Basic sidecar set up?????

thanks for the incite I have changed out the bars to wider and I believe I set the chair at 1/2 " toe in.And maybe I should spend some time at the gym. JohnB
And to some extent the heavy steering has a mental component. On a two wheeler the steering on most bikes is very light and you only have to think right or left and you go there. With a sidecar you actually have to physically make the bike change direction. That may be a bit of an over simplification!

I rode a XS650 sidecar outfit with actually pretty narrow `bars to work for around 20 years. Only around a one mile commute so not a lot of curves to deal with or build up strength. But more than once I had a bit of a shock the first ride in the spring on my Sportster with leading link front end the first curve down the road. I used way too much steering power and almost went off the road on the inside of the curve!

Once I was back to riding both during the warmer months my brain seemed to adjust for what ever outfit I was riding at the time so both seemed pretty much normal. So there is at least some of the mental aspect to how an outfit handles.

I rode my first Sportster for about 4,000 miles without a sidecar and then around 14,000 with stock front end and sidecar before building the leading link front end. So I have had some experience of the different ways this outfits can handle.
 
I have to look at my carbs. I have a dead spot so to speak from about 2700 rpms to 3200 rpms. If you are going easy on the gas it gets real doggy but at about 3300 rpms it is like I hit passing gear and away she goes till you let up.
Cold blooded prolly points to an idle or choke circuit blockage.
that mid RPM stumble is normal on stock BS34's, the jet needle washer mod is a popular and effective remedy.
A how to here. http://www.xs650.com/threads/milwau...-back-from-the-brink.53446/page-2#post-571537
 
thanks for the incite I have changed out the bars to wider and I believe I set the chair at 1/2 " toe in.And maybe I should spend some time at the gym. JohnB
Hi John,
um, you meant "insight", right?
Increase 1/2" toe-in to 5/8" and set bike lean-out (with rider on bike & ballast in chair) also at 5/8". Test ride and adjust lean out as needed.
(Note that when Mr. Stupid mis-read his tape to set toe-in at 2-5/8" the ride didn't change but the new sidecar tire went bald in 200 miles.)
 
thanks for the incite I have changed out the bars to wider and I believe I set the chair at 1/2 " toe in.And maybe I should spend some time at the gym. JohnB
Well, I just finished removing the sidecar from the XS650. I put on about 900 miles in all and I wasn't happy with the rig. I think I picked the wrong bike for me. Never got it to run well and that made it hard to drive and lessened enjoyment. So, I will be putting the XS up for sale next spring. But not being a quitter, I have a 1978 SR500 Yamaha that I think is going to get the job I am not looking for a road tripping outfit just something fun to drive around town. I have to admit I learned a lot and I would like to thank all who gave me input. I am looking forward to an interesting winter of building. Thanks again JohnB
 
Well, I just finished removing the sidecar from the XS650. I put on about 900 miles in all and I wasn't happy with the rig. I think I picked the wrong bike for me. Never got it to run well and that made it hard to drive and lessened enjoyment. So, I will be putting the XS up for sale next spring. But not being a quitter, I have a 1978 SR500 Yamaha that I think is going to get the job I am not looking for a road tripping outfit just something fun to drive around town. I have to admit I learned a lot and I would like to thank all who gave me input. I am looking forward to an interesting winter of building. Thanks again JohnB
Well, If you decide to sell next spring, I would probably be interested purchasing it. The sidecar.
 
I had an SR500 for years and honestly, it was barely big and powerful enough to pull me around, let alone a sidecar, lol. I think it would be too small for sidecar use, unless maybe you had a very small and light car. Many years ago, I had a Velorex on a 750 BMW. It was OK but eventually I put it on a 900 BMW and that made a big difference. Bigger is better with sidecars, lol.
 
I had an SR500 for years and honestly, it was barely big and powerful enough to pull me around, let alone a sidecar, lol. I think it would be too small for sidecar use, unless maybe you had a very small and light car. Many years ago, I had a Velorex on a 750 BMW. It was OK but eventually I put it on a 900 BMW and that made a big difference. Bigger is better with sidecars, lol.
Then again, I have seen sidecars at the True Grits Fun Run. That’s a 50cc event. That’s 50, not 500.
:laugh:
 
Then again, I have seen sidecars at the True Grits Fun Run. That’s a 50cc event. That’s 50, not 500.
:laugh:
I had the opportunity to meet a guy from Austria and have been chatting with him. he has built 2 SR 500 velorex rigs and loved them. States they have plenty of power. For me they should be fine. I am not trying to build a freeway flier, just a grandpa rig. If I need to go far or faster, I drive my VW trike. Now if I can just get some parts to show up, I can get started then the long wait till spring.
 
Back
Top