Sidecars?

[Omega Man]

I remember going through one of the pdf's found here, or maybe I read it on the NAGF forum, anyway I know I read Goldwings aren't supposed to have sidecars. As per Honda. Now is this just legal ass-covering so they won't get sued along with the sidecar manufacturer god forbid there was an accident? Yeah I see the awesome bikes here with sidecars so I'm open to the idea(among others). Is insuring one of these a problem? Lastly, does running one of these involve permanent alteration to the bike?

~O~

 

[BigAndrew]

I'd only like to have one if it was quick and easy to disconnect like two big pins and a wire connection, But if i had a whole different bike just for that it would be a different story

 

[dan filipi]

I've never riden an 1100 with a sidecar but have a 1200.

Let me tell you, when they're setup properly they drive like a dream and handle like they're on rails.
(I'm really enjoying the test rides on this one I'm working on)

It can be expensive to set up but if you keep a close watch on the ads the come along quite cheap.

The sidecar is pretty much all a bolt on deal with the exception if you change out the forks for a leading link front end, it does away with the fork setup.

I think it's all an insurance issue, typical corporate mumbo jumbo handing responsibility off to keep them off the hook. I couldnt say about insuring a Goldwing with a hack but I could ask sidecarsusie.

 

[Tory]

Yeah,what he said.

With the popularity of trike conversions,insurance policys are getting better tuned for it,but my insurance looks at the hack as an accesary and had to be noted and a value agreed on.This is where the trike guys are asking for differant coverage.They want the whole trike to be insured as one,yet some policys consider the trike kit an accesary.

From what all the hack sites say,and what I can tell,the GLs make excellant tugs.

 

[NSXLR8]

I have no problem with insurance in Skandinavia, where insurance is known for being a pain in the a** to find. My sportscar was harder to insure, and it was a factory build?!?!

My sidecar (California Sidecar) set-up claims to be a 2-3 minute break-off job, and 10 minute remount. I take a little longer, but the "quick" connect settings are good, and do allow for pulling the rig apart, and remounting the two together, without needing to do a realignment, or loosing your last settings. As mentioned above, yes, they are a pinned job.

And lastly, no, permanent alteration is not required. The mounting hardware is bolt on, bolt off. Actually, it did require a small section of the front fairing to be cut away....about the size of a 50 cent piece, so that fairing would have to be replaced, it the sidecar was to be permenantly removed, otherwise, it would be noticable. It is the small three bolt fairing, which could be had for about 30-50 bucks, if need be.

I have several bikes, for different riding styles and conditions, so I do not mount and dismount the hack often, but it would be a viable option! Good luck!

 

[sidecarsusie]

My Flexi sidecar disconnects easily... 1 bolt and 1 nut....

 

[detdrbuzzard]

well according to honda you should not pull a trailer either

 

[sidecarsusie]

That is what the sidecar is for... "STUFF". Would insert a photo, but haven't figured out how to do it yet...

 

[Tory]

They probably really dont like me pulling a trailor, WITH a sidecar. :rtfm:

 

[sidecarsusie]

Do have a trailer hitch on my rig, they should be centered between bike and hack for lane space. also if towing with a sidecar, it is nice to have a brake on the sidecar. In my case the trailer hitch is an ankle biter. Always clipping my ankles on it... If your bike has the power, a trailer is nice.... have friends that tow one all the time with their rigs... My rig is an 1984 Standard and needs a little TLC, but do not like towing a trailer, with bike or car.

 

[plskthompson1]

Here ya go Susie.

 

[sidecarsusie]

Thanks, will have to ask Dan to show me how to do that...

 

[Tory]

I tow my trailor centered with the bike,not the whole rig.I understand the lane thing,and it does look a little funny this way,but I cant seem to not think with the trailor centered between the bike and sidecar,that it wouldnt add more push and pull to the hack that way.

Also,with the trailor offset to the bike,it makes it easier to whip a hard right hand loop into a parking spot. :lol:

 

[sidecarsusie]

This is how my rig was set up when I got it..... Had a trailer, but decided that it needed a new home.

 

[Tory]

Just seems to me the trailor would be pulling uneven on one side of the bike.
Remember the sidecar is added to the side and not driven like a trike.

 

[dan filipi]

Just seems to me the trailor would be pulling uneven on one side of the bike.
Remember the sidecar is added to the side and not driven like a trike.

Good point, I hadnt thought of that.
Makes sense there is going to be quite alot of steering load (counter steer?) pulling a trailer attached to the sidecar.

 

[sidecarsusie]

Many of the rigs do have a pull to the right... the way mine is set up, the pull isn't that noticable. The trailer on the back probably adds a little pull to the right but the biggest problem pop and Curly had when they went to the ralleys was braking to quick and the trailer wanting to pass them up... So, I would say stopping spooks me more than the pull to the right. Have ridden a couple rigs, where you had to have a strong arm just to keep it in a straight line....with out a trailer....

 

[Tory]

Yes,some are really bad.Mine tracks quit straight for the most part,but does pull a bit to the right under accelerating and pushs a tad to the left under hard braking.
It is however quit predictable and I have adjusted to it very well.

 

[sidecarsusie]

I really do not notice any pull to the right... but may automatically compensate for it.... it has startled several, who have taken it for a spin... quicker and easier then their rigs.... my Flexi unit pulls to the right at take off, but you lean to the left and you accelerate and everything seems to work out.

 

[sidecarsusie]

Here are some sidecar/trailer comments from another forum.... make sure you read the last one.... the ones Gail mentions, had many years of sidecar experience, assembly, riding, etc.
susie
HI
I have a Honda GL1800 with Champion Escort sidecar that I want to attach a trailer hitch to pull a small utility trailer. It would be easy to attach a rail between the bike & sidecar and bolt the hitch ball to that so the trailer would be centered between the bike & chair. But I was concerned about the strength of the mounting bolts where the chair attaches to the bike and if was strong enough for the added stress a trailer would add.
For peace of mind I have decided to order a Bushtec hitch and pull the trailer behind the bike. My question is about fabricating an extension that would move the hitch ball over between the bike/sidecar. Not sure how to explain it, like maybe a L shape bracket from the Bushtec receiver to between the bike'sidecar. Has anyone done this and does it effect handling of the rig? I am sure it can be made strong enough, if it does not cause any problems while riding.

Hi,
I have been towing a small camping trailer behind my rig since 2006. I made no alterations to the sidecar attactments, and it has given me no trouble. I chose to fit the hitch between the bike and sidecar, so that it ran in the same tracks - a rig is wide enough already, without adding half the width of the trailer. I bolted the hitch directly to the sidecar frame.
My rig is a BMW R100RT/Velorex, and apart from slightly slower acceleration, the effect on the rig is negligible, although a bungled gear change may result in a tail wag, it never gets out of control. Top speed and fuel consumption are lagely unaffected.
I think that the stresses on a right angled hitch would be far worse than those imposed on one attached direstly to the frame. I hope that this helps to allay your concerns about towing. Regards, NM Ron

Hello Will:
Sorry I have no technical expertise in trailering stresses, but from
what I have heard from many of the "old-timers", and the experienced
installers, the best place to haul a trailer is with the hitch between
the bike and the side. I remember Lonnie from Boise, ID, making
such a recommendation. Claude (fabricator & installer) of SCT
site, and Hal Kendall historian and founding USCA member #2
also recommended - on national radio chat - hauling from the
center position. .. I am sorry I haven't paid closer attention to
the center mounting on those I know with trailering setups.

Good Luck and enjoy the learning experience.
Gail (USCA United Sidecar Association representitive)