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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!zehntel!zinfandel!joe
From: joe@zinfandel.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Sidecars - Any recommendations? (Pos
Message-ID: <1597@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 23-Sep-84 04:17:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1597
Posted: Sun Sep 23 04:17:51 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 04:56:02 EDT
Sender: diana@zehntel.UUCP
Organization: Zehntel Inc., Walnut Creek, CA
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Nf-ID: #R:ihuxj:-67500:zinfandel:4600034:000:2429
Nf-From: zinfandel!joe    Sep 21 09:19:00 1984


sidecars...

Hello.

	I want to discourage you from getting a sidecar. At the very
least you should find a way to try driving one before paying for one.
They were developed historically as ways to use an existing power source
( the bike ) to transport more cargo in an attempt to avoid the cost of
a car. The result was and is a quirky, instable vehicle that takes a
special totally un-bike-like riding technique to avoid tipping it over
or even steering it. Misapplications of throttle or brakes  can thwart
your attempts to aim this creature owing to the offset of power delivery
from the center of weight. The high center of gravity becomes crucial in
its instability now that the bike can't lean. The frame was NOT DESIGNED
to take the considerable side loads the side car gives it and usually
warps the frame permanently.
	Have you ever tried riding a bicycle with training wheels since
you learned to ride a bike? It's the same only worse. You'll get all the
vulnerability of a bike with none of the manuverability. If you want
the wind in your hair and capacity for grocery bags you would be better
off with a small open topped sports car. A side car rig is a fun toy
for a very few, but there are good reasons why you don't see any being
used. They enjoy their most devoted following in England where the laws
limit drivers of age sixteen to eighteen to motorcycles of small dis-
placement and three-wheelers ( for some odd reason ). Sidecars were then
so unsporty that they perhaps seemed no medium for teenage high jinks.
After the war three wheeled "bikes" were quickly evolved to resemble
cars as much as possible with full bodies, doors, windows etc. to
capture the market of people to poor or young to own cars. Even today
you can find these three wheeled cars in england ( mainly in motorcycle
magazines ). Given man's competitive nature sidecar races began which
are now the only reliable place to look to find side cars in use. You
will note that racing side cars are as close to motorcycles as they
are to cruise missiles, with car racing tires, formula 1 type bodies,
and limited movement for the "monkey" or passenger. And don't forget
that a sidecar handles radically differently when there is no passenger
from when there is. You might try carrying sand bags. My sarcasm is
only partly fun. I'm also trying to underline the inconvenience and
danger in these cute historical anacronisms.

				Joe Weinstein