Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

A forum for stories, pics and updates of your resto's. Be it a barn find, Grampas hand me down or a bike being brought back to it's former glory.If you are restoring it, show us your stuff!

Moderators: Brant, Sagebrush, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
scootsx2
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2485
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:52 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA

Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#1

Post by scootsx2 »

I am just about finished restoring a Sidekick Sidecar that I attached to my '75 Wing.

Items remaining:
- Tonneau cover from a local auto upholstry shop (any day now).
- EdgeLok trim
- Wire up the sidecar's tail light.

I spent most of this year working on the sidecar intermittently. First the frame had to be cleaned up and reinforced. The wire wheel was rebuilt by Buchannan. Then I had to come to terms with how to attach and align the sidecar chassis. The struts and clevises are from Motorvation. A local shop fabricated two clevis adapters. Along the way I also came to terms with how to work with fiberglass for some sidecar body repairs. The paint is a rattle can job that turned out much better than I expected. The seat came from BassPro on sale. I restored the bike last winter. It rides and handles very well.
Sidecar_1.jpg
Sidecar_1.jpg (72 KiB) Viewed 792 times
Sidecar_2.jpg
Sidecar_2.jpg (78.72 KiB) Viewed 792 times
Sidecar_3.jpg
Sidecar_3.jpg (79.52 KiB) Viewed 792 times
Sidecar_4.jpg
Sidecar_4.jpg (73.55 KiB) Viewed 792 times
1975 GL1000 Sidecar Outfit
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200

St. Louis, MO

The dude abides.

Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
User avatar
rogue1000
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3723
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:28 pm
Location: SLO, Ca.

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#2

Post by rogue1000 »

Nice! Practice a lot before you go into busy places...it is waaaaaay different driving a rig... action1
Brian Crow
1977 gl1000, with California sidecar
"KBO"!! Keep bungling on! Winston Churchill
"Bound is boatless man"
User avatar
Greg
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2774
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 9:52 am
Location: Aurora,In

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#3

Post by Greg »

Very cool.. You guys with side cars best stop showing them , I just might catch the bug.

Greg.
75 GL1000
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24538
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#4

Post by CYBORG »

i think i'm catching it as well
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
User avatar
scootsx2
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2485
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:52 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#5

Post by scootsx2 »

Practice a lot before you go into busy places...it is waaaaaay different driving a rig...
It certainly is. I had a serious pucker moment the first time I made a right hand turn. Then I saw the light. I read the "Driving a Sidecar Outfit" book several times and have practiced with just the sidecar chassis attached and a sandbag for ballast for the past couple of months. I have developed a pretty good feel for the rig and turns and maneuvers have become very natural. I managed to get the alignment right and the rig tracks straight. The sidecar wheel is a bit farther forward than I would have liked so I get some tire scuffing on turns. I also added a VW steering stabilizer between the fork and a strut to tame some shaking on irregular road surfaces.

I do all I can to keep the shiny side up :mrgreen:
1975 GL1000 Sidecar Outfit
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200

St. Louis, MO

The dude abides.

Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
User avatar
rogue1000
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3723
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:28 pm
Location: SLO, Ca.

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#6

Post by rogue1000 »

I ended up taking some lead out of my old sailboat and casting a plate that fits under the seat for additional ballast. It has done wonders for my confidence level riding...
Brian Crow
1977 gl1000, with California sidecar
"KBO"!! Keep bungling on! Winston Churchill
"Bound is boatless man"
User avatar
scootsx2
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2485
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:52 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#7

Post by scootsx2 »

I had a 3/8 steel plate welded to the tubular chassis to add ballast and reinforcement. It added about 80 lbs of weight. The sandbag I mentioned previously was to simulate the weight of the sidecar body - which is actually only about 10 - 15 lbs including the seat.
1975 GL1000 Sidecar Outfit
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200

St. Louis, MO

The dude abides.

Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
User avatar
Sandy
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 1012
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:15 am
Location: Barrie, ON, Canada
Contact:

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#8

Post by Sandy »

Nice outfit.
-----------------
Sandy
1971 Honda CB350
1974 Honda XL350
1975 Red GL1000 (gone from stable but still in the family)
1976 (original owner in 76) Sulpher Yellow GL1000
1977 Restored then Triked Sulpher Yellow GL1000
1976 (garage find completed 2015) Sulpher Yellow GL1000
1978 Watsonian Monaco
1960 IH B414
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76_gl1000_project
User avatar
Hal
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2822
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:00 pm
Location: France

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#9

Post by Hal »

Nice! Do you know what the whole sidecar, chassis, body and link arms weighs?

I think mine is between 70 and 100 kg, but I'm intending to put a car battery in the boot to help keep it on the ground.
"The Moving Finger writes, and having writ, moves on,
nor all your Piety nor Wit
can lure it back to cancel half a line...

so....probably best use Tipp-Ex in future?"

1977 GL1000 in bits
1978 SR 500 Yam
1995 Harley Sportster/Buell street-tracker
1992 Grinnall Scorpion SC3 prototype
2002 Caterham SV 220 Evo (4 wheeled motorcycle) :mrgreen:


Hal's Nalbum
User avatar
rcmatt007
Treasurer
Treasurer
Posts: 31305
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:48 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/rcmatt007/
Location: New River Valley, Virginia

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#10

Post by rcmatt007 »

wow, that sidecar wheel is a long way forward, sort of like a calif car. Stable in the staright, but sire makes turing harder. although it is fairly close to the bike which will make turning easier.... and easier to fly the chair.

sidecars are always so many comprimizes
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
User avatar
Hal
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2822
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:00 pm
Location: France

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#11

Post by Hal »

From what I've read, Harley rigs have the sidecar wheel level with the rear bike wheel, but they are in a club of one.

Normally the chair wheel is 8 to 12" ahead of the bike rear, am I right?
"The Moving Finger writes, and having writ, moves on,
nor all your Piety nor Wit
can lure it back to cancel half a line...

so....probably best use Tipp-Ex in future?"

1977 GL1000 in bits
1978 SR 500 Yam
1995 Harley Sportster/Buell street-tracker
1992 Grinnall Scorpion SC3 prototype
2002 Caterham SV 220 Evo (4 wheeled motorcycle) :mrgreen:


Hal's Nalbum
User avatar
rcmatt007
Treasurer
Treasurer
Posts: 31305
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:48 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/rcmatt007/
Location: New River Valley, Virginia

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#12

Post by rcmatt007 »

you are right that the HD (and the chang and urals) are equal. Usually the wheel is somewhere around 8 to 15 or so. The California car I had was more like 20" (or more-it was a lot of years ago). I actually had Calif car make me a couple of "offsets" for the lower mounts and moved it back 4". the further forward, the more you fight that wheel in a turn (especially right hand turns). the further back, the more likely the car "tips" toward the non existant front right wheel.

Also, the closeness of the sidecar wheel to the bike makes it easier to turn in general, but sure makes it easier to "fly" the chair.
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
User avatar
Hal
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2822
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:00 pm
Location: France

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#13

Post by Hal »

Hah! Yeah....I hadn't thought of the 'tipping' aspect! anim-cheers1
"The Moving Finger writes, and having writ, moves on,
nor all your Piety nor Wit
can lure it back to cancel half a line...

so....probably best use Tipp-Ex in future?"

1977 GL1000 in bits
1978 SR 500 Yam
1995 Harley Sportster/Buell street-tracker
1992 Grinnall Scorpion SC3 prototype
2002 Caterham SV 220 Evo (4 wheeled motorcycle) :mrgreen:


Hal's Nalbum
User avatar
scootsx2
True Blue Steel Biker
True Blue Steel Biker
Posts: 2485
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:52 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA

Re: Sidecar added to '75 GL1000

#14

Post by scootsx2 »

The sidecar wheel is a lot forward of the bikes rear wheel. I don't recall the exact measurement at the moment. It results in a lot of tire scuffing in turns. I wish it was farther back but the mounting points on the sidecar chassis do not allow that. I will probably be looking for a different sidecar sometime next year, something that allows mounting farther back.

The overall weight of the sidecar, including chassis, body, struts, etc, is probably in the 65 - 70 KG range. I have honed my riding skills and rarely lift the wheel on right turns.
1975 GL1000 Sidecar Outfit
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200

St. Louis, MO

The dude abides.

Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Members Restorations and Projects”