Looking for an older 'drive away' outfit anywhere in USA or Canada. The less electronics, the better. Professionally set up. BMW Adventure bike prefered but will look at road bike also. Could be a small as F650GS. Sidecar must be suitable for large dog, so no 'utility ' outfit, please. I'd like to fly in and ride home....
peterkozlik@icloud.Com or text 4038529529
Quote from Peter Kozlik on June 13, 2023, 4:51 pmFound one, so post is obsolete
No, no - you have to post up pictures and a description of the rig you found. How much you paid, where you found it, how you got it home, the whole story. Forum rules.
Well then: I wanted to buy the Guzzi rig in Oregon before it was put on here ( I actually suggested this forum to the seller) but the BMW fan and cfo of the family overruled me. Then, I was just about to give my credit card # to a cozy importer here in Canada to build our own rig, when I finally found my wife's dream set up: BMW R1200GSA, on FB market place. Side car looks like a ural but actually seems to be chinese. In BC, 1 hour flight from home, a long day's ride home....actually a ferry ride and a short plus a long day- because I took the scenic route home after I got the hang out of it (again- last time on an Eml/ goldwing about 40 years ago...).the rig seems to be set up just fine: tiny steering wobble at very low speed (15 to 20 mls/h), sweet spot at 60 to 65. I was flying the chair after a few hours. On mountain roads, not in a parking lot. Kept the tail gaters at bay, although I usually do speed limit. Mounting of the lower rear strut looks a bit dicey but will have to do for the rest of this season. We'll build a proper subframe over the winter if the main users ( my wife and our dog Bob) like the rig enough to keep it.... Personally I'm not a BMW fan and this GS seems to be very subjective to the fuel you put in: after first fill she sounded like someone forgot his tools in the crankcase on deceleration. Second fill at different station and she pured like a kitten. The previous owner has had her for the past 13 years and put some $$$ into her. Ohlins shock last year was the latest investment. I paid pretty close to US$10 k, which is almost what these bikes are going for solo in this neck of the woods. The sidecar was supplied and mounted 'professionally' by trans moto in Quebec. If these guys are professionals for side car mounts, I'm not a carpenter/framer but an 2x6 installation engineer.....🤪 At least they didn't weld anything to the frame.....
I forgot: we want to convert the rear to a 15" car wheel and need a hub adapter for that. Anyone knows of a source or even has one kicking around? Bike is a 2009.
After that, the rear rim will get laced to the front hub and then carry a 17" bike tire. Not sure about the sidecar, yet: we have a gazillion of 1/2 used 19" front tires kicking around that we could use up on it.....
The triangular step plate and the fender/light design are characteristic of the Chang-Jiang sidecar. Your source for all things C-J on this forum is forum member Jimbosidecar - you can reach him at http://www.bmwsidecar.com
I'm under the impression that the calipers will not clear the spokes if you try to lace up a 4x17 rim to the front hub on that bike. I'd be interested to find out I'm wrong. I have a 2008 GSA (basically the same bike) and my solution was to mount a 3.5x17 front cast wheel from a R1200RT. Calipers clear just barely after a little grinder work. I run with a 130/70. 130/80 wouldn't fit.
Not sure where you're from exactly, but you mentioned BC. Forum member MGV8 is in the Kamloops area and knows a shit-ton about setting up and modifying R1200GSA's. He might be able to help with the 15" rear conversion. DMC used to sell those adapters so you might hit up Texas Sidecar Company -- they bought up all of DMC's stuff when DMC closed its doors. The owner of Texas Sidecar is the current Vice-President of USCA. I have two of the DMC adapters on my rig--pretty much bulletproof.
If you're in BC, Barry Bates would be a good contact as well. He was with DCM for a long time but has since returned to BC. You might find him through the Bigfoot Sidecar Club website.
Sorry for almost a year since last post. But I got repeatedly locked out of this site and eventually gave up.....By now the rig has a proper subframe courtesy of texas side car/ dmc of texas. She is also running on 15" car tires on car and rear and a 17" front wheel with a 150/70-17 that I took off my guzzi's rear because it was gettIng flat in the centre. The car got an auxiliary battery and some electrical add ons. Almost done with the re-build: brake on the car is still missing.....
Welcome back. Wow some big changes to the rig. 👍
Jerry did a major re-work of the website, thanks to the USCA for recognizing the importance. This new version is much better, all around.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to some ride reports with pictures this summer. 😎
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Peter--In an earlier post I said I'd be interested to see how a 4x17 spoke wheel can be made to work with the BMW forks and calipers and rotors. Could you post some pics and explain what you did?Sorry for almost a year since last post. But I got repeatedly locked out of this site and eventually gave up.....By now the rig has a proper subframe courtesy of texas side car/ dmc of texas. She is also running on 15" car tires on car and rear and a 17" front wheel with a 150/70-17 that I took off my guzzi's rear because it was gettIng flat in the centre. The car got an auxiliary battery and some electrical add ons. Almost done with the re-build: brake on the car is still missing.....
Coupla similar rigs to yours--
I ended up with a 17x3.5 cast wheel off a 800st. Fits like it was made for the fork. The 150/70 tire fits with a paper clip clearance, but so far hasn't rubbed. This is a used michelin anakee adventure that I had - different make or profile might not work. 140/80 should do also.
currently the bike is appart (again): electronic locked me out on the latest ride with 'no start' issue. Had to trailer her home. I will post a few more pics once she's back together: not really photogenic right now....☹️
Ah, OK, that's the same wheel I use on my rig. Not surprised. On mine, a 130/80 rubbed the lower mud guard at highway speeds, but a 130/70 was fine. On "paper" [LINK] the 130/80 and the 150/70 are the same diameter so I'm guessing your lower mud guard fits a little differently than mine.I ended up with a 17x3.5 cast wheel off a 800st. Fits like it was made for the fork. The 150/70 tire fits with a paper clip clearance, but so far hasn't rubbed. This is a used michelin anakee adventure that I had - different make or profile might not work. 140/80 should do also.
currently the bike is appart (again): electronic locked me out on the latest ride with 'no start' issue. Had to trailer her home. I will post a few more pics once she's back together: not really photogenic right now....☹️
On an earlier rig of mine, a r1100GS, I wanted to use a bigger front tire on a 17" rim but I wanted to retain the lower mud guard (which didn't fit.) I had a 170 rear tire laying around the garage so I took off the mud guard and I immersed it in boiling water. Had to borrow a turkey fryer pot and burner from a friend to make this happen. I boiled that fender for about two minutes then I pulled it out and pressed it down hard over that 170 tire then I just held it there while it cooled into a new wider shape. When I finally pulled it off, it returned to its original shape in about a day! That was a fun project even though it ended in failure. Here's what that rig's front end looked like with a 140/80 K60 Scout and no lower mud guard --->
No rubbing on the mud guard: got more than a finger clearance in the circumference. But only a fingernail to the stancions.
I would use a cooker car tire if they'd make a tubeless one in 17". Original I was aiming for a leading link with a 15" proper rim to match the other wheels.
But the rig behaves so good the way she is, I'll forgoe putting more $$ into her and rather buy another one down the road....
