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The R18 sidecar thread

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1789222567#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Petrus
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Red64 said:
Looking at listings while on vacation here in Australia came across the following

Rig for sale in Australia.

I am not sure the price is in line with the listings for low mileage solo bikes. Surprised at how low the prices are here in Australia.
Click to expand...

As having one built is EXPENSIVE the prices are high. This is in the ball park.

And thanks for the link because it is yet another different solution for the mountings.
 
Red64 said:
Looking at listings while on vacation here in Australia came across the following

Rig for sale in Australia.

I am not sure the price is in line with the listings for low mileage solo bikes. Surprised at how low the prices are here in Australia.
Click to expand...
Haha..... was looking at this yesterday. Fwiw.... I'd expect to pay $16,000 for just the bike in the current market (so 20k for the sidecar)..... R18's are the bike bargain of the century in Australia..... generally big twin people here are either HD tragics or just cheap.
 
Noelpolar said:
Haha..... was looking at this yesterday. Fwiw.... I'd expect to pay $16,000 for just the bike in the current market (so 20k for the sidecar)..... R18's are the bike bargain of the century in Australia..... generally big twin people here are either HD tragics or just cheap.
Click to expand...

A new install by a pro will set you back from 12k€ and easily up to18k+.

This is why I pounced on the NOS Velorex in Lithuania.
 
Petrus said:
As having one built is EXPENSIVE the prices are high. This is in the ball park.

And thanks for the link because it is yet another different solution for the mountings.
Click to expand...
The rig is local to where I am staying so have reached out and asked if I can come and check it out. If I get the chance will take more photos of the mountings for you if he agrees.
Anything specific you would like to see?
 
Red64 said:
The rig is local to where I am staying so have reached out and asked if I can come and check it out. If I get the chance will take more photos of the mountings for you if he agrees.
Anything specific you would like to see?
Click to expand...
That would be very much appreciated. VERY much indeed.
What I would like see: is all four mountings on the frame (of the R18). Most importantly the bottom rear; near the foot rest.
What I would like to know: is the setting; track width (distance centre of rear tyre to ditto sidecar tyre), sidecar wheel lead, lean of the bike and the toe in.

Fyi; I want to fit a FIVE point mountings. The fifth acting like a cross brace of the rectangle of the four. Also I have ordered a special extra rigid clamp set for the bottom rear because the two lower fittings are the most stressed. The standard bottom rear is intended to be repurposed as the fifth fitting.

@HUNTS please try stay sort of on topic.
 
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Petrus said:
That would be very much appreciated. VERY much indeed.
What I would like see: is all four mountings on the frame (of the R18). Most importantly the bottom rear; near the foot rest.
What I would like to know: is the setting; track width (distance centre of rear tyre to ditto sidecar tyre), sidecar wheel lead, lean of the bike and the toe in.

Fyi; I want to fit a FIVE point mountings. The fifth acting like a cross brace of the rectangle of the four. Also I have ordered a special extra rigid clamp set for the bottom rear because the two lower fittings are the most stressed. The standard bottom rear is intended to be repurposed as the fifth fitting.

@HUNTS please try stay sort of on topic.
Click to expand...
Still waiting to hear from him. But will certainly let you know
 
Uncrated at the apartment.
Sorting out all the bits and bobs.
With the chassis flat on the floor as the tyre needs to be swapped before mounting the wheel, test fitted the dog:

GiacomoVelorex.jpg

Had a quick look at lead, track et all and because of the loooooong wheelbase of the R18 that puts restrictions on the mountings.
Saw that the seller had a Velorex sidecar booklet in stock so put that on the order and that is a bit of a windfall; it VERY neatly illustrates mounting and all the fitting/set up requirement/measurements. It also specifies the distance between sidecar chassis and motorcycle frame. For mé logical as that is the lever length over which the forces act. Welcome confirmation of me not having OCD about that :ROFLMAO:
 
with the sidecar chassis level on axle stands under the mounting points it is disconcertingly obvious how nose heavy it is. This one is not bad as they come but it sure brings home the message of what MUST be taken into account when choosing the set up.
The less sidecar wheel lead the more lift under the rear wheel in lefthanders.
The further forward, the less load under the front wheel left or right.

Now faffing with the ballast weights. Trying to fit them as far to the off side and to the back as feasible. Because of the ungainly weight have decided to fit them with handles so I can lift them.
 
Petrus said:
That would be very much appreciated. VERY much indeed.
What I would like see: is all four mountings on the frame (of the R18). Most importantly the bottom rear; near the foot rest.
What I would like to know: is the setting; track width (distance centre of rear tyre to ditto sidecar tyre), sidecar wheel lead, lean of the bike and the toe in.

Fyi; I want to fit a FIVE point mountings. The fifth acting like a cross brace of the rectangle of the four. Also I have ordered a special extra rigid clamp set for the bottom rear because the two lower fittings are the most stressed. The standard bottom rear is intended to be repurposed as the fifth fitting.

@HUNTS please try stay sort of on topic.
Click to expand...
Oops, sorry about that. I was just reading about the R18 bargain bit and didn’t read the forum title.
Anyway…. Back to sidecars (with a tail between my legs).
 
HUNTS said:
Oops, sorry about that. I was just reading about the R18 bargain bit and didn’t read the forum title.
Anyway…. Back to sidecars (with a tail between my legs).
Click to expand...
nothing we don´t all do

But back indeed; proceeding slow because methodically.
Just prepared óne weight and fitted it.

BalanceWeightVelorex.jpgAccessVelorex.jpg
 
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Provisionally / test fitted the 5 mounting points.
The one in the middle is the fifth mounting which I want to fit ´diagonally´.

Need a machine shop to minimally modify to fitting on the sidecar chassis.

The width of the R18´s chassis makes wide track nigh unavoidable, but I can still try. Because the Velorex tub is rather sleek, the cylinder is not an issue.



Mounting2.jg.jpgMounting1.jpg
 
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Machine shop postponed till Tuesday :rolleyes:
Have the two ´loosely´ connected.
The dimensions are partly ´imposed´ by the loooooong wheelbase.
I have opted for a compromise with 340 mm lead; júst under 20% of the wheelbase.
The Velorex instruction has the chassis distance between 360 and 380 mm and I opted for 370 which gives a track width of 128 mm.
At the moment have 0 degrees lean and the 3rd ballast weight was very handy on the left cylinder. Hydraulic jack under the left foot peg and easypeasy straight up.
Bit of a bummer about the two fittings but there is plenty else to do; like fit the HEX EZcan or the tub cover etc.
 
nope, don´t like it.
I am a rather ardent fan of it not being right if it does not look right.
´Right´ of course being in the eye of the beholder but in my case of decennia sidecar experience I behold my eyes.
Taken the mountings off again and will try to get it closer together.
Want less leverage on the connections and want a narrower track.
Overnight shone some light on some things to try befóre I take the angle grinder out.
 
Right, have it right. Lead still 34 cm, track width now 124 cm.

Two problems have arisen.
Need to modify the tube for the front top mounting. Where is does fit is simply not good enough.
Second challenge is no alarm module as per instruction, so WHERE do I plug the HEX-EZcan in :oops:
edit: found it. ´Next´ is making it work. Between brackets because a friend is lending me an expert hand on Wednesday.
So while the top mountings are work in progress can focus on the tub. Check ALL fasteners, fit the fasteners for the tonneau, etc.


HEXezcan1.jpgHEXezcan2.jpgVelorexBijna.jpg
 
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Dropped parts off with drawings/measurements and verbal explanation.

Have the ´+´ of the ezCAN connected and who would have thought finding a handy ground would be :oops:

So to distract myself applied pin stripes to the tub which looks very fitting. Think I will skip the mudguard.


PinStripes.jpg
 
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