do people still use these?  i cant say i've actually seen someone on the road.  maybe they are illegal?

Sidecars (or chairs) are still alive and well here in Oz.  There are a couple of manufacturers who put out a very good product and I'm told they are a lot of fun, although I've never ridden one.  They are very popular with the rally-going crowd.  Down here a motorcycle rally is a gathering usually held in some out-of-the-way place (must have ready access to a pub, though) with access by a dodgy dirt road or track.  The extra wheel makes for better stability, especially if, sorry, when it rains and the dirt road becomes a mud slick.  The chair boys and girls usually find a place to stop and set up their cameras, so get great shots of everyone else falling off or otherwise getting very untidy in the mud.  :x
BTW, please tell me you're not considering one for your GS.  

i see an older woman riding around with her grandchildren in stillwater quite often...

granny on a harley with a side cart. quite a sight
chris<pixelmonkey>

no im not considering one :lol: i was just curious

Quote from: weaselnozeno im not considering one :lol: i was just curious

i am

They are legal here in Washington State but you are required to get a special endorsement for them.  Trikes have their own endorsement as well.  I think you can get a sidecar endorsement and not be required to get a motorcycle endorsement...at least until you want to take the sidecar off.

I have considered building both a sidecar and a trailer.  I wonder if it would be legal to run a sidecar and a trailer...never seen that before.

Quote from: DomThey are legal here in Washington State but you are required to get a special endorsement for them.  Trikes have their own endorsement as well.  I think you can get a sidecar endorsement and not be required to get a motorcycle endorsement...at least until you want to take the sidecar off.

I have considered building both a sidecar and a trailer.  I wonder if it would be legal to run a sidecar and a trailer...never seen that before.

Yup, that's pretty common.  I once saw a Yammie XS100 (oops, I mean 1100   )with a double sidecar and a 6x4 box trailer.  Somepeople just don't seem to understand that getting away from it all does NOT mean taking it all with you.  :lol:

Quote from: weaselnozedo people still use these?  i cant say i've actually seen someone on the road.  maybe they are illegal?

In Ohio: "The holder of a two-wheel motorcycle endorsement or license may operate a two or three-wheel motorcycle. The holder of a three-wheel motorcycle endorsement or license is restricted to the operation of a three-wheel motorcycle."

I tell my little sister to get one every time I talk to her. :lol:  :lol:

i saw 3 bikes with sidecars in the city this summer.  All were beautiful antiques and apparently street legal,

There are still a few about over here, "Watsonian" make them, they also distribute the Royal Enfield range and market a specific combination. There is an Australian range that I believe is still in production, I saw one recently on an old U.S. "indian" bike passing through.

In a previous thread someone went into technical reasons (Compression/ gearing ?) why the GS was not particulalry suited to a sidecar and why some bikes are.

you can get side cars for royal enfield motorcycles.

http://www.royalenfield.com

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/