Bitten bad by the scooter bug

[Kaos]

I know I have it bad when I'm thinking about selling my favorite hotrod to fund the scooter itch...
I'm seriously agonizing over selling my 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite
drag car to get a Vespa and sidecar rig.
I've just not been driving the wagon as much, as its not something that my wife and son can enjoy with me. I take it out by myself and have fun by myself with it. I think a sidecar rig could be something that we could have fun with as a family. So does anyone have experience with young children in a sidecar? My son is only 3, but LOVES all things scooter. He's obviously not old enough to be safe riding on the scooter behind me, but are sidecars good for children? Does the Cozy sidecar have enough room that he could sit on my wife's lap in it? Is this even safe/legal?

Ahh! Why can't I keep both???
<img src="http://www.piratelogy.com/wagon.jpg">

[Portland_Rider]

I know I have it bad when I'm thinking about selling my favorite hotrod to fund the scooter itch...
I'm seriously agonizing over selling my 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite
drag car to get a Vespa and sidecar rig.
I've just not been driving the wagon as much, as its not something that my wife and son can enjoy with me. I take it out by myself and have fun by myself with it. I think a sidecar rig could be something that we could have fun with as a family. So does anyone have experience with young children in a sidecar? My son is only 3, but LOVES all things scooter. He's obviously not old enough to be safe riding on the scooter behind me, but are sidecars good for children? Does the Cozy sidecar have enough room that he could sit on my wife's lap in it? Is this even safe/legal?

Ahh! Why can't I keep both???
<img src="http://www.piratelogy.com/wagon.jpg">

Kaos,

To find out about legalities in Oregon, the best source is well the source: ODOT and to speak with the office that manages motorcyle laws.

[Kaos]

Kaos,

To find out about legalities in Oregon, the best source is well the source: ODOT and to speak with the office that manages motorcyle laws.

I've tried that, and they don't seem to know the answer. The Oregon Revised Statutes don't mention it that i can find either.

[rajron]

Go For It! - I think you have said before you have several cars anyway.
Side car hey –
Not sure of anything on sidecars but they sound like fun.
I’m trying to get funds for a new Modern Vespa, Super 300, luckily the prices are dropping and hopefully by end of year I will be riding a new scooter myself.
Keep us posted.

[Portland_Rider]

Kaos,

To find out about legalities in Oregon, the best source is well the source: ODOT and to speak with the office that manages motorcyle laws.

I've tried that, and they don't seem to know the answer. The Oregon Revised Statutes don't mention it that i can find either.

ODOT doesn't have the answer? They write the transportation laws! After them come the State and local police, and then the nutjobs at the DMV office.

I'll make a call for you on this to see if I can get some accurate information.


EDIT: Probably the best person to speak with at Oregon Dept of Transportation is Michelle O'Leery at 503-986-4198. She is the Motorcyle Safety Coordinator and the person to speak with about laws, vehicle equipment, etc.

If I was inquiring, I would get some specific details ie if it is ok for two people to ride together in the side-car, minimum ages, and perhaps even any height/weight minimum requirments for your son. There might be limitations regarding the types of roads that you can travel on too with your son or otherwise.

If you have already spoken with Michelle at ODOT and/or have not been able to get the laws clarified (I would think they would that information handy since other people ride with sidecars), I can call another source that shoud be able to help.

I have access with my Pre-Paid Legal Insurance to get advice from attornies on an unlimited number of legal matters. They can always research it and I've already paid my monthly fee. I'd would first want to go through other channels or sources before I call them.

[DennisD]

Is the Plymouth street legal? If so, why not keep it and make it a full on trailered strip car?

Don't sell it!

You can keep both.

[Kaos]

Is the Plymouth street legal? If so, why not keep it and make it a full on trailered strip car?

Don't sell it!

You can keep both.

Its only barely street legal. Its not really got proper exhaust, but I get away with it. Its just glasspacks right on the end of the headers. Its LOUD!
Its also only got front seats, the rest of the car is stripped. And its not at all mild mannered enough, as its pushing 550HP. It is a blast to rumble around in and watch the "but its a WAGON!" looks on people's faces.

To go full trailered strip car would mean I'd have to buy a trailer, which would be a step in the wrong direction in my wife's mind

[BuddyRaton]

Riding with a sidecar is completley different. Turning is done by turning the wheel like a car, not by leaning.

I have thought about one for Allie the Wonder Beagle!

[Kaos]

Riding with a sidecar is completley different. Turning is done by turning the wheel like a car, not by leaning.

I have thought about one for Allie the Wonder Beagle!

I'm aware they ride different, and thats ok. I love the fact that I could fit my whole family of 3 on them

I've been jonsing for one for almost a year now, and I figure with the off season it might be easiler to pick one up. I'm going to look at a P-150 thats only $800 some time later this week, so that'd be 1/2 a side car rig

[Skootz Kabootz]

My whole two-wheel motivation before ultimately getting a scooter was to get a motorcycle and side car. I've wanted one ever since I was a kid. And one of these days I WILL have one! Love them! Love them! Love them!

I say go for it Kaos. Life is short. And as you say, the hot rod is a solo enjoyment. The sidecar rig is can be enjoyed by the whole fam damnly (assuming of course, they want to ride in it...).

But as a test, if you could own both, and money/cost wasn't in any way a consideration, which do you think you would use/enjoy more?

(Just thought of this too - the sidecar rig might be safer on those colder, slipperier winter riding days...)

[Kaos]

But as a test, if you could own both, and money/cost wasn't in any way a consideration, which do you think you would use/enjoy more?

Thats kinda the end test for me. *IF* my son likes the sidecar, the sidecar bike would get used more. If not, likely the Wagon would be, as I enjoy being able to lean my bike, which you can't do with the sidecar.

So I guess the next test is to take him out in one and see what happens

[ericalm]

Here's all I could find in the OR Vehicle Codes:

814.325 Carrying passenger on motorcycle; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of unlawfully carrying a passenger on a motorcycle if the person does any of the following:
(a) Carries on a motorcycle a person who is not seated on a permanent and regular seat, if the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, or upon another seat attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator’s seat.
(b) Carries a person in a position that interferes with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the operator’s view.
(c) Carries a person, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, on a motorcycle with no footrests for that person.
(2) The offense described in this section, unlawfully carrying a passenger on a motorcycle, is a Class B traffic violation. [1987 c.138 §8]

You can search it here:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/forms/ve ... debk.shtml

The CA state codes are equally vague. You don't need a motorcycle license to ride a vehicle with a sidecar, but helmets for riders and passengers are still required.

[Kaos]

Here's all I could find in the OR Vehicle Codes:

814.325 Carrying passenger on motorcycle; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of unlawfully carrying a passenger on a motorcycle if the person does any of the following:
(a) Carries on a motorcycle a person who is not seated on a permanent and regular seat, if the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, or upon another seat attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator&#8217;s seat.
(b) Carries a person in a position that interferes with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the operator&#8217;s view.
(c) Carries a person, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, on a motorcycle with no footrests for that person.
(2) The offense described in this section, unlawfully carrying a passenger on a motorcycle, is a Class B traffic violation. [1987 c.138 §8]

You can search it here:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/forms/ve ... debk.shtml

The CA state codes are equally vague. You don't need a motorcycle license to ride a vehicle with a sidecar, but helmets for riders and passengers are still required.

Thats the only statute I'd found. Doesn't really say if my wife in the sidecar with him would be legal. Not that I think she'd HAVE to be, but on a first ride where we're not sure if he'll be having fun, I'd like to.

[ageekgirl]

Kaos, DH has a Ural. And a local rider had one of the Stella's with a sidecar. She no longer has that scooter with the sidecar. The biggest problem is the scooters wheelbase is shorter than the Ural, and with the side car on it it was much less stable than a motorcycle with a sidecar.

Also, from what DH has said to me, when you have 3 people to go on a scooter & sidecar, the 2nd heaviest needs to be in the sidecar to help keep it stable. I don't know how you thought you might ride the three of y'all together. Your wife could possibly ride with your son on her lap in the sidecar, but it wouldn't advisable to have your son in the sidecar with your wife 2up behind you.

Best of luck with your information search on scooter sidecar usage. I hope this is a bit of a help for you in your decision.

[Kaos]

Kaos, DH has a Ural. And a local rider had one of the Stella's with a sidecar. She no longer has that scooter with the sidecar. The biggest problem is the scooters wheelbase is shorter than the Ural, and with the side car on it it was much less stable than a motorcycle with a sidecar.

Also, from what DH has said to me, when you have 3 people to go on a scooter & sidecar, the 2nd heaviest needs to be in the sidecar to help keep it stable. I don't know how you thought you might ride the three of y'all together. Your wife could possibly ride with your son on her lap in the sidecar, but it wouldn't advisable to have your son in the sidecar with your wife 2up behind you.

Best of luck with your information search on scooter sidecar usage. I hope this is a bit of a help for you in your decision.

Thats great info. I was planning on having them both in the sidecar if it turns out to be legal like that. I'm not comfortable with letting him be in there by himself, he'd get into trouble

[KRUSTYburger]

Sidecars rule. I have only rode in one a couple times and it was awesome.

[babblefish]

Kaos - You can always take one wheel off your Satellite, roll down the windows and pretend it's a three-wheel sidecar.

[iwabj]

oops

[Kaos]

Kaos - You can always take one wheel off your Satellite, roll down the windows and pretend it's a three-wheel sidecar.

Hah! That'd be scary And I think it might stop being track legal if I run it around like that

[laxer]

Kaos - You can always take one wheel off your Satellite, roll down the windows and pretend it's a three-wheel sidecar.

Hah! That'd be scary And I think it might stop being track legal if I run it around like that

Take it one step further: cut the thing down into a sidecar. Two birds, meet one stone