Hi all,
I did a search but it didn't yield any results. I have a 1973 CB350F (I think they only made the 4 cylinder for two years or so) that I would like to hook a sidecar up to. Ok, it's actually my girlfriend's bike but I want to use it during the winter months. I think she will also like the stability of the sidecar.
With that in mind, what kind of sidecar should I look for? I'd like to keep things on the cheap and thus am looking at no frills stuff.
Thanks!
Originally written by Chinaman on 11/1/2006 1:01 PM
Hi all,
I did a search but it didn't yield any results. I have a 1973 CB350F (I think they only made the 4 cylinder for two years or so) that I would like to hook a sidecar up to. Ok, it's actually my girlfriend's bike but I want to use it during the winter months. I think she will also like the stability of the sidecar.
With that in mind, what kind of sidecar should I look for? I'd like to keep things on the cheap and thus am looking at no frills stuff.
Thanks!
How are your welding skills? Do you have access to a lot of spare MC parts and angle iron?
Perhaps a used Kia Rio....
OK, setting aside the blasphemy of yoking a CB350F to a sidecar...
You'd need to find the lightest weight SC possible. Even the Velorex 562 would be too heavy. Maybe the little one that goes on RE Bullets? Maybe the little one that goes on Vespas? Don't know. Even then you'd have to get one very used to be cheap.
What about one of the ones that goes on the Changjiang or the Ural? I've ridden a Changjiang and those things aren't putting out much power... probably close to what the 350 does.
I have access to a shop but time is money and I don't want this to turn into one of those endless projects where everything just covers the bench for the rest of eternity. Basically what I am saying is that I don't want to try and fab something from scratch... if I can readily adapt something that is on the market I'll do it but if not I might as well just look for an almost used up Ural or something.
I thought maybe I could get by cheaper if I already had a bike to bolt the SC onto.
Also - This CB350 has definitely seen better days. The previous owner(s) didn't take very good care of it. The original exhaust, headlight bucket, wheels, gas tank are all gone. The thing has dirtbike tires... definitely not what you'd consider a good project to restore from.
Originally written by Chinaman on 11/1/2006 10:28 AM
Also - This CB350 has definitely seen better days. The previous owner(s) didn't take very good care of it. The original exhaust, headlight bucket, wheels, gas tank are all gone. The thing has dirtbike tires... definitely not what you'd consider a good project to restore from.
This one puts a damper on it. I'd never put a sidecar on a bike that isn't in top notch condition. You'll just wear it out that much faster. As far as the Chaing sidecar, it's quite heavy, your bike isn't built as stout as a Chaing or Ural to support that weight. Personally, I'd think this would be about the right sized bike for a Velorex, but I would get it up in perfect running order before I started to attach a sidecar.
When you get that far, go over to the Yamaha shop in Jefferson and ask for Jodi. She's a sidecarist and is experienced with mounting the Vels.
Here again, we have no idea of your definition of cheap. How much do you hope to spend? Maybe it would be cheaper to buy one of the rigs for sale here in the classifieds.
I was hoping to get something built up for under 1k. Unfortunately that isn't looking promising. I'm also looking at the Changjiang's available for import. It looks like about 2k US is what it would take.
Originally written by Chinaman on 11/1/2006 1:04 PM
I was hoping to get something built up for under 1k. Unfortunately that isn't looking promising. I'm also looking at the Changjiang's available for import. It looks like about 2k US is what it would take.
You'll spend that much trying to get it licensed in Wisconsin. They've taken a pretty hard nosed approach to non-DOT bikes. If you find one, be sure it's already got a US title and NOT titled as a homebuild or you'll play hell to get it legal here.
As to your budget, It cost me $750 to adapt a Ural sidecar to fit my stock Valkyrie.
I'd definitely be looking for a used Velorex. Even a Chaing sidecar will cost you $1500 or more plus the cost of mounting hardware.
Try putting a Wanted ad in the local paper. Somebody down there might have something resting in the back of a garage just waiting for you. My daughter over in Watertown just sold her Honda CX500 with a sidecar attached for $1500. There are more out there.
What if it's from like... 30 years ago? That should clear emissions and a lot of the other hoopla.
I'm not set on anything yet... I'll keep looking.
Originally written by Chinaman on 11/1/2006 1:21 PM
What if it's from like... 30 years ago? That should clear emissions and a lot of the other hoopla.
I'm not set on anything yet... I'll keep looking.
Only if you can prove that it is that old. The licensing people, if they are ambitious enough to look, can tell you a great deal about that bike. As an example, A neighbor of mine, a state patrol officer, was able to tell me that my Ural sidecar was built after 1985 based on the lights that are on it. He also said that these same lights didn't appear on Dneprs until 1991. Likewise, is it a round topped fender or an oval? Does it have live rubber mounts or synthetic? Does the engine number on the bike sit level, or is it slanted to the right? He says they can't pinpoint a year on many of them, but they can usually get within 5 or 6 years.
BTW the Russian I.D. plate on mine identifies it as a 1987 so he was right on that part. The saving grace is that many times the licensing folks don't care. If they're having a good day you get a title, if not, you don't. Is it worth gambling that you may buy something you can't ride on the road? If you can get the bike and all for what a sidecar should cost, it may be worth the gamble. If it doesn't work, throw away the bike and keep the car. Otherwise, my money is too hard to come by.
An older spirit eagle or Velorex sidecar would work fine on this bike. I am fairly sure that the lower rear mount we make for the CB 550/750 will work on this bike. It replaces the center stand. Our lower front may also work. I do not remember if on your bike you have a single down tube frame like on the 2 cylinder bikes or a double. It makes a difference on the upper front mount. We should be able to help you there as well. If however you must keep to under the $1000 price tag you most likley will have to fabricate every thing. Feel free to take a look around our web site www.dauntlessmotors.com to get some ideas of how to hook up the sidecar.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
866-638-1793
Originally written by Chinaman on 11/1/2006 1:24 PM
What about one of the ones that goes on the Changjiang or the Ural? I've ridden a Changjiang and those things aren't putting out much power... probably close to what the 350 does.
Apples and Oranges. HP and torque curves completely different. CB350F is 33 years old. Stress will rear its ugly head and destroy. Ural sidecars are heavy Heavy HEAVY!
In '97-'99 I put a '96 Velorex 562 on a 72 Yamaha XS2 (XS650) and then later on a Honda GW 76 GL1000. Both bikes were in very good shape and road worthy. The added stress of the Velorex caused things to happen. Clutch went on the 650. Driveshaft went on the GL. Exhaust manifold weld on the 650 broke. The steering damper (old-fashioned friction type just like on my Ural) wore out - luckily I didn't muck up the steering head bearings. All kinds of little things that hadn't happened before. It's a tremendous amount of added stress on any bike, let alone one that's 33 years old and not in the best condition.
If I were looking on a budget I'd look for a late 80's, early 90's UJM - the newer the better. Then I'd look for a used Velorex 562. I'd expect to spend at least $2500 to get the rig up and running and roadworthy. Anything less and you'd probably just end up hating sidecars....
I agree with Jay. An older Velorex shoud;l be able to be found at a decent price. Or a Spirit Eagle or one of the 'take offs' from them(EZ Rider, Pier Piper etc). All of these have been sold at good prices off and on. There are other light sidecars around too if you keep your eyes open. Have seen them bought for 500 bucks...keep looking.
In fact the early Velorex (Jawa) was actually made for a 350 Jawa. Good match.
If you find one with the original mounts you can use these 'universal' mounts and make it work okay.
If you decide to spend too much money I agree that a larger bike woudl make a lot more sense.
I've mounted an early style 562E Velorex to a Pristine 1970 CB350 for an elderly man who was only interested in driving about his neighborhood at 25 MPH or so. It worked quite well for him under these conditions. This power to weight ratio wouldn't be usable on most roads where one would have to maintain 55 MPH even with a lightweight pilot and an empty boat.
The clutches and brakes aren't up to the task.
Lonnie
