The Velorex was designed to be used on 250/350 cc bikes. So they are lightweight. Not something you’d want to mount on a big bike IMO. But one of the nicest rigs I’ve seen was a KZ1000 Police with a 560…just had the look.
If money was not factor…….. I’d love a Steib
Lightweight rigs can easily be made as heavy as desired. My lightweight Bingham is not so lightweight now.
True but the lightweight frame might not be up to the task. New Velorex frames are stronger than the 70s models. So some stiffening might need to be done too.
Last edited by Gordon Gray; 09/21/228:30 pm.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
I got mine in 2010 for $500. Passed on a couple before that for the same price. I’m thinking $1000-1500 now????? But you might do better you just might have to remove some awful painted lady with lions on a leash. . . .
There’s a member on here……lives in Ohio that picked one (560) up at a OVBSAOC rally a few years back. Don’t think he got around to ever mounting it. I asked awhile back if he’d sell……he said no back then. Want me to ask him again?
absolutely. the more i look at the velorex the more i consider my aesthetic objections to be bullsh it.
i used to paint cars for a living. you cannot show me a weird paint job that can intimidate me.
I kept up with Velorex USA for awhile and purchased a few pieces from them. I don't remember seeing anything like that. But it's been a long time since I visited them (online) so I don't know what's available now.
We're just gona disagree (and that's not a bad thing) about using the down tube as a mounting point.....by itself. I already admitted I knew nothing about sidecars......LOVED them at 16 but never rode/drove a rig until around 2010..........so I don't have a bank of knowledge. I put a LOT of metal in my subframe....but I was trying to spread the stress across it instead of the frame.....and I tend to over do things. (ya think?)
I haven't shown a closeup of my rear upper strut sub frame...........because it's embarrassingly thick. The bike could be broken in two and that sucker will still look like the day I bodged it. It runs from the swing arm spindle to the shock mount.......then a tang to the rear for the mount. I love it but it is embarrassing.
I have a work background that includes cast in place concrete.....I learned the hard way you can never put to much bracing on a form, but you certainly can put too little.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
"In the pics posted by Kevin show the front upper strut is mounted to the frame of the bike. It's not like your design."
Mounted to the frame.......but also connected to the lower section of the chair's frame?........so I'm gona call that not just the down tube by itself.
Mines mounted to the frame (down tube) too. In two places.
At the front engine mount
And up at the headstock
EDIT: This was a mock up.......there's a loose plate missing (and yes w/longer bolts) that backs up the fixed plate shown.
Last edited by Gordon Gray; 09/22/2212:17 am.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
It got weird when I updated the swingarm ( from Velorex USA) . It used a trailer tire so my lowers had to move. I gave up on that idea and went back to the stock set up.....but with a new shock from Hagon.....haven't looked back and even removed those connection points. (the uppers)
This was my final go at it........first time around I had this cow catcher thing going on......now that was a BAD (or at least ugly) idea.
Don wanted me to do it all in tube but I don't have those skills..( I wish I could have) ...I'm a square
Last edited by Gordon Gray; 09/22/2212:08 am.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
This was a mock up but........I missed the fact that I needed to "sandwich" the headstock. It never made it to the road without this backing plate. Had to use a longer bolt and.......I don't remember what you call that eye bolt the strut connects to......but I needed a longer one of those too.
I'm going to show the upper rear strut's sub frame.........talk about overkill. I tried but couldn't find a camera angle where you couldn't tell how thick it is. Connected at the shock with a grade 8 and a grade 8 through the swingarm spindle. Ridged connection is an understatement.
Since the bike has been down ( waiting on an engine from Ed V) I added a couple of upgrades?
8" TLS front brake....
And.........a BSA oil filter ( Idea stolen from George Walker of Moto Giro USA fame)
Still trying to figure out how I want to finish mounting it.
I miss my rig.......
Last edited by Gordon Gray; 09/24/229:40 am.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
Getting a sidecar over here is often just or more expensive than buying it in the first place... The bloke who was selling and delivering the sidecar to me has let me down, so I bought another on Ebay in Ukraine. $999 for the sidecar and $1300 for the shipping.
Sometimes you just have to cough up.
Hate to hear the seller let you down……Ukraine???? Goodness not sure I’d feel comfortable about that deal.
Good luck
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
Alan……the only info I can find on that set up is a diagram showing the filter laying horizontal (owners manual). But it doesn’t show how/where it’s mounted. The photo I vaguely remember seeing showed it in plain view????
Remember there’s a chair on the other side so I don’t want it over there.
This is for my sidecar tug that is still sitting waiting on an engine to come back from EdV. I made the mistake of telling him it was going to be a spare engine so maybe that’s why it’s taking a while……I need to send him a reminder that I’m still alive and now that engine is going to be the primary.
The matching number engine has had too many “skilled” hands on it and is a work of art……so I just have it on the shelf on a stand so I can admire it. Mr John Healy, EdV and Don Roe have all done some work on it. The Brimfield Engine.
If you can show me how it was done on that B40 I’d be more than willing to explore that option.
Last edited by Gordon Gray; 10/10/2212:45 pm.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
Gordon, is that Darryl's old bike? If so, dang, it does have some history to it.
Think I may even still have some parts shed from it...
Yes sir!!!!!! That’s the one. Do you ever hear from him?
I’ve done a LOT of miles on that thing…..and if I live long enough I’ll do a lot more. That bikes been ridden from North Wilkesboro to Coudersport Pa and back twice! Did around 1600 miles as a loaner to Brimfield and has made a couple of trips to TWOS…..but that’s an easy 500+ mile round trip.
(Of course I only ride in first gear and not really get anywhere.)
Last edited by Gordon Gray; 10/10/221:49 pm.
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"
please see below, the body is painted green here and the WD frames had a bracket welded to the frame, but you could possibly rig something to suit. The B40 has the carb over to the same side as the oil filter so clearence shouldn't pose an issue.
note between crank case and carb.
Life is stressful enough without getting upset over the little things...
please see below, the body is painted green here and the WD frames had a bracket welded to the frame, but you could possibly rig something to suit. The B40 has the carb over to the same side as the oil filter so clearence shouldn't pose an issue.
note between crank case and carb.
Thank you Alan…….I’ll look into that location👍
Gordon Gray in NC, USA........"Did you shoot our car?"