After much thought and consideration (lots of beer?) we found a used Velorex last year and, with guidance from Claude and many others, cobbled together a subrame and attached it to our BMW R100RT. So far, so good; we've been smitten and are having a ball with the rig. Hardly ever ride the R12RT or R65 anymore; we'll probably sell one or the other.....
Moving on--A friend said he saw a sidecar sitting in a garage in LA (Lower Alabama), so we looked into it and discovered a Chang Jiang that had been sitting for several years. Talked to the owner, made a deal (cheap!!), got some cash and went to pick it up. When we arrived he had it running (albeit not smoothly), so my better half thought it best to follow me as I rode it home (confidence is a wonderful thing). About 10 kilometers down the road, the engine seized and the poor beast failed to proceed, necessitating a trip home to get the trailer. Got it home, kicked it a couple of times, and dang if it didn't start up. We rode it around the neighborhood for a couple of days, even though it didn't run well and smoked a lot. Thought a top-end tear down might be in order. Found a plugged jet in one of the carbs, 4 broken valve springs (the inner springs), exhaust valves kinda burned, and badly scraped pistons with aluminum transferred to the cylinder bores. And it still ran!! We think we're gonna' like this beast; it ooozes personality, is really funky, and kind of fits into our neighborhood (filled with a bunch of old retirees who think we're nuts). The engine problems aren't a big issue. Parts are readily available from China and really cheap, and the bike is about as simple as anything, being 1937 technology. We should have her up and running soon....
Questions: Because we're pretty new at this sidecar thing, can anybody recommend good tires, or should we just live with replacing them with cheapies when necessary? Also, does anybody out there have an owners manual or tech manual for the Chang Jiang that they would like to sell or rent so we could burn a copy? Is temporary insanity a requirement to have so much fun with sidecars? Thanks for taking to time read this!!
Pedro y Chiquita (aka: Pete & Norma)
Join up here and learn...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thechangjiangexperience/?yguid=90263776
Sarge
Thanks a million, Sarge. Already picked up some good info!! I really appreciate your help.
Pete 🙂
Pete, you ask: "Is temporary insanity a requirement to have so much fun with sidecars?"
It is not a necessary condition, but if it is supported by your best half... for sure it helps to stay young and healthy!
For sure you meet much more smilling faces then ever and become the small kids hero!
Every little shopping trip can become this way a minivacation!
Tip: read and practice the manuals in the download section.
Best wishes and lots of fun.
Sven
Welcome to the CJ madness. Your first stop should be www.changjiangunlimited.com
There is a toolbox section with on-line manuals.
The flatheads often seize up when riding, let them cool down and they'll start right up and keep running.
Oh, if you give up on the motor, then visit our web site. We install BMW airhead motors into them
Regds and have fun
Jim
www.bmwsidecar.com
pete,good luck with the rig,let me warn you about "temporary insanity",a friend taught me to drive his sidecar rig in 1962,and apart from a ten year lapse,due to moving to the usa and getting settled down,i have not been able to stop, being crazy is not a requirement,but it sure does help. avon makes a sidecar tire with aflat tread profile,there is also a tire called a block k,i forget who makes that, they may be of use to you. have fun. mike.
Thanks to all of you for the info. Suddenly I don't feel so alone out here in the woods!!
The new pistons, valve springs, gaskets, etc. arrived this afteroon and hopefully I can get the barrels back from the machine shop early next week and have the beast on the road by next weekend.
Regarding BMW engine changes, is there a conversion kit to make the CJ clutch/gearbox work, or is it a straight hook-up? Would the BMW R65 engine be compatible? Also, I noted that the on-line tech manual says to use 20-50 oil in the gear box, but I've always used 80-90 gear oil on my airheads; any suggestions?
Again, thanks a million for all the responses!!
Pete
Hello Pete, with a s/c rig the fun never ends. Each time I take mine out I learn something else. By the way we are neighbors, I live east of Elberta off Hwy 98. Enjoy, they ALL think we are crazy.
Roy
Hi Pete,
The gearbox (CJ) needs to be modified to fit the Beemer motor, and you do use the Beemer clutch but a /2 friction disc. I stay away from the R65 motor because it is not torquey and no other BMW motor parts are compatible with it.
The R60/5 is a better alternative, but we've used all the airhead motors (except the R65) all the way up to the 1000cc motor. We've built over 90 of these BMW/CJ conversions to date and they hold up really well.
And for tires, just get the cheapest 19 inch tires you can find. BikeBandit has some under $50 each.
Regds,
Jim
www.bmwsidecar.com
Hi Peter,
I also use 80W90 for the gearbox and the rear drive in our BMW powered CJs.
Regds,
Jim
www.bmwsidecar.com
The guy from L.A. wrote:
>>Is temporary insanity a requirement to have so much fun with sidecars?<<
Pedro,
You have obvioulsy been disillusioned. This type of confusion is not uncommon and quite normal in a relative speaking way.
The 'temporary insanity' you spoke of is totally wrong. I do not know how to break this to you but the insanity is not temporary my friend. I know in hearing this you have probably broken out in a cold sweat and are trembling a little. Do not let it get the best of you as you are among a whole group of us that have been infected with the sidecar bug.
There is no cure.
It is terminal.
If this is hard to understand now be aware that In time you will be able to accept this and then you will enter into what may be considered as stage two of this malady. Stage two symptoms are already evident in your post which is a good thing. Don't fight it. Stage two means that you will begin to do all you can to infect others with the sidecar bug.
Brands of bikes will no longer mean much as you will begin to focus on the sidecar and how it is hooked up and things liek that. The bike will be seen as just amena to pull the sidecar around. Some bikes will be found to do better than others but as long as there is a sidecar attached this is a minor thing.
Stage Three: If you have not joined the USCA in time you will. If you have not got onto other discussion borads about sidecar in time you will look for them to help feed your addiction. You will search out sidecar rallies. You will tell other infected friends what events you are goimng to , sidecar event or not, and encourge tham to meet you there. There is strength in numbers and we all ned as much support as possible from one another.
There are othert stages of course like forsaking the normal world altogether and trying to make a living around sidecars.
These stages of this diesease may overlap or one may forge in front of another. It is not predictable where the sidecar bug will lead or who it will strike next.
Alas, do not worry as you are surrounded by folks in the sidecar world who totally understand where you are even if they can't explain it. Have fun, be safe and be free on three!!
