Sidecar help

[Mainerider]

I'd like to make my '81 R65 into a sidecar rig. I can get a Cozy for $3,300 from a local dealer. I've also been looking at Craigslist with no luck. What about www.rtsidecars.com ? Any info on them?
I know BMW doesn't recommend this but I also know others have done it anyway. If I get one of these kits I'd need to fab up a subframe, right?
Any help would be much appreciated. The occupant of the 'car would mostly be my best friend Trevor:



Steven

[marcmax]

I turned my R65LS into a cafe'd R65 and then turned it into a sidecar tug by adding a Velorex 562 that I found on Craigslist where I live. The car is small enough and light enough the bike has no problem handling it.

It was touch and go at first as I had no idea what I was doing but I got a lot of help from members on here and the United Sidecar Association. http://sidecar.com/ . They also have a great forum full of people that have been doing this for years.

Mine has become my go-to vehicle for around town. I don't know if I would take it cross country since it still sports the single saddle and bump stop from its cafe days but weekend camping trips are great. No more having to decide what will fit when packing. Just throw it all in.

It makes a great grocery getter.

[marcmax]

Here is a list of some web resources that might be helpful. Best advice I got was going to a local BMW rally and talking to anyone who showed up in a sidecar rig. Biggest thing to think about is it will no longer be a motorcycle or act like a motorcycle. It involves learning an entire new way of "driving" a sidecar rig.

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/sidecartech.htm

http://bikerodnkustom4.homestead.com/sidecar_geometry_watson.html

http://www.airheads.org/technical-tips-articlesmenu-98/161-putting-a-sidecar-on-your-airhead-rev-by-author-12-06-2007

http://www.velorexusa.com/

http://www.dmcsidecars.com/products/

http://www.warkshop.com/sidecarinstall.html

http://www.simplysidecars.co.uk/fittingguide.html

http://f2mcltd.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-fit-sidecar.html

http://www.haulnride.com/hack_sidecars.html

http://www.velorexusa.com/Instruction_pdf/install_instructions.pdf

[Mainerider]

Thanks, Marc, those look like some great links. I've got lots of research to do and that's where I'll start.
I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist, too. The other day I saw a non running Goldwing with a Velorex listed for $600. The listing was just three hours old - but when I called the guy said it had sold in 20 minutes.  


Steven

[nhmaf]

Hey - check this out -
http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/5141723623.html

For $4500, you could get a fully setup rig ready to roll!

All that I've heard about the cozy sidecars seems to indicate that they are REALLY lightly built.    We had a member here who put one on his R65, but had to do quite alot of frame strengthening end reinforcement to get it to stay together well on a 'big' R65 as compared to a single cylinder 350cc engfield that they seem to be designed for..   The recent Velorex units, especially the heavier 565 like in this post, I think would be a better fit.     I bought a 2000 Sputnik car that I'm fitting to my R100 - once I get the R100 to a point where it is reliable and stops leaking, that is...

[davidpdx]

Plus 1 on what Marcmax said. Riding with a sidecar is like having to learn how to ride all over again. I put an old Cozy on my Triumph Speed Twin. It was something of a chore to ride and I ended up taking it off and selling it for more floor space. A bike with a sidecar doesn't take up quite as much room as a car but way more room than a bike. Good luck and post pictures. Here is a video of my first ride.
    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cs97U86TKQ

[nhmaf]

Didn't look like you had much rear wheel lead on that setup David?

[Mainerider]

I've found a couple of candidates on Craigslist, both Velorex's. I've also found a NOS Sputnik with custom mounting hardware for $3000 but extra for crating and shipping. I'll decide after I take a look at the Velorex's.

[Mainerider]

So this little thing found its way to my driveway this morning:


I'd love to see some close up pictures of how you mounted yours Marc.
This one is an '81, the same year as my r65. It came with the tall windscreen, too, and a couple of covers.

[marcmax]

That is awesome! I will get out tomorrow and take some pics of how mine is mounted for you. Trevpr is going to love it!

Here is a pic of how mine arrived in my driveway.

[Mainerider]

Here's the other one I was looking at:




It's beautiful but a thousand bucks more than the one I got.
I'm away for the weekend so I won't be able to mess with it until next week.

[marcmax]

Here are some pics I just took in the driveway along with some that were sent to me by a former forum member, ScottyinTex. He had his set up by Perry's Motorcycles and Sidecars in Ft Worth, TX.

[marcmax]

More pics

[Mainerider]

Wow! Great pics. I'll probably have lots of questions when I get back home and start getting in to it. Thanks so much.

Steven

[Mainerider]

I haven't had a chance to do much with the Velorex yet, but I did find this video from a few years ago:

http://youtu.be/YwcDpM5_khU