From: davet@interceptor.cds.tek.com (Dave Tharp CDS)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Opinions?  Jawa Sidecar on a Wing?
Date: 22 Jan 93 22:13:33 GMT
Organization: Tektronix - Colorado Data Systems, Englewood, CO

In article <1993Jan21.005135.16690@nsscmail.att.com> cel@nsscmail.att.com (clayton EDward LEIHY iii) writes:
>My SO thinks it would be neat if we put a sidecar on our 86 Aspencade
>(then she would give her 86 Shadow to our 26-year-old son as a
>birthday present, and she would co-pilot the Wing).  I don't mind
>this idea, even tho I've never driven/ridden a bike with an extra
>wheel.  I'm willing to learn.
>
>The question is:  The closest/cheapest sidecar dealer to NJ is this
>Jawa distributor on Long Island who says, "yeah, their sidecards
>will fit on a Gold Wing; just drive it up and we'll put it on while
>you wait."
>
>Sounds fine to me.  What's wrong here?
>
   I have a Velorex (Jawa) 562 attached to my ol' BMW 500.  It's well
made, works great, and was very easy to attach, using the Velorex
universal mounting kit.  The instructions showed attachment to a Wing.
It is very light (165 lbs), and rather small,
which suits the little 500 just fine.  Their larger model (700) would
probably be more appropriate for a Wing.  I recommend a publication
called "Riding with a Sidecar" which is available from the United
Sidecar Association.  It's translated from German, and contains all
kinds of useful stuff about setting up the rig and learning to ride it.
The USCA's other publication, "Sidecar Operator's Manual" is completely
worthless.
   If you attach one of these to a Wing, learn to ride it without a
passenger, with at least 75lbs. of ballast.  Don't use a sack of
concrete (I made this mistake, and it was a bitch to clean up), barbell
weights obtained from a garage sale are best.  Don't take the ballast
out until you have driven it at least three months.
   Other ideas -- 
   You can put a big car battery in the hack for ballast, and never
worry about starting again.
   Fuel consumption goes way up with a sidecar, and lots of people put
auxiliary tanks in the hack, along with an electric fuel pump.
   Watch the way the tires wear.  Very short tire life indicates
incorrect toe-in or lean-out.
   Get a hydraulic steering damper, as used on race bikes.  All sidecar
rigs tend to wobble badly at 20-30 mph.  Beefy fork springs might also
be necessary.

   In general -- It'll work great, and be a lot of fun.  But driving it
will be nothing like riding a motorcycle, or anything else for that
matter. 

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| Dave Tharp                      | DoD #0751   | "You can't wear out       |
| davet@interceptor.CDS.TEK.COM   | MRA #151    |   an Indian Scout,        |
| '88 K75S  '48 Indian Chief      | AHRMA #751  |  Or its brother the Chief.|
| '75 R90S(#151) '68 CB450(#751)  | AMA #524737 |  They're built like rocks |
| '65 R50/2/Velorex  '57 NSU Max  |             |   to take the knocks,     |
|       1936 BMW R12              | (Compulsive | It's the Harleys that     |
| My employer has no idea.        |   Joiner)   |   give you grief."        |
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