Sputnik vs. Velorex 562 on a BMW F650

if you can find a decent Sputnik or Jupiter, I would go with that. A little bigger frame tubes and easier egress and ingress.

The 4 current models ofthe Velorex line are far superior to the primitive, chintzy, stock Sputniks (no longer imported) in fit, finish and all around quality.
If you want stark utility and don't care about appearance, the Sputnik has a larger diameter frame and bigger wheel. But it has poor upholstery, miserable body work, poor fitting hood and trunk with tin hinges, paper side panels and typical Siberrian QC.

Come up and see our Velorex line and other cars.

Lonnie (Former Sputnik III dealer.)
Northwest Sidecar
360-653-0140

Sputnik sidecars are steel, Many Velorex sidecars are plastic on the bottom and fiberglass on top. Steel would seem a better way to go for a dual sport bike. Many Velorex sidecars are difficult to get in and out of while Sputnik sidecars open in the front to get you in and out. Many Velorex sidecars do not have a trunk that opens from the out side. Sputniks do. The lower mounts are much stronger on the Sputniks and do not tend to slip unlike the Velorex mounts. With our boss and clamp set up you can set the wheel lead where ever you need. With the Velorex you are limited to where you can attach the "universal" frame clamp on the front of your bike as a result you may end up with not proper wheel lead.
Photo's of F650's with Sputnik sidecars can be seen in the dual sport section of our web site www.dauntlessmotors.com
We have done many of these bikes and make bike specific not "universal" mounting kits for the F-650
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
www.dauntlessmotors.com
27635 Covington way SE #4
Covington WA
98042
253-638-1793
866-638-1793

Hober,
I see you are in Washington ..so is hack'n, Lonnie Cook, (NORTHWEST SIDECAR) and Jay (DAUNTLESS MOTORS)...heck give them both a visit. Either choice would be okay..each have some downsides but they can be dealt with.
There is some good reading in the instructional books by USCA co founder Hal Kendall. Take a look at my signature below for a clickable link to them at this site. They are offered for free by Hal.

Good idea Claude,
That will eliminate the "My dog's better than your dog!" arguement that will never be solved as long as there are opinions.
Speeding was mentioned, but I don't remember the initiator of the thread mentioning Dual Sport use. I'm not into that per se. If one needs a professional opinion on Velorex usage in dual/sport, I would recommend checking with Mike Braverman or Doug Bingham in So. Cal. I believe they participate in the Barstow to Vegas run and that sort of thing. My old bones won't take off-road desert riding anymore so I stay on the highroads and backroads.

Lonnie Cook
Northwest Sidecar
nwsidecar@aol.com
Ph./fax 360-653-0140

No doubt Doug and Mike are great references...so is Vernon and others. Click here for some info and some pictures...you will see sputnik, Velorex, and Bingham represented...and others.
http://home.sprynet.com/~sidecars/dualsport/

Thanks for that link Claude, makes an old man yearn for sand between the toes again. Too bad about the Velorex bashing, maybe one day it will sort it's self out. I will say that off road, especially in sand, weight is your enemy and horse power your friend.
Happy trails.

David

I agree on the Velorex bashing. The newere models from what I understand have been beefed up in the suspension and so forth. To beef up the older ones is not a rocket science project. I have converted quite a few of them to a larger spindle , added weight, changed suspension etc and they turn into respectable performers with out a huge investment. The mounts take a bad rap too but how they are placed on the frame has a lot to do with how they perform. Yes, the lower rear mount on the sidecar basically sucks but it is not a hard fix.
There are probably more Velorex or Jawa sidecars on the road than any other brand worldwide with exception of maybe the Ural(and the various hacks so similar to it). Just a guess of course.

Originally written by claude #3563 on 1/22/2006 6:40 AM

I agree on the Velorex bashing. The newere models from what I understand have been beefed up in the suspension and so forth. To beef up the older ones is not a rocket science project. There are probably more Velorex or Jawa sidecars on the road than any other brand worldwide with exception of maybe the Ural(and the various hacks so similar to it). Just a guess of course.

This all may be true, but the fact remains that the majority of Velo's out there are not the newer models with beefed up suspension and a larger majority of the people coming here wanting to mount one on a Valkyrie or Goldwing or Harley, do not have another source of information to tell them it needs to be strengthened. Or to allow them to make a sane judgment.
The Velorex Dealer over here tells my nephew that the 565 is the only one he sells that's heavy enough to safely mount to a Sportster but the dealer near his Dad in Florida sells 562's mounted on Valkyrie Interstates.

"The Velorex Dealer over here tells my nephew that the 565 is the only one he sells that's heavy enough to safely mount to a Sportster but the dealer near his Dad in Florida sells 562's mounted on Valkyrie Interstates."

Wow!
Are both of these dealers installers and sidecarists? It certainly doesn't sound like it. I know there are boiler room operations on the east coast, E-bay, and even a Dnepr dealer in the midwest who will sell you anything they have and claim it will fit every bike. (Sound familiar?)

We haven't had any bad feedback from any of our customers in the last 15 years regarding our installations. We did have one dissatisfied customer in California who decided to put a 562 Standard on his full dress Harley for a single trip to the Laughlin Run several years ago. He self installed it, or had it installed, against our recommendations, and after he returned from the run he complained about the rear mount shifting. They had mounted it somehow without a sub-frame.
We ultimately bought the rig back from him except for the frame clamp assembliess which had been badly deformed from being grossly over torqued.

We also have a customer in Oregon who has a Valkyrie with an early 562S mounted on it. However this is a free leaner and the suspension has been modified so the sidecar is just along for the ride and not used for stability.

As far as road damaged Velorex chassis parts go, we have only had one bent 15mm axle on an early GL from hitting a curb and one bent lower front curved bar on a 562S/MG California from unknown causes. I know the Guzzi owner is an agressive rider, he wrote an article or book on riding to the Arctic Circle a while back.

Lonnie Cook
Northwest Sidecar

See if this is the guy in Florida. He will mount a Velorex on anything.
http://www.enetcommerce.com/sidecars/web/index_2.html
I spent a lot of time dealing with someone who had a Velorex mounted onto a Valkarie by this shop. It was too bad as th efellow , an older gentelman, really wanted a sidecar and had been riding for a long time solo. Ultimatley he was going to see if th edealer would buy it back. I am not sure what ever happened.
If you want to see classic examples of some really mis matched rigs check out the site!! A stock 562 being sold and installed on a 1500 Wing is simply wrong!! It is especially wrong when done by a dealer!

Probably. My former brother-in-law lives near Tampa somewhere. This illustrates my point. People come here figuring they'll get the true story from people who have tried it and succeeded, or tried and failed. The dealers aren't always a lot of help.
I am curious though about the Velorex bashing comment. The only bashing I see is the comment about chintzy Siberian QC. Personally, I'd put a Velorex body on a Sputnik frame. 🙂