Wife wants a side-car

[Pat Kelly]

My wife has been riding for a few years now. She went from an XL259 Honda to an XS750 to an XV1100 (Virago). She recently sold that (no idea why). She said there's always one of my XSs here (yeah right. I take the main fuse with me).
She has been wanting a side-car rig. She was looking at the Ural (nononononono). She likes that WWII style of bike and it was designed for a side-car.
I suggested an XS with a side-car. She said another XS750 would be ok. I asked why not an 1100 as I have plenty of spare parts. We can always make it look WWIIish. She's up for that.

[Silent]

The thought of adding a sidecar to my XS has crossed my mind. Then I looked at the $$$ and, unfortunatly, the thought just kept on going and crossed right out of my mind

[DiverRay]

Pat,
When Special Ed and I went to dream machines, we saw a "BMW" side car...
It was NOT a factory BMW, though!! Under the "side car" was a Mazda twin turbo Rotary engine driving both the sidecar wheel, and the rear wheel on the bike! 300+ HP sidecar rig for the road!
But then, maybe that would be a little more HP than SWMBO could handle.....

[psycoreefer]

I want a ural so bad.....someday when my son is old enough to ride in it and I have a little more financial freedom I'm buying one and selling my truck. 2 wheel drive on a motorcycle rocks! Plus who doesn't love a machine gun mount on the side car?

[fredintoon]

The thought of adding a sidecar to my XS has crossed my mind. Then I looked at the $$$ and, unfortunately, the thought just kept on going and crossed right out of my mind

Hi Ray,
the price of a new sidecar will indeed make your eyes get big and round
HOW MUCH??? AND IT DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ENGINE???
BTW, if you really want to talk rip-off, the other day a friend showed me his daughter's racing wheelchair. OK, you can lift it with one finger but $7,000? Talk about kicking the crippled.
But I digress, you can find a used sidecar on e-bay or kijiji or Craig's list in the $1,000 range or less if you don't mind a bit of work.

[Crazcnuk]

Item number: 320370905935

On Ebay right now.

[rockjok]

I've been close to buying a Ural a few times since they'd be a lot better in sand and dirt than my XS11 Rig. I'd love to have reverse and the occasional use of 2 wheel drive. Then I think back to a Beemer hack I had a couple years ago and the frustrations of not having the power to go 75 on the freeway.

If you end up getting one for your XS I'd be glad to send along some pics of mounting bracket possibilities.

My original modified Velorex and "Hoover". Way too lightweight for an XS11:
http://www.imt.net/~rockjok/rig1.jpg

The old underpowered Beemer rig:
http://www.imt.net/~rockjok/bmw-rig.jpg

The current rig. Just wish I could lower the gear ratios a bit for better performance off road:
http://www.imt.net/~rockjok/sm-passdogz.JPG

Rob

[MaximPhil]

I've been close to buying a Ural a few times since they'd be a lot better in sand and dirt than my XS11 Rig. I'd love to have reverse and the occasional use of 2 wheel drive. Then I think back to a Beemer hack I had a couple years ago and the frustrations of not having the power to go 75 on the freeway.

If you end up getting one for your XS I'd be glad to send along some pics of mounting bracket possibilities.

My original modified Velorex and "Hoover". Way too lightweight for an XS11:
http://www.imt.net/~rockjok/rig1.jpg

The old underpowered Beemer rig:
http://www.imt.net/~rockjok/bmw-rig.jpg

The current rig. Just wish I could lower the gear ratios a bit for better performance off road:
http://www.imt.net/~rockjok/sm-passdogz.JPG

Rob

Hi Rock Jock,
A friend has a Ural and tells me you will be lucky to get to
60 mph and when you do it is no fun either. No switch for 2 or 1 wheel drive either. It will carry 7 fat Russians though
Phil

[fossil]

Is your wife sure she wants a side car With the side car bolted up you no longer have a motorcycle, you no longer ride it, you drive it. I've got a '78 XS1100E with a velorex 700, and it can be a handful, especially left turns, not to mention hairraising right turns! If she realizes the draw backs and still wants one-cool! Keep weight (about 100# min.) in the car when no one's in it will help. Find a book on how to drive a side-car, this may avoid any "surprises". Good luck!

[CatatonicBug]

Find a book on how to drive a side-car

People still read books? It's funny, but I would never have thought to look for a real book for anything like that. I would figure any information needed would be available online somewhere, probably within a few clicks after a Google search. I just LOVE the Internet!

[fly]

go to sidecar.com click on books link. you can download Hal Kendall's sidecar books free. swapping special and standard front end parts reduces trail. makes for easier steering.
fly 78XS / Hitchhiker sidecar
USCA mw director

[fredintoon]

Wanna Sputnik?

Hi Pat,
Jamie Wolfe posted this on the SCT list:-
"Hi Sidecar enthusiasts...
I started a project several years ago. A KLR650 dual-spot bike with Sputnik
sidecar. Due to health and financial reasons, I never got the project truly
finished. It's operational but rides treacherously loose.

I plan on separating them before I sell them. If anyone is interested in a good
used Sputnik, let me know. I have hardware for attachment to a KLR but most
likely it won't by useful for other bikes.

I don't have any great shots yet...but I have some taken inside my shop. It's a
slightly metallic blue...no windshield. Stock suspension with no brakes.

I'm located in SE Iowa so am a reasonable distance to St Lois, Kansas City,
Minneapolis, Omaha, Chicago...you get the picture. Email me and let's talk.
I'd love to sell the unit as is with the KLR but serious suspension work is
needed. I'm thinking somewhere around $1200 would be a fair price.

James
Milton, Iowa
jamiswolfe@... "

If you are serious give him an e-mail. If Jamie's truncated e-mail addy don't work you will have to sign up with SCT to message him from there.

[Cobia]

Found one for you!!

Pat,
I think this one (link) is a bit expensive, but if it bolts on to an XS650 an XS11 should have no problema with it. Just trying to give you ideas. This one even has a top.

http://lakeland.craigslist.org/mcy/1169393778.html

Good luck!!

[Pat Kelly]

Thanks for all the replies and links.
Looks like this is a roject for in the future.