Old Vintage Cranks

"How much does it cost to install a sidecar?"

This varies widely with the type of sidecar chosen and the make/model of bike, but an average installation costs around $5k. The cost of the sidecar itself can be anywhere from $3k to $10k; most of the installations we’ve done involve the Cozy brand of sidecars, which retail for around $3,500. A mounting kit is required to adapt the sidecar to your bike, these usually cost around $500-$700. The installation fee is an additional $600-$800, depending upon any custom fabrication work that may need to be done.

 

"What sidecar is best for my needs?"

We will be happy to discuss to sidecar selections with you. We are an authorized dealer for several makes of sidecars and can obtain the make and model that best suits your needs.

 

We prefer to meet you in person, with your bike, at our shop so that we can give you a better idea of what we feel would work best for you, but we can also answer your questions over the phone or via email.

 

"How long does it take for an installation?"

Again, this varies with the type of sidecar and make/model of bike, but a typical installation will take around one month to complete. We are a small shop and most of the custom painting, metal fabrication and welding needs to be sent out to local specialist shops, which can add to the overall time frame.

 

Also, it may take several attempts to get the installation right, as we refuse to give the project back to the owner until it fully meets our standards for quality and safety. We do NOT rush ANY installation job – regardless of the reason and you must be aware that we cannot always commit to a specific completion date, but we will try our best to meet it.

 

"Will a sidecar void my bike’s warranty?"

This is best answered by the dealer you purchased your bike from. Most motorcycle manufacturers have a clause in their warranty that allows for sidecar installation if it is performed by a qualified installation shop (such as ours), but the onus is on you to verify this prior to booking an installation.

 

"Can the sidecar be removed once it’s installed?"

There are a few sidecar companies that make so called “quick disconnect” mounting hardware so that a sidecar can be removed and installed in less than an hour. At oVc, however, we discourage this practice for safety reasons. Operating a sidecar rig requires a skill set that is quite different from that of a two-wheeled motorcycle and we prefer that our customers acknowledge and abide by this.

 

Simply put, if you don’t want to give up the “freedom” of two wheeled transport, you should not get a sidecar. Alternately, you might consider keeping your two wheeler and purchasing a second bike for sidecar duty.

 

"Are sidecars more dangerous than trikes?"

It all depends on your perspective as there are pros and cons to both. At oVc we believe that no matter which form of three-wheeled transport you choose, safety comes first and we will ensure that your new rig will be expertly installed and that everything will be performed according to the manufacturer's instructions before we hand you the keys.

 

"Where can I get driving lessons specific to sidecar operation?"

One of the included features in any oVc sidecar installation is a comprehensive, hands-on training session given at our shop prior to your riding off with your new sidecar. We will not consider the installation completed until you are confident enough to ride it.

 

For a very reasonable fee we can also arrange delivery of the rig to your home. We recommend you read the excellent “Driving A Sidecar Outfit” manual by David L Hough, as we base our training sessions on his methods.

 

"When can I drop off my bike?"

Due to limited storage space, we will not take your bike in until the sidecar and the mounting kit have arrived and are ready to be installed. We will notify you when we are ready to start and then we’ll book a time/date for you to drop it off.

 

"Can I come to the shop and look at your selection of sidecars?"

Due to their size and the many different models available, we do not keep many sidecars in stock. We may have a few units on the premises at any given time, though, depending upon the number of installation projects that are in progress.

 

We can direct you towards the different manufacturer’s websites so that you can choose one best suited to your needs and liking and in some cases we can provide photos of our completed projects to give you a better idea of what is out there. You are always welcome to drop in for a chat, though!