I'm building a rig with a 2003 Kawasaki Nomad and a Velorex 365 side car. The365 comes with a drum brake but I am concerned the stock drum brake may be inadequate for this application. I intend to try the rig with the stock brake plumbed to the rear brake of the Nomad. If it proves to be problematic I'd like to have the option of going witha disk brake. My question is has anyone had experience with a similar rig and have you found the stock brake adequate. Also, has anyone tried retrofitting a disk brake system to the Velorex?
Try it without the brake for a while. Then try it with the drum brake for a while. You will get better experience if you are a beginner without the brake. Once you hook it up you will be better off as far as realizing what it can and cannot do. As far as needing a disc on there it is doubtful at best.
Yellowjacket,
I have the 565 on a Honda Shadow 1100. my Honda has drum brakes on the rear and I don’t have the sidecar brake hooked up. it has been this way for 18 months and I put about 8000 miles on it last year. A lot of my driving is city driving so a lot of stop and go. I have a few projects I want to do on the rig but sidecar brake is not on the list.
You're Nomad has adequate brakes for stopping the rig without messing with the mechanical drum of the 565 Velo. One soon gets accustomed to the tendencies of an asymetrical vehicle to push left when stopping and push right when accelerating.
Converting to a disc brake is a costly investment on this car. It would entail a change of swingarm, wheel and a bunch of fabricating for a questionable gain in braking performance.
My opinion is: Fageddaboudit!
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
OK, you all have convinced me. I'm going to try it without a sidecar brake for awhile. Later I may or may not try it with the chair brake plumbed to the Nomad's rear brake. I thank all of you for your rapid and thoughtful responses.
