Side Cars

SteveADV

Active member
So...Anybody tried a side car? Been thinking about one since my daughter's dog, Phil (yeah, I know, but named after a favorite uncle) decided that I was his favorite; at least that's my side of the "Who does Phil really belong to" argument. I can see good old Phil and I (he's a very young 10 year old puppy) roaming the Ohio countryside searching out adventures, but as a rather large mutt, he would need his own seating arrangement.

Besides the ice cream vendor, is there another out there attached to a BMW C machine?
 

windplr

New member
Not to deflate your balloon, but I would expect to spend several thousand dollars to put something like that ice-cream sidecar together, minus the sidecar itself. The structural changes to create a safe, decent handling bike will be significant. What you would end up with is something that is entirely different in character and performance. Also, don't expect to just be able to disconnect the s.c. and have a solo bike again. I would recommend just finding something that has already been converted.
 

SteveADV

Active member
So, you're saying Phil will continue to have to ride pillion?? Hmmmm, that may be problematic on my next big dog+grandpa trip (yeah, my daughter actually refers to me as his "grandfather".....I just kinda nod). Look how sad the poor guy is...
image.jpg

Maybe a Silverwing is in order so I can get this built....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kSVICeujVn4
 
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exavid

Member
First off there's nothing wrong with a Silverwing. I've had two of them and found them good bikes and just about bulletproof. One problem with a sidecar is you really need to change the rake of the fork. With the stock fork rake you need big muscles to ride very far, steering gets very heavy. A guy I know had a Goldwing with a hack. His bike had a modified fork to give a few more degrees of rake. It worked well when he had the hack on. When he took it off the bike was very tiring for him to ride because it really wanted to go in a straight line.
I do know a guy who has a trailer for his black lab. When riding with him and a group of friends that dog was quite a character. Whenever we all stopped he'd let the dog out of the trailer. The dog would go around and greet every one on the ride. Once people started putting helmets on the dog would go back into his trailer and bark until his driver would shut the door. There was a hole in the top of the trailer, lined with some pipe insulation, that the dog (who by the way wore goggles) could stick his head up into to see where he was going. It was a cool setup and the dog obviously enjoyed it.
 

SteveADV

Active member
A trailer would be a lot easier, but then our communication during the ride would have to be limited to blue tooth ;) and Phil likes to make sure I see all the cool stuff we drive by. He looks at me, looks out the window, then looks at me again, ..... If he barks I know he has spotted a potential gal pal for himself.
 

SteveADV

Active member
Hmmmm, a trike with an expanded rear seat, maybe?? Interesting idea but I guess I am still thinking side car.
 

SteveADV

Active member
Old thread but a new purchase....

image.jpg

Not exactly up to BMW C-bike standards as far as comfort, speed, handling, etc etc etc, but a blast to ride around in. Unfortunetly, my old friend Phil is no longer with us (he would have loved tagging along...and I would have loved having him there). So, have had to settle for human passengers so far.
 

grey.hound

New member
Old thread but a new purchase....

View attachment 1950

Not exactly up to BMW C-bike standards as far as comfort, speed, handling, etc etc etc, but a blast to ride around in. Unfortunetly, my old friend Phil is no longer with us (he would have loved tagging along...and I would have loved having him there). So, have had to settle for human passengers so far.
Love it! Keep us posted.
 

exavid

Member
Well if that's a Ural it's at least a clone of a BMW, a 1938 BMW. I met a man on a road trip once who was riding a Ural with the engine replaced with a little Kubota diesel engine. For some reason this fellow, a Norwegian, was riding across the US with a diesel Ural running on Wesson oil. It only went about 55mph on the highway but sure smelled better when riding behind it compared to the other diesels on the road. We invited him to join us (a Goldwing group) to stop by in Melrose, CO. He showed up a day later and we all had a great time looking at his cool rig. Not one I'd want to tour on, even with it's original engine, but it would be great for shorter back road trips.
 

JaimeC

New member
I have been looking into a Ural for YEARS. Since my wife has difficulty climbing up on to the K1200LT these days I've been seriously considering replacing it with a Ural Patrol or Gear Up. Sadly, the closest dealer is across the bridge, although there is an authorized service center in Brooklyn...

Have you seen this movie, by the way? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyLw7iYVlo8
 

SteveADV

Active member
Didn't see the movie but it looks like I would get a good laugh out of it.

Here's a Cycle World story about a couple of the guys setting a "world record" on a Ural. Funny stuff. (Note: it opens on the last page so you'll have to scroll up to read it.)
http://www.cycleworld.com/ural-side...-angeles-non-stop?oD2m5wvWTGQieuG0.01#page-19

The sidecar is surprisingly comfortable. As to dealer locations, there aren't many. Closest one to me is 3 1/2 hours away. Fortunately, if I need work done that is not warranty work, I have a local owner expert only about 10 minutes from me who has a full shop, parts, etc. And while it is a relatively small group of owners, the forum is pretty busy.
 
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