do have experience working on and test riding customers Harley rigs, but I am a bit clueless as to aftermarket sidecar alternatives. So I am here to read and learn. Thanks for having me
Welcome, Chrisnotbob! Don’t know if that’s going to work as a nickname, but let’s see what happens.
It sounds like you have had a very challenging time getting to now and you’ve got an invictus attitude that we can all learn from. Add another two posts and you will be able to add pics of your invention for the folks who have built their own rigs to offer advice.
In fact, I would suggest starting a thread in the Technical Discussion area to be dedicated to your unique rig. It would keep things centrally located.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
@not-bob: Wow, perseverance should be your middle name. Welcome to the forum. Are you from the "real" Northern California (Above Redding) or what most people just "call" Northern California, (AKA "The Bay Area")?
Chris. @not-bob, are you committed to your ride being an H-D, or are other brands something you would consider ?
I ask, because 2 of my sidecar rigs are Hondas with the DCT transmission. Which means no clutch lever for your left hand to pull on, and your right hand can use a Throttle Rocker, so.....left hand is just assisting in the steering of the bike, and right hand rests on the Throttle Rocker, which means no tight grip on the Throttle, just using your wrist to go fast.
Many former riders that now have some sort of physical disability find that sidecar rigs allow them to keep riding, as you don't have to balance the rig when stopped.
Open up to us, as you already have, and let's see if we can solve Whirled Peas for you.
Where in Nor Cal ? If it's a guessing game, I say....Arcata.....Fortuna....Ferndale......or.....Eureka, I found you. 
Oh, and WELCOME to the greatest Sidecar forums on this planet, and any other planets.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Thank you for the welcome. I grew up in Los Angeles in the 60's and 70's and as kids, we thought everything from Bakersfield on up was Northern California, ha. I've lived in Woodland since 86'.
I am probably sticking with a Harley, I've owned 10 of them since 81', and my Wife has owned 3. Also, I was a dealer mechanic for many, many years until I got hurt.
As far as sharing my little rig, it may be an example of what not to do as it's very narrow, has a lot of lead, and I'm still running stock rake. We'll see.
My left leg made it through, except for the hole that was drilled in it to resuscitate me the first time, so shifting is no problem.
My left thumb sits in a slightly different location, but it is not an issue. My upper left arm was dislocated, fractured in 4 places and folded up, which caused some nerve damage. But it's screwed and plated now, limited shoulder mobility and the hand is sort of dumb, but I have no problem clutching.
Right leg, two femur fractures, so I have metal and screws from knee to hip, it works fine. Ankle was pulverized, it is now fused, but the hardware had to be removed. I do have the brake pedal figured out.
Right arm, elbow destroyed, forearm shattered, and a chunk of the ulnar nerve ripped out. The elbow is now a simple hinge, with 90 degrees of movement, the bones in the forearm are fused, so no articulation now. All that leaves my hand with about 20 % function. I've used throttle rockers for many years, and that's where I started. But the hand has developed a wicked tremor now. so I have built a paddle throttle that so far works well.
The Not Bob thing. A new service writer was being introduced to all the mechanics once, after meeting four consecutive guys named Bob, I was introduced as Not Bob. It stuck for a while.
Hay Mr Chris
Welcome to the nut house, i am sure you will fit in just fine.
Lots of experience and knowledge here and not a little humor.
Just ask
All you need is the willingness to grow and the courage to embrace change =)
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Hi Chris,
Glad you're still topside of the turf. Texas Sidecars has an amazing selection of sidecars. A Sportster with a Spyder sidecar could be a pretty sexy beast, while staying on the smaller, lighter side of things.
One of the big advantages to a sidecar rig is the ability to go off road as well as on road. Northern California has stunning forest service roads. Maybe a more adventurous rig with DCT or e-Clutch.
A well setup used rig, could be a great starter. There are a couple of good for sale sub-forums on this site. Also there are two for sale threads in the Hack section of ADVRider.
Another big advantage to sidecars is traveling with your best buddy. In which case a sidecar with an appropriate interior size would be important.
Point being, sidecars open up a world of opportunities. Best of luck on your journey.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
I'll get my third post out of the way now. Just in case.
I'll join the chorus of glad you survived.
And now you can join this circus.
Not a Harley man but I do know there are some advantages.
Steering mods for easier steering are readily available.
And on some of the bigger engines a reverse gear can be had.
Clutch, brake, throttle and gear change locations can all be moved to suit the operator.
Also the 3 wheel layout has options.
Hope to see some pictures soon.
Thank you for the welcome. I grew up in Los Angeles in the 60's and 70's and as kids, we thought everything from Bakersfield on up was Northern California, ha. I've lived in Woodland since 86'.
The Not Bob thing. A new service writer was being introduced to all the mechanics once, after meeting four consecutive guys named Bob, I was introduced as Not Bob. It stuck for a while.
Woodland ? .......Woodland ? .......no one had Woodland, California on their Bingo card.
I mean, Woodland is barely north of Sacra-tomato
I had to delete all your medical history when I quoted you here, as it reminded me of autopsies I have participated in, years ago.
On a SERIOUS note....think real hard about buying a used Harley-Davidson w/sidecar, as a real factory sidecar rig, as there are a couple of them on the market right now, and usually one is available somewhere in the US.
I get the H-D thing. I was into it for many years, so get an actual Harley-Davidson sidecar rig, for less money than it would cost you to build one (that is a fact).
Second SERIOUS note: if you find THEE rig you want that is out of reach for YOU to go get, and bring back to the treeless town of Woodland, there are a few of us here that will offer to do that Fly 'n Ride for you, or drive and trailer it for you......no kidding. !
Our sidecar community is family, so if you find THEE rig you want in Oshkosh, Wisconsin....we can help get it to you.
But.......Hell, Michigan is off the table. A sidecarist went there, and was never heard of or seen again.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Please forgive the Wifes grainy video, and the stereotypical throttle blips (this test ride last week was taken specifically to test a new throttle configuration). But see, we do have a few trees here, and a porta potty, and heavy junk (thanks to PG&E).
More a one sided training wheel I suppose.
Hopefully somebody nearby can help your sidecar progression.
Sounds like you are working on the bike controls for now.
Throttle blipping obviously an important 1st step...........
Do we ever grow out of that one.
Seriously thanks for sharing your journey here.
We will cheer you on when not taking the Mickey.
Totally missed that you already had a rig. Sounds healthy. 👍
There was, or is, a guy with an ME in Mechanical engineering who seemed to be pretty knowledgeable setup for Harley sidecar rigs. John Sweet is his name if I remember right. I think he either had/has a website or instagram or something. Ran across a write up he did via a google search on wheel lead a while back. He seemed pretty opinionated, but I didn't find flaw in his logic. Might be a good one to search out.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Ha, a training wheel is exactly what I call it! John Sweet has multiple sidecar groups on FB (I don't use FB anymore) with a lot of good technical info. I joined one, and asked a couple of questions, and he gave me the boot, so that was that. Now I am here.
