After deciding against a Velorex for my 97" harley softail custom, I was considering the Liberty or Motorvation Spyder. I was considering new, but wasn't sure I wanted to shell out that much cash for a bike that really isn't worth a whole lot. I'd been looking for used sidecars, but they are very difficult to find, especially local. I found a Motorvation Spyder located in Long Island on Craigslist. Short on time, I drove overnight to the Bridgeport CT ferry and met the seller on the other end. We did the transaction very quickly, as I had a reservation on the next boat back. It didn't look as good as it did in the pics and it definitely wasn't in the "excellent" condition stated by the seller. Oh well, I'm just excited to get back into sidecar riding again! Can't wait to get it painted/installed. There is significant rust on hardware/metal parts and I would like to do something about this. Questions:
The snaps that are used for the tonneau cover are all rusted. Do I have to go through Motorvation for replacement "snaps"? How are they removed/affixed to the tub...riveted?
The windscreen has a sizable scratch on it. Can I just go to a glass co and have them cut a piece to size?
Is it best to have the sidecar painted before installation or vice versa?
After looking at these pics, what should I replace?
Does anyone know of a sidecar installer in Massachusetts? I would be willing to pay a non-professional if they really knew what they were doing.
Thanks,
Dave
A few more...
The snaps are standard and can be self installed with pop rivets. Installation tools are available at hardware shops, or on line.
With the amount of rust on the spindle nut area, I'd check the axle bearings.
I imagine Motorvation uses tempered glass on the windscreen, or you could go Lucite and do it yourself.
Lonnie
I don't know about the Spyder, but with the Formula II I'd remove the tub from the frame for painting and clean and paint the frame too. If it were me, I'd paint first and then attach the sidecar to the bike. It would be hard to get the right angle and distance for the spray gun with the sidecar on the bike.
The snaps are definitely attached by rivets. I have the advantage of living relatively close to Motorvation's plant. Last year we had a new windshield and top installed by them, and at the same time replaced three or four snaps.
Thanks for the response/advice guys. How would I remove the tonneau snaps from the tub?
use a small drill bit and just drill the head off the rivet so the snap come off, then use a small punch or like to push the remaining part through the fiberglass
that's a nice looking rig, looks like most of that rust will clean up good. I'm curious as to why the castle nut on the wheel hub not all the way on the spindal, it looks like it's being held out too far to get a cotter pin in it
I agree paint it off the bike and off it's frame
Thanks for the response. I pulled the cotter pin/castle nut off the spindle. I am going to remove the rust from some of the hardware with Naval Jelly and will replace any rusted parts that I am able to. It's a bit of a project, but it will get done.
First of all, guys, a Spyder has no "frame". It uses steel plates embedded in the fiberglass body at strategic points to mount the suspension and mounting hardware to. Second, painting first subjects the car to damage while wrestling it in position and making adjustments during mounting. I would mount it, make all adjustments and road test it until perfect, then remove it for painting and other detailing. Motorvation's mounting system, as seen in one of the pics, makes it very easy to remove and re-mount without losing adjustments. For painting, just remove all of the suspension parts and leave the mounting bars in position and mask them off.
That castle nut/washer thingie sure looks like something cobbled up after the fact. Motorvation would not leave something like that in plain steel to rust! I would make, or have made, something a bit more visually appealing, or smooth the welds in a lathe on that one and have it chromed.
The nut and lock cap on the mount looks like something aftermarket, too. Mine had Nylok nuts and they worked fine for 112,000 miles. I replaced all of the stock fasteners on mine with stainless versions and used antiseize on all of the threads to prevent any galling.
I see that Motorvation is now taking a little extra time to smooth the part line between the right and left body halves. In the early days they did a rough job of smoothing that part line, then added a body moulding piece to cover up the rest. I really like the new 'smooth" look! Mine (1981) had the cover strip, and it had to be re-glued periodically!
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This one has been around for a while. The seam was probably filled before it was painted.
I had a "95 model and it needed the chrome cover strips.
All parts/pieces are looking pretty good at current. I'm just waiting to get the swingarm and mounting piece back from being re-chromed. After that, I'll reassemble for install. Will likely have it painted over the winter and get ready for the fun in Spring. I'm having the V&H Big Shots(LOUD) replaced with Supertrapp Supermegs(quiet) to make the set up more rider friendly for my passengers.
I'm sure your passengers will appreciate the reduced exhaust noise. The stock pipes on my Valkyrie are loud enough.
I washed my sidecar rig Saturday morning and we rode it to town for a 95th birthday lunch with my last surviving uncle and nearly all the 1st cousins. Then our four children hosted a 50th anniversary ice cream social for us in the afternoon. It was a pleasant day, though our riding friends kept telling us how nice it was to be riding while we had to stay to greet guests.
