Okay, here we go! Let me tell you about my Harley Davidson Sportster with sidecar project. It was a real journey, lemme tell ya.
First things first, I picked up a beat-up Sportster. It was cheap, but needed a lotta love. I’m talking rust, faded paint, the whole nine yards. But the engine was solid, which was the main thing. I always wanted a sidecar rig, and this was my chance.
The sidecar itself was a whole other story. Found this old, kinda rusty one at a swap meet. Didn’t know much about it, just that it looked cool and the price was right. Dragged it home, and the real work began.
Stripped everything down. That Sportster frame needed some serious TLC. Sanded it down, got rid of all the rust, and gave it a fresh coat of black paint. Looks like a whole new machine already!
Next up was figuring out how to actually attach the sidecar. This wasn’t some bolt-on kit. I had to fabricate some custom mounts. Measured a million times, cut some steel, welded it all together. It was a pain, but I got there.
- Mounting points: Had to reinforce the frame where the mounts attached. Didn’t want anything ripping off on the road.
- Alignment: Getting the sidecar aligned correctly is crucial. Too much toe-in or toe-out, and the thing would handle like a shopping cart with a broken wheel.
- Lean angle: Messed around with the lean angle to find a good balance. Too much lean, and it felt tippy. Not enough, and it was hard to steer.
The sidecar itself needed work too. The body had some dents and scratches, so I hammered those out and gave it a fresh coat of paint to match the bike. New seat, new lights, the whole shebang.
Wiring was a nightmare, let me tell you. Integrating the sidecar lights into the Sportster’s electrical system was a real puzzle. But after a lot of head-scratching and wire stripping, I got it all working.
Finally, it was time for the first test ride. Nervous as hell, but also super excited. Hopped on, fired up the engine, and took off. It was… different. Handling was weird, took some getting used to. But after a few hours of practice, I started to get the hang of it.
Adjustments, adjustments, adjustments! Spent the next few weeks tweaking everything. Suspension, alignment, even the tire pressure. Small changes made a big difference.
The Finished Product
Now, it’s a blast to ride. Turns heads everywhere I go. It ain’t perfect, but it’s mine. A custom Harley Davidson Sportster with sidecar, built with my own two hands. Worth all the blood, sweat, and beers.
Would I do it again? Hell yeah! Maybe next time, I’ll add a machine gun mount to the sidecar. Just kidding… mostly.
