I have heard many different options for weighing down a sidecar here. I've been looking into using bags of lead shot. I am thinking about buying 4, 25 lb bags of Eagle #8(not sure what the 8 refers to) magnesium shot. They are asking for $30/bag. Is this what I'm looking for? I don't know if there is a a specific brand/compound that I should get. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Dave
I bought cheap iron plates used for barbells. A couple of 25-35# should do it.
When I bought my first Ural, I;d never ridden a hack. The ride home was 90 miles. My ballast was my then -15 yr old expendable nephew. We made it.
Then I learned to fly the chair and never used ballast.
Al Bond
05 V-Star 1100 with Texas chassis/Ural tub
The nice thing about shot bags is that they are soft. Iron weights and a lot of the other things people use rattle around and can get irritating. We used to use a pair of denim pants legs, sewn shut on one end and with a draw string on the other. I'd fill them with gravel when needed, and dump them out at the curb when I didn't.
Thanks for the input...silly question: is there any issue with toxicity related to lead shot? Thought I had heard something, but not sure.
Dave
I think some of the crowd at the OK Corral had a problem with it.
According to the quasy "Environmentalists", like asbestos it can kill ya in a minute!
But then, so can a bucket of water if you stick your head in it. lol
Lonnie
Old lead ballast user
DaveNBPT - 9/9/2010 1:08 PM Thanks for the input...silly question: is there any issue with toxicity related to lead shot? Thought I had heard something, but not sure. Dave
There are only three ways that lead is dangerous.
1. If you eat it
2. If you inhale massive amounts of molten lead fumes.
3. If it gets inside your body by another means, usually preceded by a loud BANG!
Don't put it where the kids will play with it and you should be fine.
The #8 is the size of the shot, this is bird shot. It will come in a cloth bag with a plastic bag in side. You will be OK. Place it outboard and in the back. I had 50lb in PVC pipes bolted under the car for a time.
For my rig I purchased two five gallon collapsible plastic water containers. When no passengers I just seatbelt them in the sidecar. If I pick up a passenger they are easy to empty and store away. Plus if I get thirsty I have plenty to drink. Ideally the weight should be further outboard, but this works for me and not too expensive.
Like everything else in the shooting sports, lead shot ain't cheap any more! An inexpensive alternative is the aforementioned bluejean legs filled with old wheel weights from the gas station. Put a plastic garbage bag down in the bluejean leg (one end sewn shut), fill it with wheel weights, close off the bag and tie off the bluejean leg. Cheap, flexible, quiet ballast.
Sarge
I ended up buying 2, 50# bags of cement mix. They're nice and heavy as well as compact. I wrapped them up nicely with heavy-duty trash bags and duct tape. I also bought an assortment of barbell weights and wrapped them up so they are nice and soft. I had my first ever ride with a sidecar this past weekend...just around the block a # of times. I plan on practicing this weekend in a large paking lot, then I'm good-to-go! What a great feeling it is! Thanks for all the help. I'll post some pics when I can figure out how to do it...I had some problems.
Dave
🙂 Nice looking rig; and the kids look healthy too!
right now I'm using two 35 lb weights from a weightlifting bench. You can get them at Wally world for about $20 or so each. I also have a battery and four 10lb weights giving me a total of 150 lbs or so.
I like the idea mentioned above of water and gravel, both able to be dumped if you pick up a passenger.
Traction sand. They come in several sizes and are in pretty sturdy bags.
HI Ihave a 2001 Yamaha Roadstar with a Champion Daytona 2&2 sidecar.I do not have any ballast in the car. I have been told that is because it is so wide and relativly heavy. I am a newbee to the world of sidecars so I can offer little advice on where and how much to use. I just wanted to let you know that sometimes an outfit can get by without additional weight. If any of you are in the Clearwater Fl area the man to see is Gregg at Gregg's Custom Cycles. He set up my rig and I rode it home to Ft Pierc Fl clear across the state with no prior sideecar expeirence and was it ever fun. Have fun and enjoy your ride
Bill 🙂
Bill:
We've got the 2+2 on an 01 Goldwing. It takes almost an intentional move to lift the car. Unlike our other rig w/ CA FS III hack, the Daytona stays down. I know of far more experienced riders keeping 60-100 lbs in the car to increase safety while running without passengers.
Congrats! I'll be down your way on a two-wheeler at Biketoberfest if the creek don't rise.
Eric
