SFAULKNER68
the velvet hammer
OK, the sidecar forum has been silent for 11 days. I'll break the silence, here's a photo journey of my first season w/ a sidecar.
The season starts w/ my wife and I talking about how our dog (Domino) does everything with us except motorcycle trips. We decide we must get a sidecar. I've ridden motorcycles for 36 years but never a sidecar rig.
I go searching, wanting a Ural but not wanting to spend that much money (we already have 3 BMW motorcycles, spending +/-$14K for a new Ural just doesn't make sense, no matter how cool they are, right?). Plus, I'm not sure I or Domino will really like it. I keep looking when suddenly I stumble upon an ad on AdvRider.
The rig is a 1977 R100S BMW w/ a 2002 Velorex sidecar. I'm new to sidecars but have been studying them for a few months, I have a little book knowledge at this point, that's it. I know well what to expect from the '77 R100S. I know the Velorex is a decent car, know the pros and cons of a fiberglass car vs aluminum, but am impressed w/ the rigging and set up of the rig. The rigging is Dauntless, most of it, anyway.
I contact the owner. He's a great guy, Kevin. The rig is at his home in Snohomish, WA, about 130 miles from my home. I drive over, we strike a deal (I know he advertised the rig last fall for more money, I saw the AdvRider ad then but wasn't ready to buy. I'm still not ready to buy but it is the perfect rig for me. I offer his current asking price if he's willing to take a 1000 bucks in deposit and wait up to one month for the full balance. Kevin's a great guy, he says no problem).
The real problem? I haven't ridden a sidecar other than the test ride Kevin offered graciously. Kevin gives me his Yellow Book. I take it home and start reading, I have a month, I can do this. Again, I've spent my life on a motorcycle, never a sidecar, but the "book" makes sense. I grew up on a farm in Montana, I began driving tractors at the age of 5, hauling hay, motorcycles @ age 8. This doesn't qualify me to ride a sidecar home but the theories make sense, real sense. I read sidecar stories on the 'net, "don't ride it home if you haven't ridden before". This makes sense, I should obey. Instead, I go to the DMV and take the written sidecar test. I pass w/ a 100%. In Washington, this gives you a permit for 90 days, within 90 days you need to take the riding test to be officially endorsed but w/ the permit you are allowed to ride for that 90 days, just not at night and not w/ a passenger. Technically, I'm legally qualified to ride home but I keep hearing "don't ride it home if you haven't ridden a rig", I keep thinking it would be smart to haul it home. At the same time, I keep thinking that life is short (and could be much shorter if I screw this one up) and the theories make sense. I call upon my childhood of operating a tractor each summer pulling various implements from hay sickles, rakes, bailers, and trailers loaded w/ hay. This is beyond the hours I spent spinning donuts in the ice and snow on the tractor, until my dad finally came out of the house and said "that's enough".
I have a legal permit and think w/ my wife following in the VW, I'll be OK. So, on May 29, 2010, it's off to Snohomish.
Oh wait, this is supposed to be a photo journey, so here:
Leaving Snohomish on the rig (clearly, theory meets the road, gotta figure out the appropriate weight distribution on a left corner).
I safely cover 50 miles of backroads then there isn't a choice, time to jump on I90 and get over Snoqualmie Pass. I exit 50 miles later in Cle Elum to take the final 30 miles home on backroads. The West side of the Cascades is wet as usual but it is dry and sunny East of the Cascade divide. I stop for a break and Domino gets his first ride in the sidecar. Kevin gave me a nice harness for him (I'm about to rig it up).
Cruising down Highway 10 w/ Domino in the 'car.
We take a break along the Yakima River. Now only 15 miles from home.
130 miles later, we're safely home. My wife now jumps out of the VW, throws Domino out of the sidecar and says its her turn. A short ride around Ellensburg concludes w/ Emily posting on Facebook, "You haven't lived until you've ridden in a sidecar!".
I clean the bike, remove the ammo box on the rigging that contains the car battery, I move the battery to the trunk of the car and install it in a marine battery box. I switch the handlebars from the tall /2 bars to low, wide sidecar bars (of which Kevin supplied me with!). I swap the valve covers for a new, OEM, peanut style I happen to have in my boxes of BMW parts. I clean some more.
Oh wait, I'm not legal to carry passengers. Does Domino count? Of course. Time to go take the riding portion of the endorsement. There are about 6 locations around the state to take the riding test, most one day a week, each location a different day of the week. I study the calender for a location and time I can do it. As it turns out, Spokane will work, OK, 200 miles later I take the riding test and pass w/ a 100%. I'm fully legal. Here's a shot on the Palouse, at a friend's house, on the way home from the test. I spend the weekend at his house celebrating the sidecar endorsement w/ an IPA, or two.
Time to enjoy the rig. First trip, attend the National Moto Guzzi Rally in John Day Oregon. I muscle this rig 300 miles from my house on my first big trip, loaded w/ camping gear. I order some used BMW saddlebags from an MOA member but they arrive while we are away. I rig up a nice fix.
We depart for John Day. Emily rides her R80, Domino and I take the rig.
Domino gets to stretch his legs on the trek to John Day.
The Moto Guzzi Rally proved a great weekend for my sidecar knowledge. The 300 miles getting there wore me out, it was a constant fight to keep the rig out of the ditch on the right side of the road. A friend that followed me for a while mentioned that it seemed the sidecar and bike leaned toward each other. I looked, it did even when unloaded. I started quizzing rally attendees w/ 'cars and then met one of the Dauntless guys camped w/in eyesight of my tent. I spent Saturday afternoon under his watchful eye adjusting the rigging to lean the bike away from the 'car. As a result, the ride home Sunday was much easier! I've since learned the sweet spot (spots) for weight in the 'car, both where in the car and how much. Just like a motorcycle, one learns to pack lighter after the first camping trip. Life is good!
Saddlebags arrive upon returning home. I install them.
A couple weeks later, it is time to head to the BMW MOA National Rally in Redmond, OR. Here's the rig in downtown Bend (not too many photos of the National, I can thank Makers Mark for that once back at the tent!).
Finally, some summer and fall riding.
All said, 2010 was a great year! My R1150GS sat silent all summer, the sidecar rig stole the show. I think it is safe to say Domino and I love it!
Peace out folks. Happy winter!
The season starts w/ my wife and I talking about how our dog (Domino) does everything with us except motorcycle trips. We decide we must get a sidecar. I've ridden motorcycles for 36 years but never a sidecar rig.
I go searching, wanting a Ural but not wanting to spend that much money (we already have 3 BMW motorcycles, spending +/-$14K for a new Ural just doesn't make sense, no matter how cool they are, right?). Plus, I'm not sure I or Domino will really like it. I keep looking when suddenly I stumble upon an ad on AdvRider.
The rig is a 1977 R100S BMW w/ a 2002 Velorex sidecar. I'm new to sidecars but have been studying them for a few months, I have a little book knowledge at this point, that's it. I know well what to expect from the '77 R100S. I know the Velorex is a decent car, know the pros and cons of a fiberglass car vs aluminum, but am impressed w/ the rigging and set up of the rig. The rigging is Dauntless, most of it, anyway.
I contact the owner. He's a great guy, Kevin. The rig is at his home in Snohomish, WA, about 130 miles from my home. I drive over, we strike a deal (I know he advertised the rig last fall for more money, I saw the AdvRider ad then but wasn't ready to buy. I'm still not ready to buy but it is the perfect rig for me. I offer his current asking price if he's willing to take a 1000 bucks in deposit and wait up to one month for the full balance. Kevin's a great guy, he says no problem).
The real problem? I haven't ridden a sidecar other than the test ride Kevin offered graciously. Kevin gives me his Yellow Book. I take it home and start reading, I have a month, I can do this. Again, I've spent my life on a motorcycle, never a sidecar, but the "book" makes sense. I grew up on a farm in Montana, I began driving tractors at the age of 5, hauling hay, motorcycles @ age 8. This doesn't qualify me to ride a sidecar home but the theories make sense, real sense. I read sidecar stories on the 'net, "don't ride it home if you haven't ridden before". This makes sense, I should obey. Instead, I go to the DMV and take the written sidecar test. I pass w/ a 100%. In Washington, this gives you a permit for 90 days, within 90 days you need to take the riding test to be officially endorsed but w/ the permit you are allowed to ride for that 90 days, just not at night and not w/ a passenger. Technically, I'm legally qualified to ride home but I keep hearing "don't ride it home if you haven't ridden a rig", I keep thinking it would be smart to haul it home. At the same time, I keep thinking that life is short (and could be much shorter if I screw this one up) and the theories make sense. I call upon my childhood of operating a tractor each summer pulling various implements from hay sickles, rakes, bailers, and trailers loaded w/ hay. This is beyond the hours I spent spinning donuts in the ice and snow on the tractor, until my dad finally came out of the house and said "that's enough".
I have a legal permit and think w/ my wife following in the VW, I'll be OK. So, on May 29, 2010, it's off to Snohomish.
Oh wait, this is supposed to be a photo journey, so here:
Leaving Snohomish on the rig (clearly, theory meets the road, gotta figure out the appropriate weight distribution on a left corner).
I safely cover 50 miles of backroads then there isn't a choice, time to jump on I90 and get over Snoqualmie Pass. I exit 50 miles later in Cle Elum to take the final 30 miles home on backroads. The West side of the Cascades is wet as usual but it is dry and sunny East of the Cascade divide. I stop for a break and Domino gets his first ride in the sidecar. Kevin gave me a nice harness for him (I'm about to rig it up).
Cruising down Highway 10 w/ Domino in the 'car.
We take a break along the Yakima River. Now only 15 miles from home.
130 miles later, we're safely home. My wife now jumps out of the VW, throws Domino out of the sidecar and says its her turn. A short ride around Ellensburg concludes w/ Emily posting on Facebook, "You haven't lived until you've ridden in a sidecar!".
I clean the bike, remove the ammo box on the rigging that contains the car battery, I move the battery to the trunk of the car and install it in a marine battery box. I switch the handlebars from the tall /2 bars to low, wide sidecar bars (of which Kevin supplied me with!). I swap the valve covers for a new, OEM, peanut style I happen to have in my boxes of BMW parts. I clean some more.
Oh wait, I'm not legal to carry passengers. Does Domino count? Of course. Time to go take the riding portion of the endorsement. There are about 6 locations around the state to take the riding test, most one day a week, each location a different day of the week. I study the calender for a location and time I can do it. As it turns out, Spokane will work, OK, 200 miles later I take the riding test and pass w/ a 100%. I'm fully legal. Here's a shot on the Palouse, at a friend's house, on the way home from the test. I spend the weekend at his house celebrating the sidecar endorsement w/ an IPA, or two.
Time to enjoy the rig. First trip, attend the National Moto Guzzi Rally in John Day Oregon. I muscle this rig 300 miles from my house on my first big trip, loaded w/ camping gear. I order some used BMW saddlebags from an MOA member but they arrive while we are away. I rig up a nice fix.
We depart for John Day. Emily rides her R80, Domino and I take the rig.
Domino gets to stretch his legs on the trek to John Day.
The Moto Guzzi Rally proved a great weekend for my sidecar knowledge. The 300 miles getting there wore me out, it was a constant fight to keep the rig out of the ditch on the right side of the road. A friend that followed me for a while mentioned that it seemed the sidecar and bike leaned toward each other. I looked, it did even when unloaded. I started quizzing rally attendees w/ 'cars and then met one of the Dauntless guys camped w/in eyesight of my tent. I spent Saturday afternoon under his watchful eye adjusting the rigging to lean the bike away from the 'car. As a result, the ride home Sunday was much easier! I've since learned the sweet spot (spots) for weight in the 'car, both where in the car and how much. Just like a motorcycle, one learns to pack lighter after the first camping trip. Life is good!
Saddlebags arrive upon returning home. I install them.
A couple weeks later, it is time to head to the BMW MOA National Rally in Redmond, OR. Here's the rig in downtown Bend (not too many photos of the National, I can thank Makers Mark for that once back at the tent!).
Finally, some summer and fall riding.
All said, 2010 was a great year! My R1150GS sat silent all summer, the sidecar rig stole the show. I think it is safe to say Domino and I love it!
Peace out folks. Happy winter!
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