Hello, new member here. Have been browsing for a while and this looks like a great site. I just recently purchased a 2004 Velorex 562 and would like to use it on my 2005 650 v star. Would appreciate input on various proper mounting locations , adjustments , and hooking up the wiring. I hooked it up for a small test ride. I know I have some adjusting to do, just not sure where and what. At slow speed ( 30-35 ) the bike handled well, way different, but was not hard to hold on to. Did not experience front wheel wobble, and the bike seemed pretty stable. At higher speed (40-45) the bike was hard to turn, the faster you went the harder it was to turn. I have no experience with side cars so I don't know if the steering I felt is normal. According to the instructions, I know I have a little too much lean out?(lean away from the side car), and I am not sure if my toe-in is correct. Can the lower left mount be attached to the swingarm of the bike? I don't plan to ride the bike until I know it is mounted correctly and is safe. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Do not connect the sidecar mounts to the swing-arm or case guards.
I'd suggest throwing a 60# sand tube in the trunk for ballast. That will bring you up to about 1/3rd of the bike load unless you are quite heavy. This will stabilize the rig but you will stilll need to take it slow on the right hand turns to keep all three wheels planted.
Read some of the free books that can be downloaded from the home page here. There is info on setup and handling in them.
A sidecar rig doesn't handle like a single track vehicle such as your solo bike. No more leaning into the turns so you have to use the bars and steer left for left and steer right for a right turn.
There's more to it but you will feel more comfortable with the rig the more you practice driving it.
Good Luck,
Lonnie
Thanks for your response. I am still trying to learn to negotiate the site. Could you please advise where the books are that you mentioned. Thanks
Go to the home page. inside the red bar you will see "links and books", click on that and it will take you there.
Lonnie
Practice...practice....practice.....spend plenty of time playing with the bike / hack before submitting yourself to heavy traffic / difficult terrain. It is very easy to get yourself in a "sticky" situation. I consider myself a "novice" and have racked up 15k touring miles w/passenger & heavy loads this past year...I've only had one scare and that was a curved interstate on ramp running way to fast and with a minimal sidecar load....found myself one lane over before I knew it....that dumb move could have been fatal on a twisty two lane road....
Practice...practice....practice.
Sounds like good advice. Thanks. You have some beautiful country in your state. Would be a great place to do some touring and get some practice.
