sidecar thoughts or experiences? By new2scooters (Read 551 times)

[new2scooters]

I've been having some thoughts about adding a custom built sidecar to my 150 Rowdy.... Anyone have experience with sidecars? I have just started looking for info on them so anything you would care to share would be appreciated.

Thanks

Bill

[beebo]

I've been looking at sidecars, too-- the wife wants one for her Lifan 250cc, although I wonder how it will do with a relatively small motor. I guess a 150cc scooter would pull one around ok in an urban setting. A Rowdy with its exposed frame would be a good candidate for a simple sidecar. Scoots like mine, shrouded in plastic, might be too much a pain to try it with.
Anyway, take a look at the link I have here:

www.saferwholesale.com/category-s/1987.htm

They have several custom and universal fit sidecars at the best prices I have found so far.

[rgmarsing]

Really? The CHEAPEST sidecar on the site is more than 3/4 of the owners on this site paid for their scooters.

[oldscootcoot]

Riding with a side car is vastly different. Takes a bit of getting used to. I rode a BMW with a side hack for quite a while. If you attempt to build one by all means research and read on design and set up. Even a well designed unit that is poorly installed/set up can make for a miserable ride. On the plus side they can really add a lot of utility and generally look pretty cool too!

[new2scooters]

Nov 3, 2013 16:25:24 GMT -6 oldscootcoot said:

Riding with a side car is vastly different. Takes a bit of getting used to. I rode a BMW with a side hack for quite a while.

Thanks to all for taking time to reply. It is appreciated. Since you have experience with one, let me ask you this. Is the connection between the side car and the cycle fixed in one position or is the cycle able to lean into curves while the sidecar stays level? I can see benefits either way....Fixed certainly would be easier to build....but I could also see a hydraulically dampened provision whereby the bike could lean into curves...

Thanks

Bill

[new2scooters]

[quote author=beebo board=talk thread=8829 post=70844 time=1383499291. I guess a 150cc scooter would pull one around ok in an urban setting. A Rowdy with its exposed frame would be a good candidate for a simple sidecar.
Anyway, take a look at the link I have here:

www.saferwholesale.com/category-s/1987.htm

Sort of hard to figure out why they are that expensive considering what little material they are made of, especially the one without a body on it. None of the pics show much of the attachment points though. Wouldn't be all that hard to replicate something like that, especially without the body.... and the Rowdy certainly would lend itself easily enough as the frame is exposed.

Thanks
Bill

[kz1000st]

I rode a Ural with a sidehack once. It was set up pretty well but what I remember most was fighting to keep it going straight. It wanted to move away from the crown of the road.

[oldscootcoot]

Nov 3, 2013 21:36:29 GMT -6 new2scooters said:

Nov 3, 2013 16:25:24 GMT -6 oldscootcoot said:

Riding with a side car is vastly different. Takes a bit of getting used to. I rode a BMW with a side hack for quite a while.

Thanks to all for taking time to reply. It is appreciated. Since you have experience with one, let me ask you this. Is the connection between the side car and the cycle fixed in one position or is the cycle able to lean into curves while the sidecar stays level? I can see benefits either way....Fixed certainly would be easier to build....but I could also see a hydraulically dampened provision whereby the bike could lean into curves...

Thanks

Bill

Mine was of course fixed. It had adjustable ball ends to set lean, toe, etc. A friend experienced in set up helped me and it seems like we spent the better part of a Saturday adjusting and test riding. Was a nice rig when finished.
There are leaning units for M/Cs might research them and get some ideas. Fixed would be simpler and lighter a consideration for a scooter hack. When I was active in the motorbike forum there were several builds for MBs. Just hanging something that looks neat on the side of a two wheeler doesn't always work well, but if you make provisions for the needed adjustments, and good solid mounts should be a fun project with a practical pay out.

[new2scooters]

Nov 4, 2013 7:11:10 GMT -6 oldscootcoot said:

Nov 3, 2013 21:36:29 GMT -6 new2scooters said:

Mine was of course fixed. It had adjustable ball ends to set lean, toe, etc. A friend experienced in set up helped me and it seems like we spent the better part of a Saturday adjusting and test riding. Was a nice rig when finished.
There are leaning units for M/Cs might research them and get some ideas. Fixed would be simpler and lighter a consideration for a scooter hack. When I was active in the motorbike forum there were several builds for MBs. Just hanging something that looks neat on the side of a two wheeler doesn't always work well, but if you make provisions for the needed adjustments, and good solid mounts should be a fun project with a practical pay out.

Thanks for your input. It will certainly give me something to work with. "Fun and practical"....Absolutely! My wife has already asked if we do put one on there, "can she take her knitting along"? I can see it now.....rolling down the road with the yarn flying in the wind....

Bill

[new2scooters]

Nov 4, 2013 6:20:51 GMT -6 kz1000st said:

I rode a Ural with a sidehack once. It was set up pretty well but what I remember most was fighting to keep it going straight. It wanted to move away from the crown of the road.

From what information I've been able to find so far is that the handling has a lot to do with the alignment of the car to the scoot. Definitely will have to have provisions to adjust the alignment...
Thanks
Bill

[LUKE]

the sidecar should be super light if you are attaching it to a 150cc... 150cc is not really that powerful imo.,,you might burn something either your clutch or your wallet.

[new2scooters]

For those interested, I found this link about a homebuilt sidecar.

advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=657673

Lots of good trial and error info....and good closeup photos.

Bill