I picked up a parts bike that was too good to dismantle. Riding 2 wheels makes me nervous. Not enough money to buy a ready made one, I took inspiration watching Wes build one from scratch.
Looking good Mark!!! What are you using for a tug? If you need any machine work done come on over my shop is open:o)
The motorcycle is a 1983 Honda CX650 custom. The sidecar is going to be a combination of a motocross hack and a utility box platform.
Mark, you are not only joking, it looks like you become serious about your house peace... Just take care you do not invade the kitchen, Your better half might become crispy about that....
On On.
Sven
More progress.
Good sturdy looking setup Mark. That surround frame makes for solid mounting. Just the ticket up in your end of the state.
Are you planning on using some wider bars?
Lonnie
Definitely wider bars, Maybe build a leading link front end. It steers heavy now. I'll try sliding the forks up in the triple clamps too.
Mark, these high handles like you actually have, often give you an angle outwards to the hands what make stearing even an a single bike nasty.(no idea what ergonomic standard use the japaneese for their designs) When you search for the new wider handles test them and be sure that your hands rests free without any tension caused by the handle bar.
And check that they are stiff enough. In the moment there are so soft handles bars in the market that they bend by watching. (last year I witnessed how a chineese 250ccm bike was droped by the wind and the handle bar bent completely!)
Regards
Sven
Looking good Mark!!! What color are you going with?
Rust for now. Got a lot of bugs to work out.
If works out I'll go with a silver tank & fenders on a black frame. or maybe mud gray to match the dirt I ride on.
I put some 33 inch motocross handle bars on. What a difference. The wobble was still there but now it's much more controlable.
I cured the wobble by moving the sidecar back 4 inches. The sidecar wheel lead is 11 inches now. I still don't know how I wound up with 15 inches of lead.
It handles much better now.
I took the new rig on a 100 mile shakedown ride yesterday. Out Warmsprings road, over Dollarhide Summit, down into Big Smokey, up and over to Fairfield, over Richardson Summit and back to Bellevue. This thing runs great. I still have a little bit of a low speed wobble, but it's much quicker and more nimble than my GL650/Dneper. I plan on tearing it down this winter and finishing it up for next spring. I still want to built a box style seat and grab bars for a passenger.
Hello Mark,
nice area where you live, congratulation.
What bike is this? Looks like a successor of the silver pig Honda CX500.
In your area you have to hastle with the same trouble I have. steep long hills. Tell me how the engine behaves, please.
The mounting point you show seams not at all safe! Give it more thrength (longer thread!)
Remember: Safety first.
Sven
Yes, beautiful area. You are right about the tug. Its a Honda CX650 Custom, the last year they were made. Good strong engine with nice torque at low RPM's. I'm not understanding what you mean about the mount being unsafe.
Just a simple nut. although it seems to be a good diameter (looks like 3/4" or 7/8") but the thread depth is just a little (0.6*diameter). so you'll get play and at some moment the thread will be torn or worn.
I'd turn a nut that goes passed through the frame,weld both sides and screw in the bolt at least 3/4 of the frames depth. and then put a counter nut. Means minimum 1.5* diameter wearing thread.
Your tool box is much more appropiated then my velorex sidecar for my work as field engineer.
In december a dismantled gear motor destroyed the boat.
Best regards
Sven
