Sidecar. Sidecars are the absolutely coolest things you can build, after you've built a bicycle.
For those of the kustom orientation they make for a much more interesting project, as the construction makes the engineering more interesting, and the possibility of exciting bodywork and more creative paint possibilities makes the project more sculpturally satisfying. Throw in the extra dimension of finishing off the sidecar's cockpit artistically, and you have a very entertaining experience in its creation. Here are some interesting examples of the breed, from luxe to basic, along with some suggestions for taking the concept further. Larry Hatfield: Here are some pictures of a bike I built for my 3-year-old old son and I: The bike is a Dyno Roadster with a Nexus 7-speed hub laced to a 24" rim in the rear, and a 26" rim with a dynamo hub in the front.
I began construction by drawing a pattern for the sides, then I traced it onto a piece of hardboard 7/32" thick that I found at the local hardware store.
Sidecar. Cycle Sidecar - How to Attach a Motorcycle Sidecar: Attach your new Sidecar to Any Motorcycle. Getting Started The Universal Mounting Kit makes it possible to attach the sidecar to virtually any current motorcycle with round tube frame, but the motorcycle should be powerful enough to accept the weight of the sidecar, passenger, and extra luggage. IMPORTANT: Deviating from the instructions may create dangerous conditions. It is important to follow the directions carefully, be thorough and use common sense.
Each sidecar operator is responsible for his/her own safety and the safety of their passengers. For best results, we recommend soliciting installation service from a qualified dealer in your area. Installation is a 4-5 hour process, involving these simple operations: Attaching the frame of the sidecar to the frame of the motorcycle. Note: For BMW models a special mounting bracket may be needed. Working in a clear area, prop up the frame of the sidecar with blocks of wood or bricks to hold it level. Figure 1 Attaching Your Sidecar to Your Motorcycle Figure 4 Figure 11 Figure 12. Flexible Tilting Sidecars. Comment and response to the KneeSlider Blog – On the subject leaning sidecars - I have become something of historian of the subject of sidecars that lean or permit the towing motorcycle to lean (in general, and of the Flexit in particular).
Articulated sidecars really began with the Flexi Flyer in the 1920′s. And while there have many independent one-off units produced, only about 12 designs were ever massed produced for retail sale to the public. FlexitSidecarOwnersGroup : Flexit Sidecar Owners Group. For a quick historical summary of the Flexit sidecar, please see: The Flexit Sidecar Owners Group (FSOG) is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of all of the surviving Flexit sidecars ever produced, and perhaps only 200 were built.
Primary objectives of this group include, but are not limited to: Flexit owners support, Historical research, Parts identification and sources of supply, Front & rear mounting bracket build procedures and installation, Service & Handling Trolleys (SHTs), history and any other consideration that helps to keep as many Flexits as possible in service, on the road, and visible to the public.
Our primary asset will be freely shared Flexit information. This group is open to all enthusiasts who have an interest in any articulated sidecars (lean capable sidecar attachments) regardless of type, era, country of origin, whether commercially manufactured or home built. Numerous on-line language translators are available, such as - FLEXIT leaner sidecar. The ads above are Google-sponsored; clicking on them at every visit and looking at them helps support this website!
The FLEXIT leaner sidecar rig.....history, photos, etc. flexit.htm sidecar section #10 Before getting into the Flexit, a few comments about leaners. Leaners can be set up to be excellent for use with wheelchairs. Leaner rigs tend to be less frightening, to some, who are scared of the conventional type of sidecar rig. Cycle Sidecar - Sidecar Guides: Everything you need to know ...