Had a bit of time yesterday to fabricate the mounting ears and weld them in place. Front ear will be trimmed up a bit more. Happy with how close the joint sits to the frame fasteners. Would have been nice to have more triangulation on the mounting bolts. Then I'd felt more comfortable lowering the mounting ears. But this will work.
The original idea was using smaller Heim joints. Would have been more appropriate (size wise) for this build. If the Speed 400 can't competently handle this sidecar a larger bike will be chosen. In which case these joints will be more appropriate. Don't want to have to recreate the sidecar frame mounting points, so this is more robust "generic kit" idea. Never know when an Indian Hotrod Heritage might show up in the garage. 😍
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Scott, we have received a question from someone in the watching audience, it reads as:
If you are utilizing Heim Joints for mounting the sidecar to the bike, are you not concerned about flexion, or movement of the sidecar connection to the bike ? Meaning, it would appear to the uninformed, that a Heim Joint would "allow" movement, rather than restrict movement. Is that not the purpose of a Heim Joint, to allow movement ?
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Scott, we have received a question from someone in the watching audience, it reads as:
If you are utilizing Heim Joints for mounting the sidecar to the bike, are you not concerned about flexion, or movement of the sidecar connection to the bike ? Meaning, it would appear to the uninformed, that a Heim Joint would "allow" movement, rather than restrict movement. Is that not the purpose of a Heim Joint, to allow movement ?
Have to agree with the audience member. In a light build like this there is going to be flexion. The idea is to mitigate hyperflexion, along with where, and how flexion happens.
Speedy is a "price point" bike, built to be light. The frame material and design has limited elasticity. Three goals with this build:
- Control flexion away from the frame of the bike.
- Maintain a taut and sporty feel.
- limit NVH.
Hence the use of the A-Flex Joints to locate the majority of flexion, and absorb transient spikes. The upper connections will most likely be struts with bolt through clevis attachment points (creating a slightly more solid connection).
Another point of concern is the ability of the bike to handle the torsional loads. I read a Masters of Engineering graduation thesis written by Simon Dovico on lateral dynamics of sidecar design. That was pretty interesting. Comparing what I read to what I've experienced it gave me some ideas to try during setup.
Will this all work, or has it just been a great excuse not to work on the broken down farm hobble of disgust... Stay tuned! 
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Finally done with this mounting point. 😎
In order to get an un-threaded bolt shank long enough to go all the way through the bolt is longer than required. Shortened to fit correctly.
Only three more mounts to go. lol
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@scott-h Scott, looks robust enough for the application. I really like that you didn't cost yourself any ground clearance!
That will be a key consideration for the next design for BBTSG. I currently lose about 1.5" of ground clearance on the pusher with the old DMC WA subframe design. Have missed the clearance a time or two when dodging rocks or dropping the pusher down into deep wheel ruts on dirt roads that were muddy, then petrified in the AZ sun.
@scott-h Scott, looks robust enough for the application. I really like that you didn't cost yourself any ground clearance!
That will be a key consideration for the next design for BBTSG. I currently lose about 1.5" of ground clearance on the pusher with the old DMC WA subframe design. Have missed the clearance a time or two when dodging rocks or dropping the pusher down into deep wheel ruts on dirt roads that were muddy, then petrified in the AZ sun.
Will look forward to what you come up with. Definitely a fun project, on the worlds greatest Adventure rig. 👍
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Will look forward to what you come up with. Definitely a fun project, on the worlds greatest Adventure rig. 👍
ahem.....Dane's BBTSG is the World's Greatest Adventure Rig.....Under The Arizona Sun
but.....how would it do in the Alaska Snow, or being chased by 1 trillion mosquitoes ????
Inquiring minds want to know
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Will look forward to what you come up with. Definitely a fun project, on the worlds greatest Adventure rig. 👍
ahem.....Dane's BBTSG is the World's Greatest Adventure Rig.....Under The Arizona Sun
but.....how would it do in the Alaska Snow, or being chased by 1 trillion mosquitoes ????
Inquiring minds want to know
I’ve just had a very strange blended image from the “being chased by a trillion mosquitoes” comment. Remember that Monty Python sketch where Eric Idle has been sentenced to death and is being chased off the cliff by a gaggle of scantily clad women wear in roller derby helmets? AI is making my head hurt.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
@miles-ladue Mr. Miles, I can assure you that BBTSG absolutely hates mosquitoes. Her primary driver is not particularly fond of them, either!
😜
Will look forward to what you come up with. Definitely a fun project, on the worlds greatest Adventure rig. 👍
ahem.....Dane's BBTSG is the World's Greatest Adventure Rig.....Under The Arizona Sun
but.....how would it do in the Alaska Snow, or being chased by 1 trillion mosquitoes ????
Inquiring minds want to know
I’ve just had a very strange blended image from the “being chased by a trillion mosquitoes” comment. Remember that Monty Python sketch where Eric Idle has been sentenced to death and is being chased off the cliff by a gaggle of scantily clad women wear in roller derby helmets? AI is making my head hurt.
🤣
The Alaskan version of Jose Grecos de Muerte...
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Back to work on the front lower mount. This will have a sub-bracket that stays with the sidecar (unpainted piece), and bolts to the bracket that stays on the bike (painted piece).
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Finished up the front lower bracket. Just letting the paint cure. drilled and tapped the bracket at the bottom center for one more mounting point. Will do final mounting tomorrow.
Two more flat plates to cut & drill for the upper mounting points, then it will be time to make the setup jig for the bike and sidecar. Getting excited to see how this is going to work 🙂 ... or not. 🤔
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A little SYZ goes into everything! 😍 The stripe and dots in the picture are a reflection. I may do a top coat on this in a satin black to match the engine case and crashbars. Might help it blend in better.
This is a Krylon paint I use for touching up the hitches on the truck to stave off rust. Very tough, and durable. Tractor Supply (TSC) carries some good farm implement paint, and paints like this. 🤩
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