ballast question

I have a Honda Shadow 1100 with a Velo 565. The guide is you and bike need to be 2 times greater than the sidecar. An easy test is to stand on the left foot peg and see if you can pull the car up. If it comes up slow you are more than like OK. Lead weights are always good. I have 50# of Bird shot under the seat out board. I did a water jug when I 1st started. I like all 3 on the ground but have done a lot of riding in parking lots bringing the car up. Hmm I still do from time to time on Sundays. Welcome to the world of sidecars.

Originally written by RichardMc4 on 4/6/2007 1:18 PM

I have a Honda Shadow 1100 with a Velo 565. The guide is you and bike need to be 2 times greater than the sidecar. An easy test is to stand on the left foot peg and see if you can pull the car up. If it comes up slow you are more than like OK. Lead weights are always good. I have 50# of Bird shot under the seat out board. I did a water jug when I 1st started. I like all 3 on the ground but have done a lot of riding in parking lots bringing the car up. Hmm I still do from time to time on Sundays. Welcome to the world of sidecars.

one thing to add to Richards reply...
once you have decided on the correct amount of ballast, leave it in permanently, even when riding with a passenger in the tub. get used to the extra weight, it is a bonus, and it will be a pleasure riding with it...more peace of mind. no need to remove and replace it whenever a passenger hops in.
remember, a close formula is... SC weighs 1/3 of the bike AND rider combined. this is not sealed in blood! it is just a close starting point.
many riders dont like ballast at all or very little..many like a heavy SC to keep it down on the road.
width also makes a difference in the stability of the rig...a wider track [CC bike wheel to SC wheel] is more stable..SC will stay down easier.

Whichever way you go with ballast: Place it low to the rear and outboard as much as possible for best handling. Placing weight in the front will make the rig want to dip it's nose into the sand when stopping or slowing in a left turn. If not steel plate attached to the frame, be sure loose ballast is soft or has a soft cover so it doesn't fracture the fiberglass or plastic if it shifts.

Lonnie

Thanks for the advices.

How do I know how much the sidecar weighs?
Do I have to actually measure it?
VelorexUSA site doesn't seem to list any dimensional info.
I bought a used one and I don't have owner's manual or anything..

I think I saw the maximum allowed weight and possibly sidecar weight on the plate for the serial number on the frame...

Think of your sidecar as a lever attached to your motorcycle. The farther out the lever you place the ballast the more effect it will have. 50lbs over the sidecar wheel equals 100lbs betwween the bike and sidecar wheels.

A 562 velorex is typically listed as weighing 154 pounds.

Don't worry about weighing it-just stand on the outside foot peg grab the handlebars and pull up, trying to jerk the sidecar off the ground. As a beginner you want it to be difficult to lift this way and inclined to settle back down. It is OK if it does lift, but it should take some effort to do so.

While you are at it watch the mounts and the sidecar chassis to bike frame closely. If you detect any motion or flex you need to take another look at how you have it mounted.

Add ballast as needed to ensure that it doesn't lift too easily. I would not make it permanent until you have some experience, because your needs may change. Do strap it down so it wont shift. Draw an imaginary line from the front wheel to the sidecar wheel -don't place ballast or luggage in front of that line.

Sandbags, water jugs or tools in the trunk can work. Plate steel bolted under the chassis or under the sidecar seat will work. Just about anything heavy that can be secured so it wont shift and won't chafe through the body will do.

Try and take a class. If you try and teach yourself, be very cautious, especially after you start to get the hang of it. Don't be tempted into doing lurid left hand slides- it is fun but it is also an invitation to lift the bike over the sidecar. Slow down for the corners.

Good luck and have fun!

The earlier models of 562S and 562E weigh 154# empty.
Remember, part of that weight is resting on the motorcycle.
Email me at: nwsidecar@aol.com.
I have handbooks available for the 562's.

Lonnie

Thanks again!

Serial# plate on the frame says 65 Kg so it's about 143 lbs.

The bike weighs 517 lbs. My weight is around 140 lbs.

(517 + 140) / 3 - 143 = 76

so 76 lbs ballast ballpark figure.
I will attach it to right-rear corner area of the frame.

At the momenet, I am waiting for the swing arm bearings to arrive.
The tub and frame got new coat of paint. I put new tire/tube/rim strap on.

The rig should be ready next week or so.
Hard to wait!

You probably could get by with about 50# of ballast in whatever form. The original Harley frame ballast that they no longer sell, was 46#. That was more than enough for the Harley sidecar, which is about as big as they come. I recently welded up a copy of it and filled it with molten lead. After some calculation, taking the weight of the casing into account, I wound up with exactly 45#. The weight is 3" X 3" X 12".

So,I would make as compact a weight as possible and mount it outwards as far as possible, preferably bolted to an existing bolt hole or holes on the frame. The Harley weight mounts on the 4 outer existing spring bolts and does a good job to stabilize the sidecar.

Good luck.

I looked at scuba diving lead weights.
They are expensive. $2 per pound.
Maybe I will just buy steel plates and bolt them to the frame.

I have the exact same rig, 750K and 562 Velorex. I got 75lbs of lead weights from a tire shop and put them in a small carry on back. I place this behind the hack seat in that lockable compartment. It sits on the floor and doesn't take up much room. Contrary to other though, if I know I'm taking a passenger, I remove the weight as the hack is not rated for that much weight really. That's why I put the weights in a small bag, so it can be removed easily. My rig does real well setup that way.

I also took off the stock Velorex tall windshield and made a much shorter plexi one. Works much better on the road as far a side pull, looks better, and with the type of bars I have actually looks rather sporty. I use mine mainly for running errands and hauling stuff as I call it my 3 wheeled truck.

Originally written by lrutt on 4/10/2007 4:40 AM

I have the exact same rig, 750K and 562 Velorex. I got 75lbs of lead weights from a tire shop and put them in a small carry on back. I place this behind the hack seat in that lockable compartment. It sits on the floor and doesn't take up much room. Contrary to other though, if I know I'm taking a passenger, I remove the weight as the hack is not rated for that much weight really. That's why I put the weights in a small bag, so it can be removed easily. My rig does real well setup that way.

I also took off the stock Velorex tall windshield and made a much shorter plexi one. Works much better on the road as far a side pull, looks better, and with the type of bars I have actually looks rather sporty. I use mine mainly for running errands and hauling stuff as I call it my 3 wheeled truck.

Thanks for the info!
I have no experience with sidecar'ing so I need practice and experiment.
I may like your way of ballasting in the end.

You got lead weights from a tire shop. Are they the ones for balancing wheels? How much did they cost?

Mine didn't come with the windshield. The lock for the lockable compartment is missing also..

I was thinking the same thing. That stock windshield is rather too tall and too vertical. My passengers are 7 and 3 year olds so I don't need that tall windshield. Now I know it helps reduce the side pull.

Where can I buy plexi-glass?

Did you need to modify anything on a motorcycle? Rear shocks, front fork oil, etc.? Steering damper?

Happy SOHC4'ing!

dont buy plexiglass...get Lexan poycarbonate..stuff is bullet proof and wont crack or chip..easy to work with.
it can be found at loacl hardware stores or home supply. I get mine from a storm door outfit that makes and sells doors and sells Lexan.