Ok, so I think I know the answer to this already. Is the 535 anywhere powerful enough to pull around a sidecar from time to time (like maybe taking my girlfriend or family member out occasionally)? I know bigger is obviously better, but I am limited to this bike. And if so, how hard would it be to build my own subframe? I can weld and have cutting tools.
FOR AN AROUND TOWN AND BACK ROAD RIG YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS BIKE IF YOU GO WITH A LIGHT CHAIR (SPIRIT OF AMERICA OR SIMILAR). OTHERS WILL PROBABLY DISAGREE BUT I USED A GL500 TO MULE ONE FOR MANY YEARS AND MILES. NOT A HIGHWAY RIG WHEN LOADED BUT A LOT OF FUN ON SLOW ROADS.
IF YOU CAN WELD AND HAVE SOME BASIC FABRICATION SKILLS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD A SUBFRAME / MOUNTS.
BY THE WAY, TAKE ALOOK AT THIS VT500 RIG LONNIE PUT TOGETHER
http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=108¤tpos=4
Drop me an e-mail and I will send pix of a Virago Sub-frame with Velorex mounts. I just sent the pix to a soon to be hacker in Sweden. For some other makes of sidecars the sub-frame would usually be the same. Just the sidecar fittings would be changed.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Boise, ID
nwsidecar@aol.com
It should pull a velorex, spirit of america, etc fine except for extended interstate use. There is nothing complicated about building subframes if you have solid metalworking skills and equipment. Don't get lazy and use the velorex universal clamps. They will slip and make maintaining alignment dificult.
Scout some photos on this website and the sct site and you should get some ideas. You need 4 pts - 2 upper and 2 lower front and back. try to keep the lower mounts the same height from the ground and it will make alignment easier. Think triangles. Try to keep your top struts from being parallel with each other or with either of the lower mounts and you will have a much stiffer rig.
If at all possible the subframes should tie into both sides of the bike's frame to distribute the load to both sides. Most cracked and broken frames are on the side away from the sidecar. Several of the advertisers on this site sell clamps, bosses etc that may be hard to source on your own.
