Side car removal & installation???

model1911a · #1 02-06-2008, 04:53 PM

Once the side car has been setup and installed what is the removal time? I suppose what I am getting at is............Would a side car be like a detachable tour pack? Easy on easy off?

badinfluence63 · #2 02-06-2008, 05:15 PM

Its not ez on ez off as the dealer will try to tell you. And to a certain degree, I imagine the more often you do it the better you get at it. I am fortunate to have 2 FL's so I leave the sidecar on all the time. Because it has a juice break that would be an issue of bleeding the breaks everytime you take it on and off. Then theres of the wheels, between the bike and the sidecar. I don't want to screw with it. To have remotely off could result in anything from acelerated tire wear to unsafe mechanical conditions. I imagine I'll have it rechecked every service interval time.

Here is a link that may caste some light on the technique of it:

http://www.sidecar-industry.com/techpages.htm

btefft · #3 02-07-2008, 12:18 PM

I wouldn't be taking a sidecar off once I got it setup and aligned right. Theoretically, you could, but a hack is gonna take up a lot floor space. You'll also need a dolly to set it on and roll it around.

It may be costly, bad-63 has the best situation - two FLs.

Hack

model1911a · #4 02-07-2008, 04:15 PM

Poop. I was hoping it would be an easy task. Not ready to buy another bike yet so one can have a hack. Will have to look into it a little harder. Then too.......I suppose one can always get it and improve the mounting till it's an easy off an back on. The brakes would certainly be an issue. Hummmmmm..............Ok guy's! Thanks for the imput you have given and the link was a help!........again,,,,,Thanks!........

btefft · #5 02-07-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: model1911a

Poop. I was hoping it would be an easy task. Not ready to buy another bike yet so one can have a hack. Will have to look into it a little harder. Then too.......I suppose one can always get it and improve the mounting till it's an easy off an back on. The brakes would certainly be an issue. Hummmmmm..............Ok guy's! Thanks for the imput you have given and the link was a help!........again,,,,,Thanks!........

Hey 1911, if I got some kind on quick coupling devices, for my electrics, I could remove four large bolts and my hack would be off. I reckon if I didn't fool with anything else, I could put it back on in the condition I removed it. But like bad-63 said, got to figure out the logistics of it. And like I said, when you got it off, where would you store it?

Remember, I have no interest in taking mine off, because of my one-leggedness. A guy with two legs, probably could do it easily. The place where I bought mine sells a dolly to slips under and holds the hack as you detach it.

Hack

silvergoldsmith · #6 02-08-2008, 12:49 AM

4 bolts is all it takes to remove most sidecars. Unplug the wire connector and away you can go. Brakes are not needed on light weight s/c, in fact my newest one and the one in my back yard never had or will get brakes. Only the heavyer s/c's need the extra brake.

btefft · #7 02-08-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: silvergoldsmith

4 bolts is all it takes to remove most sidecars. Unplug the wire connector and away you can go. Brakes are not needed on light weight s/c, in fact my newest one and the one in my back yard never had or will get brakes. Only the heavyer s/c's need the extra brake.

I opted to not have brakes on mine and the RK stops it fine. I don't know how much mine weighs on the m/c, I know that I still have the original tire on the hack, with little wear, that I can see. I've never weighed it off the biike, but I'm guessing my hack, including hardware, weighs in at around 200-250 lbs, which would factor into operatiing momentum.

Any idea what yours weighs?

Hack

dc1450 · #8 02-09-2008, 05:31 PM

I have the Harley setup and it takes about 45 minutes to remove/replace. The brakes are no big deal and the lights are just an SAE connector. As you can imagine off is easier than on but no big deal. Of course if you're thinking that you'll just pop it on when you need it and off when you don't, it's a little too much work (for me). It's a great excuse to buy a Buell though!

model1911a · #9 02-09-2008, 06:48 PM

A hack is sounding more and more doable! My grandson sure seems to be interested. What more could a guy ask for crusing around with his grandson in a side car!.....Again. Thanks for the imput guys............

badinfluence63 · #10 02-12-2008, 07:13 AM

I have a 5 yo grandson who won't hesitate to jump in the sidecar with grammy for a toodle down the road. So far he has been to 2 toy runs and a 100+ mile jaunt down the road. 20 years ago I use to ride the kids on my lap when they were smaller but given todays politivcal correct hysteria I thought I'd find something more acceptable and not temps the gods of epic stupidity.