I see a lot of cruisers are being used as tugs. Other than the general popularity of this style of ride, is there a mechanical advantage to the geometry of the cruiser? Uneducated intuition makes me think the rake and trail would be a disadvantage possibly requiring EZ Steer or something like it for good handling.
Ok, so here is the reason for the question: I've been wanting a rig for several years. My bikes have changed a couple of times, and none has seemed the best choice for a tug.
What my latest bike project is could be the best choice so far. I have an '81 Honda CB650C. It is one of the early Honda forays into the cruiser market, I think on their standard CB platform but with extended forks, low seat and Wheelbarrow Handle bars.
I would like to put a light sidecar on this for short rides and running errands. Has anyone put a Velorex 562 with the supplied mounts on one of these bikes? I am aware that the universal mounts are not the best, but I've had some experience with the Royal Enfield/Cozy rigs and the frequent inspection and alignment needed.
Anyone?
Jim
Set up right you should never have to do frequent alignments, short of being in an accident alignment should not change. There are many issues with the "Velorex" type mounts, one of which on the Honda CB type bike is the lower rear mount. Many people will use much of the Velorex mounting hardware but use one of our lower rear mounts or make their own lower rear. The mount we makes replaces the center stand and puts the mount coming out under the exhaust pipe. While as far as I can remember we have never done a CB650C most all of the Honda CB bikes have the same spacing on their center stands such that our CB 750 mounts also fit the 650 and the 550. You will still find with the Velorex on a 650 that ballast will be needed as these are very light sidecars. I had one factory installed on an MZ silverstar gespanne which is a 500cc single, we kept 50 lbs of ballast in it.
Cruiser type bikes do tend to have more trail then other bikes however your bike does not have much more trail then any other similar bike of its era at 4.76 inches. Trail reduction would still be nice to have but no more so then a non "C" version of the bike.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
I noted the Honda bike side kit (DMC-MS-Honda-CB750) on your web page. I read above you have never had a CB650C so I suppose the Kit is not a guaranteed fit other than the center stand replacement. The CB650C has a Factory tip over bar on the front legs of the frame, concurrent with the engine mount. Does your kit use that point?
Jim
Our kit has the center stand lower rear mount, The upper mounts are "universal" frame clamps while the ones we make are much better then the Velorex ones, if you already own the Velorex clamps I would skip getting these from us. The lower front mount picks up the two engine mounting bolts that pass through the frame and then drops down between the pipes. These bikes are getting old enough that about half the time this mount does not fit due to changes in the exhaust pipes that have happened over the years. When it does not fit, you tell use why, give us some simple measurements and we make up one that works for your bike. Many people often just go with the lower rear as a Velorex frame clamp can be made to work on the lower front.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
Here's an '84 CB650C with all Velorex mounts. Worked great.
If placed correctly (not as shown in the Velorex handbook) the rear sliding mount doesn't have a tendency to slip.
I've often used the center stand mount position (on bikes with center stands) for the rear lower mount using a design mount as pictured.
Lonnie
The Photo of the lower mount is the idea of our lower mount however on the Honda it will not work. The Honda uses pinch clamps around a tube to hold in the center stand. We remove the center stand and our mount is hollow like the center stand to that the stock mounting tube for the center stand will slide back in and hold it.
We will often also move the eye bolt aft when we make these kind of mounts with the bike in the shop. We do this by often also picking up the rear foot peg mount. This is what we are tooled for the Honda CB750A but only for the "A"
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecar.com
866-638-1793
Steering aside and correctable, most cruisers make excellent tugs. They generally have heavy frames to fasten to, low center of gravity, and mellow engines with wide torque band.
Thanks Jay and Lonnie,
I may have the (used) Velorex after this weekend, so right now I don't know what mounts will come with it (if I can get there before the seller finds another buyer). I am inclined to use the DMC kit and will get back to you when I know what I will need.
Lonnie, that is exactly the rig I would like to put together. I picked up this bike to put together the rig, and hope to get the car this weekend.
I=( I tried to attach a picture of the bike, but couldn't. But then Y'all know what a CB650C looks like.)
jim
Thanks Lonnie for the photos, this is already the modern 2camshaft engine with the hydraulic valve gap adjusters. I was the whole time doubting about which bike we were talking about. Mine was the older single camshaft model.
Sven
