Putting a Velorex on a '78 BMW R100RT.
Fellow doing most of this (I know nothing about the do's and do not's) Wants to swap out the rear end for another, and change my "snowflake" rear wheel for a spoke wheel that will accommodate a drum brake. Cheaper because of the design of the "snowflake" makes it difficult to keep the rear brake pedal and rear master cylinder with the hack attached. He cites cost to swap as cheaper (my rear master cyl needs replacing).
Looks aside, I do not picture what the problem is by leaving it stock. Looks included, the spoke wheel takes away from the overall classic look. I intend to repaint the bike with the original paint scheme and the sidecar to match. Wanted to put a "snowflake: on the side car, but BMW does not make one that size.
I would appreciate some input on the wheel/rear end/brake aspect. I am putting some serious green into this project (well serious to my retiree income) Even putting a sub-frame mount on the bike.
Thanks,
Sarge
😮
Hi Sarge, I am certanly not an expert, but I have heard stories of sidecar rig stress breaking rear wheel spokes, and would think that the snowflake wheel would be stronger and more reliable. As far as the drum brake goes, the extra weight of the sidecar adds to stopping distance, and I would think that the disk brake would work better. I am sure that someone who knows a lot more than I do will give you some advice. Good luck with it, and let us know how it turns out.
I rode my 76 Gl1000 with Velorex 562 without the sidecar brake attached. The weight of the car was not that significant with the disc brakes of the wing. You do have to anticipate the pull that the bike will have to the left (I got used to it very quickly). The final decision should be yours.
Stress breaking the spokes? Sheeshhh - they only put spokes on everything until when? And I've never heard of a spoke breaking on a wheel from use. Many moons ago I used a set of handcuffs to lock up my bike and one night in a fit of exuberance forgot to remove them. Spokes were fine and the handcuffs were junk. I wouldn't change a darned thing Sarge.
The spoke wheel looks just as classic as the snowflake wheel. On the early R100RT's, they came with both kinds--the spoke wheel with drums and the cast wheels with discs. Now what would look weird would be to have the front wheel not match the rear wheel. So go with spokes front and rear, or go cast, but don't mix them. Don't worry about breakage. You'll dent a rim before you actually break a wheel.
The disc brake is more reliable than the drum, but either way you decide to go the front will have a disc and that's where 70% of your brake power resides. I myself would always choose bigger stronger brakes over looks, but I'm kind of a slow-witted driver who needs the best brakes I can get.
Same goes for the sidecar brake. You don't need one. You can stop the rig using the front brake alone. You can stop the rig using the rear brake alone (disc or drum). You can stop it using front & rear together. The only reason to get a sidecar brake is if you want to stop in the shortest possible distance (using bakes on all three wheels together), or if you want to use the sidecar brake to help in cornering using the advanced driving skills that you'll eventually learn.
You also say that you want the sidecar wheel to match but BMW doesn't make one that size. What size wheel is on the Velorex now?
I believe it is a 16.
I can look and see for sure. But, believe when I first thought about that, I learned then BMW did not make snowflake that size.
Sarge
All OEM Velorex models since the 560 (18") use different width 16" wheels.
Lonnie
So, Lonnie, can he put a 17-inch BMW wheel on there? Or is the fender fit too tight? Seems like it shouldn't be too hard a problem to solve if he really wants that snowflake look, which I agree is a nice look.
That would be a fit and try situation. I've put smaller wheels on them and seen them with wider MU130x16" Harley tires. Haven't tried taller wheels though.
Lonnie
That would raise the right side 2" I would assume. Change steering handling?
None of this makes any sense at all. I have ran both the spoke wheel and snow flake wheel on my own air head bikes and even have ran the snow flake wheels off road hard on a /7 with a Ural sidecar. Perhaps he wants to hook up the Velorex drum brake? This is easier to do with a drum brake rear then a disk however if this is the case why not change the Velorex wheel over to a disk brake set up? Perhaps he is not using proper sub frames and as such can not make the universal frame clamps that velorex uses as mounts work. If you use Velorex frame clamps in time the bikes frame will be damaged. We can supply sub frames. I will also be glad to help answer any questions you may have, perhaps if you give me a call we can better figure out what the real issue is.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
A 17" wheel would raise the sidecar only 1" which is easily accounted for with proper alignment. All of the attaching struts are adjustable.
Nothing foolish or insensible about that.
Lonnie
Jay,
I did order your sub frame. Many riders I talked with also pointed out the frame problems of BMW's and hacks.
I like the thought of installing a disc on the side car. Will mull that over.
I think a snowflake like the bike has on the sidecar would be a nice touch.
Thanks
Sarge
A snow flake wheel on the sidecar is not going to work with out a fender change as it is to tall to fit under the stock fender. The front wheel on your bike is more then likley a 19 inch. The Velorex a 16 inch. The Velorex either has a 15mm or a 20mm axle while the BMW wheel usualy has either a 17mm or a 25mm. When we use these wheels we run a 25mm axle and if need be change the bearings out on the wheel from 17mm to 25mm. Still have no idea why your guy wants to change out the rear end to a drum brake. BMW drum brakes sucked on these bikes.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
