I a looking for photos of Honda GL1000 with side car. I would like to see how and where they are mounted. I m beginning the restoration of my Seth Thomas side car.
I've got an 1100 if that would help.
In general sidecars are mounted at 4 points spread as far apart as possible. On our mounting kit we use our "standard" frame clamps for the upper mounts. The lower front mount clamps around the frame of the bike and also picks up the lower engine mounting bolt. The lower rear is the tricky mount. On ours we use the center stand mounts as well as the pivot point for the swing arm. This allows us to put the mount further back and lower then the frame allows. Most people on the lower rear mount attach near the foot peg. The problem with this is that your lower front mount ends up being lower then your lower rear mount. When this happens it is hard to get the alginment correct. When you align a sidecar you first set toe in, Then you set lean out. Then you test ride and fine tune lean out to correct for any pull. With the lower front mount lower then the lower rear mount if you lean the bike out to correct a pull to the right, you at the same time toe the sidecar out more causing more of a pull to the right. Our mounting kit goes for $550. We have a second option. We have all of the NOS vetter terraplane mounts. The lower terraplane mounts will also work. We sell these for $100 for the pair. They will be missing bolts, will not have insturctions and will look like they were stored in a barn for 30 years as they may have been.
I have only seen photo's of the sidecar you have and had never heard of it before a few weeks ago. So I have no idea if this sidecar is strong enough for a bike as large as yours nor do I have any idea of what it has for mounting hardware.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
jay@dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
That would be helpful. I M trying to get a general idea of where and how they are mounted
Hey, Krazy, please be sure and post some pictures of this sidecar if possible? Sounds interesting!
Have pics posted in Newbie with Seth Thomas Sidecar here is link
http://www.sidecar.com/mbbs22/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=10762&posts=11&start=1
I'm not sure how well this pic will show the attachment points, but here goes.
The upper rear is not shown. It attaches to the bike's farme near the top of the sattlebag guard.
The rear lower Connects to a Vetter clevis plate with a hiem joint a few inched forward of the rear foot peg
The front lower connects to a Vetter clevis plate slightly below and forward of the belt cover
The front upper attaches to the bike's frame tight up to the cross bar at the top of the radiator.
As Jay mentioned, it's critical that the lower hiem joints are equi-distant above the ground. The car's frame and the bike should form a hinge just like a door. And as with a door, if the hinge pins aren't aligned, then the door will "twist" when you try to close it. With a sidecar, that twist results I'd an altered toe-in.
My sidecar has been taken off for head gasket repair. I can ale better pics in a few days if you like. I'm a little hesitant to give you close ups of the clevis plates because as far as I'm concerned, their design is intellectual property of either Jay or Vetter.
I found some more pics. I'm editing from work where I can't actually SEE Photobucket pics, so I hope these show up OK. If not, I'll fix 'em when I get home tonight.
Upper rear
Rear mounts from above
Front mounts from above
Thank you for the photos, I M tring to get a idea about mounting locations etc.
KrazyK - 11/29/2012 4:15 PM
Have pics posted in Newbie with Seth Thomas Sidecar here is link
http://www.sidecar.com/mbbs22/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=10762&posts=11&start=1
OHhhhh, NOWwwww I get it haaah! Little slow on the uptake here.
Yes, I've seen your GREAT sidecar rig there at the other thread and commented a bunch there. I'm sure not retracting anything, I really am impressed with the supercool retro design that's also highly functional. With lightweight full doors and side windows that thing would really be one heck of a hack! Even half doors would add to the aero design cues.
What I said about possible aeronatuical engineer design still holds too. In those days in So Cal there were many upheaveals in that aero industry with guys suddenly finding the ride was over. They turned their huge talents to some amazing alternative products and my money says that sidecar design is one of them. I may post a wee bit more explanation at the first intro thread, maybe.
Hope you get all your information and get her hooked and cookin' down the road!
