rig set up

first of all, the Velorex is not heavy enough for the Kaw 1500 bike, unless you add a considerable amount of ballast. Also. dont think about removing and installing it for 2 wheel riding.
A sidecar rig needs different fork angles, tires, suspension, ETC, to make it enjoyable...VERY!!!!!
once these mods are made to the bike, it is not a happy camper riding on 2 wheels.
It can be done , but please consider a full time rig for a more enjoyable ride. purchase another bike for 2 wheels, or the sidecar.

Hi:
The rule of thumb is the side should weigh at least 1/3 of the bike weight. There are those who "weight" up the velorex.. I will not get into that.. However, in answer to your 2nd question.. The velorex is not designed for quick disconnects. You will drive yourself crazy if you take it off and on a lot.. I have a velorex (28,000 miles). Takes time to get the thing set up right. When you finally get it to the right point, believe me, you are going to want to leave it there. ... Plus, sidecaring is so addictive that you will soon be hooked, wonder why you didn't get into it sooner, and will not want to take the rig off anyway... Safe driving.. gp

THANKS for the info. what make rig would be agood mach wwith the kaw 1500

I vote for a Dusting from Australia

If it was for me, I'd go with a Bavarian Classic.

FYI:
I notice almost everyone in these forums uses the term Velorex generically. As if there was only one model ever made.
There is the 560, 562E, 562 Standard, 562 Cruiser, 700 Standard, 700 Cruiser, and the new 565 Tour.
Weights run from 154# to 188# empty.
The early 560, 562E, 562 Standard and 700 Standard had very light non adjustable suspension and a 15mm axle.
The 560, 562E, 562 Standard and 700 Standard are no longer in production.
The latest models of 562 Standard and 700 Standard have the 20mm axle.
The 562 and 700 Cruisers and 565 Tour have a 20mm axle and redesigned swing-arm with an adjustable shock and a wider wheels for heavier usage.
The 565 Tour also has a three tube frame and carries a Harley sized 130x16" tire on a wide rim wheel.

Lonnie Cook
Northwest Sidecar

Lonnie,
Can you give us an idea of the years of the various models? What year did they switch to the heavier axle? Have they come out with better attaching hardware as well?

Mike,
The last 562Es were around 10/02.
Last 562 and 700 Standards around 11/04.
From about July of '04 some of the Standards had the 20mm axles, still had old style swingarm.
Middle of '04 the 562C, 700C, (Cruisers) and 565 Tour were the only production models.
Suspension has greatly improved, wheels are wider, the mountings haven't changed.
The 565 Tour chassis is on a newly designed three tube frame that uses a wide 130x16" (Harley sized) tire and wheel.
There are also some more expensive Custom model 562s that come through via Germany (to Canada) that use the Tour chassis with the wide fender and wheel. These are quite a bit more expensive than the America models. I've had one only come through the shop so far. I think it came from Toronto,CA.

Lonnie

Good info Lonnie and appreciated. It is true that ,at least for me, when talking about the Velorex I am speaking of the 154 pound 562 and possibly the slightly heavier early 700 model. I am really not familiar with the newer models but the improverments that you listed sounded good.
I have also stated many times that the Velorex has gotten a bad rap by many mainly because of bad installations as well as those who simply insist in putting them onto a bike that was far too large for it. The Velorex is one nice little sidecar for the money and should not be slammed for what it is intended to be.
Even the mounts that so many times are criticised are so many times not at fault. Proper positioning of these universal type mounts is critical. Good triangulation is important. Lining the struts up in a staight line with the frame clamp eyebolts is important to prevent unwanted rotation of the frame clamp. The lower rear mount on the sidecar frame has always been a bugger but with a simple pin put in it after the setup is made it works just fine.
We are a funny group us sidecarists. We have seen the frame clamp type mounts knocked for being substandard by those who sell a mount almost identical in design..what's up with that anyhow?
No, I do not like the struts that you have to take off to adjust because they only have one right hand thread on them but so what. There are many other sidecars with these same type struts on them too. In fact I was told last week that these type struts are good becuase with the turnbuckle type strusts it lets people adjust them without taking them off and puts a bind into the system while doing so...hey, whatever ..whew.
We have all heard over and over of the small Velorex axles bending or even breaking.I have asked for specific cases on these discussion boards of this happening and have seen very few come forward. I know there are some out there but I am really of th eopinion that they are few and far between.
So, thanks for the info Lonnie. Sorry about the rant.

Yes - I have also heard that rumor but have never been able to pin it down - except that I did hear it might have been caused by loosing an argument with some type of abutment or retaining wall or other very solid object, and, if true, one would expect said axle, or, in fact, ANY axle, to bend or break.

I know, I have broken solid trailer axles on heavy duty trailers when I deberately overloaded them to about eight times the manufacturers specifications after running them dry as a bone. They should have collapsed and they did. I can only blame dumb old me, and NOT the manufacturer.

Would still like to get the precise details of this alleged axle bending and remove it from the fact or fiction category. Just where did this storey get started? Details, man. Who, when, where, verification by independant witness?

Hal wrote ,concerning Velorex Axle problems:
>>Just where did this storey get started? Details, man. Who, when, where, verification by independant witness?<<
Hal,
I too would like to hear documented cases. Surely there are some but has the feeling of axles being questonable on theses sidecars been blown out of proportion? Were the cars run off road a lot? Were they abused by being mounted on a large tourging machine. Did the operator enjoy doing spins to the left and flying to the right? What were th ecircumstances behind the alusive alledged Velorex sidecar Axle failuers? Come on folks what's up here?

We have fixed both bent and broken 15mm Velorex axles.
As to the Nomad. We just delivered two to California with lowered Urals on them. Color matched they looked and worked great! The Champion Legend also works and looks great on these bikes. We use a quick disconect mounting system however the front lower mount hangs pretty low on these bikes. I have not tried to ride one with the sidecar mounts on but with out the sidecar.
Let me know if we can be of help.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.dauntlessmotors.com
866-638-1793

What were the conditions surrounding the bent and broken 15mm axles?

What tugs were they fitted onto? ie, were they the recommended 350 to 500 cc tug, or a 750 or larger bike?

Were they well maintained or did they lack service?

Did they fail from normal service, or did they fail due to some collision or accident?

That is two or however many out of how many thousand units that have not failed?

The current Serial #s of the last Velorex 562s I have in stock are:

#301533, #301539 and #301548.

The last 700 is #13577.

That represents a hell of a lot of sidecars in anyones book.

Not the biggest, not the best for all uses, but

Who has more sidecars out there with contented owners?

BTW: Why would anyone "fix" a bent axle that was caused by overloading or impact?
I certainly wouldn't consider doing it. I would replace it with a new or larger unit, dependant on the cause of failure.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar

Thanks, Lonnie - so the number of bent or broken Velorex axles is pretty damn near insignificant. Hell, I have owned just six or seven rigs myself and have had three sidecar axle failures - two have sheared off, the third just collapsed. None was a Velorex. Also had a front axle snap off - boy was that a surprise - threw me over the bars and all. And a rear wheel collapse. But then I do mistreat my rigs quite a bit and I expect to reap the consequences of my misdeeds. Most solid sidecare axle I used was a modification of a Honda 350 hung in a parallogram and supported on BOTH sides. That took one helluva beating and never failed. Outer rail also acts as a protection against being hit.