Tips for a newbie?

[Tfrank59]

Yep, and I ride with a group of guys some of whom are on trikes – one guy his wife absolutely has to be on a trike – so yeah, to each his own.

But in the States (well at least Washington state) a three wheeler does take a special endorsement, because it is a different type of riding, and so back to my original point that this person who's been out of it for so long really should think hard if a sidecar is a good fit for him "restarting" his motorcycling.

[CDNRatMan]

 Well not to get in a debate here but each to their own, I know of a fella who lost a leg in Afghanistan, came home and he wanted to ride again and he is riding a Can Am with no issues now. So each to their own.

[Tfrank59]

I'm a two wheels or four kind a guy.  If not a bike, I'll be driving a convertible 

[CDNRatMan]

  In Canada there is no special license required for a bike with a sidecar. However, if you take your test on a Can-Am then you have a special endorsement, you can only ride a trike or Can-Am. If you have a full class M license then you can ride everything.
Some provinces have been changing their requirements for the operation of three wheeler and Can-Ams including the slingshot and T-Rex.

[Tfrank59]

I'm just curious, if you haven't ridden since 79, why are you going for a sidecar set up? Is it that your significant other will not ride two up? Anyway that's your business, but in my state you have to have a special motorcycle endorsement for a side car, and that's because there's special skills required to ride safely with a sidecar (well not to mention even without one), and so since you been out of it for like four decades I would rethink driving with a sidecar, but that's just me.  Maybe you're thinking the bike is gorgeous enough and the sidecar comes with it, and that you'll just detach it and ride just the bike?  Not a bad plan – probably can sell the sidecar and recover some money. Again just my 1.5 cents

[ronedawe2]

new guy here from Canada....I have ridden a KZ750 w sidecar for 20 yrs...looking to a Drifter 800 with a 1952 Jawa chair, hopefully using a more modern Velorex frame.  I would like to hear from others who have attached a chair to a Drifter....there are ideals to strife for when attaching, for instance, rear wheels in line, etc.
Also, it would be nice if the pipes were on the left side, so the passenger is not sitting next to them...I wonder if that would be a difficult modification.
I wish I could figure out how to attach the picture I have on my desktop??

[Vulcanator]

Thanks!  I will grab the assemblies and wiggle to see if the bearings are shot, but it may take a shop to give me a full evaluation.  Good tip on examining the chain, brakes, & spokes carefully too.

I'm not sure what a steering damper and adjustable rake tees would look like though.  Would the damper be a small hydraulic cylinder between the handlebars & frame somewhere?

[Troll]

Any sidecar equipped motorcycle is going to have wear in places that the non equipped bike will not. Clutches, steering head bearings, swing arm bearings, and in your case, rear tire/rear sprocket/front sprocket and chain. Since the 800 has a spoked wheel, it would also bare mentioning that the spokes will have more stress on them than one without... and then, of course, depending on the hack having it's own brake system...some do, the service brakes on the bike...If the side car was properly installed, there should also be a steering damper, and even adjustable rake trees...

[Vulcanator]

I'll be looking at a 2000 Vulcan 800 with sidecar on Thursday for possible purchase from a private party.  The last time I owned a motorcycle was in 1979.  All I know about the Vulcan is it looks and sounds gorgeous, and what little I've found in web searches and reviews.  Is there anything I should watch for in particular?  If all goes well I hope to be a regular contributor here in a few days.