What kind of sidecar????
Hello Everybody. I am a newbie to the group and to sidecars. Been riding BMW’s for years though. I was originally told this was a Velux sidecar and then told it is a Spirit of America sidecar. Any idea? I would like to find out what type so I can find out more about the car. It needs a lens for the tail light which is made by Lucas. I would also like to put a windshield on it if it is possible. I think it may have been made for a windshield but never had one installed. I will try to attach some pictures if I can figure it out.
Oh yes. By the way. The bike that came with the car is a 1970 R75/5 Seems the bike was owned by a man that used the rig to drive his kids to school. Just bolted on the standard frame. Any thoughts on this. I am just going to use this for playing around the area.
I am looking forward to a couple of rallys with this rig.
It sure looks like the Spirit of America, otherwise known as American Spirit Eagle, I had on a Water Buffalo back in the mid 70's.
That looks like it except you have the head rest and rack. the fender is part of the tub. Any idea where I can get a tail light lens? I guess I will start serching for Lucas. Thanks for the info.
Les. Quick question. the car you pictured looks the same. How is your seat attached. It seems like the previous owner bolted a modified gate hinge on the front to the seat so it can tilt forward but is bolted to the bottom. I was planning on taking this out since it looks very uncomfortable to sit on these hex bolt heads. The added foam would not help that much. Is your seat attached to the car or sitting loose inside?
Does the head light look stock on yours or do you think it was added? Seems like a very good idea for more light plus you would be able to see the car at night from the front. He does have a car battery behind the seat which seems like a good idea since those old beamers were not that great electrically.
The seat in this one was hinged in the front like yours. I believe the headlight was stock. I would recommend using LEDs for a light on the front but only for awareness at night as LEDs use very little electricity, just a thought.Regards, Les
The early sidecars of this style were Spirit of Americas, then the molds were sold to other manufactureres so it might be an "Easyrider" or "Sidestrider" or "California" or possibly a few others. SOAs had the molded fender, later manufacturers changed them. If you have no stickers or plates then only one of our sharp eyed members might be able to nail it down.
Gustafsson stocks windshields for these "Spirit of America" (and the others made from the same molds) They are at http://www.bikescreen.com/
Their shields come undrilled so that's a plus in your application.
Can't help with the taillight, mine has a different Lucas light and I've only seen two like it at swap meets (other than those still on their original SOA chairs.)
Any "dune buggy" type seat will fit and can be mounted any way you like. Spring for a better one with mounting "lugs" molded in the bottom and you'll avoid the bolt heads or you can go with a round head screw to minimize the protrusion.
Good, light sidecar and the styling is perfect on most 60's and 70's bikes.
Thanks Bob. That makes sense. I was searching the internet for the tail light and found the Lucas number is the same tail light used on the Triumph Spitfire. Seems like these lens costs are still sky high as they were in the early 70's. Time to Go through the bike to make sure there are no problems and then bolt the car back on. I am hoping there mill be minimal adjusting if any required since the bike was supposedly set up before the car was removed. Time to find someone local that is familiar with sidecars. since I am not an experienced side car driver I would not know a good handling rig from a poor one. Is anybody located NW of Chicago near Wauconda?
One heads up, the front, lower mount on the Spirit of Americas is the weak link on these and I see yours is still the original. If your mounting requires this to be screwed out more than a thread or two it will flex noticably. I recommend getting a different mount made. Claude or Lonnie can probably steer you right on this. Even at only a few threads out the sidecar frame will "bounce" from the flex. I had mine out to max extension for awhile and it bent. I made a mount that went from outer frame rail to inner frame rail and then attached to my subframe and that eliminated the flex. Much better ride afterward.
Originally written by Electric_Kaiser on 4/29/2008 6:59 AM
Thanks Bob. That makes sense. I was searching the internet for the tail light and found the Lucas number is the same tail light used on the Triumph Spitfire. Seems like these lens costs are still sky high as they were in the early 70's. Time to Go through the bike to make sure there are no problems and then bolt the car back on. I am hoping there mill be minimal adjusting if any required since the bike was supposedly set up before the car was removed. Time to find someone local that is familiar with sidecars. since I am not an experienced side car driver I would not know a good handling rig from a poor one. Is anybody located NW of Chicago near Wauconda?
Is it round, red, and kind of pointed with two screw holes? Lucas Number L691? If so I could hold it hostage until you show up at the Skunk Rally in Cameron, WI, but if you send your mailing address to my username at charter.net and promise to try to come to Cameron I'll mail it to you. :0) It is off of a 67 Spitfire if I remember right. It's been a paper weight on my desk for the last 15 years.
Thanks Mike. The number is L672. One screw hole and clips on the bottom of the base. From my searches it is also a Spitfire lens. I think I have located the lens. So tell me about the skunk rally. I will have to talk to my friends Marry Ruth and Dave from Butternut. I would have to say they are familiar with this rally if that local and side car related. Just checked. June 6-8. I will be in Napa Valley at my nephews wedding. I do plan on some side car rallies though. I just filled out my membership. Gee now I get another motorcycle magazine. Sue will just love that.
thanks for the heads up. This car was on the bike for 30 plus years but it only hs 18K miles on the bike so I am sure it did not go far. I was told the guy bought the bike with a 1000 miles on it in 1970 and then put the car on it to drive his kids to school. I wioll keep an eye on that. I hope to find someone local to double check the setup once I bolt the car back on. I am hoping any adjustment will be minimal. If I like this a lot I may put a car on a 72 Guzzi Eldorado I have waiting for some attention in the corner of the garage.
E_K wrote: "Oh yes. By the way. The bike that came with the car is a 1970 R75/5 Seems the bike was owned by a man that used the rig to drive his kids to school. Just bolted on the standard frame. Any thoughts on this."
If bolted directly to a /5 frame it no doubt was an evil handling rig and a Joe McGee setup. I've had a few of these come through the shop.
Here's a couple of examples of what I call "Mortis Rigging".
Note the right foot peg (not).
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Originally written by Electric_Kaiser on 4/29/2008 4:38 PM
Thanks Mike. The number is L672. One screw hole and clips on the bottom of the base. From my searches it is also a Spitfire lens. I think I have located the lens. So tell me about the skunk rally. I will have to talk to my friends Marry Ruth and Dave from Butternut. I would have to say they are familiar with this rally if that local and side car related. Just checked. June 6-8. I will be in Napa Valley at my nephews wedding. I do plan on some side car rallies though. I just filled out my membership. Gee now I get another motorcycle magazine. Sue will just love that.
Mary Ruth and Dave will be there. Go to http://www.skunktails.com/ for details on the Rally. If you can't make it to Cameron, the USCA Rally is two hours further north and one week later.
Ahh Mike. So you have the pleasure of knowing Mary Ruth and Dave. She mentioned the Duluth rally when I told her I bought this rig. Skunk Rally is out. Seems the wife is scheduling lots of activities that I keep trying to weasel out of. LOL Time will tell.
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