Hi All,
I'm new to sidecars and just recently picked up a scooter with a Partner sidecar made by California SideCar.
The sidecar was removed from the scooter and I will now have to install it. My problem is that I don't know anything about
sidecars and I don't have any info on this sidecar.
I found a poor quality copy of a brochure below with a link to instructions but the instructions link does not work.
Does anyone know a website to download a copy of the instructions or can someone just tell me how to set it up (how to setup ride height,
tire presure, any other adjustments, bolt torque, max weight in side car, any model specific FAQs, etc)?
I would love to find any brochures or instructions on this model sidecar.
Original California Side Car flyers and instructions (I have a Vespa scooter just like the one in the brochure)
http://www.scooter-sidecars.com/2007/11/california-side-car2.html (instructions link does not work)
Also is this design safe to take 8 to 12 year old children in? Someone asked on another website that the
springs in the suspension could break causing the sidecar to drop on it's wheel, locking it up and driving the
bike and sidecar off the road or into a oncoming car. Can this happen and is there anything that can be done
to prevent this?
You probably have an old California Commutor. A scooter sidecar discontinued in the early 1980s. Just check out the suspension for wear.
Lonnie
The commuter is made for a larger bike and has a larger wheel while the partner is smaller, made for
a Vespa Scooter and uses a 4.80 X 8 trailer tire. They both may use the same shell and the instructions might be the
same but they were sold as different models. I'll try and post a picture of it but I have a link to a jpg that shows the
Commuter and Partner together. I believe both were made from the late 1970's upto the late 1980's or early
1990's.
I have the sidecar on the bottom of the image, click the link to see all the sidecars California SideCars made in the early 80's.
The instructions link does not work for me (5.7 mb) but is still posted by Dan Rickard, anyone know Dan?
http://www.scooter-sidecars.com/california/instructions.zip
Do I have to disassemble the Torsion bar suspension to check the springs or is there a simple test?
Like the Cozy S/Cs the difference between the scooter and bike models was the wheel and fender size You have to disassemble to check the suspension straps. Some may be cracked or broken. Like all early (pre 1989) CSC models it probably uses modified early VW Beetle front suspension straps to support the car.
Lonnie
