The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => General Announcements => Topic started by: trips on June 10, 2012, 08:00:27 AM
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Well, I finally got my sidecar frame installed, it took long enough. DMC Sidecars sent me a frame reinforcing kit, it fit perfectly, despite the fact that they sent me install instructions and photos for a /6-/7, not an r65. The pics and instructions weren't even close, fortunately the parts more or less spoke for themselves, they only fit one way. I had two buddies help me, it took two 4-5 hour days, about what the instructions said, but more than I expected none the less. I had a copy of the original California Sidecars instructions in addition to the DMC ones, I followed the instructions as far as trail, camber, and toe in, and seem to have been lucky to hit it dead on on the first try. At 65 miles per hour, you can let go of the handlebars, and aside from a little headshake, she goes straight as an arrow. I have 70 or 80 miles of practice on it so far, without the tub on it's really light, the added weight of the car itself should help tremendously. Still need to mount the tub, wire it, have the seat cover made, and a tonneau cover made.
PS One of the little rubbers that the side covers clip to has deteriorated beyond use, does anyone know of a source for them?
PPS Shoot, do I need to resize the pic?
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Nice, pretty exciting isn't it. I think my last motorbike will have a hack. Then the Mrs and I can ride together.
Keep us posted throughout your sidecar transition.
Cheers
:^)
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Please give us a detailed account on the install and all the particulars.
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[smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif]
YAY!!!
Jay at DMC gave me a quote for the frame and bits I need for the R100/7 last year - I had to postpone the order while business went through a couple roller-coaster transitions. Now, I'm tired of waiting and am just going to bite the bullet this summer - I'm tired of seeing the sidecar sittong on a pallet in the garage!
I think that your sidecar project might be acceptable to put in the "build" section of the forum? I'd certainly enjoy and appreciate reading about your success!
I was searching for a small steering damper that would bolt to the bike frame and the lower triple clamp too - I am thinking it will be a big help to quell some of those small fork wobbles, and I don't like the prospect of attaching a long dampener to one of the fork sliders. Did Jay have any recommendations for you in this area?
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He said I may need a fork damper if the wheel bushing was bad in the sidecar, so I ordered a new one (bushing), if I let go of the handlebars I get a bit, but otherwise no problem, I don't feel I need one. If a mod wants to move it, that's fine, I didn't realize we had a build section.
Edit: Yeah, $800 for the DMC kit, an unexpected expense, but it appears it was well worth it.
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I'm not saying that this thread should be moved - but if you did a more extensive one with pictures, etc. of how you assembled the kit to the bike, and the sidecar setup, that would be a valuable resource/reference on the forum suitable for that section, I think - that's all.
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Wow...great start...can't wait to see the tub on it. Welcome to the world of sidecars.......your going to love it!!!!
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I got the tub mounted. Also found all the rubber bits I needed, grommets, gear shift, and grips, never dreamed you could still order them from BMW. I seem to have lost the tail lights and marker lights I removed from the tub, but new ones are probably a good idea anyway.
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That looks like a pretty spacious rig! Is that a CSC Friendship 1?? At one point I was looking at what I thought was a Friendship 2 - the top would hinge open for easier entry/exit.
Looks like you could fit a couple Golden retrievers in there, easily.
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Yes, I believe it is the California I, it had a mish mosh of Velorex parts, too, I spent about $800 for all the missing stuff, plus a frame reinforcement kit, from DMC. Here are the dogs that will ride in it, LOL-
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Heck, all of those dogs would fit fine in a Cozy Rocket chair! I think that you're gonna need some more dogs to fill & ballast that rig!
;D
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Hmm, having trouble changing my profife pic, I'm guessing I must use one previously posted onthe forum, so here is a gratuitous resized pic.
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Gorgeous tub...
Altogether a nice rig...
John
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Thanks, need to recover the seat, mount the windshield, and wire it, and it's finished. Considering adding a headlight to the side car, too, but not sure if the charging system is robust enough to handle it.
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That DMC frame looks to be ideal as a platform one day for my idea of making a folding tent/storage/camper/R65 one day. I guess one could build a basic box on that platform for a fold out tent or whatever. But I guess one would ask why I wouldn't want a chair too incorporated into the design to haul around a friend....like a pooch. I follow this project with interest!
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I sent the old seat cover down to my cousin in Florida for a pattern, he made this beauty. He restores golf carts, he said it was a first attempt at something like this, I think he did great.
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That's a quality looking cover. Look forward to seeing a picture of it fitted.
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Considering adding a headlight to the side car, too, but not sure if the charging system is robust enough to handle it.
LEDs...
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Took her out for her maiden snow voyage yesterday, she went down the road pretty good, but I had a hard time getting going in snowy parking lots. Ordered a set of Shinko 244s, this is a hard bike to find dual sport or off road tires for. Got 3.5 for the front, 4.1 for the rear, hopefully they both fit.
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Boy, it's been a while since I posted here, but I pop in from time to time, it's generally pretty slow in the winter season, anyway. The dual sport tires are the cat's ass in winter, but this winter has been brutal, I get out from time to time, but even temperatures in the teens have been rare here. I had trouble starting this winter, last winter it would fire right up as low as 15 F, I changed the plugs and bingo, went back to starting like a charm.
I found an auto upholstery guy, he dyed my seat, made a nice cover for the side car seat, a tonneau cover for the rig, and carpeted it, all very reasonably, I felt.
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Brrrrr... That's a very sharp looking rig but call back when the grass is green and you've thawed out. Maybe load some batteries in the chair to power your heated socks! I'm getting cold just looking at ya! Brrrrr...
Friday's fried catfish lunch run of 40 miles was under sunny skies, light southerlies and 82 degrees.
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Funny thing is, I have a heated vest and gloves and a plug in wire to the battery, since I got the Hippo Hands and a one piece suit, I don't need them, I worried about the electrical system being robust enough.
I spoke too soon, fully charged battery, near 30 F today, she wouldn't start again, not even a pop, I really wanted a ride, too. Recharging the battery, new plugs only have 25 or 30 miles on them, so I have no idea what it is now.
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oh, and I got a new bike, too!
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h330/kellercon2002/DSC00966b.jpg
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Provided your coil and wires are good, you could try using a 10w40 oil (synthetic even better) and re-lubing your starter motor for easier cold cranking.
I've noticed that my bike is harder to start after a cold night since it doesn't warm up as quickly as the air around it. Also, the battery, even if fully charged, will not discharge as well if it's cold. Maybe you could rig up some sort of block heater?
Oh, and the hack looks great, as does your new ride [smiley=thumbup.gif]
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Thanks, yes, I've toyed with the idea of a block heater, what I really need to do is finish my project of weatherproofing and heating my barn. Oh, and yes, I do use 10-40 synthetic, Castrol 4T
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I used a sidecar rig for winter commuting for about 5 years in a row back in the early 90s.
I kept a car battery in the sidecar, with extra-long cables and I'm pretty sure it was wired in parallel with the bike battery. (I forget)
I never had problems starting! It was a R100 engine in a /2 frame.
I really like your pictures! :)
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Yes, the battery in the car is a plan for next year. Weight plus power.
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Yes, the battery in the car is a plan for next year. Weight plus power.
They make plastic boxes to put the battery in. I guess they are used in marine applications?
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Yes, I already have one.