Triumphrat

evilkevin

I can't decide if I want to put a sidecar on my bonneville for my daughter in a couple of years or buy a used jeep. The jeep can be used now and in bad weather where the sidecar can't be used till she is a bit older. The sidecar is cooler and unique where the jeep isn't but the jeep can serve more purposes and the Bonneville would become a rig and no longer a motorcycle. I would like your opinions, please.

Kevin

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Dan McGrath

I like the sidecar concept but the practical answer is the Jeep.

BTW, I've been eying the Ural rigs for a couple of years now......

evilkevin

I looked at the Ural's as well but went with the Bonneville since it's a better bike. I can have only one so I am in a quandary about which. I love the bike and the thought of taking my daughter for rides in a sidecar are grand but I don't want to lose the ability of two wheels. The jeep seems as you say more practical.

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__________________
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And I may not know why
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larrykahn

Miata. Used ones can be had under $5000 with plenty of miles left in them. Try one.

rmak

I had a 90's Wrangler as an only car for a while. For that purpose it was a piece of impractical junk (sorry Jeep lovers!). It didn't seem that well built and there were numerous issues (maybe a lemon) Top was a hassle to take down and up. It was easy to break into and steal stuff (2 expensive sound systems gone). If it's used as a recreational vehicle only it probably would be fun.

Urals are a blast. I had a 97. If I ever have a few pennies saved I'm getting another, later model with the many recent refinements.

I guess I advise against a sidecar on a Triumph just because they're so much fun as a true motorcycle. My experience with hacks is that the characteristics of a sidecar motorcycle is much different and limited.

I guess I don't understand why you are thinking about a car and not another bike. Cars are large, costly to upkeep and not as much fun.

Have I convinced you to re think a Ural?

Wombat

I bought a new Ural in 2005 and it was a blast to ride.

I unfortunately totaled it in 2007 but would buy another if SWMBO would let me.

The later model Urals are much more refined (reliable) than the earlier ones.
Anything later than 2004 are the ones to look for and the later the better as improvements were made each year.

As rmak stated, riding a sidecar rig is as different to riding a bike as is driving a car.

Treating it any other way will get you into A LOT of trouble.

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evilkevin

Larry, the miata wouldn't work because of my daughter(Eleanor) althought it would be a riot to have one. Rmak, it would be an extra vehicle not an only. Getting a ural isn't in the cards, I have a Honda Transalp as well and three bikes won't happen, also the Transalp isn't as comfortable as the bonneville. The jeep would be for fun, just which would be more fun? Jeep or hack.

__________________
I am I!
And I may not know why
But I know that I like it.

rmak

Gotcha! Get a Jeep. As I mentioned, it would be fun if not a daily machine. Keep the top down and keep it dirty. Don't do something irreversible with your beautiful Triumph.

jml3837

I have a bonneville and love it. Last year I bought a Ural, and each time after a ride, my wife and I agree it is the best thing we ever bought. I commute to work each day on my Bonny, but occasionally take the Ural for a change of pace or if I'm carrying a lot of stuff. I spend most weekends riding the Ural over the Bonny. It is not a fast bike, but of course that's not why you get a Ural.

My cage is a Jeep Wrangler, if you can call it a cage. i only drive it if the weather is really lousy. Hacking the Bonneville? IDK, I'd consider it, but I do like two wheels, and riding fast. For the cost of a Jeep, even used, you can probably get another bike with a sidecar. There is the guy is New Jersey that sells hacked Bonnevilles for around $10k, I don't think there are too many used Jeeps worth buying for too much under $10k.

If I already had a car and had to choose "bike with sidecar" or "Jeep," mainly for fun, bike and sidecar wins every time.

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SCbonneville

How often is your daughter going to ride with you? I have a side hack that I bought so that I could take my daughters along... I take it off and ride two wheeled when we're not riding together... which is 95+% of the time... more now that they've grown up and one is off to college... A bit of a pain... 35 to 40 mins. to attach and hook up electrics under the seat... 25 mins. to detach... but really not too bad... you just need to make sure that you get a mounting system that doesn't require a realignment every time you attach the rig... Mine holds its set up fine...

Look here: http://www.triumphrat.net/memberalbu...y.php/cat/1415