Sidecar Riders and Installers...

[artperez75]

I am going to do my sidecar with Texas Sidecar Company in Texas. They did the one in the picture which was the reason I am bought the motorcycle.

 

[St.moritz92]

To talk about sidecars in strictly a mechanical sense is not to understand sidecars. There is a human side to sidecars that only sidecar people are witness to. A person may hate the motorcyclist that goes by in the street but does not hesitate to talk to the sidecar rider taking his dog for a ride. I took my Ural to a German festival probably 20 years ago. As I was leaving with my son a man stopped me and asked me to stay for a few minutes more. He brought his 90 plus year old mother out to see the bike. To my surprise she broke down crying. The man explained that his mother's older sister had dated a German officer during WWII and the officer often came to their home with his bike w/sidecar to take the two girls for a ride. The man explained that her tears were tears of joy and thanked me for bringing the Ural to the festival. I have dozens of rememberances about how sidecars have added to my life. In some ways I almost feel sorry for the rider who has never had a sidecar in his motorcycling life. Oh, and they aren't like any other 3 wheeler. The picture is of my two current rides.

 

[laennecr]

I had a crappy 98 Ural Deco that died. Took the sidecar off and hooked it up to my Classic. Texas Sidecar Company did a stellar job with the connection. As far as voiding the warranty that is not true. The sidecar easily detaches so the dealer can work on warranty issues; only one so far. Using a Hex EZCan for sidecar lights with no warranty issues as well. Hook it up and enjoy life.

 

[Star-Lord]

Side-Car Inspiration:



Saw this on Bring a Trailer

 

[St.moritz92]

I've owned a Ural, I've managed a BMW motorcycle dealership, I currently own two BMWs with Hannigans and my first sidecar was a Velorex in 1974. I've read the above submissions and no one is mentioning critical things about owning a hack'd R18. I obviously like Hannigans and my two Hannigans sidecars; one an LT and the other a Heritage are hugely different. I just recently came back from Americade with my longest day's ride being 540 miles on the Trans continental. However, right now I've got a crew of guys installing solar panels on my roof and I'm taking photos. I'll be back but it may be tomorrow.

 

[BeerMe]

To talk about sidecars in strictly a mechanical sense is not to understand sidecars. There is a human side to sidecars that only sidecar people are witness to. A person may hate the motorcyclist that goes by in the street but does not hesitate to talk to the sidecar rider taking his dog for a ride. I took my Ural to a German festival probably 20 years ago. As I was leaving with my son a man stopped me and asked me to stay for a few minutes more. He brought his 90 plus year old mother out to see the bike. To my surprise she broke down crying. The man explained that his mother's older sister had dated a German officer during WWII and the officer often came to their home with his bike w/sidecar to take the two girls for a ride. The man explained that her tears were tears of joy and thanked me for bringing the Ural to the festival. I have dozens of rememberances about how sidecars have added to my life. In some ways I almost feel sorry for the rider who has never had a sidecar in his motorcycling life. Oh, and they aren't like any other 3 wheeler. The picture is of my two current rides.

Incredibly well said. Sidecars make little sense technically or financially and they take up way too much garage space, but those measure entirely miss the fundamental point of the enjoyment they bring in hauling around friends/spouses/dogs/whatever in an unusually adventurous way. That to me is one of the fundamental purposes of having motorcycles. Give it a go.

 

[Mr. Efficiency]

So, I am a long time sidecar guy and here are my feelings:
I loved my Ural and it was purpose built to be a sidecar rig. But its a Ural Yikes at the same time.
I loved my BMW rigs (older airheads with subframes/conversions) but they were old.

Converting an R18 right is going to be really expensive… really really expensive. But I would definitely do it, it would make a gorgeous hack rig with none of the shortcomings of vintage BMW and Ural rigs. Another vote for Hannigan here. Doing a modern conversion is difficult because of the two piece frames and no leading link. Have the pros do it and you’ll love it

 

[skidward]

From Bike EXIF website
https://www.bikeexif.com/bmw-r18-sidecar?omhide=true

 

[jp R18T]

J'ai trouvé une annonce qui devrait vous intéresser sur leboncoin

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/motos/2947766018https :// www . leboncoin . fr / ad / motos / 2947766018

 

[jp R18T]

Il est à vendre ...... je n’ai pas l’argent , sinon il serait chez moi ....

 

[Petrus]

From Bike EXIF website

That is art on three wheels.
Part of reasons to go for the R18 was my sidecar ´festish´.

Have worn out MZ hacks and did not need to wear out a Dnepr MT16 which came from the factory like torn stone washed jeans; bróken in.
Curently drive a 1939 Nimbus combination. Cool and well made as it is, it is 86 years old.

It is the the cost though. Over here in Spain there are serious red tape mountains to overcome and outsourcing both build and paperwork to professionals is the only option which doubles the cost. It will be nigh what I paid for the bike itself.
Also they will need for 2-2,5 months

Still...
For one there nothing remotely as involving as driving a sidecar.
Secondly the concept is also weirdly endearing to just about anyone.

 

[Clyde 57R60]

So, I am a long time sidecar guy and here are my feelings:
I loved my Ural and it was purpose built to be a sidecar rig. But its a Ural Yikes at the same time.
I loved my BMW rigs (older airheads with subframes/conversions) but they were old.

Converting an R18 right is going to be really expensive… really really expensive. But I would definitely do it, it would make a gorgeous hack rig with none of the shortcomings of vintage BMW and Ural rigs. Another vote for Hannigan here. Doing a modern conversion is difficult because of the two piece frames and no leading link. Have the pros do it and you’ll love it

Has anyone attempted to build an “Earls fork” for the R18. That would fix the leading link problem and really give it the retro look. If there is not one out there I just might try it. My R60 is severely under powered for the sidecar I’m using now.

 

[Petrus]

Thanks for sharing the photo. Beautiful elegance!

Seen photos of óne such R18 when extensively researching.

The Earles leading link fork is a solution for basically three ´issues´.
It reduces the trail, stiffens the front, separates braking and suspension somewhat.
It is however an anachronism from the fifties and telescopic forks have come a VERY long way since then and the heavier unsprung weight of the leading links fork remains.
The leading link front fork is only a marginal improvement nowadays.
Also not everyone likes the lighter/quicker steering response.

A question to you;
What is the sidecar wheel lead, track width, lean out, toe in of your lovely rig?

 

[St.moritz92]

Has anyone attempted to build an “Earls fork” for the R18. That would fix the leading link problem and really give it the retro look. If there is not one out there I just might try it. My R60 is severely under powered for the sidecar I’m using now.

My R18TC/Hannigan Heritage rig has the Hannigan Steer Lite installed and it has never been a problem. My K1200LT/Hannigan LT rig had the Hannigan Steer Lite installed and it was never a problem. However, I do see that Hannigan advertises a leading link setup for the R18 Classic. Maybe you should look into that.

 

[Petrus]

The handlebars are very wide so I would try it as is first.
Depending on the R18 model, sidecar model and the set up of the geometry it may be ok.
If not, different yokes are a great solution for the trail.

 

[St.moritz92]

My R18TC/Hannigan Heritage rig weighs over 1200 lbs. None of the R18s are lightweights. Give some thought to steering dampening and camber control, etc. A balanced approach to choosing the right bike and sidecar I've always felt made a big difference between a great ride and an OK ride; a ride that destroys you on a 600 mile day and one that doesn't.

 

[Petrus]

Yes an R18TC Hanniganheritage rig is a different animal from the 400 lbs. MZ 250 Superelastik of which I wore out two. I think your weight estimate quite optimistic btw. but yes óver 1200 lbs
Last month was overtaken by a 6-cyl GoldWing with a twin axle sidecar; leading link fork, car tyres all round and WOW did he motor! on the flowing provincial road. We were on our way to a vintage vehicle event where vintage two 150 cc Vespa rigs where the absolute contrast
One of those Vespa rigs was driven FOUR up; bloke driver, wife passenger, daughter in the tub with her doll on her lap. Just about no lean out,minimal lead, no steering damper.

Whére you drive makes a huge difference too.
Over here camber control is superfluous. Even the lean out for that can be minimal.

Next is your use. Long distance touring/continental crossings on the one end and more mundane meandering or even just shopping trips on the other.

And then there is the load in the chair. Do you usually take a lean terrier or a warmly clothed well fed western human.

From a dynamical point of view sidecars are a horror show. EVERTHING is a-symmetrical making EVERYTHING a compromise.
Bottom line being that there is no ´best´.

Back to the R18, I myself am building a rig based on a nude ´22 R18 and going the ´lightweight´ route with the track width European roads oriented. The mountings (5) I am orienting on twisties too. The ballast weights I have made QD for minimal hassle load adjustment.

 

[Petrus]

btw @St.moritz92 what is the track width of your rig?
and íf you´d happen to know the lead it would be helpful too.

 

[St.moritz92]

btw @St.moritz92 what is the track width of your rig?
and íf you´d happen to know the lead it would be helpful too.

I will have to get back to you on that. I don't remember the track width or lead at the moment and the rig is at a dealership for some warranty work.

 

[St.moritz92]

Yes an R18TC Hanniganheritage rig is a different animal from the 400 lbs. MZ 250 Superelastik of which I wore out two. I think your weight estimate quite optimistic btw. but yes óver 1200 lbs
Last month was overtaken by a 6-cyl GoldWing with a twin axle sidecar; leading link fork, car tyres all round and WOW did he motor! on the flowing provincial road. We were on our way to a vintage vehicle event where vintage two 150 cc Vespa rigs where the absolute contrast
One of those Vespa rigs was driven FOUR up; bloke driver, wife passenger, daughter in the tub with her doll on her lap. Just about no lean out,minimal lead, no steering damper.

Whére you drive makes a huge difference too.
Over here camber control is superfluous. Even the lean out for that can be minimal.

Next is your use. Long distance touring/continental crossings on the one end and more mundane meandering or even just shopping trips on the other.

And then there is the load in the chair. Do you usually take a lean terrier or a warmly clothed well fed western human.

From a dynamical point of view sidecars are a horror show. EVERTHING is a-symmetrical making EVERYTHING a compromise.
Bottom line being that there is no ´best´.

Back to the R18, I myself am building a rig based on a nude ´22 R18 and going the ´lightweight´ route with the track width European roads oriented. The mountings (5) I am orienting on twisties too. The ballast weights I have made QD for minimal hassle load adjustment.

You do meet the nicest people on a sidecar rig..and oh, yes the chair is usually empty but populated on the long trips.