motorcycle sidecars?

Question

i heard that if you buy a bike and put a sidecar on it, it basically improves the balance of the bike and decreases the chances of it tilting over. im guessing this would happen with ppl who dont go extremely fast on them. is that true or not?

Answer 1

In some ways sidehacks are more stable, and in other ways they are much less stable. As someone says, they have more stable when stopped, but the handling characteristics when moving are totally uncharacteristic of a typical motorcycle. Of course, if you have never ridden a motorcycle before, this may be less of a problem, because you won't be trying to overcome old habits....

Answer 2

I pulled a Vetter Terraplane sidecar for two seasons with a 78 Goldwing...nice sidecar, BUT...fuel mileage suffers...about 5 mpg and tires wear out pretty quickly, too. Mine also had a low-speed shake in the front end that I just got used to...this can be cured with a special damper that fits from frame to front fork.
If you do get a sidecar, the best thing you can do is take it out in a parking lot and learn to "fly the sidecar", that is, intentionally turn into the sidecar and accelerate and pick the outer wheel up and learn how it balances with the wheel in the air. Then, when turning, if the wheel comes up, it's no big deal and it doesn't scare the crap out of you...K ;o)

Answer 3

Partially true, Sidecars will not tip over under mild riding conditions, but when making hard right turns (assuming the hack is on the right) the hack wheel will want to come off the ground and requires the rider to lean hard right.
When making hard lefts the rear wheel of the bike will tend to lift ,requiring the rider to lean left.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that riding a sidecar requires practice, skill and technique, though entirely different from motorcycling,practice ,skill and technique just the same.

Answer 4

cafes link is quite good..I owned a 750 Yamaha with a DJP fiberglass sidecar.. belonged to SA sidecar riders club for a few years.. great fun to ride but expensive on tyres..

as for stability they are very stable when stopped..LOL

when in motion the side car wheel can be lifted from the road at fairly slow speeds.. you can also keep the wheel on the ground at fairly high speed as well.. its all in the way its riden.

remember to accelerate around the sidecar to go one way & brake to let the sidecar overtake you the other way..

I have known of two sidecars that were fliped (rolled) & in both instances it was the bike going over the sidecar.. once the bike is off the ground you have no controll at all.. if the sidecar is in the air you have steering & brakes still on the road...

hope this helps

Answer 5

Personally, I would probably start with the frame of an old sidecar. (but I'll admit, I haven't researched it much yet.) I would absolutely love to have a custom side car for my sportbike that actually matches in color and looks aerodynamically similiar. I have never seen one on a sportsbike. But perhaps if I ever start mine, I may not be able to go with amanufactured unit... In my Kawasaki book, it makes sure to state that Kawi has never attempted tests, and does not know the performamce difference of a sidecar. Please reply at the end of this question session as to what your decision is...

Answer 6

As a boy I used to watch the local cops ride along in one of the local parks lean over and lift the empty sidecar and ride along with it up in the air. If you want something stable get training wheels or a trike.

Answer 7

http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp
Follow this link to the United Sidecar Association's webpage. This is their "links and books" page. The Sidecar operator's manual by Hal Kendall is very informative. As an authority on the subject, he won't mis-inform you. (I've had a couple nice conversations with the gent.) The German book is really good too. I read them both.

EDIT: I needed to correct a small thing; my conversation was with Mr. Doug Bingham. He is also a long-time authority and the current historian of the USCA.

Answer 8

Watch it there!
A sidecar rig is a whole different animal from a normal motorcycle.
Unless the rig is carefully set up you can have severe handling problems.
Even if it is:
It's unbalanced, will pull one way on accelleration, another slowing down.
With an empy car you can lift the car in a left turn.
Too hard a right turn can lighten your rear wheel.
(These last two cause a sudden change in handling that can hurt the unprepared.)
Yes - They're more stable...sitting still.

Answer 9

Sure.....it will be more stable, but hard fast left turns will br tricky. If you want a stable bike, look into a Harley of Honda Trike conversion. You can get a Honda with reverse

Answer 10

More stable , if the chair is mounted on the right hand side you have to be carefull turning right as the chair can come off the ground,left turns no problem.