Hi, first sidecar, and also my first posting to the site here. Here is the link (if I did this right) to the album I just uploaded.
http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=257
The pics were taken at night when I first got it home. The bike is a 1982 Yamaha 650 Maxim, and I have no idea what the sidecar make or age is. Does anyone have any guesses?
I've since removed the sidecar from the bike so I can get the bike running right first, then I'll think about remounting the sidecar to it somehow. Bike needs the carbs rebuilt probably and other stuff, but only has 9,000 miles on it. Made for an interesting 30+ mile ride home having to keep the choke on at about 3/4 full and the rpm's up above 4,000 just to keep the bike running. Plus the sidecar pulled very hard to the right, and if I let go of the handlebars with one hand at even 5mph the bike wanted to go into a major tankslapper. Took the backroads all the way.
The toe-in seemed to be at least 2" in measured from the front bike wheel, not sure what angle that translates to. I just used a piece of 2x4 parallel to the sidecar wheel and another parallel to the rear bike wheel, then measured the difference at the back and then front of the the bike to the sidecar board. Also I wasn't real comfortable with how it was mounted to the bike. The previous owner had one bolt head break off leading to a low speed crash, he then had someone machine up an additional brace.
So, what is this thing, and what are my best choices to getting the sidecar more properly mounted to the bike? I can post better pics in a week or two if needed, but right now I'm in the middle of re-roofing the garage before the snows hit, rough time doing the roof work between rain storms and darkness afterwork and such. But oh well, such is life at times.
And a bit of history, I've ridden or rode bikes for many decades and used to also have a Harley servicar mild custom modded back in the 1970's or so. Fun to get the trike up on two wheels, real fun when it wan't on purpose. 😉 Anyway, looking forward to reading any replies to this.
Thanks,
Mike.
mike, welcome to the SC world!
I cant help with the SC ID, but for one thing. that toe in is way too much. It should be no more than 3/4" ..preferrably less.... closer to 1/4".
And the lean out ...... start with 1/4 " measured with a builders square set against the tire top and bottom sidewalls.should be 1/4 " space at lower tire SW this is just a starting point. try it and see how the pull is, and adjust it so the rig tracks straight at the speed you travel 90% of the time.
I noticed you are in Wisconsin...where? I am in Sussex, just west of milwaukee.
Also. it looks like the upper front mount is missing. there should be an adjustible strut from the upper bike frame down to the sidecar frame, like the rear.
Hi,
I'm over in Port Washington, probably heading to Merton tonight for some babysitting duties with my wife watching one of her grandkids.
What's in the pics is what I got apart from the seat and padding and a homemade cover. It doesn't seem like there is any easy way to adjust the toe-in the way it is mounted. The guy I got it from said the sidecar was originally made for or mounted on a scooter of some sort, not sure if it's the best rig for this bike (but the price was right). The front mount is u-bolt clamped to the right crashbar on the bike, and is just about all the way out as it was mounted so no easy way to reduce the toe-in. I'm thinking if I can identify the sidecar I may be able to track down info on how it is supposed to be mounted.
Thanks for the reply.
Mike,
you really need to get some adjustible struts on there to do any kind of setup for it.
the lower mounts have to be able to move in and out a few inches, and the uppers have to be able to also move in and out to adjust the lean out.
once it is all set up correct you will be amazed at how it handles!!
is it possible for you guys to stop over to my place tonight before babysitting? Merton is only a few miles straight west from me.
Email me off this list. email addy is in my profile.
I'll show you mine so you can see exactly what you need.
Sounds good, email on the way, thanks.
Crashbars and foot peg brackets are usually not strong enuf for sidecar mounts. The way yours is set up, without a front strut, is going to put a whole lot of stress on that front lower mount. You really ought to consider finding a way to move that to a solid point of the bikes frame and adding a front strut which attaches to the bike frame somewhere just below the steering head if at all possible.
I wonder if that is one of Doug Binghams scooter hacks? Looks sorta like one Uncle Blasto got from him...
I'll try to get some better shots of the sidecar this week or weekend, probably even in the daylight this time 🙂 .
I'm going to have to look at it closer and compare it to mounting options to decide the best way to approach this. I was not comfortable with how it was setup and mounted. But work stuff just kicked up a notch so this project just got bumped back a notch or two (or three).
Mike.
