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Sidecar Riders and Installers...

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I am going to do my sidecar with Texas Sidecar Company in Texas. They did the one in the picture which was the reason I am bought the motorcycle.
 

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To talk about sidecars in strictly a mechanical sense is not to understand sidecars. There is a human side to sidecars that only sidecar people are witness to. A person may hate the motorcyclist that goes by in the street but does not hesitate to talk to the sidecar rider taking his dog for a ride. I took my Ural to a German festival probably 20 years ago. As I was leaving with my son a man stopped me and asked me to stay for a few minutes more. He brought his 90 plus year old mother out to see the bike. To my surprise she broke down crying. The man explained that his mother's older sister had dated a German officer during WWII and the officer often came to their home with his bike w/sidecar to take the two girls for a ride. The man explained that her tears were tears of joy and thanked me for bringing the Ural to the festival. I have dozens of rememberances about how sidecars have added to my life. In some ways I almost feel sorry for the rider who has never had a sidecar in his motorcycling life. Oh, and they aren't like any other 3 wheeler. The picture is of my two current rides.
 

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I had a crappy 98 Ural Deco that died. Took the sidecar off and hooked it up to my Classic. Texas Sidecar Company did a stellar job with the connection. As far as voiding the warranty that is not true. The sidecar easily detaches so the dealer can work on warranty issues; only one so far. Using a Hex EZCan for sidecar lights with no warranty issues as well. Hook it up and enjoy life. FullSizeRender.jpeg
 
I've owned a Ural, I've managed a BMW motorcycle dealership, I currently own two BMWs with Hannigans and my first sidecar was a Velorex in 1974. I've read the above submissions and no one is mentioning critical things about owning a hack'd R18. I obviously like Hannigans and my two Hannigans sidecars; one an LT and the other a Heritage are hugely different. I just recently came back from Americade with my longest day's ride being 540 miles on the Trans continental. However, right now I've got a crew of guys installing solar panels on my roof and I'm taking photos. I'll be back but it may be tomorrow.
 

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St.moritz92 said:
To talk about sidecars in strictly a mechanical sense is not to understand sidecars. There is a human side to sidecars that only sidecar people are witness to. A person may hate the motorcyclist that goes by in the street but does not hesitate to talk to the sidecar rider taking his dog for a ride. I took my Ural to a German festival probably 20 years ago. As I was leaving with my son a man stopped me and asked me to stay for a few minutes more. He brought his 90 plus year old mother out to see the bike. To my surprise she broke down crying. The man explained that his mother's older sister had dated a German officer during WWII and the officer often came to their home with his bike w/sidecar to take the two girls for a ride. The man explained that her tears were tears of joy and thanked me for bringing the Ural to the festival. I have dozens of rememberances about how sidecars have added to my life. In some ways I almost feel sorry for the rider who has never had a sidecar in his motorcycling life. Oh, and they aren't like any other 3 wheeler. The picture is of my two current rides.
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Incredibly well said. Sidecars make little sense technically or financially and they take up way too much garage space, but those measure entirely miss the fundamental point of the enjoyment they bring in hauling around friends/spouses/dogs/whatever in an unusually adventurous way. That to me is one of the fundamental purposes of having motorcycles. Give it a go.
 

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So, I am a long time sidecar guy and here are my feelings:
I loved my Ural and it was purpose built to be a sidecar rig. But its a Ural :-) Yikes at the same time.
I loved my BMW rigs (older airheads with subframes/conversions) but they were old.

Converting an R18 right is going to be really expensive… really really expensive. But I would definitely do it, it would make a gorgeous hack rig with none of the shortcomings of vintage BMW and Ural rigs. Another vote for Hannigan here. Doing a modern conversion is difficult because of the two piece frames and no leading link. Have the pros do it and you’ll love it
 
skidward said:
From Bike EXIF website
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That is art on three wheels.
Part of reasons to go for the R18 was my sidecar ´festish´.

Have worn out MZ hacks and did not need to wear out a Dnepr MT16 which came from the factory like torn stone washed jeans; bróken in.
Curently drive a 1939 Nimbus combination. Cool and well made as it is, it is 86 years old.

It is the the cost though. Over here in Spain there are serious red tape mountains to overcome and outsourcing both build and paperwork to professionals is the only option which doubles the cost. It will be nigh what I paid for the bike itself.
Also they will need for 2-2,5 months :rolleyes:

Still...
For one there nothing remotely as involving as driving a sidecar.
Secondly the concept is also weirdly endearing to just about anyone.
 
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