So, after wanting a rig since the 70's I now own one...sort of. Last fall I began the quest to put together the rig I really wanted. An 80's Honda CB with a Velorex 562 hack. I bought the bike and began going through it getting it ready for the mating. I tried to buy but missed out on a couple of opportunities to buy the car, but held out hope for one by the coming season.
The best laid plans as usual went by the wayside. Bored one evening here in Georgia (Home is Minnesota) I find, on Craigs list a rig in Arizona that strikes my fancy but for several problems: Location, My failure to make PayPal work, and it doesn't fit the description of the rig I had thought I wanted.
I figure I can solve the location thing temporarily if a long time friend in Phoenix can help me out with this. A few phone calls, a little negotiation and sure enough (oops! Now what do I do?) he can check this out for me and make this happen. Even better he offers to front the cash while my check crosses in the mail. Two problems solved at once.
He hasn't driven a rig before but we have many miles together over the years on two wheels so he knows a bit about bikes. I trust him to honestly evaluate the tug. Evaluating the handling of the rig is another matter. Oh well, I decided that whatever I end up with will be a finished rig I can hopefully ride this season. He found it to be as well built and maintained as advertised, bought it, and followed my advice to trailer it to his rural home. Next thing I get is notice that he had bought it and attached a picture of himself and his dog on/in it, both grinning from ear to ear. They had been riding it around the back roads around his place in the desert. Now I'm concerned that he will just send the check back and keep it for himself.
I'll be leaving Georgia to return home to Minnesota in March, but It may be late April before I can get this thing home.
There were three problems, remember? It isn't a mid weight, around town type of rig I thought I would have. It is a 1200 Gold Wing with a California sidecar. I'm tempted to ride it back. An outfit this size is intended for touring, isn't it?
If all goes well, and I survive the ride, perhaps I'll try to get to the Sturgis rally.
Jim
Good laugh. typical case of>
"It first comes different, then you secondly think...."
Enjoy the learning curve to come and continue living into the day like this...its well worth it. That way your wife will surely say, it is never boring to live with you... 🙂
Mine perhaps might hang me in the barn...
Sven :O
Peter Pan - 2/23/2015 9:33 PM
Good laugh. typical case of>
"It first comes different, then you secondly think...."Enjoy the learning curve to come and continue living into the day like this...its well worth it. That way your wife will surely say, it is never boring to live with you... 🙂
Mine perhaps might hang me in the barn...
Sven :O
Yeah, good thing I don't have a barn.
When the kids were small and became impertinent. I used to hang them in their trousers on a branch or on the teckling hook. The son ripped 3 sacks as the trousers would have become too expensive...Worked better then a slap.
Make it like my buddy from Braunschweig>
"Also wenn los, dann los,- also los!"
"So when go for it, then go for it,- ok, let's go for it!"
Good attitude. Actual life is much better then any movie.
Sven 😉
Even Avatar?
I did the easy part, I talked about it but not did not post a picture. Now I actually have one to post. Nick, the friend who acted as agent to help me buy it, wrote to say that "Sadie" won't get out of the car!
Capt.,
Welcome to the flock. I'm here in Minneapolis and if I can help you, let me know. I hope you'll bring your new touring rig to the USCA rally in June and maybe even to the Yellowstone Raid before the rally. Anyway, you can call me if you feel like it 612-759-4666
Nice! Have fun with your new toy and ride safe!
Al Olme - 2/25/2015 10:28 PM
Capt.,
Welcome to the flock. I'm here in Minneapolis and if I can help you, let me know. I hope you'll bring your new touring rig to the USCA rally in June and maybe even to the Yellowstone Raid before the rally. Anyway, you can call me if you feel like it 612-759-4666
Thank you Al. I am sure I will have questions as I start to figure this thing out.
I do hope to get to the USCA rally, but I will need to bug out early as I need to get to So. Carolina the week following the rally. Unfortunately I'll be flying to SC. I don't believe I'll make it to the Yellowstone run. I've been through there the last three years. As much as I like Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway, I think I'll try someplace new.
jim
Jim, that sidecar might be too heavy for your CB. Better to leave it on the GW.
Now that you have converted another rider to the joy of sidecars, offer him your CB. Together work to find a lighter car for it. Ride the CB to AZ, swap rides then drive your new rig to MN.
Goldwings and sidecars are made to go together. Once you have one, nothing else feels as good.
If not already done so, look at going darkside on the wing.
Ride safe and far
CCjon
Thanks for the note.
I wouldn't pull the the wing/champion apart. They are, as you say, too good together. That sidecar is too heavy for the CB650.
I had hoped to find a Velorex 562 for it.
I don't think he really would be interested in the CB650. Nick already had a couple of potential tugs. He has my old K100RT, and a 1200 Wing of similar vintage. His favorite 2 wheeler is a ST1300.
I did pick up the 650 at a right enough price that I can recoup my investment pretty easily this spring should I decide not to go ahead with putting a car on it. You see, my original idea was for a short ride, around town size rig. This cross country size rig competes with my favorite ride; the ST1100.
jim
This looks very known. the C version of my old work horse (RK06?) during A-level, army and the whole university time. I would not wonder if there is still flying around the machine shop manual for it. A nice long lasting and very smooth purring engine.
The trick about it is when the head gasket goes the first time. put helicoils on all 10 head studs at the same time. Don't do only the stripped ones, They all will strip, so right away do them all when you get to that point
Mine had its first and only failure after 117.000km... Burnt the alternator windings in a rainy cold night after 950km with fog light and heated grips on.
She will give a nice town and back road hauler with a bigger sprocket on the back.
The bike is tack heavy for the Velorex sidecar though. (mine is a bit far away for you to pick up, but we could make the mounts here easily... 😉 ) The Russian Sputnik should match better weight wise.
Good luck.
Sven
peter pan
Faced with leaving Georgia tomorrow Where the natives think it is cold at 40F and returning to Minnesota where it was -15F this morning, a trip to Costa Rica is very tempting!
There sure seems to be a lot of mid size Honda/Velorex outfits represented. Perhaps they ride with ballast?
jim
[Edit: Wait. What do you mean by "tack Heavy".] Perhaps I misunderstand. Only 23 k miles (37000 km) compression good, no head leaks. I'm not going to crack it until it needs it.
I think he means the bike is too heavy for a velorex sidecar. If the bike leans on the hack it might bend it´s connection links.
Take something stronger. Ural or Dnepr maybe. Or a modified Sputnik. The Sputnik is not as heavy. So with a different secondary ratio the tug should do well together with it
Yupp, Claus is right.
The Velorex is low and light. too light in my eyes. I have one on my Jawa 350 and there it (is) was great fun and still needed ballast. Possibly Y would go with a Jawa rig as winter cummuter ride in a flat land like where I grew up, but no way in our mountain range again. air cooled 2 strokers EAT breaks and nerves in the steep mountains, as well as engines!
Costa Rica is pretty warm in these days, but If you expect to see rigs here you are mistaken. I met 4 on the street in 26 years living here. One was Hubert Kriegel on his way to Patagonia. A sight I could enjoy for tremendous 15 seconds at a red traffic light.
Here older bikes are mostly junk kept to life by the faith of the owners.
You know why I prefer the tiny rigs to the big ones?
The tiny ones have a big advantage=> It is LOTS OF FUN at street legal speeds, You monkey as hell while others are bored in their cages or wrinkled on their coffee racers.
For me if I am able to keep up with a local youngster in the serpentines I AM FAST, while he is just making 66-75% of what he might be capable of.
Have fun in the snow while I hope to get a change for to go fishing.
Sven
