Is anybody running a chair on a hardtailed bike.I was trying to collect one of each style bike,but my space is really going to be limited soon.I really want to keep a hardtail,but I also want to keep a sidehack(best of both worlds).Is this doable?
Go for it you may be surprized how well it handles.
If you are not one to run low air pressure in the rear tire you'll be better off. If not get a sprung seat and pump the tire up 🙂
You also may be able to run less wheel lead with a hardtail which would make it easier to steer.
You may need to play with the sidecar suspension a little.
You also may end up playing outside the box a little with lean out. We don't talk much about this but dependant upon the bike / sidecar combination and setup the bike suspension stiffness will affect the sidecar and visa versa. With no suspension on the bike any weight put in the sidecar will be moreso taken up by the sidecar suspension rather than shared at all with the bike. Think about it and adjust from there.
Click here for a hardtail vintage racer in action. Tell me if you think it works LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LM3PyGvhwg&feature=related
Here's an '03 Evo chopper rig I set up for a young couple's honeymoon trip.
Lonnie
Lonnie.... That looks like a hard ride...but I love the look... Harley makes a new "old looking" bike that would ride better ....(I think)... more expensive probably...but I love the look.... Was ther honeymoon a long distance ride ? hopefully they were young... love makes up for lots of pains... My wife and I took a Volkswagen camper on a 2 month camping trip 35 years ago... probably why she won't camp with me anymore...
Joel
Chester Cal.
That's the young couple standing behind the rig.
Lonnie
Lonnie,
Just curious,did he say why the hand shift?
just find a panhead, knuck, flatty with a matching factory sidecar
will run 60 all day - both rear wheels rigid - set it with a very small toe in and zero lean, use either a factory sidecar tree or a factory springer
and away you go
if you want more modern power and have the bux - get a rigid frame to fit a twin cam B drive train with softail steering head, mount a hd sidecar tree, then find a pre cle sidecar OR modify the rear mount on any up to present hd sidecar and away you go.
the big change in hd sidecars over the years is the rear mount - originally it bolted to a tab right at the rear axle - then to a block on the rear swingarm and now to the swingarm pivot - so the rear mount has moved forward 2 ft over time. for best fit you want it back where it started, for kick start you NEED it back where the cle had it so it clears your heel - the front top mount has gotten shorter since the part on the bike has gotten longer and the lower mount is curved a bit differnt, the old bikes had loops in the frame and new use clamps.
to
I love the look of the tank shift and the foot clutch... and of course the front end. What a neat rig... Now that's the way to start a marrage.
Joel
They wanted an old school Bobber with Evo power and dependability.
Lonnie
Pretty sure I can source a Harley sidecar chassis for a hardtail if you decide to go that route. We also make bodies that are similar to the '36-'67 Hrely bodies in steel or aluminum if intersted. I also have a complete 1954 Harley sidecar here but it is pretty rough. In any case don't be afriad to call maybe I can help the cause some. Located about 50 miles north of Harrisburg, Pa.
Thanks claude.I had to get rid of the Harleys,but I picked up a 77 Yamaha XS650 as a hardtail project.I found an old California (posted pics a while back) and decided I'd leave it(the XS) softailed.I didn't get the sidecar on/finished and I would REALLY like to hardtail the bike.I had never seen a rigid w/sidecar,but I imagined the old ones had to have been.I was doing some research before jumping into a winter project.Is there anyplace that you know of down my way that deals in universal mounting hardware?Or should I plan on fabbing my own?
You might replace the rear shocks with struts for a while and see how much you enjoy the hardtail ride before cutting the frame on the XS.
See attached pix.
This '73 Fiberglass Combat Commando would just about put me over the bars hitting a good sized pothole. The struts eliminated the famous "Roadholder" suspension but it looked cool and the girls loved it.
A fair exchange in those days.
Lonnie
1ironhead - 12/23/2009 2:26 PM
Thanks claude.I had to get rid of the Harleys,but I picked up a 77 Yamaha XS650 as a hardtail project.I found an old California (posted pics a while back) and decided I'd leave it(the XS) softailed.I didn't get the sidecar on/finished and I would REALLY like to hardtail the bike.I had never seen a rigid w/sidecar,but I imagined the old ones had to have been.I was doing some research before jumping into a winter project.Is there anyplace that you know of down my way that deals in universal mounting hardware?Or should I plan on fabbing my own?
Oops thought you had a Harley. We do make our own frame clamps if that is what you mean. I can help you out but if you are going the whole route you can fab your own too.
Heck I have an XS650 here now that we have kicked around turning into a hardtail. If so, We'll be using our own mounts on this rig and may even end up making the sidecar and bike frame all one unit...not sure yet. If we go this route toe in will be set at the sidecar wheel with lean out being built into the mounts with a little bit of tilt adjustment avaible at the sidecar wheel also. I am hesitant to do the hardtail deal on this without changing the steering head angle to get 'the look' desired. We will see what the future brings...dunno.
