What kind of carts are available at the local nurseries? Maybe you could get some "hands on", with cell phone pictures and measurements to aid in your design.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
I will subscribe to the no subframe… sidecars have been installed on CT90, Vespa or old VanVan for years with a one mount only under the engine. Just went to the living room to take a pic of my CT90 underneath… are these pegs mounts still on the Trail125? Could be a start of a mount???
Another perfect example is the Vespa 200 that had a single plate mounted to the bottom of the Vespa chassis, with a singular arm going from that plate to the Sidecar. It was a robust arm between the Vespa 200 and the sidecar. This sidecar was made specifically for the Vespa 200. Not a leaner ...but solid mount between Vespa and sidecar.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Jan, possibly a better idea for the sidecar wheel, go to a local motorcycle salvage yard, or a used bike shop, and dig through their pile of older, used motorcycle wheels, preferably one that is a spoked wheel, and preferably in a 17" to 19" sidecar. Use that as the sidecar wheel. Very easy to get a tube, and tire for that wheel, but that wheel will generally accept sealed bearings, and have a slightly larger diameter axle opening than a "cart" wheel would have.
Yes, those two cart wheels for $ 30.00 each are a deal, but that is a hard..HARD rubber on that cast plastic wheel, and not designed for use above 3.14 mph.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Sorry, been so quiet people might think this project died a disappearing closure... not to be.
Parts to modify the bike for my height have come in, handlebar risers, USB outlet, better wider tires, etc. plus a 20" motorcycle wheel/tire for the sidecar. Every motorcycle salvage yard in the Houston area where I thought I could source a used sidecar wheel, are no longer in business. So ordered a new wheel/tire combo off ebay.
Had a long talk with Kent at Texas Sidecars about the Trail 125. While they have mounted sidecars on many scooters, they have not done a Trail 125 yet.... but they soon will as the Yellow Trail will be handed over to them next week. I opted to order the 20" motorcycle wheel as the wheel Texas Sidecar used for scooter sidecars was too small diameter to my liking. I wanted more ground clearance and less rolling resistance of a narrower taller diameter tire.
Thinking ahead, the Trail with sidecar is to be carried on the back of an RV van, not trailered. If taking the Red Dog Goldwing, that will be trailered. But don't want to have to deal with a long RV Van and trailer to just bring the Trail along, So... have been gathering the bits and pieces needed to build a double rail hitch carrier for the Sidecar Trail.
After studying the weight issue for this concept, decided to go with an all aluminum carrier. When I went to talk with my favorite aluminum welder, discovered at the age of 92 he had retired, closed his shop. Will miss visiting with John and watching his metal melting magic.
Found a young man, age 44, certified welder who has experience with aluminum. Gave him Part One the project, build the carrier. If he does a good job, will also have hime build Part Two, the aluminum cargo basket for the Trail.
Here is the completed carrier, will go pick it up this afternoon. Next week the carrier and Trail will be handed over to Texas Sidecar for their portion. Hope to have everything done and complete in time to take the Trail rig to the National Rally in Mena, AR, June 4-7.
Hi Jon, Great progress!
I have two of those aluminum carriers. They are pretty durable. Two issues I ran into:
- I found a front tire smaller than 21" makes it a bugger to get the bike off. The tire sinks down too far and gets stuck like a honey jar on a Pooh Bear's nose.
- On my cruiser e-bike those front tire clamps wore through the sidewalls.
My plan is to make a wheel chock rail to bolt on the front half of the carrier. That will eliminate the front tire from sinking down and getting stuck, and for the e-Bike it eliminates the need to use those clamps.
Otherwise I'm happy with the performance.
Hope this is helpful info Sir!
KTM 390 on the front carrier (19" front tire), Revi-bikes Cheatah e-bike on the back of the 5th wheel.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Thanks Sheath, I did not know anyone who had one of those Harbor Freight aluminum carriers, but it came free with the bike. Was looking at adding a few cross pins to close the gaps as the Trail's wheels are 17". But a wheel chock is a better idea. Thanks...
The sidecar wheel rail came from another aluminum carrier I picked up used for $30. Most motorcycle carriers are made of steel and too heavy.
#1 - FM, I knew you were brilliant, but a mind reader as well? Great minds think alike. You noticed I had switched the bike rail around so it loads from the street side, placing the Trail 125 near the rear doors, and the lighter sidecar further out. By adding the swing-out hitch, I can also load in a straight line from behind, then swing everything into position across the back of the RV.
The hitches are rated for 350/500 lbs. The bike alone weighs 260. Goal is to build the sidecar with a 60 lb weight limit, keeping total rig weight to less than 325. The rig will be walked up when loading, not ridden up.
#2, In reality I have no intention of trying to pull the fabulous Bear Track trailer hooked to the Sidecar Carrier. It's an either-or decision as to which rig goes with me on any trip. The Trail 125 is a campgrounds grocery-getter, explore local trails or neighborhoods without having to unhook the RV's shore power, water and sewer hoses just to go get a loaf of bread.
When the Trail 125 is being carried, the swing-out hitch was necessary in order to open the rear doors to access the utility storage area where the water hose and power cord are stored.
Like Sheath's, have seen many bike carriers mounted on the front of an RV. Which makes sense to counterbalance the weight of the fifth wheel travel travel he is towing. I don't think my RV would be a good choice for that approach. The front already sets low. It is not a high clearance 4x4 RV.
Since it is a dually van, V-6 diesel, it is better able to handle the extra 350 lb weight on the back. If it affects the steering, then will readjust the thinking.
The ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
fwiw: Your idea to keep the rack on the rear seems pretty smart to me.
The truck in the picture above is a one ton 4x4 with the heaviest spring package (front and rear) available. With 400lbs of bike and carrier on the front it pretty much maxed out capacity according to the Cat scales. Sure rides nicer than when empty though. lol
Really like how your project is working out. Definitely look forward to see how the sidecar gets setup. 😎
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Jan, my concerns have been allayed.
Carry on, young fella
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Jon, good to hear you will be designing the mounts for the Trail 125. Any new design is a fun project and a challenge. I know you are up for a challenge.
Designing for a light weight bike in some ways is more difficult than for a heavy bike. A heavy larger bike can carry the heavy additional load while the skinny 125 Trail needs to stay slender, yet strong and safe.
The most weight this sidecar will see is at most, maybe 100 lbs. Maybe a dog, but never a human. Might even gear it down more for torque, no need for speed.
Looking forward to seeing your design work.
Jan
