Moving up.

A sportbike will offer more challenges for mounting since many lack a full frame and have bodies plus narrower bars. Most will have less trail than the V-Star though.

Lonnie

Originally written by Hack'n on 8/22/2008 11:54 PM

A sportbike will offer more challenges for mounting since many lack a full frame and have bodies plus narrower bars. Most will have less trail than the V-Star though.

Lonnie

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Yes, the sport bikes and such are more of a challenge and WILL need a subframe. However you may consider a Suzuki 1200 Bandit as they are fairly inexpensive and are much simplier to mount a sidecar to.The V Max is also a good bike to consider.
As far as power goes we have mounted sidecars to variouis cruiser bikes and the larger v stars are a fairly straight forward assembly and have pretty good power if you wanted to stay with a cruiser bike.

I want to see a picture of the Lightning McQueen sidecar. My grandson would be in heaven!

I know I can build a sub frame if needed but I was think more about the trail on the bikes to help with steering. It will not be hard to fine a bike with more power but steering angle is what I want to know. The Bandit seems like a good bike because there would be less for me to build and the steering seems more like a sport bike. The V-max is a great bike for power and sound(I had one) but I am not sure what the steering angle is and I also heard the frame was weak. Please let me know any more on these and other bike if you have it. I will post a pic of the side car in the next couple days...Jason

V-Max's have been used for touring rigs with double wides and camping trailers for years. I've never heard of weak frame problems. It's always possible to have a problem if the sidecar is foul rigged on any bike.
Any performance bike will have less trail than a cruiser. Cruisers are designed for the superslab, not the twisties. Therefore they have a lot of trail for laid back driving.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

I am going to try and post a pic.

Well I tryed but I guess the were to big. I will try and have someone shrink them for me.

I have a bimmer on a vstar 1100. The bimmer weighs in at 200lbs. Its a pig. I also have a royal star 1300, with no sidecar. Send pics, I would love to see your rig.
check this site out for ideas:
http://www.pashnit.com/bikes/sidecar.htm#misc

Originally written by Hack'n on 8/23/2008 2:37 PM

V-Max's have been used for touring rigs with double wides and camping trailers for years. I've never heard of weak frame problems. It's always possible to have a problem if the sidecar is foul rigged on any bike.
Any performance bike will have less trail than a cruiser. Cruisers are designed for the superslab, not the twisties. Therefore they have a lot of trail for laid back driving.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

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All bikes do not NEED a subframe of course. But a subfrane can do more than just add strength to the setup. It also cann allow the mopunting points for th esidecar to be placed for ease of adjustment. In some cases this is a big deal and in some not.

A sport bike in the winter will become quite an unconfortable challenge.

My proposals would go the opposite way:
A flat torque rate curve with enough grunt at low revs.
A not too big engine for not to have to preheat the engine with a stove...(Beemer and Guzzi cry for them at temperatures below freezing point.)...and that gets warm pretty fast (water or oil cooled engines have plus point in this aspect as long as their thermostat is working well).

Two stroker start easy but have no force or too much, so they are in winter just good for short shopping trips and down town driving.(MZ in Norway 1986=> -28ºC => third kick)

Bigger alternator, car battery, heated grips with mounted arm sleeves,
leg fairing, but the upper fairing not too high, because they scretch very fast from sand and ice, Cutchers blanket out of felt.
Plus some other things I would have to think about.
So long
Sven Peter

I will not be riding it in the winter. So I do not think I have to worry about that to much. I have the on/off for winter. My rig is for good weather and the family only. I am not worried about comfert either. Just power and steering angle. Is a beemer a good bike for this and of so, what size boxer are we talking about?

Thanx...Jason

The Beemers have enough power. The boxers are very popular tugs. From 1969 up they will need a sub-frame since they ran out of real frames that year. Earlier models may need regearing to suit your needs. They will need a steering damper and most can use wider handlebars for easier steering unless equipped with leading link front ends.
Depending upon the size of your family R80 to R100 (optimum) engine sizes should do it for you.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Right now I am looking at 2 bikes. 1 is a 93 CB750 and the other is a 02 bandit 1200. Do you guys think the CB would have enough power? It sayes about 75hp. I know the bandit is fine with about 98hp. I would love to here what you think and if any one is running 1 of these rigs.

When I saw "Moving up", I thought it meant you were going to get a Dnepr! 🙂

You gotta post a photo of that "Lighting McQueen" sidecar!

Dave

I am trying to post them but it sayes they are to big. I am not good with that kind of stuff and need to find someone to make them smaller. As soon as I do I will get them posted. Thanx ...Jason