First thing to remember is this-a motorcycle and sidecar has the worst of bikes (poor weather protection, etc) and the worst of cars (you get stuck in traffic).
That said, they are a complete hoot.
first thing is to make sure that your bike can take a sidecar-better, just buy an outfit. Sidecar tugs need a certain amount of torque to pull the extra weight. Good sidecar tugs include:
Most Moto Guzzis,
Harleys
Goldwings
Some BMWs.
Most modern Triumphs lack the frame for pulling a sidecar but it can be done.
You get the picture. although CZ Jawa did a 350cc two stroke sidecar outfit that worked fairly well. Also, never forget the classic Russian Dnepr/ Ural/ Neval /Cossack -there are two basic models, a 650 and a 750 two wheel drive sidevalve, both based on a 1930s BMW design. The Chinese make a similar machine.
Some people have put small chairs (Brit speak for sidecar) on Vespas and on small bikes. Even mopeds can tug a chair.
The classic sidecar tug was a Panther sloper-600 or 650cc. In good nick, these things are brilliant. In bad nick, you will buying oil every few yards. It was the ownership of a Panther that led me to buying my first Japanese bike.
Next, they need to be set up properly. I refer you to this site:
http://sidecarland.co.uk/SidecarFittingbasics.aspxI have experimented with toe in and lean over the years and sometimes, depending on the bike, I've found that leaning in has helped handling-the usual advice is to make the bike lean away from the chair.
Driving an outfit. This will take years to learn properly. It took me about two years to be utterly confident and in control. You will not be able to jump on an outfit and be in control, first time. Mind you, the first time I rode one, it was not properly set up, the bolts holding bike and chair together were loose and I hit a wall. In front of a police car. How they laughed.
Essentially, a sidecar outfit is two vehicles tied together. Probably unwillingly. So-one has an engine and brakes, the other has no engine and usually has no brakes. If the chair has brakes, that is a good thing and a considerable bonus.
To drive forward, keep the bars on the bike steady and accelerate. Easy, eh?
To turn-remember one vehicle has power, the other does not. Now, here in the UK, we drive on the correct non-Napoleonic side of the road. Just reverse this if you live in a country where you owe your freedom to the French.
So. To turn left, accelerate around the chair (opposite if your chair is on the right). To turn right, brake the motorcycle to allow the chair to overtake (opposite for a right hannd chair).
Next, all your sidecar stories and mine. Here endeth the basic-and I do mean basic-tutorial. These things are much harder to drive than cars or bikes but are utterly hilarious.
