There were two posts of differing opinions on the subject " my first sidecar" one saying that a brake was needed for a sidecar of the weight of a CJ and the otherr of the opposite opinion.
So, I am now wondering if I should go there or not. I think... I can substitute a Honda wheel with disc on the sidecar and weld a mount for the calipers and connect it to the front brake master cylinder if necessary.
I am puttting this tub on a 80 Honda CB750 c with a drum brake rear and single disc front. My weight and bike is about 750 lbs . Sidecar with gear and passenger would be about 400lb.
So that is a total of 1150 lbs moving at 60mph. Safe or unsafe with those brakes? Opinions??
I added a Honda wheel to my Dneper sidecar. The wheel had a drum brake. I rigged up a mechanical linkage with a second foot pedal next to the rear brake pedal. It works just fine, but now that I've got some miles on my rig, I no longer believe the sidecar brake to be all that important. I think that defensive driving is far more important than the ability to do a panic stop.
The rigs they had at the S/TEP class I took didn't have sidecar brakes, my Dnepr does, I prefer having a sidecar brake.
Dave
i think the sidecar brake is a matter of personal choice i dont like em but if you are happy with one so be it, it is a fact that without one the chair will not stop square without steering input from the driver, but in my experiance the need to apply the brakes agresively hardley ever happens in a straight line, i have a harley with harley sidecar & i have machined the brake drum off as it was more trouble than it was worth,( over here we have an mot test that states if its fitted it must work eficiently it never came up to requirement so i got rid of it ) again & personal oppinion only i quite like a sidecar brake with a separate pedal placed at the side of the rear brake pedal of coarse in the uk that used to be easy but we stopped putting the brake on the left in the 70s. but would still be ok in the usa. Ride safe leave space dont race. live long
I put one on the rig I just got, really do not notice much of a difference.
hmm i quite prefer having the brake on the sidecar - i do most braking with the front but when the sidecar is loaded it is really nice to have the capacity.
what was the problem passing the mot with the harley drum brake? - they were quite reliable in the past - the new sidecars have the disks and they squeak but always work.
to
My feelings are that it's a nice thing to have, but not nice enough to pay extra for. It's a $1200 option on my Formula II! I would prefer the previous owner had spent the money on the auxiliary gas tank and tonneau cover.
My current outfit is the first one I've had with a functioning brake. The only time I use it is when my size 13's hit it by accident and then it can get exciting. I also have the differential valve to tap it in to the bike, but haven't used it because I sometimes ride without the sidecar and don't want to be bleeding brakes all the time.
Maybe I'll feel diferently after it's been there for a while, but in the last 3k it seems the little Goose's brakes are more than adequate.
Agree with Mike, not huge on sidecar brakes at all.
Same here.
I feel the same about sidecar brakes and steering dampers: If the rig won't work without them, by all means put them on, otherwise leave them off.
Lonnie
I have ridden with and without,..my current rig does not have a brake,..I don't really miss it,..I feel the suzi's brakes are adaquit for the job...my 2 cents,...crawf.
Dave makes a good point. If the motorcycle brakes are inadequate, adding a brake to the sidecar makes sense. My 25 year old Honda has dual disc brakes on the front. It stops rather well.
I really appreciate all the helpful input. I have lots of things to do to get this rig on the road. It is completely torn down for sanding and painting . I really don't want extra stuff to do like engineer a brake fitting for the sidecar, so we will go without unless I really need it.
After 40+ yrs. of driving four sidecar rigs[three without s/c brake], finally bought '95 Wing; put CSC FSIII with brake on it. LOVE s/c brake, as FINALLY have rig which DOESN'T swing left in panic stops[stops dead-straight]! Am very happy with my rig. My two cents. TTFN.
.....Old Tom aka papasmurf in NH
i have done them both ways,but i feel they stop much straighter and safer with a brake on the sidecar wheel.
I don't have brake on the sidecar and am very used to steering to go straight.
