Having struggled with the weight of the 1800 Wing when stationary ie on a slope or similar stationary incline (have been unable to hold it twice now, and had to lay it down, both times with a pillion passenger i am now considering attaching a side-car (chair ) I am now looking for some advise whether this is a wise option given that I have read how some of the aluminium frames have suffered fractures at the welds .
As I am in Adelaide South Australia there is a company in S Aust that may be able to fit a DJP or Higgins Sidecar can any body have experience with how this can be done ? .IE will a sub frame be needed to be fitted, where will the struts from the side-car chassis be connected, if it will hinder with the pillion passenger leg room etc ,will a leading link fork set be necessary
I will be very grateful for any advise with this possible option. Not really keen to transform into a trike but have had older bikes with sidecar outfits and quite enjoyed riding them
Ray
Don't know if this is an option in Australia but there is a company that makes a retractable training wheels. I apologize for the term training wheels but that is the best way to describe them. They are called LegUp.
What they do is lower at stops to hold the bike up and raise when you pull out. this would allow you to keep the handling characteristics of the bike and still have the stability at stops.
What about a trike option? My dad getting on in years has been riding since the mid 1940's and had to do something as well. Got the trike a few years back and has really taken to it. Good luck with your decision.
I think the outrigger wheels are a good option, in Oz a new Goldwing is very expensive and a trike addition is probably too much for most people, if I were in Oz and I hope to be in 2015 one idea of mine Is to fabricate a kit for Australian bikers.
There is issues buying outside Oz and shipping in. Especially big bike parts.
I may have found the source of your problem...you will have to move to North America or at least somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. The problem is that you're down under and the coriolis effect of the earth's rotation is affecting your Goldwing and causing it to tip over. Up here we understand the effect and our Goldwings are designed to counter this effect, after all they are manufactured in the Northern Hemisphere.
Alternatively you can purchase a CanAm Spyder and never encounter that problem again.
Paulcf wrote:I may have found the source of your problem...you will have to move to North America or at least somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. The problem is that you're down under and the coriolis effect of the earth's rotation is affecting your Goldwing and causing it to tip over. Up here we understand the effect and our Goldwings are designed to counter this effect, after all they are manufactured in the Northern Hemisphere.
Alternatively you can purchase a CanAm Spyder and never encounter that problem again.
Thanks Paul ,!!! I believe your on to something , It is a Known fact that water always goes down the plug hole the opposite way around in the Southern Hemisphere
So I can only say shame on Honda for not creating a bike that counteracts against the Southern forces of nature, i will tell my wife to sit in reverse This might do the trick as our Yin and yang will then be opposite, what do you reckon Ray
Ray, that won't work, you'd both have to sit backwards and drive it in reverse also to counteract the forces.
Your only option is to consult with an expert in Feng Shui who might be able to tell you to do something with the Goldwing, perhaps a Bonsai tree in the trunk? Who knows with these delicate matters?
The good news is that there is help out there, you just need to be able to find it.
A side car is also an option (I call it a forced option) and it won't stress your frame. However, as you know, you will never be able to lean into the curves anymore.
Maybe the purest option is to simply buy your wife a touring motorcycle of her own! Maybe an ST1300 or an older Goldwing from the 1200cc series (1984-1987, 1987 being the finest Wing ever built in my opinion). Probably a lot cheaper than a sidecar also.
Also a foam lowered seat (or optional seat like one from Sargent or Corbin) will give you an extra inch or two of leg reach to fully stabilize the bike when you come to a stop on a hill with your passenger aboard.
Happy riding down under and watch out for the roos! One day I'll get down there to visit!
Have you considered an after market "bolt on" trike kit??? I use one periodically on my 1800 as I am getting older and losing some upper and lower body strength... Don't know if they are available in Australia but it might be worth checking into... Thought I saw a used one in the latest issue of Wing World...
I had a 2 wheel Goldwing and it got too much for me after hernia surgery. So I purchased a trike. Took some adjustment but wouldn't trade it for nothing!
