CB1100 Sidecar Experiment

[cookiemech]

I'm not even a dog person (I have always had cats), but you have a winner there in Rudi! Great photos. The rig is beautiful, though I'd expect that if Bob Wark set it up. I'm glad it's all working out.

[4 Paws_imp]

Bike looks better with a dog as the monkey!
Check out some handguards for a Yamaha SuperTenre, inexpensive and will break that cold winter wind. I left the windshield on the tub to give the dogs some relief and folded it down under the tonneau cover when riding solo which actually improved gas mileage noticeably.
Guy by the name of Rich Maund on SOvietSteeds makes and sells covers and doors, good quality.

[deltamark]

Bike looks better with a dog as the monkey!
Check out some handguards for a Yamaha SuperTenre, inexpensive and will break that cold winter wind. I left the windshield on the tub to give the dogs some relief and folded it down under the tonneau cover when riding solo which actually improved gas mileage noticeably.
Guy by the name of Rich Maund on SOvietSteeds makes and sells covers and doors, good quality.

Thanks for the tips, 4Paws! I will definitely look into the hand guards.

I also agree that the rig looks better with the dog as the monkey, but my wife did make a comment about the "Caution K9" bumper sticker, expressing concern about when she might ride in the sidecar. :-) (I may have to rethink that bumper sticker.)

I would have preferred to leave the sidecar windshield on, but it seemed that Rudi didn't have enough room. How big is your dog? Rudi is about 94 pounds and very long/tall. Have been researching shorter windshields. One that I might be able to relocate further up on the tub.

I'll also look into the guy who makes the sidecar covers. That item has definitely been on my list.


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Dogs are so patient with us humans sometimes.

Your bike and the rig look great, deltamark, and Rudi looks a fine fella.

Thanks Cormanus. Yes, I hope to learn and acquire some of Rudi's patience. :-)



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I'm not even a dog person (I have always had cats), but you have a winner there in Rudi! Great photos. The rig is beautiful, though I'd expect that if Bob Wark set it up. I'm glad it's all working out.

Thank you cookiemech. Yes, Bob Wark is a pro and I knew after the first time that I spoke with him about a year ago that I wanted to work with him.



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[deltamark]

Hey there CB Riders,

Hope those of you who attended had a great time at the Berea, Kentucky rally! Really wish I could've been there.

Wanted to post a little update on my side car/canine rider experiment. I've now had the opportunity to take a number of rides with my dog, Rudi and am getting a real good feel for the CB1100 rig, as well as Rudi's tolerance level for riding in the sidecar. I’m certainly loving it! The CB runs like a top and pulls the sidecar really well. Plenty of power and stopping ability. The CB seat is a little too sloped for me and I may add some bar risers, but all is still good!

Rudi and I have covered several hundred miles together and its been a lot of fun. It is so cool to see him looking around, sniffing the air and taking in the scenery.



My wife even took a ride with us last week (she was on the back of the bike) and took some Rudi-eye-view videos:

[url=https://youtu.be/kU1RBKP4qMc]Rudi in the Hack

[url=https://youtu.be/XORSdDm6Xvs]Rudi-eye-view

A lot of people smile, wave and make comments when they see Rudi riding in the sidecar. Once we stopped for gas and when I turned around from filling the tank, there was a car that pulled up next to us and they were taking pictures of Rudi. This seems to happen often. I took him for ice cream last weekend and one of the workers came out from the shop and asked to take Rudi’s picture. And of course, Rudi gets a treat when we make the ice cream stops! Hopefully he associates the rides with good things.



On the real side, I realized that Rudi was not comfortable at speeds over 45 mph. Without the sidecar windshield, I suspect that the wind is too much for him at speed. Unfortunately, the sidecar windshield leans so far in, that I think Rudi would be very uncomfortable if I put it back on. I had a hunch that his ears might be bothering him. Rudi has long ears and you can see from this pic that they flap in the wind.



I previously purchased a neck warmer with the intention of putting it on him for cooler weather rides, but thought that I’d give it a try now, even though the temperature was around 90 degrees. It definitely made a difference! We took a ride of about 40 miles and most of it was around 50 mph and he didn’t seem bothered at all!



I’m trying to work up to the point where we can take some longer road trips. Still trying to make the sidecar as comfortable as possible for him. He seems to want to lie down at times while we are riding, but as soon as he does he gets right back up. I currently have a 3/8” sleeping bag rubber pad on the floor of the sidecar and will probably try a thicker foam to see if that makes a difference.

If all goes well, we'll take our first road trip next week. Planning to pile all of the camping gear on the rig and head to the United Sidecar Association rally in Indiana. Wish us luck!

[Stichill_imp]

So far, so good! Love the barn shot with Rudy scouting ahead!

[the Ferret]

Awesome. Glad you and Rudi are enjoying it.

[Lord Popgun]

That rig is totally awesome!

[peterbaron]

I would like to see Rudi in the rider's seat....does not have to be riding/no M license??? but at least sitting there, please
And good luck to both of you

pb

[4 Paws_imp]

Mark, check out safeandsoundpets.com for mutt muffs, might help out Rudi. Also post up a question on Soviet Steeds about cutting down or lower windshields for the tub. A British company makes one but not cheap, some of the SS crowd will have suggestions, maybe one or two decent. Gene at Holopaw in Florida is an excellent resource. I saw Rich Maund recently at a rally near where I live and asked about a sidecar door, thinking of Rudi and you, he had at least one in stock. Thread on ADVrider - Hacks and Pups, read and ask questions there. Serious about dogs and sidecars. The more I get to know the CB the more I thinks it’d be a perfect tug. Jay at DMC mentioned to me a replacement triple tree he was making that would reduce the Trail and consequently reduce steering effort, night and day difference.

Dan

[deltamark]

Thanks stichill, ferret and popgun for the positive comments! Appreciated.

I would like to see Rudi in the rider's seat....does not have to be riding/no M license??? but at least sitting there, please
And good luck to both of you

pb

peterbaron, I have no idea how I'd get Rudi up on the rider's seat. Might have to think about that one!

Mark, check out safeandsoundpets.com for mutt muffs, might help out Rudi. Also post up a question on Soviet Steeds about cutting down or lower windshields for the tub. A British company makes one but not cheap, some of the SS crowd will have suggestions, maybe one or two decent. Gene at Holopaw in Florida is an excellent resource. I saw Rich Maund recently at a rally near where I live and asked about a sidecar door, thinking of Rudi and you, he had at least one in stock. Thread on ADVrider - Hacks and Pups, read and ask questions there. Serious about dogs and sidecars. The more I get to know the CB the more I thinks it’d be a perfect tug. Jay at DMC mentioned to me a replacement triple tree he was making that would reduce the Trail and consequently reduce steering effort, night and day difference.

Dan

Dan, thanks so much for the helpful information! If the neck warmer doesn't work out, I will look at the mutt muffs. Looks like quality stuff.

I actually posted on Soviet Steeds about the windshield. I saw the shorter British windscreen, but am not sure it would do the job, as Rudi's head would be well above the top of it.

Thanks for the note on Gene at Holopaw. Will look him up. Also appreciate the inquiry with Rich Maund. I did contact him once about a sidecar cover but he was pretty backed up. May reach out again on the door and other items.

I've also posted on ADV hacks and pups. May pursue that option again for further advice.

And if I begin to feel that the steering is too much, I will definitely contact Jay about the triple tree.