Old blue jean legs filled with sand work good. They can be cut to fit almost any where and are cheap. J.R.
What's ballast? (jk) Aint it more fun to run without? I have a 86 Goldwing Aspy with a Champion Escort and never run ballast.
I don't use ballast any more but then I always have a bunch of junk in the sidecar trunk so maybe I do. ;^) Anyway, I've got a bunch of old cast iron window sash weights that I can't bring myself to throw away. If anyone wants them and will pick them up in Minneapolis, they're welcomed to them. Shipping costs would be ridiculous. [TLMaryann would be pleased to see them go!]
Thanks a bunch guy's. I finally used sandbags. Got it pretty much down now. I have a Venture Midnight Star with a Velorex 700. Was worried about it at first, but after calling Velorex and having a great installer hooking up the car, I am really surprised how great this car and bike work together. I have no car slapping, no pull, no wheel shake no problems at all. I am just so pleased with it. I want to thank all who have helped with this.
One of your users mentioned our stainless steel shot bags as an option for ballast a few years ago.
I want to remind you that we still make these ballast bags. They're made of tough genuine CORDURA and filled with stainless steel (*NOT* lead) in weights of 5 pounds, 8, 10, 15, 20, and our most popular 25. They feature a dual-pouch butterfly-with-handle design for easy use and storage, as well as precise weight placement.
If you have a different design you'd like, tell me about it and we can make it for you.
http://www.lowinglight.com/shotbags.shtml
We want to help make your riding experience as safe and exciting as it can be.
Thanks!
-- Steve at Lowing Light & Grip
I am with Wingman here. No ballast is much more fun but does require a bit more skill to pull off. The bonus in performance with an underpowered rig is worth it to me running empty. I've got a suzuki savage with a velorex hack... light and quick!
Buckaroo
Do you have Phelinous's old rig? Max
Maxm -
I did have the Phelonius Phlyer for a bit but it was passed on to a young'n in Fife, WA. He drives it every day. Big Jim is in Hawi on the Big Island with a Kenna on a Shadow 750 and a Dual Sport rig for those washed out back roads. I still have my Buckaroo Special - Savage/Velorex (no ballast). I am putting the Velo on a R-65 and thinking about putting a Motorvation Spyder on my Valk.... zoom zoom
Battery in the back served as ballast in the 562 Veleorex. In the CA Friendship I, a 1/4" steel plate bolted to the frame worked well. Never used ballast in the Champion Escort, HD sidecar, or the Texas Ranger. The Ural always has ballast in the form of tools, spare parts, jack, and oil.
The best place I've found to buy gun shot around where I live is a good gun shop. The ones I have are around 40-45 dollars for a 25 lb. bag and they work really well.
I started out with 2 50# bags of Pea Gravel from Lowe's one in front of the seat and one in back. The one up front works perfect for the grandson to rest his feet on . I have a small floor mat covering the bag and you cant even see it . He loves having a place to put hsi feet since he cant in a car. i am working on making my own small bags to make it easier to move
Having ballast in the nose of the sidecar is not a very good idea. Hit the front brake on a hard left hand turn and you might find out why. The best location for ballast is over the hack axle toward the outside. Check out the 'Yellow Book' pages 88-89 about tip-over lines.
Rubber side down/ shiny side up!
Buckaroo
With front ballast, on downhill or left turn brakng the sidecar can dip it's nose into the ground. No wheel up there to support it as there is with a 4 wheeler. You'll see many URAL sidecars with roadrash under the nose since they use minimal wheel lead.
Keep your ballast low and to the rear.
Lonnie
I have about 75lbs in the trunk of the Ural Patrol. Put a pad down first. The weight is in a HK SWAT bag. Not had the chair in the air yet. I'm a beginner rider of side cars. Rode street and dirt for 33yrs.
