Best bike to suit a side car?

[The Pastor]

What are your thoughts?

I was thinking a r100 would be ideal.

[Ixion]

I don't think the R100 was qualified for side car work. You need an earlier BMW or an old Brit machine.

[The Pastor]

I don't think the R100 was qualified for side car work. You need an earlier BMW or an old Brit machine.

why ?

[AllanB]

Anything of decent capacity (say 750 plus) that's nice and torquey will suit engine wise. The rest depends on the 'look' you are after - vintage, retro or modern.

Bussa anyone?

There were a few GSX1100 (the big slab tank naked ones) with chairs in the 80's running around at scary speeds!

[Ixion]

There are three other significant factors (if you are talking serious chair work).

1. Gearing. needs to be significantly lower than a solo. Not too big a problem with a chain drive
2. Steering geometry. A chair on a sprotsbike will be a dubious experience.
3. Frame strength . A chair puts a SHIT load more stresses into the frame , and in directions athat the designer never allowed for

The question of HOW to physically connect the chair is also one worth considering. Steel tube frames, not too hard. Cast alloy, hm.

You can't just stick a chair on any bike. Not if you want a safe and workable result.

[Ixion]

why ?

Frame strength and design.

[Voltaire]

Probably due to the rear frame being flimsy and bolted on....but I never knew that at the time I took one all around Europe on an R75/5 fully loaded.

R100 would haul one nicely, probably without dropping the final drive.
Wide bars and a steering damper would help....ideally you'd get leading link front end but $$$$$ and possibly certification.

An XS1000 or any of the big shafty jappers of the early 80's would work.

They are 'fun' but demanding to ride.

I had a Chaing Jaiing a couple of years ago....fun even with the chair on the right and good for 'air' time lifting the sidecar.

[Ixion]

The /5 (and I think /6) were sidecar qualifed.

To some extent it may be just a "there's not enough people do it now to make it worth the paper work thing". Germans being what they a re.

Some of the Brits used to have two series of bikes - heavy weight, with sidecar lugs. light weight, no lugs.

Of course it does depend on the weight of the chair. A light box sidecar will be a different proposition to a Busmah DA.

[The Pastor]

are/were sidecars detachable?

[Ixion]

Well, classic ones (ie not kneelers) certainly were. And you probably want a detachable, cos otherise getting a wof will be hell on earth (as will getting it vinned)

[The Pastor]

Yeah im thinking about getting a decent bike at the end of next year, and have always liked sidecars and boxer engine bmws. (but i dont know jack about em)

what are you refering to with the /5 and /6?

[Ixion]

Model versions. /5 was older /6 /7 later .

Can't remember the years, but someone will

Expensive now though for a /5 or /6

Someon here (Rosie ??) had a BMW (R80 ?) with a chair. So the R80/100 series can take a chair. I'd still ahve some reservations about fatigue and so on over time.

Even the Brits used to twist the frames occasionally.

Bear in mind that spirited cornering on a combo will have the chair wheel a couple of feet in the air.

That's a lot of weight levered off the frame. Even without a couple of hundredweight of passengers

[crazyhorse]

A hyosung????????????

Make sure you have a good swinger. Cause they'll need to push it along too

[Ixion]

Probably the best bet nowadays would be either a Harley or a Moto Guzzi.

That said, they fit them to Vespas.

[Voltaire]

A /5 is the one shown on my profile.
1970-73ish

/6 to 76
/7 to ummmm 79

all much the same design wise.

Sidecars were not approved by BMW after 1969....veboten.
There was one at the Bikeoi or Bikehoi if you live in Wanganui.....heavily braced with a fibreglass Watsonian GP...which in the sidecar world are light.

When I got the Chaiing Jaiing Vinned I was quietly told to bring it in as a solo.... the square section tyres were strange to ride on.