I'm looking for some frame clamps to use to mount an old Spirit.
I don't know if I'm going to keep it, so I don't want to spend a bunch to start. Anybody got 3 maybe used Velorex clamps?
Jack
I've got new Velorex frame clamps with the eye bolts for $45.00 each plus shipping.
And I have similar but much stronger clamps for $50 plus shipping
Jay
Jay, Here's the issue. I've never had a sidecar before. I went back to bikes after a long time off. I bought a Royal Enfield just to putt around. I'd always liked the idea of a hack, so I picked up an old Spirit of America. It looks right for my bikes style. (I'll e-mail photos if you want)
The hack came without brackets. It has all the struts and the lower front mount, but the pinch bolt on it is mashed closed (threaded rod with pinch clamp on the end). One of the struts is bent a little bit, but the way two of them mount to the hack's frame with those clamshells looks hokey.
Any idea on how much to make a replacement for the inner part (threaded rod part) of front lower mount?
Frame for rear lower mount is only about 3/4" too.
Maybe I should have just picked up a Cozy and bolted it on?
When I get spirit eagles into the shop the way I mount them may be a bit of an over kill but I do away with the lower mounts that came with the sidecar and weld in two tubes under the frame and accross it. These tubes are split on the end for 1 1/2 inch tubes to slip into. In short I convert it over to the type of mounts that Champion, California, Dauntless Motors, Texas sidecars and others use. Yes this is an expensive way to go but it is your saftey and may be more then you need considering the bike it is to go onto.
The smashed in part on your sidecar had a solid bar that it clamped around. This bar had an off set built into it. I at times have some of these parts on hand that when it comes to used stuff I give away but my employee's cleaned out the shop a few weeks ago and one of the things they did was to get rid of all my used stuff.
I have not made a mounting set for your bike. I had made araingments to develop one with the importer of these bikes but they simply never dropped off the bike as planed, It was to come to me after some other work was done on it. They changed thier plans and never bothered to tell me so we do not have a bike specific kit. What I can offer you are "universal" type clamps. To me "universal" means that they fit nothing universaly but are a good starting point. I can supply these in either 1 1/4 inch or 1 1/2 inch sizes with either eye bolts (12mm or 1/2 inch) 30mm balls or 5/8 clevis for use with hiem joints. Once I get a bike like yours into the shop I will develop a real mounting kit for it.
Jay
I still have the solid bar, it's the threaded part and clamp that have me a bit concerned. The Enfield has a single downtube that ends up with a "U" shaped plate motor mount bolted to it and the front of the engine. I was thinking about mounting the lower mount to it. The rear frame tubes are pretty small in diameter. Footpeg bolt is behind exhaust pipe.
The Russian offset mounts look interesting.
On my MZ I am using the swingarm pivot bolt for the lower rear mount haveing tab/block tig welded to it.
Do you have any pictures of what you do to the spirt Eagle.... I just got one and I am a total newbie to hacks... I think I have all the mounting struts but I have no idea how the hook to the Spirit eagle nor how they are supposed to be hooked to my bike... which is a 1979 yamaha 750 special
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Sincerely
Ernie
PS... I have attached a pict of the mounting stuff I have and the hack
Ernie,
Here are the positions as shown in your photo.
Top to bottom:
1- lower front mount
2- upper front strut
3- lower rear mount
4- upper rear strut
Two of these mounts used the pinch clamp on the sidecar frame. The lower front threaded into the frame sleeve. The rear upper strut (4 hole bracket) also pinched the sidecar frame.
Looks like you need the bike frame mounts. We have U-clamp assemblies that we utilize here. Much better mounting than the chintzy OEM pinch strap.
On the Yamaha XS and XJ models we use a fabricated front upper mount instead of the U-clamp assembly. On some models we also use the centerstand mounts for the lower rear sidecar mount position utilizing a fabricated sub-frame mount.
Email me off site for more information at: nwsidecar@aol.com
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
