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!

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Hi Andy
Welcome to the HUB
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

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.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

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