I've been working on trying to set it up on my 650 v-star The problem I'm having so far is with the rear wheel axle to side car axle offset. The instructions say to have 8-10 inches of offset. Well no way I can do that without loosing function of the rear brake The upper strut bar is in the way then of ever being able to use the brake. I would need around 16 inches or so of offset to be able hook it up and use the rear brake. How critical is that offset and what will it do to the handling?
We have done the combination you are trying to mount more than once. I feel you shoudl have a subframe to do it properly with the correct lead etc. Forward controls can be an issue with many cruisers as can finding a decent location for the rear lower mount.
Dunno if dauntless sells a subframe for these or not.
We do not jig up to reproduce subframes at this point. All of ours are done in house.
Possibly Lonnie will chim ein here. He probably has mounted more Velorex sidecars to more different bikes than anyone on the planet.
It can make a nice combination when done. Mount it wide and or add ballast for the best stability and handling.
Attached are pics of a subframe we did back a while. It was for a modified 562 .also pictured.
I've done them but didn't have a digital camera for construction pix.
Here's one of ours. As I recall we used a curved upper strut to get brake pedal clearance. Like on this VStar 1100 with forward controls.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
After looking at Lonnie's pictures I think a top bar like you have would do the trick. I think if I go with the lower rear mount flipped upside down it will work (I hope) but there is no way the front upper bar will work as is.
Here's a lower rear strut position that clears everything.
On this one I spot welded the clamp strap to prevent slipping .
Lonnie
Lonnie can you make me up a bent strut bar? If so PM me the details. Thanks
I used a bent strut that I bought from Lonnie on my '99 V-Star 650 Claasic and it was perfect for the clearance around the rear brake pedal. As for the rear lower strut, maybe you could swivel it enough to still remain safe and give you your 8 - 10 inches lead. I did not have a 562 attached to my bike but a 700 model instead. I used to own a 562 model. I believe you will need some weight in that car or something for a ballast because it lifts pretty easy on those right hand turns. Also, I did not have any lean set up for the bike but after sitting on the bike it did have some lean because the suspension on the 650 was a little easy on my rear if you know what I mean. Oh, almost forgot, the bent strut worked better with the short clevis bolt because with the bend it will only screw in about 4 inches + or -. Regards, Les
X'N,
Email me at nwsidecasr@aol.com and send me pix of where you are with the rig. I've done several of the VStars and can probably help you get on the road safely.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Lonnie I got ed at it the other day and tore off what I had done realizing that I was going to have to start at square 1 again. and that fighting around the car was not worth it so I removed the car from the frame. So basically I'm starting over...
After looking at the pictures you posted I have a good idea where to start with the clamps and I was close.
How do you have the lower front clamp angled? its tight in there with the brake linkage so getting it level is almost not possible.
Hopefully this weekend I will get some time to mess with it again and get at least three of the mounts hooked up. I'll shoot you some pictures when I get there.
Thanks
I had the same problem with the front lower mount but it worked. It only left about 1/16 inch or less clearance between the mount and the brake linkage. You can adjust the height of the sidecar frame by moving the J tube.
