Monday, August 2, 2010

Royal Enfield sidecar was photo platform

The sidecar of a Royal Enfield motorcycle was the way my wife Bonnie first traveled the Ormond Scenic Loop near Ormond Beach, Fla. She mentions what a great way that is to experience the trail on her new web site, FloridaRambler.com (a guide to outdoor activities, food and lodging in Florida). See her article on the Ormond Scenic Loop for information on how to get there, where to stay and eat and what else to do in the area. She recommends seeing the loop from the sidecar of a Royal Enfield, if possible. It takes you there and it takes you back in time as well. I'm glad she said so because it was chilly during Daytona Bike Week and she initially described the ride as windy, cold and not very smooth. Bonnie hasn't ridden a motorcycle since we first got married but now she has done something I haven't: ridden in a sidecar and shot fantastic pictures along the way. I was privileged to ride the loop on a brand new Royal Enfield C5 demonstrator, so I showed up in some of her pictures. I can't wait to get back.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous8/02/2010

    Picture 1: is that a strut from sidecar to the front fork tube? How does THAT work? Is it a steering damper of some sort? I've never seen that setup before.

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  2. Yes, it is a damper. I've never ridden a motorcycle with a sidecar but I do know that it is a popular option. A sidecar web site, Sidestrider, gives a brief explanation of how they work. Basically, they reduce shimmy.

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  3. Anonymous8/02/2010

    The last picture looks like a G5?? Is that a different one from what you were talking about?

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  4. Yes, the sidecar was attached to a G5 and that is Bonnie in the picture. The machine was piloted by a fellow experienced with sidecars; I didn't ride it. I sampled a C5 and G5 solo.

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  5. Anonymous8/26/2010

    How is the C5 with sidecar and passenger? Does it get up to speed ok without holding up traffice? What does it top out at?

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  6. The C5 and the G5 share the Unit Constructed Engine. So performance should be similar. In this case, on flat ground, at sea level, on a cool day with no head wind, the sidecar combination kept up with the other Royal Enfields on the secondary roads we traveled. No Royal Enfield is a speed demon. Hills and headwinds would have caused the sidecar unit to fall behind, I'm sure.

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