Thought I'd post up some photos and commentary regarding my canoe sidecar now mounted to my 50 Panther. Fasteddy and I made the sidecar body a couple of years ago from a 17' Grumman canoe. It was going to go on my Indian Hiawatha build, but decided against that for a couple of reasons. First the Hiawatha is already getting a convertible tri car front end, so how often would I use the sidecar? Another factor was that the sidecar frame Fasteddy welded up last summer had a mounting system that was slow going taking the sidecar off and putting it back on again.
So I decided it should go on the Panther which required some modification to fit the different frame configuration. While he was at it Steve (Fasteddy) simplified the mounting so it takes maybe ten or fifteen minutes to remove the sidecar and when it is replaced there is no adjustment fitting needed.... just hook it up again. Another post will detail the mounts with photos and commentary.
The first time I rode the sidecar I almost ran it into the brush, having a hard time steering it. I didn't realize how much I steer by leaning a bike. With this rigid mount setup there is no leaning... you have to turn the handlebars. It has taken me several hours of riding (quite slow at first) to get the hang of it, just like learning how to ride a bike all over again. The first big rule for me is to slow way down for the turns unless it is a very gradual one.
Aaniimoosh the Wonder Dog took her first ride yesterday just up and down the driveway a few times. She was a little tense at first since it was a new deal and not like her kiddie trailer. Today we took the bike out for a real run of an hour and a half or so and for the first time she rode with the doggles I rigged up for her. She didn't try to get them off and got lots of waves and smiles from admirers (people on my lake like her and are used to seeing her behind the bike in a trailer).
Gotta say, what a hoot it was to ride along through the forest with her sitting on the floor of the canoe, looking out over the bow through her shaded doggles. At 20mph or so her ears had enough lift from the wind that they were like little wings. Ha! She sits pretty still, tall and intensely watching the passing forest for animals such as Little Johnnie Pissoff, the red squirrel who seems to be everywhere, dratted chippermonkeys, killer bunny rabbits and white tailed deer. My pleasure in riding just got elevated another notch. Nice to let off on the throttle to give my little biker babe a pat on the head. Good dog, Aaniimoosh!
I'm ordering a bigger rear sprocket since I'll be riding in a slower range and need the additional torque for accelerating from a dead stop and climbing hills at lower speed. Around 30 mph is going to be tops now. I have a Worksman drum brake on the sidecar wheel, but have yet to run a cable. I think it will help with making righte hand turns more comfortably. I'm going to use a clutch lever for it so that I can lock it and have a parking brake.
Many thanks to Steve who initially helped make the canoe sidecar body, made the sidecar frame and figured out the modifications and simplified mounting system.
SB
. I'll post some photos of the one on the Kawasaki, and maybe the one that goes on my dad's (work-in-progress) home built. I'll try to get them on tomorrow.
