Posted by
monkeyshines on
URL: http://cyclevisor-com.339.s1.nabble.com/Real-Rides-tp749p8261.html
I can give a perspective of a season on a freewheeler. Not so much a sidecar as I’ve ridden one only a short distance. Though I have looked into them as I had argued, ultimately unsuccessfully, for a switch to a sidecar rig over the freewheeler. Girl doesn’t want to ride in a sidecar, period.
After a year with the freewheeler though, the thing does a lot really well, it’s super convenient, a great daily get on and go machine. The backup motor is big and strong, backs the trike up my 20 degree driveway, has backed it up out of culverts. Super easy to park despite its fat rear end.
Powerslides the arse around in the grass, wheelies on pavement. Way maneuverable, tight handling on turns and the twisty, handles the same left and right, it’s a solid feeling machine. Twisty stuff is great fun. Something like the dragon would be wild. But definitely harsh on rough stuff, and it’s hard to miss potholes.
Both sidecars and trikes lose countersteering and the straight line centrifugal self centering thing motorcycles have, you can’t really take your hands off at speed. Two wheelers have an advantage long distance at higher speed imo, I read of guys touring on trikes, maybe I’m still a noob.
I was going to say there might be a reason Harley went to trikes over sidecars, liability or safety reasons, but then I see they still sell a sidecar setup.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/content/dam/h-d/documents/police/my-police-side-car.pdfIt would be nice to have both. Sidecars can have a higher contraption porn vibe I think.
But between the two this freewheeler makes much more sense for us, as a frequent ride, and likely more hassle free. And it’s also ridiculous fun, that coming from someone who was biased against them.