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RaffyK
Sep 6th, 2007, 2:31 am
Before I write about the first ride, I want to thank several people who helped with getting the side car rig to California.

First Jeremy who sold me the bike and sidecar. He secured the shipper for me: Chris Leaverton aka bossman44 who bid on uship.com and then stored the bike at no extra cost until I got to CCR and he delivered it there.

Doug Holck for helping me attach the sidecar to the bike at CCR

Mr. Hannigan for taking time from his vendor area to take the bike for a spin to check and make sure everything was all right.

Dan (Reelman), John (alaskafish), John (amarider), Doug (DougHolck) and I am forgetting the name but it will come to me, for lifting the side car and carefully placing it in the pickup bed.

The trip home was quite interesting. Several times you could see cars slow down and the passenger(s) look with a puzzled look. Couple of times we were asked what it was.

When stopped for breakfast/lunch/dinner we would get the what is it question.

Big thanks to Nathan (Nathan) for the use of his fork lift to lift the sidecar out of the pick up on Monday after a 10 hour drive from Wendover, NV.

A huge thanks for Nathan again for helping me attach the sidecar to the bike. It's supposed to be 30 minutes (4 bolts, a wiring harness connection and a brake line coupling). It took us several tries to line the sidecar and the bike properly and figure out which bolt gets put on first. Now I know to hook up the back two bolts first and then the front two.

The maiden ride was to the HDDC dinner tonight. It took me a few short miles to get comfortable with the rig. I was cruising at an indicated 60-75 mph and making camber adjustments on the fly as needed or to see results.

Unlike regular bikes, you can't lean so it's mostly steering with some shifting of weight turns. I got more comfortable with right hand turns as I rode around my neighborhood.

Once again, thank you all who helped. Off to DMV tomorrow to pay and register.

LodiHal
Sep 6th, 2007, 4:18 am
Very cool Raffy! I'm sorry I missed seeing it in person tonight. Have fun with it, and I bet your kids will love it! :D

deputy5211
Sep 6th, 2007, 4:20 am
Welcome back to the open road, Raffy!

UncleRock
Sep 6th, 2007, 9:34 am
While I have the plan into a PDF for the machine shop, for my articulated sidecar rig, thats about as far as it has gotten. I want to mock up a model out of PVC before I start scrapping cromemoly.
As I looked around summer was slipping by, it is almost time for two wheel survival school, might need to be a cold weather project.
Rock

STARFIGHTER
Sep 6th, 2007, 9:52 am
Cool Rock....
Raffy...When we did the trike conversion, Herb Anderson @ Hannigan said remember three things.(which prolly apply to your hack)
1. Don't put your foot down (you'll get it broken)
2. always park in gear (or she'll roll away)
3. There's no such thing as a quick stop (people always want to talk about it)

jfredriksson
Sep 6th, 2007, 11:58 am
Cool Rock....
Raffy...When we did the trike conversion, Herb Anderson @ Hannigan said remember three things.(which prolly apply to your hack)
1. Don't put your foot down (you'll get it broken)
2. always park in gear (or she'll roll away)
3. There's no such thing as a quick stop (people always want to talk about it)

AND, Don't try to split lanes!

STARFIGHTER
Sep 6th, 2007, 1:07 pm
Right about that Capn. John....
Met a few folks who left part of their rigs on a gas pump.................

Ted Shred
Sep 6th, 2007, 2:14 pm
Hey Raffy, Be glad you don't live in WA !! Check out this thread -

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255858

and I thought we had too much big government BS here in Cali....