OEM windshields are available for those who still want to use the convertible top.
$200. plus shipping.
Lonnie
Thanks gentlemen for the continued advice. New question with the lower rear sliding clamp mounted as far back on the frame of the bike as possible while maintaining the 90 degree angle to the car, the axle of the car is about 15 inches ahead of the rear axle. Is this too much?? If I slide the car back, the rear strut wouldn't be angled back any, and may even be angled forward. I have the rear strut attached just in front of the rear shock.
Your wheel lead should be 10-15% of the wheel base of the bike. Here is a link to basic sidecar installation instructions that explains this.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Hack'n, I have the car mounted, it sits level, left to right and front to back. I have the lean out set, and the tow in. The sidecar axle is 15 inch ahead of the rear axle, so at about 25 percent. Seems to go ok with a passenger or empty. Except for the terrible head shake if you let go of the bars. Any ideas? Is it because the car axle is too far forward? Or is something else wrong? Or is that typical with a sidecar?
Usually there isn't much head shake with this combo. It's typical to have a slight amount at low speeds with a hack rig unless the steering has been altered.
Try jacking up your front wheel and seeing if the front end just flops from side to side. If so, tighten the neck bearings so it just has a bit of resistance to flopping. This should slow it down.
Other things can also cause this: Out of balance front tire, wheel run out, worn swing arm bearings.
Even without head shake you should ALWAYS have at least one hand on the bars. One little rut or bump can possibly
cause a tank slapper before you could grab the bars.
Lonnie
Thanks, Lonnie. I will try those fixes. Again thanks for the help, spring seems to be here and I do really want to get this rig out in the wind.
BTW,
Have you upgraded the suspension? The early Velorex models with the 15mm axles were designed to support 300# 350cc Jawas and MZs.
Check my Suspension ad in Misc. sidecar related parts.
Lonnie
Again, sorry for my lack of knowledge here, I'm not sure on the suspension. It says it is a 1991 model on the car. My wife (the usual passenger in the car, weighs about 120 lbs. plus on trips maybe we will have another 20-25 pounds of stuff loaded. Do you factor that weight into suspension setup? To measure the axles do I just measure the outside diameter of the axle?
Dan
Bismarck, ND
Pre 2005 Velorexs all have 15mm axles.
Your 883 weighs twice what the sidecar suspension was designed for.
You need to upgrade the suspension just to support the motorcycle safely in turns. Add a passenger and you have bottoming and wallowing in the turns.
You can upgrade the suspension with OEM Velorex late model parts for about $700.
I have a bolt on suspension upgrade using a 1" axle that sell for $300. with US shipping.
Lonnie
nwsidecar@aol.com
Received some Velorex parts in the mail today from Lonnie and they are top notch as he described them.
Now is time for the mock up and install...
