MY '84 w/EML Conversion

[Bru1ncounselor]

I picked this up a few weeks ago, I'm having a ball. Anyone else here have one?

[JackH]

That is sweet!

[RayJay1959]

It makes way more sense than a trike. You can pull the sidecar and have 2 wheels if needed. You can even haul tons of stuff or even 2 passengers. I love it!!

[dwitgoldwing]

Congrats on a fine purchase!!! I was actually considering a side car instead of triking my 1200.
Most of the side cars I've seen are getting close to trike kit cost without labor.
What do you think of your setup? Is it weird going down the road? What about interstate speeds? Is it a little unnerving at 70mph?

What kind of MPG do you get?

Does it take quite a while to get used to the ride?

And lastly, where can I get one?
Thanks,
DW, Winchester, KY

[Bullwinkle3]

It looks great!! You are not the only one. Mine is and 86 Aspy with a Vetter Teraplane. I just got it 2 months agol My kids wanted me at 80 to have more than two wheels. so I've got three! After three K I've about got itl My wife and dog love it. I've got to learn how to post pictures to share the wealth!

Good luck with yours!!

Bullwinkle3 and sidecar2

[Bullwinkle3]

To Dewitgoldings questions, it's not weird it's just different. It takes a while to get used to it because you have to steer around corners rather than just to lean the bike. And since the sidecar is always pulling to the right the ring has to be set up so the bike pulls to the left. I have a power lean on mine which works great. Freeway speeds are not a problem if the road surface is good, but I prefer to run between 65 and 70.

I hope that answers some of your questions.

[SidecarMike]

To Dewitgoldings questions, it's not weird it's just different. It takes a while to get used to it because you have to steer around corners rather than just to lean the bike. ...

Actually, that is deceptive. At speeds over about 10 or 15 miles per hour, I don't "steer" anymore than you would move the handlebars when countersteering.
The biggest difference is that on two wheels, when you push on the left handgrip, you go left. On a sidecar rig, you will go right. It is actually more intuitive than riding a two wheeler.
It is also the hazard. If you have a sidecar that is too light for the bike, you can lift the saidecar on a right turn. Since you are in the process of steering right when it comes up, it is possible for countersteering to take over and put you into the left lane. My experience with trikes, however, is that this can happen in either direction. I've experienced it a lot more often on a trike than ever on a sidecar bike.
I have both. I have a GL1500 with a sidecar and a GL1200 without. I find the sidecar bike to be a lot more fun to ride and, contrary to popular opinion, corner faster with it than I do on two wheels.
These days, with reduced Highway funds, corners are always littered with sand, gravel, and detritous. That doesn't affect the sidecar, but certainly does alter my two wheel speeds.

[Bullwinkle3]

SidecarMike wrote:

Actually, that is deceptive. At speeds over about 10 or 15 miles per hour, I don't "steer" anymore than you would move the handlebars when countersteering.

That's not true in my rig. I don't have "EZ Steer" or EML in which case it would probably be true. And while it is true that in sweeping curves the bike moves beautifully and easily and lightly so that it is indeed a joy to ride, but if the curve gets tight at speeds at 50 or above, it requires considerable effort. I ride with the back rest against which I can push my handlebar in a hard turn, and I leaned against the bar with my upper body. You never have to do that on two wheels, it requires much more upper body strength, which is why they sell the EML units and why people buy them. I would like to drive one of them and see for myself.

I certainly agree with the other comments that sidecar Mike made. Highway construction crossovers can be particularly unnerving in the sidecar :cry: rig because of the reverse crown. I almost wound up in the left-hand lane one time, it was really unnerving

Once you get the hang of them, and learn how yours works, :cry: they can be wonderful, and I'm certainly enjoying mine, and hope that you all enjoy yours

[SidecarMike]

SidecarMike wrote:

Actually, that is deceptive. At speeds over about 10 or 15 miles per hour, I don't "steer" anymore than you would move the handlebars when countersteering.

That's not true in my rig. I don't have "EZ Steer" or EML in which case it would probably be true. And while it is true that in sweeping curves the bike moves beautifully and easily and lightly so that it is indeed a joy to ride, but if the curve gets tight at speeds at 50 or above, it requires considerable effort. I ride with the back rest against which I can push my handlebar in a hard turn, and I leaned against the bar with my upper body. You never have to do that on two wheels, it requires much more upper body strength, which is why they sell the EML units and why people buy them. I would like to drive one of them and see for myself.

I certainly agree with the other comments that sidecar Mike made. Highway construction crossovers can be particularly unnerving in the sidecar :cry: rig because of the reverse crown. I almost wound up in the left-hand lane one time, it was really unnerving

Once you get the hang of them, and learn how yours works, :cry: they can be wonderful, and I'm certainly enjoying mine, and hope that you all enjoy yours

My eyes aren't what they used to be. Is that a Terraplane? If it is and has the original mounts, this would be difficult, but many times hard steering is caused by the sidecar being too far forward on the sidecar. Moving it back a few inches can make a big difference. The single upper mount on a Terraplane makes it hard to relocate it though.

You are across the state from me. If you ever get over this way, you are welcome to give mine a try.
This one does have the California PowerTrak front end, but it is the first of seven sidecar rigs we've had that does. The only one I've had that was hard to steer was a Harley Factory setup. That too had very little adjustment to it.
We have a sidecar gathering at Cameron, WI the first weekend of June each year.
http://www.skunktails.com/,
You can see and often try many different combinations there.

Another one of mine;


and my daughter Jennifer's CX500 rig
;

[SidecarMike]

SidecarMike wrote:

Actually, that is deceptive. At speeds over about 10 or 15 miles per hour, I don't "steer" anymore than you would move the handlebars when countersteering.

That's not true in my rig. I don't have "EZ Steer" or EML in which case it would probably be true. And while it is true that in sweeping curves the bike moves beautifully and easily and lightly so that it is indeed a joy to ride, but if the curve gets tight at speeds at 50 or above, it requires considerable effort. I ride with the back rest against which I can push my handlebar in a hard turn, and I leaned against the bar with my upper body. You never have to do that on two wheels, it requires much more upper body strength, which is why they sell the EML units and why people buy them. I would like to drive one of them and see for myself.

I certainly agree with the other comments that sidecar Mike made. Highway construction crossovers can be particularly unnerving in the sidecar :cry: rig because of the reverse crown. I almost wound up in the left-hand lane one time, it was really unnerving

Once you get the hang of them, and learn how yours works, :cry: they can be wonderful, and I'm certainly enjoying mine, and hope that you all enjoy yours

My eyes aren't what they used to be. Is that a Terraplane? If it is and has the original mounts, this would be difficult, but many times hard steering is caused by the sidecar being too far forward on the motorcycle. I had that problem with my HitchHiker/GL1200 rig. Moving it back a few inches can make a big difference. The single upper mount on a Terraplane makes it hard to relocate it though.

You are across the state from me. If you ever get over this way, you are welcome to give mine a try.
This one does have the California PowerTrak front end, but it is the first of seven sidecar rigs we've had that does. The only one I've had that was hard to steer was a Harley Factory setup. That too had very little adjustment to it.
We have a sidecar gathering at Cameron, WI the first weekend of June each year.
http://www.skunktails.com/,
You can see and often try many different combinations there.

Another one of mine;


and my daughter Jennifer's CX500 rig
;

[Bullwinkle3]

I'll be delighted to come over sometime Mike, but it's looking a little doubtful yet this fall. Your eyes were not deceiving you, it is an original Terrapin sidecar sold new in 86 with the Aspen cade. We rode up the Copper Harbor the first week in October when the temperature was still in the 70s. But I'm looking forward to coming over in the spring to see you.

The rigs in your pictures look great. My first bike after 40 years without one in 1988 was a 500 Silver wing! We pulled a trailer with that to Yellowstone. But that's a long story be happy to tell next spring.

Good luck stay well and ride safe!