Hello, just joined and this is my first post. The wife and I have decided we would like a sidecar. I have ridden bikes all my life, but know a sidecar is a differant animal. The "mule" is a 1200cc Sportster. In searching the web, we really like the Ural and Velorex 562 sidecars. We think the Ural would dwarf a Sportster. That leaves the Velorex 562. I read good and bad about this sidecar. There is supposedly a heavier duty 562, but we can find no information on it. Are the "univeral mounts" that come with it adequate? I would like to stay basic until we decide if a sidecar is really for us. I also would like to put together something that is not doomed for failure from the get-go. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Bob
Bob:
Try this website: http://www.velorexusa.com/
I believe the new 562 comes with the heavier set up. I own an older model, so before I put it on my VTX1300 we beefed the axle, wheel, and added some permanent weight. ... I wish that they made the newest model when I bought mine (2001). The feature that I like the least on mine, is the fact that the nose does not lift forward. Ease of access for people, or groceries is greatly enhanced on the new version. .. The voting is still out on the universal mounts. For a couple of years, I had trouble with the J Bar slipping, and it seemed like I was always checking and tweaking. But since I changed the triangulation about 7000 mile ago, I don't seem to have that problem any more. Lonnie, or Claude who often post here, will no doubt be answering your questions, and in a much better fashion.
I think if your rig is set up properly you are really going to enjoy sidecaring.. It is additive, I believe that is offers daily challanges, and you have to use a different part of your brain to keep safe in the 3 wheeler game. 🙂 I did read somewhere that it takes 3 months of retraining before you stop trying to react to situations as you would if you were riding solo.
I see that you are located in TX. Your USCA TX State Rep. J.R. Lewis can be reached at texasroadrunner4@hotmail.com. Our illustrious Hal Kendall is located in Houston. He is the author of the CDs, and other info that you will find located in the "Links" section of this site.
Welcome to the wacky wonders of hacking. 🙂
Gail, in CA
Originally written by Lano on 8/5/2006 1:15 PM
Hello, just joined and this is my first post. The wife and I have decided we would like a sidecar. I have ridden bikes all my life, but know a sidecar is a differant animal. The "mule" is a 1200cc Sportster. In searching the web, we really like the Ural and Velorex 562 sidecars. We think the Ural would dwarf a Sportster. That leaves the Velorex 562. I read good and bad about this sidecar. There is supposedly a heavier duty 562, but we can find no information on it. Are the "univeral mounts" that come with it adequate? I would like to stay basic until we decide if a sidecar is really for us. I also would like to put together something that is not doomed for failure from the get-go. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Bob
The Heavy duty model is the 565 and well worth the difference in price. Search the classifieds here, I think someone has one for sale in there somewhere..
Thanks, Keep it coming I need all the help I can get. One specific question, is it worth buying a separate subframe and mounts at the start of this quest? I am just like most of you, I don't want to spend needlessly, but know the value of spending a little more to do it right.
In a word, Yes! There are situations where you can get by without one, but your bike's frame will thank you. You won't have to worry about getting something bent or distorted if you decide you don't like sidecars or if you wish to trade up. I have a Dauntless subframe on my Valkyrie/Ural. It ties the left and right sides of my frame together to spread the load over the whole frame.
Hey Bob,
I like you did not want to spend if I did not have to. I have a Honda 1100 with the 565. The 565 is a few more # than the 562 and a bigger axel. When I got the set up right I marked the mounts with paint and they have not moved. I am told the lower back one needs watching. You can see pictures of my rig here in the Albums.
If I can only say two things to a new person it is read all you can find and then you slow for a bit on back roads and open fields.
Ride Safe
Richard
Thank you Richard. And thanks for the learning advice. I will take it easy.
I have seen a couple of Sportster/Velorex combos that Dauntless has done-they were some of the nicer set ups I have seen.
There are some good sidecar riggers down there in Texas. Is BMW Fort Worth still doing sidecar stuff? At the very least, check with some shops familiar with rigging sidecars and see what they think. Money spent improving the mounts is money well spent.
VW
RedMenace, I would if it were handy. I live 350 miles north of Ft. Worth. I am out here in the sticks. I just wish there was a place close enough to drive to and talk. Believe me I would. For the time being, you guys are it.
Lano, I know you have email LOL. These folks will talk to you on the phone or by email.
You might also talk to Bob Darden in Leonard TX http://www.texassidecars.com/
Bob,
I do not know where you are in those "high plains" but I have been in that part of the world and know the feeling of being all alone. It has not been that long ago that I got into this and I wanted to talk to someone face to face. It did not happen but it has worked out anyway. It may have been said but if I was you I would contact you State Rep. He is a nice guy and he may know someone near you.
J.R.Lewis
Rt.3 Box 510L
Crockett Texas 75835
(936)546-0756
roadrunner75835@hotmail.com
Also on the home page here there is a thing called "The Map" you can check there maybe a dealer closer to you in another state.
Richard
Ride Safe
Lano I'm in Paducah Tx and have a 562 on a Vstar if you are close we could get together.
Henry
Originally written by Lano on 8/7/2006 3:25 AM
RedMenace, I would if it were handy. I live 350 miles north of Ft. Worth. I am out here in the sticks. I just wish there was a place close enough to drive to and talk. Believe me I would. For the time being, you guys are it.
I feel your pain. I am several hours from any sidecar shops myself. When I was getting started in this madness there was nothing nearby available to me. I bought my first rig by phone, sight unseen, from a BMW shop in Seattle. Had it trucked down here in pieces and tried to figure it out from the scant books available at the time. Had it set up with toe out and the leading links set for solo use for the first couple of weeks I struggled to ride it! An aquaintance finally admitted that he had once had a sidecar and he helped me get it squared away!
You are lucky today to have the web as a resource and a resurgence of interest in sidecars providing a few more shops and folks with some knowledge. You are on the right track; keep asking questions. if you can't get to a shop, do at least give them a call.
If you lack experience and can't look at a good example of what you are trying to build, putting a rig together on your own and getting it right can be frustrating. Be prepared to do things over again and learn from your errors. You may find it worth the time and money to take a field trip or two, or to buy a rig already put together or to pay someone to set up your rig for you.
Best of luck. Take it slow and easy. Send us pix when you get it together. It will be worth the effort once you get it done. THese things are a blast!
VW
Thanks again everyone. No, I am not fustrated yet. I am just starting this and don't want to make an expensive mistake. I really believe the wife would ride more, if I put the sidecar on the little Harley. Plus you got to love the novelty of it all. Henry, (thekid) I live in Lefors. About 120 miles North of you. I came right thru there on my VTX going to the Blue Bonnet Thunder Rally in May. In my surfing, I pretty well know what I want. We think the newer Velorex with the updated suspension and larger tire and a 562 body would sit on the Sportster nicely. There is just mention of it on the web. The Velorex sites contain no mention of it that we can find. I have e-mailed Lonnie from this forum for some information and pricing. Seeing as he is a dealer, we want to know how he would set it up. Subframe etc. By the way, you have to love his site that starts out with "we cater to the affordable". Don't know him, but like him already. Thanks everyone, and you know I will have questions when I am hooking it up. Bob
I got mine from Lonnie and he was always glad to answer questions when I called. Would highly recommend. When you get started if you need some help let me know I'm retired and could come up and give you a hand.
Henry
