Hello folks, Sal here from down in Texas.
Sidecars have always been a curiosity and the thought of having one came true a few weeks back.
It's a Spirit Eagle in ok condition, no stress cracks in body or frame. Previous owner had it attached to a Honda cx500 but sold the bike 7 years ago with the intention of getting another but never did.
I would like to get some suggestions from you guys on what bike would make a good combo as my current bike would not be a good candidate (have to sell her to get the funds).
So far I've considered a Triumph Bonneville and a Honda Ace 750.
You guys have a great forum and lots of good info. Been trying to read and soak it all in. lol
The Honda would be a good choice budget wise. Either would work with the Eagle. An 800 Bonny would be more costly and the Hondas are pretty maintenance free and bulletproof.
Lonnie
I have a sidecar just like that with a '78 Yamaha SR500 single. Problem with the Yamaha is that it is kick start and I am disabled. Bought a 1979 Kawasaki KZ650 to put the hack on. A little more horsepower. It has twin disc front brakes and a single disc in back. Plus, it's electric start.
Lots of choices in older Jap bikes, and they are cheap.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Have a friend with a Honda 750 and it's been pretty reliable to him. The Bonnie is nice looking but don't know much about.
The kz650 should have enough cajones to pull the hack and disc's all the way around is a plus, right?
Would you modify the mounts from the sr500 to the kz or use a universal harware set?
love those ol' one lung Yamahas,..my buddy has an SR 500,..hard to find up here, and with a chair? hehe < bike envy,.. I want one!,..hehe crawf.
even with parts from the box,..most every sidecar is a custom fit,..talk the the " wise ol' men installers " here,..they can help make the job as painless as possible, pic a bike, you have the chair,..they can usually fit ya with what ya need, try to find a tug with a full down-tube frame,...it gives more meat to mount to, 650cc-750cc is a comfortable highway and around town size with enough power to pull, but not too clumsy around town,..good luck, crawf.
Sal - 3/25/2012 12:12 AM
The kz650 should have enough cajones to pull the hack and disc's all the way around is a plus, right?
Would you modify the mounts from the sr500 to the kz or use a universal hardware set?
The SR500 has the mounts welded on. I would do the same with the KZ650. Universal hardware would probably work.
We do not recommend welding mounts to the bike frames. Many of the Japanese bikes have thin high carbon steel tubing that will crack in the heat affected areas.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars.
Good to know, Lonnie. Thanks!!!
I've been reading through previous posts and it seems like some folks say not to use the universal hardware unless the bike specific hardware is not available.
Since I'm very green at installing a sidecar then the best bet for me would be to purchase a m/c that one of the vendors make hardware for.
I have the strut assemblies but not the C clamp assemblies.
That being said yesterday I saw a 1982 BMW r100 in pretty good condition and I see DMC Sidecars has a mount specific kit for this bike.
Thing is someone has to buy my bike first before I look into getting another one. ; (
A 650 will pull that tug fine, I have a 78 kz650 and it pulls pretty good.. look at my avitar pic.
Lonnie speaks the truth,..I welded my mounts to my Suzi and had too much fun doing it,..was tricky, but I got it to work,..clamp on mounts secured correcly will work fine,..after correct placement and fit,.... a locating post or roll pin can be installed to secure it to one fixed stop and prevent any movement, if it comes to it, spend a few extra bucks and buy a bike specific kit for the car and you will be very satisfied,..good luck,...crawf.
I would stay with a small to mid sized bike, Make sure that you can buy a proper mounting kit for the bike. For both the Honda and the Truimph we not only have the mounting kits we also have new from billet triple tree's to lower the steering effort.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
jay@dmcsidecars.com
