Hello everyone. Just thought I would introduce myself to the forum. My name is Fabrice and I live in Melbourne Australia.
I have had no need for a sidecar, not until I became a family man. So after a few years of procrastinating I splashed out on an old GS1000 with a Westcar double hack. I went the old bike route as the cost to convert a later model solo was out of the question for me.
I hope no one minds as I am only new to the forum but I have a question to ask.
The outfit will stay a permanent outfit as I have a solo bike but for now I can't fork out on leading link. The original forks on the bike are poor and in need of a service same goes for the rear shocks. What can I do to improve the standard suspension for sidecar use? I was thinking static rate springs for the front at a 1kg rating? I have no idea with the rear shocks.
Any help would be appreciated.
I have some photos that I have from the bloke I bought the bike from.
See if you can find some good used forks from a different model which will fit your bike. Look for forks which carry the axle in front of the forks instead of centered as shown in your photos. This should reduce the trail improving your steering at less cost than new links....
Hey, That's a good lookin' rig.....but why'd you mount the chair on the wrong side? :}
I thought you guys were having trouble turning right I'd fix the problem by putting the sidecar on the other side. Good idea I thought?
You also drive on the other side of the road down there......
been there and done that.
I had my first go of a sidecar today and I was a little overwhelmed. It shake
its handlebars as I took of. Pulled slightly to the Left, steering was heavy and awkward as I am use to counter steering. On one occasion the bike nearly ended up in the scrub when I didn't manage to take a left hand turn. A little bit of throttle helped when turning left. Still I wasn't upset as I expected this to happen. I already have ideas on what I want to do to improve her.
Maybe leading link would be the better option screw the expense? I hear they go for about $1500 AU. The rear shocks are screwed as well.
I am really keen to get started, I can see myself having a lot of fun with this.
You'll get used to it,go ride in some dirt.....that's where it's at.
Here is something that does not get much discussion that I noticed when I was just learning.
Muscle tone and muscle memory.
When I started up the low speed wobble scared the #### out of me a few times. I got some good bruises on my arms trying to regain control. I thought I had to install a steering damper.
The real solution was simple. Keep both hands on the handlebars. No death grip necessary. Just pay attention to your driving, no day dreaming allowed. After a short while, I noticed that I didn't notice the wobble any more. The shake was still there, but I had developed some muscles to compensate and had also developed the muscle memory to automaticlly adjust without thinking. I never did add the steering damper.
Suzuki GS L models (eg. GS850L GS1000L etc.) have a leading front axle. You could probably pick up an L front end pretty reasonable as most solo riders prefer the center axle design for sharper handling. I don't know if that will help or not, as I'have no sidecar experience,but someone earlier mentioned it. You might even find someone to swap parts out with. Try www.thegsresources.com (If posting outside links is frowned upon, let me know and I'll edit this.)
Reducing trail will ease steering problems.
If raising the fork tubes in the tripletrees to reduce trail as shown (see: Honda forks 1.jpg), be very sure there is adequate clearance for the front fender, radiator, or any other appertenance that may interfere with the steering when the front suspension is fully bottomed out.
Heavier viscosity fork oil and fork spring spacers (1" PVC?) can help eliminate front end dive.
Snug up the steering head bearings a bit to eliminate front end flop from side to side.
Wider handlebars reduce steering effort.
Lean the bike out from the sidecar a bit to eliminate the left pull. It will feel a bit odd at first (like you are leaning to the right) but the road crown will have you sitting more erect and just like the difference between steering instead of countersteering, you'll soon get used to it.
Welcome to the madness, Mate.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Fabrice- you can do some reading for free from here: http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp
Also, you could buy a copy of "Driving a Sidecar Outfit" available from White Horse Press at least. Don't know if anyplace in Oz is flogging it.
I'm not sure what your comfort level is with modifying your bike but other things that can be done to lessen the trail are:
1. Raise the forks in the triple clamp (already mentioned and shown).
2. Get leading axle fork tubes (already mentionedand shown).
3. Use a shorter aspect ratio front tire or swap to a smaller front wheel/tire combo. I think your GS has a 19" front wheel - going down to an 18, 17 or 16" wheel with the right tire will help with the trail- lots of people use car tires in the 16" size. If your GS has wire wheels, re-lacing a smaller rim might be a fairly cheap way to go. Approach cautiously, check tire and fender clearances (usually not a problem with shorter tires but check tobe sure).
4. Find, buy or fabricate triple clamps that put the fork tubes further forward.
5. Get some longer rear shocks to raise the rear end a little. Does the same thing that lowering the forks does on the front without the cleareance issues. On a BMW (not side car) that I road raced, I raised the rear by fabbing new mounting points for the upper shock mount. It was (in my case your bike may be harder) an easy and cheap way to quicken the steering and get a little extra ground clearance and stiffen the feel of the rear.
Being that I'm new to sidecars - I'm not necessarily suggestng these things but thought I'd throw them out for discussion.
