 Sidecar?
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 401
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 401 |
Been toying with the Idea of buying an old sidecar for my TBA so I can take my mutt out with me to rallies and the pub. Anybody ever done this? How difficult are they to fit? Never riden with a chair, anything I should know? 
The path of excess leads to the Palace of Wisdom
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4 |
Thanks for your welcome to the forum and for your comments about roding two up on the TBA.
I used to ride a Suzuki GSX750 with a sidecar and I loved it. If you're in the USA I guess it's the opposite way around because I think the sidecar is on the opposite side of the bike. But the biggest problem I found was when you are first getting used to the setup - take it 'easy' when cornering! Left hand corners (when the sidecar is on the left side of the bike) are really dangerous if you aren't on your guard. Left hand corners will push you wide - into oncoming traffic. I had a mate who on the first day with his XT500 Yamaha outfit took a left hand corner too wide and ended up head on into an oncoming car. That was in about 1980 - he hasn't ridden since.
Also, check out leading link front suspension for the bike. Seems to make the bike 'track' better.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Nobby
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
They aren't terribly difficult to fit, though you might get bored with the adjusting and aligning part. Most have a sort of subframe that clamps to the bike frame with one or two upper braces to keep the assembly from folding in the middle.
You will notice right off that the handling is very different. You don't lean while turning toward the sidecar and the bike tends to swivel around the car when accelerating or braking, but you will get used to it in short order. Increasing the frontend trail by installing a leading link kit or getting a triple clamp made that tips the fork tubes more forward (years ago, HD, Indian and maybe Triumph made a 2 position fork for easy switching between solo and sidecar riding) will help keep it going straight.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463 |
I know Ray has a pic of a Speedie with a side car on. It's the one he got his front end off...
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Ray(UK)
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 401
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 401 |
Wow, that front end looks expensive!!! Thought it was just a case of buying an old chair and adapting the brackets. Looks like the dog might have to learn to ride bungy strapped to the rack.
The path of excess leads to the Palace of Wisdom
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463 |
I can ask some of the vintage people in a couple of weeks....it's Festival of 1000 bikes on 11/12 July....I'm taking the 'killer' 3HW round the track...
But they are the people who'll know. Without wanting to spend lots of money that is.
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel...
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel...
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 973
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 973 |
Quote:
Been toying with the Idea of buying an old sidecar for my TBA
Have you lost your mind mate! 
Why not get a dog carrier, reinforce it, put some wheels on it and tow your dog around in his own little dog box rather than wrecking a perfectly good bike (even if it is an America)  .
Alternately buy a hamster, they can be moved easily - I recall some bloke, according to his t shirt, at the Farmyard selling one for £4! 
Before the war on terror, if I saw an unattended package I used to think "I'll be having that!"
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
I like the idea of a combo, but what really puts me off is the traffic in the UK. You cannot filter through traffic with a sidecar, so you might as well have a car and keep dry.
The thought of having more space for the camping stuff and the dog is a bonus, but not what I want to consider at the cost of sitting in a tail back on the motorway....
Ray(UK)
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
If you need to haul something as big as a large dog why not get a trailer? It would be cheaper, have much less effect on the handling of the bike and be a lot easier to attach and remove.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Other than horses, cows and poultry in trailers designed for that purpose, a lot of states don't like people hauling live things in a trailer, so you would want to ask the local police.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
Other than horses, cows and poultry in trailers designed for that purpose, a lot of states don't like people hauling live things in a trailer, so you would want to ask the local police.
There is a company that makes purpose built dog trailers.
http://trailerdogs.com/
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 768
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 768 |
Quote:
Been toying with the Idea of buying an old sidecar for my TBA so I can take my mutt out with me to rallies and the pub.
 Been considering the same for our baby Jack... 
Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of fuel before you think straight
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
A visit to Doug Bingham's side car website is in order. He's been hack-man forever and can answer all of your questions.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Sidecar?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
Side-cars are great and a TBA would haul a chair admirably....Doug Bingham is "the man" when it comes to side-cars....It would not be difficult ti fit a hack to the bonnie but be warned...this is not a passive add-on that can be added and removed at a whim...once on...and aligned properly....leave it until you are ready to switch back....Hacks are great fun...I have had three (3) and have put about 100k on them hauling dogs, kids, etc.....
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