Sidecars
 

Hello,

Only my second post on the HUBB, but hopefully one that someone might be able to answer.

Has anyone taken a sidecar into Morocco?

I'm planning for 2009-10 and currently have a choice of my MZ or (Hinkley) Bonneville-Ural combo. I'm sure the MZ will result in a few interesting bar room stories (like the one where it siezed the week before the Elefant!), but to be honest I think I'd prefer the outfit. I did a similar trip back in 2003 (Solo F650), and the only issue I can think of is that the border officials might think it's too wierd, chair on the "wrong" side etc.

Any Thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks

Andy

I think it is no problem to go by siodecar.
Some dutch people have traveled view years ago also by side car into africa.
Normaly I had planned also by side car too Ghana but i decided too go by solo (shipping cost is much lover than when sent side car)

welcome to HU, good to have another Elefantisti here!

There's a few of us around!

Hi Andy
Welcome to the HUB :welcome:
I’m thinking of getting an outfit at the end of the year (I have a triumph 500 with an off road chair on it at the moment)

What is the bonnie like with a chair on it?
Has it enough power to pull a Ural chair as I would think they must be heavy

Any chance of a few pictures of the outfit

Good luck with the Morocco trip

BOB

side car track width
 

Here .. if you're going off the sealed stuff .. yuo need the track to be the same as a Toyota Lancrusier.. otherwise you're constantly fighting the road surface with either the chair wheel or the bikes wheels.

Take a look at F2 Ural motorcycles web page. David Angel liked the conversion so much he's put the pictures on the site. Alternatively join us on the sidecars UK Yahoo group or drop me a mail and I'll send pictures. I don't have my own web page, but might eventually work out how to upload pictures onto here!

The Ural chair is only 10 kg heavier than the likes of a Velorex and way more practical. Take the seat out and it is just a huge metal pannier. 10 inch wheels and fibreglass just don't work for me, you can't drill a hole when you need space for a tool box, jerry can or clip to hold the dogs harness.

This is a Hinkley 790, so something like 60 hp at the sprocket. It tops out at about 75 mph (lack of streamlining) and cruises nicely at 60. Not as fast as the BMW R1100R outfit I ran before (80 hp I've seen 100 mph on the GPS) but a lot more practical (it doesn't have FI failures for starters). Compared to a 40 HP Ural it's quick. I wouldn't object to a few more HP but wouldn't trade for fuel economy/range and the ability to carry stuff. The only thing I'd swap if for is one of the new FI Bonnevilles once they've been proven as reliable.

I never had any hassle on farm type tracks. The lowest point is the sump on the bike, everything else is about 6 inches clear. The best bet is therefore to plonk the bike in the right hand track and leave the chair to it's own devices. You end up at some odd angles but that's normal for three wheels, the chair just tends to hop over anything it meets. The biggest hassle is very deep narrow ruts especially in the wet. For traction it's better to stand on the right peg. If this puts your foot below the level of the rut you can be in trouble as unlike a solo you don't have the opportunity to ride on the crown and pushing back to pick a different line can be a pain! Proper off road outfits are much shorter in the "nose" to stop this grounding, but hopefully I'll never find a downhill that steep where I go. Still, at least i've got the space for the showel!

Andy

You chaps probably know about Hubert. If not. have a look here - The Timeless Ride Hubert Kriegel BMW Motorcycle Raid World Travel Sidecar Adventure Gespann

Ural motorbike images from f2 motorcycles ltd

Hi is yours the black one with the screen? At the bottom of the sidecar pictures page
If so nice bike

With a bit of luck that’s the sort of outfit I would like
I do like the Ural outfits but you hear so many horror stories about there reliability that it puts you off a bit and they are not cheep now are they

Did you fit the sidecar yourself and
Was it a new one or second hand?

Is there a fitting kit available or the bonnie or did you have to make up your own?

I just bought a Ural. A 2007 model as luck would have it. I think the reliability issues do exist on the older models, but I'm told by dealers and enthusiasts, alike, that the newer ones are far better with German gearbox and pistons, Jap electrics and Ducati ignition controls. The trick is to be very regular and prompt with servicing: namely change the oil/filter, set the tappets and balance the carbs every 1000 miles and you've a longlasting bike.

Every 1000 sounds like a lot, but consider the cost of a filter and 2 litres of oil, and then consider all the service costs of a regular bike every 3-4000. All this servicing can be done by you. They are slow and they are basic, but if reliability is all that is stopping you I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

One thing you do get is a bike that was designed (albeit in 1803...;-)) to carry a sidecar, as opposed to a solo that is converted with inherent risks to bearings, spokes, headraces etc from the new, unaturally stresses they suffer.

BTW. Spoke to David of F2 yesterday, actually: really helpful guy and veruy genuine. Top bloke!

Winterbiker
 

Hi,

Welcome. If you scroll down this thread,

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...goldwing-33656

you'll find a post by Winterbiker with a link to his trip on a rigid-framed special & sidecar - quite informative.

Indoors

In sand the chair wheel will drag and pull - so you have to counter steer .. after 200 miles you'll be worn out. If the chair wheel and bike wheels are in the tyre tracks the drag is a lot less!!!! You might find some sand in Morocco... ?

That's the one. Mine was a new chair modified and fitted by David Angel. What he does is cut off the Ural specific fixed mountings and weld on normal sidecar ball type mounts and a plate to give the right lead. Given the price I really couldn't be bothered risking the project with my dodgy experience of sidecar set up's and really really dodgy welding. David is a first class guy and I'm sure would give you a lot of support. The only Bonnie specific item that's useful is a subframe from Watsonian that goes from the centre stand holes out to the lower rear ball via the footpeg mounts. Bottom front uses the frame bolts, both tops are Velorex type clamps.

Urals are improving. I had a 2001 650 for about 7 months at the end of which it was heading for the showroom window! It only ever ran on one cylinder and ate head gaskets and valves at an alarming rate. I'd probably eventually fall out with Ural riders over the standard of the current crop, but they are way way better and improving fast. I've seen them incorrectly set up where main bearings etc. have gone with pretty low use. People who lived with the old ones seem to accept this sort of thing. Even if you get one from F2 that's right (rebuilt at new almost), there are limits though, with 40-odd HP you aren't doing a lot of motorway work and do have the oil changes, carb balancing and valves to do. The reverse gear etc. is fantastic. I'm waiting for maybe 2010-11. They almost definately have to go FI for the emissions requirements. If they do it right you'll be getting Moto Guzzi/BMW airhead/Triumph performance with all the nice Ural features and a few less things to fiddle with.

People have said before that the chair wheel drags in sand. I never really noticed, but I probably havn't gone far enough. That or I'm probably odd, got one arm longer than the other or something! :eek3: Thanks for the advice, there isn't a lot I can do about the track width, but as this is a learning trip I'll make sure we have alternate routes/timing.

Andy