Sidecar Project

[trips]

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.

[Barry]

That's a quality looking cover. Look forward to seeing a picture of it fitted.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Considering adding a headlight to the side car, too, but not sure if the charging system is robust enough to handle it.

LEDs...

[trips]

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.

[trips]

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.

[montmil]

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.

[trips]

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.

[trips]

oh, and I got a new bike, too!

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h330/kellercon2002/DSC00966b.jpg

[Luca]

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]

[trips]

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

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

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!  

[trips]

Yes, the battery in the car is a plan for next year. Weight plus power.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

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?

[trips]

Yes, I already have one.