This weekend I attached a Velorex sidecar to my 1999 Valkryie standard, without any written instructions (bought it used). The Valk doesn't have much of a frame so I had to make several custom parts and was limited on where and how it could be mounted. The sidecar's wheel is about 12 inches forward of the rear wheel and the bike is somewhat parallel with the sidecar---nothing technical, just eyeballed. I took it for a drive and it steers really badly. I have to really strain to get it to turn right or left with a 190 pound load in the sidecar. Is this normal? How is steering supposed to be? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I love the look of the bike and sidecar. Its been my dream to own one.
What model of Velorex do you have? I'm hoping it's a 565.
As I said in your private message to me, read over the thread about toe in and lean out and set it up accordingly. Now see how it rides.
12 inches of lead should be pretty close. I've got about 14 on mine, but moving the sidecar forward will make the steering heavier.
You can go to Leading Link or Steerite conversion to ease the steering, but either one will cost as much as you paid for the sidecar and either one will dictate that you will never again be able to ride the bike without the car attached.
The steering is pretty light on mine, I'm not sure why it should be hard on yours. Lonnie? Jay? any thoughts?
Post some photos of your mounts, that may help narrow down the problem.
Like mike said,
You need the heaviest Velorex. Tour models only, to start with.
Earlier Standards need upgraded suspensions to handle heavy bikes.
Eye balling the toe-in and leanout aren't good enough. If you didn't get a handbook with your sidecar, get mounting information here at this site (Books & Links) or from the Sidecar Industry Council site.
Steering with a sidecar is much different than with a solo. You really have to steer left for left and steer right for right. Steering away from the car is a tad harder than a right turn, but it shouldn't be hard to steer in either direction if the sidecar is well aligned.
Lonnie
I hope your 190# was a passenger. That's way too much ballast for most purposes.
All those free books Lonnie spoke of are here http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp Thanks to Hal Kendall.
If the hack is mounted very far from the bike and with 190lbs. yes it would turn very heavily. I am not sure of the specific setup of your rig but I know from experience that if you mount the sidecar far away from the bike it will be more stable but turn like a truck with no power stering. Mount it close to the bike and it is more nimble and turns much easier. Try mounting it as close to the bike as you can and then work out the toein, lean out, wheel forward specs.
Maybe that would be true on a small bike, but on a Valkyrie with that particular sidecar, I think close could be disastrous. I think I would want all the right hand stability I can get.
I have the Ural mounted as far away as possible on my Valkyrie, barely fitting on a 7.5 foot wide trailer, and have noticed no difference in steering ability than when it was right up against the bike. I do notice, however, that it is much less likely to rise on a turn.
The model is Velorex 562. If "lead" is the distance from the center of the rear wheel to the center of the sidecar wheel, mine is 18". So that expains the heavy steering
You definitely need to talk to Lonnie about upgrading the suspension on that 562. It's way too light duty for a Valk.
Yes, lead is from rear wheel hub to sidecar wheel hub.
I downloaded the Velorex handbook and now see how to align the car, and yest the 190 pound ballast was a passenger 😉
Before I disconnect the 562 model I want to tweek it some, and with everyone's suggestions I'll at least get the feel of what a sidecar is supposed to do.
Thank you for your input.
The car is mounted as close to the bike as possible, but like everyone says, it is too light for the Valk. The 800 pound bike lofts the sidecar (with a rider in it and traveling at very low speed) when on road surfaces are uneven. I have a steep gravel driveway and crashed twice 😉
As much as I hate to say this to a new rider, maybe the best move would be to try to sell it and look for something bigger for the bike. I sent you the link to my mounting photos, those are the mounts Dauntless sells for the Ural and Dnepr, but I think they fit other sidecars as well. Heck, if the right Goldwing rig comes along, I might consider selling my whole outfit. Then you could have one with sidecar and one without. :0)
Newell said: " I have a steep gravel driveway and crashed twice ;-)"
Time to go for a heavier car or convert it to a free leaner.
The old 562s make fine free leaners. One of my old customers set one up on his Valkyrie and said it worked great. He still used the upgraded suspension with an automotive modular wheel though.
Lonnie
no....didn't get the link for your mounting photos. Would love to see them. I posted pics of my bike, including the wreck, in the "Albums" section.
Thank you and everyone else for the advice. You've been a lot of help
Sorry, I thought I added the link when I responded to the private message you sent me. Go to http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/Sidecar/
Originally written by newell47 on 4/17/2006 3:57 PM
The car is mounted as close to the bike as possible, but like everyone says, it is too light for the Valk. The 800 pound bike lofts the sidecar (with a rider in it and traveling at very low speed) when on road surfaces are uneven. I have a steep gravel driveway and crashed twice 😉
mounting the SC as close to the bike IS NOT a good practice! It's better to
mount it as far apart as possible , for more stable handling on turns. Also get that lead back to around 10-12 " for much better handling on turns.
My /5-FII rig is about 76" wide, from fairing edge to the SC fender edge.
about 56" wheelbase CC of the tires.
and , yes, the 562 is too light for the Valk.
you need a SC about 225-250 pounds. no need for ballast then.
