And AIUI many sidecarrists prefer to carry ballast to help keep the sidecar planted. Turning towards the chair (left, for UK-based outfits) requires you to keep the bike speed up so it will overtake the sidecar - with the attendant risk that the sidecar will take off since you can’t lean into the turn. But if fear of takeoff leads you to try to turn left with the power off, the sidecar will try to overtake you and fight against the turn. I hear the Ural, with its powered sidecar wheel, is less problematic in this respect. Even so, a couple of jerrycans of water make things a bit more tractable.
“flying the chair” Sounds pretty righteous, to me!
(Now that you’ve teased us with a description of that, you’ve gotta post a picture!)
ducati
You tell 'em, old school! (I’m right there with ya, Outlaw!)
Goll durned whippersnappers, need ta learn some respect for their elders and betters! Right, ducati?
Always remember, boys and girls… “Shiny side UP, and keep it between the ditches!”
The 650 Sportsman model had a torque splitting differential and was full-time 2WD. You couldn’t fly the chair under power, as the sidecar wheel would spin like any other open-diff axle. The 750cc Patrol model (what I have, and the pic from the OP) has an engageable sidecar drive with no differential. If engaged on pavement, turning becomes very difficult. I had it self engage once, and it scared the shit out of me the first hard turn I took. On dirt, the weight transfers to the outside wheel and you can steer with the throttle…more gas tightens the turn, less widens it. But you better not be too hot and running wide, cause backing off will make you run wider!
Its an 09 Kawasaki Ninja 600 and yes it has a steering damper and I thank God daily its there. I have seen way too many tank slapper videos on youtube for me not to have it.
I rarely ride with my hands off the handlebars, even on cold days like you mentioned I just wear gloves and hope I have enough feeling left to squeeze the brake. Besides I do not have any way of controlling the throttle if my hands are not on it and I will just engine brake to a stall.
If I keep my bike on top gear going about 50 mph or so I can maintain a decent speed for a while and short of nearly falling of the bike I can not influence the bike without handlebar input. It will usually just follow the crown of the road so I can not do it for too long.
