Hello,
I am trying to install a velorex sidecar to a 2002 DR650 using a DMC subframe. I am using the velorex universal attachment hardware. I am having problems with the sidecar wheel lead. If I install the front lower mount one way, my wheel lead is 14 7/8" and if I install it the other way the wheel lead is 6 3/4". Which is the better wheel lead for someone who has never driven a sidecar rig. I will be riding 90% blacktop and 10% gravel.
Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Rick Miller
Frankfort, Indiana
The less wheel lead, the less steering effort and tire wear. A longer wheel lead gives better stability in left turns and is usually preferred for high speed usage. There will be more tire scrubbing in slow turns with more wheel kead also.
Lonnie
Your best option is to modify the front lower mount from the sidecar frame. One of the many short comings of the Velorex sidecars is that they do not really have a proper way to adjust wheel lead where you want it. On this light of a bike set the wheel lead at the 14 7/8 and you should find that it works ok. On light dual sport sidecar bikes we usualy run at the higher end on wheel lead as when you are off road it works much better and as the bike and sidecar are so light the extra wheel scrubbing on turns is not all that much of an issue.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
jay@dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
www.dmcsidecars.com
Hello.
Is there anyone willing to fabricate a new lower front mount or a drawing so I could have someone local do the fabrication to replace the J-bar on a 2002 Velorex 562? My problem with the J-bar is wheel lead. It is either to far forward or to far back.
Thanks
Rick Miller
I sent you pix of J-bar mods that I do and Jay gave an opinion on what usually works. Neither seems to have helped in your quest. Do you have a specific ratio of lead in mind or a numerical distance that you are seeking?
As earlier stated: Less wheel lead will give easier steering and better sidecar tire mileage. More lead will give better high speed stability.
(Con's)
With less wheel lead there is a tendency to dip the nose into the pavement in downhill or hard left turn braking, possibly capsizing the rig.
With more wheel lead, steering requires more effort and slow speed tire scrubbing produces more sidecar tire wear.
Due to the dimensions of the 562 frame slip tube (and J-Bar) there are limitations in extending the J-bar that must be considered for your safety.
In hard off-road or heavy loading conditions the OEM bar has been known to bend from stress or impact. An over extended bar could cause a catastrophic failure.
Lonnie
There is another method that we have used on the Velorex's to change the mounting positions. That is welding one or two transverse tubes with clamp ends across the frame and using boss and clamp adjustable mounts for infinite sidecar placement.
This is an expensive alternative, but it will please the most discriminating client.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Hack'n - 4/15/2012 1:19 AM
Do you have a specific ratio of lead in mind or a numerical distance that you are seeking?
LonnieHello Lonnie,
I was thinking 10" wheel lead. Like I said before, if I move the J-bar one way the wheel lead is 6 3/4" and the other way is 14 7/8"
Hack'n - 4/15/2012 1:26 AM
There is another method that we have used on the Velorex's to change the mounting positions. That is welding one or two transverse tubes with clamp ends across the frame and using boss and clamp adjustable mounts for infinite sidecar placement.
This is an expensive alternative, but it will please the most discriminating client.Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Hello Lonnie,
I am not sure what you mean by one or two transverse tubes across the frame. Do you have a picture so I can understand what you are talking about?
How expensive is this alternative?
Thanks
Rick Miller
The way we do these when we have Velorex's in the shop is to make a new lower part that slides into the sidecar frame in place of the current one. The end of this has another pinch tube clamp on it that then has the part that attaches to the bike, We call this "bosses and clamps" On the Velorex we usualy also weld a pinch tube clamp to the very rear of the frame and do the same.
In the next week or so we will be posting lots of photo's of this set up as we are doing one now that came in after having been mounted by a "sidecar" shop to a Sportster very poorly with problems at all 4 mounts.
We can provide these mounts.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
jaydmc - 4/16/2012 11:11 PM
The way we do these when we have Velorex's in the shop is to make a new lower part that slides into the sidecar frame in place of the current one. The end of this has another pinch tube clamp on it that then has the part that attaches to the bike, We call this "bosses and clamps" On the Velorex we usualy also weld a pinch tube clamp to the very rear of the frame and do the same.
In the next week or so we will be posting lots of photo's of this set up as we are doing one now that came in after having been mounted by a "sidecar" shop to a Sportster very poorly with problems at all 4 mounts.
We can provide these mounts.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Hello Jay,
Have you posted the pictures on the "bosses and clamps" for the Sportster/Velorex yet?
Rick Miller
We have not posted it yet, My general manager is working on an entire article showing both how not to mount a sidecar, and how to do it proper as this bike came in with the sidecar mounted by another shop that attached the lower rear mount to the swing arm of the bike.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
