Hello all. I'm Kayley, live in the UK and have recently bought a Yamaha Diversion 600 with velorex 700 sidecar.
My husband is getting used to it but for me - it's just not happening! I just don't feel in complete control of the outfit, I'm around 5 3" and starting to wonder if the bike is too big for me? (I'm a girly and just 20 years old). Physically, it's real hard work and after a 5 minutes I'm struggling.
Before buying we accepted the fact that combo's are nothing like bikes but this is madness!
Do you guys think it come with time and practise or am I doomed?
I really want this to work and it's so disheartening but I just don't feel like I should be on the road. I'm practising off road but there's no experience like actually being out there in the traffic.
Also getting a smaller bike - do you think this would help?
Many thanks in advance from an unhappy woman in England!
Kayley xx
I would take a look at the leading link front end. There is a manufacturer over there that makes a very good one. May not be real pretty but it sure does work. You would end up steering with one finger loaded or unloaded. Good luck.
For the Unit leading link forks in the UK contact:
Broomhill Composites, Ltd. in Hedingham, Essex
Ph. 01787 461000
Installing the Unit forks will make the rig steer effortlessy, like you had power steering.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
where are you located in the uk? if your not to far away you could have a spin on my ural to see what leading link feels like & i could have a look at your setup. even with standard tele forks you should'nt be fighting the rig. stick with it. Hank
I'm in the Midlands, but with an offer of a spin on another rig, who cares how far away you are :p
Leading links look great - who wants to lend me their cheque book??? Just looked on the website - "Leading Link Forks can be supplied with full fitting instructions and can be fitted with basic mechanical knowledge at the price of £1127 Inclusive of Vat" - OUCH!!
I would imagine you can get used ones though somewhere or other??
I'm starting to think maybe I'm just being a pansy?
Sidecars are no longer motorcycles. If you are used to riding 2 wheels, a sidecar is going to seem like an unruly pig by comparison. A degree of strength will develop over time without you even noticing. Perhaps there is a mechanical solution as well. Start with the inexpensive ones first, like wider handlebars or sliding the forks up in the triple clamp. Double check the alignment and make sure there is nothing wrong with the basic setup. I improved mine a little by moving the sidecar frame back 3 inches reducing the sidecar wheel lead from 15 inches to 12 inches. If you can ride another rig, by all means do so. It will give you a better perspective of what to look for. Best of luck.
Yes it's become apparent the minor adjustments can make a big difference. There is plenty of information on the web which is a good job as we don't have a clue (bless)!!
Hey, Kayley, don't despair!
No, you don't need a smaller bike. 🙂 You've been given some good advise about adjusting your rig. My first instinct was your rig needs tweaking. Don't be afraid to change the lean or check the toe etc. Tweak and test, tweak and test. I suggest that you make reference marks on the struts, etc. so you can count how many turns in or out you've made to adjust lean etc. Make sure your lean is set up for the majority of your riding roads. I had a velorex, and because I ride mostly crowned roads, some lean out really lessened the stress on the left shoulder. I totally understand the physical exertion and fatigue. My shoulders ache just thinking about it. :-). .. My personal opinion is, even with your rig set up perfectly, you are still going to wish you had easier steering. I am just basing that judgement on my personal experience with my bike. It is a little heavier, and I wrestled along with it for about 20,000 miles. I finally spent the dollars, and changed the front end (Steerite). Life got easier!.. I've got about 46,000 miles on it now, and I never begrudge the money spent. I have friends with leading links on their bikes - wow! it is like power steering. If I get another bike, I'd go the leading links route.
No Kayley, I don't think you are doomed. I think you are destined to get as much information as you can on your rig, and set it up so it works for you. Sorry you are not closer, we could hit the road together.
Just in case you are wondering, I have a vtx1300, I am one inch shorter than you, and 40++++++ years older.
so, this grandma says, stick with it Kiddo. Once you get the bugs worked out, you are going to have a great time!
Ride safe - good luck,
gail
Hi Kayley you can have a go on this one
Wow, yes please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's apparent that you may be suffering from a poor adjustment of your rig more than anything else. You shouldn't have to fight the steering when properly set up. Even without an Earles' Fork or different trail, it should track straight when underway.
Probably the most famous lady sidecarist in motorcycling history was Dot Robinson. She was the daughter of James Goulding, the founder of the American sidecar manufacturer of the same name.
I saw her in several Jack Pine Endurance runs in Michigan in the 1950's when she was riding with her partner. She rode a Harley Knucklehead with a Goulding sidecar and won several 500 mile National Jack Pine Enduros. IIRC, she was about 5'2" and 100 pounds, dripping wet. She was also one of the founders of the first ladies' motorcycle grup, the Motor Maids.
If she could do it, so can you!
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=78
Hi guys. Can someone in here give me instructions/recommendations on setting up your rig (toe in lean out etc) I'm not after word for word don't worry but the trouble is you read that many different ways of doing it, different things to adjust, how much which way etc from so many different people and different sources it would be nice to get something definitive that I can trust or rely on. Or maybe a good website you can recommend.
Don't forget my car is on the left, but I'll work out the opposites.
Kayley
There are free books and links available here from the home page that go into setting up your rig.
As for the Velorex cars, I set them up as far back as is practical within the limits of the upper struts, with aproximately 30cm (or more if desired) between bike and sidecar frame. Sidecar level and 1+ degrees of bike leanout with the driver onboard. Toe-in measured from just in front of the front and behind the rear bike tire set at about 10mm.
I've set up hundreds of velorex cars this way and it seems to be a good compromise setting. If needed fine tweaking can come later when normal loading and road crowns driven require further adjustments to be made for neutral steering.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Took my own advice and put wider handlebars on my rig. Went from 29 inches to 33 Inches. What a difference. Cost me all of $20 and a little time. The rig is much easier to control now. Haven't heard from you in a while. Are you making any progress?
