I started my motorcycle riding with a Ural.... it is a good rig for the price (look for a used one) to find out whether or not you like sidecaring... I do. So I sold the Ural and am in the process of putting a new rig together, a Suzuki S83 (1400 Intruder) and I have ordered a Texas sidecar for it.
The main thing about a Ural is that Urals have low rev engines... not intended for going 55mph plus for any lenght of time. If your looking to just get into an outfit cheap to find out how you might like it, a Ural is a good start. You can find Ural outfits used below $6k, new around $9.5k.
However, if you plan to do any freeway driving then stay away from Urals and go for one of the Japanese brand bikes.
Good luck,
Jerry
I have done quite a bit of research, and had a number of phone conversations with expert installers and the weight ratio of bike to sidecar should be around 3 to 1. Use that as a rough gage for what sidecar to match to a bike. For instance, you would not want to put a Velorex 562 on a Honda Goldwing.... unless you wanted to weight the car down with lots of sand bags!
Having ran a 562 on an 1100 Goldwing, I had to run an automotive battery in the trunk for weight. But then, I like to do that anyway. Motorcycle batteries are epensive and delicate. Auto batteries have been much better value, and in the 562 trunk, make fine ballast.
Sounds like the Honda 750 is a good match for the Velorex 700. The total weight is a little over 700 lbs, almost same as a stock Ural.
My only concern is the rig does not have a leading link setup like the Ural. I suppose it is kinda difficult to steer the 700+ lbs with a pretty big trail on the Honda as I see it.
jzwu
Either bike would work okay. The shadow would probably be my choice though. If the suspension on the 700 is in good shape you will be okay with it. It is not only a concenrn in right turns but also in lefties (away from sidecar) if a sidecar suspension is a little too soft. I just finished putting a swaybar on a later model 562 that is on a shadow and it made a lot of difference. Also added a little ballast at the rear of the frame. The owner now has room for storage behind the seat and can get rid if those water jugs.
Just a note related to newer Velorexes (Probably does not apply to the 700 being discussed). They now have plastic fenders instead of metal and plastic lower body sections instead of fiberglass. (Maybe Lonnie can tell us when this began). Anyhow there has been some who cracked the plastic by putting batteries behind the seat that were not installed very well. Be cautious.
I just got back from droping off and picking up bikes in California for sidecar work. So I am a bit late on answering this. The Savage is a bit under powered as 650's go but will work. The Velorex would be an ok match on this bike. The main down tube is a bit larger then the Velorex clamps work with, we make larger clamps. I have seen a velorex mounted with the "universal" mounts done by a sidecar shop. Every time the owner rode the bike the mounts slipped. Bike specific mounts work out much better. We do not make a kit for this bike. We have new sidecars starting at $2495 for the Kenna and have one used California sidecar that I just picked up this trip so have not done a saftey inspection on it yet. It should be for sale in a week or so.
Let me know if we can be of any help. We will be back down your way with the truck picking up and droping off more bikes in 4-6 weeks.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.mysidecar.com
866-638-1793
What is a leading link setup..... I have seen this mentioned other places?
You can do a google search on it.
As I understand, it changes the normal motorcycle's front fork suspension to leading link to reduce/eliminate trail so that the steering is easier with a sidecar.
Have to sign in first, then reply...
Well, leading link front ends are on my bike here, but I guess you can't make it out. BMWs from the late '50s/'60s made the Earles fork, as it was also known, famous. A couple of companies make them for custom applications today. NOT cheap. The axle is in front of the fork (leading) rather than behind the fork, as on most bikes. Also, as is usually the case as far as I know, it incorperates a front swing arm. The mysterious to me geometry works so that there is no front end dive while braking.
Just right click your thumb picture and use Save Picture As to save it on the hard drive, and then open it from there.
I see your leading link front and the nice sidecar, Steib?
Yes I can see how Erine's axel is in front of the forks..... very cool looking sidecar too!
Jerry
OK. I see Dnepr sidecars on ebay for around $1,690. Is it a good first sidecar? Does it match well with a 2004 Honda Shadow 750?
Seems Dnepr is smaller than Ural and the fit and finish of Dnepr is not as good.
RE Steib- yes, a '53 S500. Long story short- I should have just bought a new one. Fun rig, though. I think of it as a TR3 compared to the Buicks a lot of folks drive. Not as capacious or comfortable, but very sporty and fun.
Re the Dnepr, I think it's generally thought that the Ural is worth the extra couple bucks.
Originally written by jzwu on 4/6/2006 11:24 AM
Just right click your thumb picture and use Save Picture As to save it on the hard drive, and then open it from there.
I see your leading link front and the nice sidecar, Steib?
here's a pic of my earles fork setup on my '73 Beemer .earles is from a '56 beemer.
Originally written by Uncle Ernie on 4/6/2006 6:57 PM
RE Steib- yes, a '53 S500. Long story short- I should have just bought a new one. Fun rig, though. I think of it as a TR3 compared to the Buicks a lot of folks drive. Not as capacious or comfortable, but very sporty and fun.
Re the Dnepr, I think it's generally thought that the Ural is worth the extra couple bucks.
The Ural is about $1,000 more that the Dnepr. Anyway, I have set my eyes on the Velorex 700.
