Motorcycle with Sidecar questions

[m9hrdad]

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What's up guys!

Had a few questions about sidecars and wondered if there was anyone o here that has a sidecar personally.

1. Is there a minimum age requirement for passengers in a sidecar?

2. How does insurance work with sidecars?

3. Does anyone have any preference of brand when it comes to sidebars? I was looking at a Ural but I'm open to suggestions.

4. Do sidecars require seat belts?

5. Anyone here have a sidecar that is willing to share some info with me about their experiences?

Appreciate all the help I can get!

-M.

 

[nobbie48]

Not quite what you're looking for but I have a push bike with a sidecar. It's a hoot on bike trails but it takes a lot of unlearning and relearning.

re the questions

1) They used to be family transportation but today I would be concerned with child endangerment issues.

2) Insurance can have issues with modified M/Cs. Urals come with S/Cs while most others are modifications. Anybody's guess.

3) Urals supposedly make every outing a challenging event.

4) My guess is not but don't quote me.

5) My motor is missing.

 

[Scob]

These guys can answer any questions you have about side cars - oldvintagecranks.ca.

 

[TK4]

1. Is there a minimum age requirement for passengers in a sidecar?
-NO

2. How does insurance work with sidecars?
-Ask your insurance company.

3. Does anyone have any preference of brand when it comes to sidebars? I was looking at a Ural but I'm open to suggestions.
-Ural is the only one currently available complete everything else that I know of (Velorex ?) is a bolt on.

4. Do sidecars require seat belts?
-No, but you must wear a helmet.

5. Anyone here have a sidecar that is willing to share some info with me about their experiences?
-Setup is critical. Camber and toe-in make all the difference to how it handles.

As previously mentioned, the good folks at Old Vintage Cranks can help you out with any other concerns.

 

[Morrissey]

A friend of the family has a 2013 or 2014 Ural Patrol and I can tell you what he thinks. He says it is a LOT of work to keep them running right. Nothing is overly difficult and can be done with simple hand tools, but according to him you basically have to go over a list of inspections and make adjustments after every ride to make sure you don't get stuck your next time out. He has built several vintage Harleys from the ground up so for him it's no big deal. They are very prone to rusting and he recommends removing the sidecar and front and rear fenders and taking them to a Line-x or Rhino spray liner company and having the under side of the fenders and the underside and inside of the sidecar lined so stone chips and scuffs from boots don't turn into rust problems.

As for passengers, there is no minimum age limit for riding in them, but after a lengthy talk with one of the OPP's finest on this subject at a bike show a few years back, the officer has a lot of room for interpretation. According to him, it is up to the officer to decide if you are "endangering" a young child (say 3 or 4). He can charge you and then it's up to you to prove that 1) it is legal and 2)even though it is legal that it wasn't endangering the child. I asked about having a parent or grownup riding in the sidecar with the child and again, he said that because the sidecar is technically designed for one and in the event of a frontal impact the parent could slide forward and squish the child against the front of the sidecar, this could be considered "endagerment". I do know that sidecars do not require seat belts but if you are carrying small passengers a simple lap belt might be a good idea to keep them from moving around too much or trying to stand up.

Cozy Sidecars make a couple of nice models of sidecar that should bolt on to many types of motorcycle. There are literally dozens of manufacturers of sidecars from vintage to modern looking. Do some research and find out what you like. There are some excellent Suzuki Bandit 1250's and CBR 1100xx out there with sidecars and car wheels modified onto the front and rear wheels.

 

[883yan]

Hi there.

I have an inder sidecar attached to a royal enfield. I got the sidecar from india and installed it myself and then got it properly aligned by Old Vintage Cranks.

No age requirement, just helmets. I did instal a seatbelt as I carry my 4 year old daughter. I told my insurance and that was it, the premiums didnt even change. My choice of sidecar was Cosy, Watsonian or Inder. I went with Inder on cost mostly. It was pretty bare bone and I had to get it reupholstered and add all the electrics. Now it's pretty nice. Ultimately you get what you pay for

Experience wise, this is the most fun I've had in over 30 years of motorcycling! Not fast or easy to drive but a real blast with the kids. Best vehicle to own if you like to start conversations with strangers.
Lmk if you need more details or specific info about lighting, ballast or alignment. I will second Scobs advice to check with oldvintagecranks.ca. They are the sidecar authority around here.

yan.

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