Sidecar motorcycle for long term traveling

[TravelToy]

We -my girlfriend and I- are looking for a motorcycle + sidecar for long term traveling

Ultimate goal would be RTW, but first some "shorter" trips around Europe, Turkey and North Africa

I was thinking along the lines of Ural / Dnepr, but since the search only started a few weeks ago we are still quite clueless

Any thoughts / ideas / experiences ?

Kind regards,
Chris & Cindy

[BlackDogZulu]

I've never owned one, so usual caveats apply, but bear in mind that the Ural/Dnepr are very crude indeed. The UK importer, David Angel, virtually rebuilds all the bikes he imports. From memory, they are taken apart and properly lubed, the timing etc are set up meticulously, and better kit like decent gaskets and NGK spark plugs are fitted, to bring the bikes up to something approaching Western consumer standards. Even then, they are unlike anything the Japanese or Europeans produce. I looked into all this a couple of years ago and had a chat with David, but in the end I decided that a Russian bike would not meet my needs and expectations. All this would apply even more to a second-hand bike, of course. Actual owners will probably disagree, and I would accept their opinions over my own, but I would strongly advise you to 'try before you buy', if your riding history is on modern machinery.

[2499]

I have a Dnepr mt 1970's , and i used to have a ural. They are very funny to drive, but not very reliable.
You have to have good, to very good mechanical skills to keep them running. The dnepr is exspecially bad.

Badly made get a hole new meaning, when you start to fidle with these bikes.

The original dnepr piston and cylinder wears out after 10,000 km and have to be changed, just to give an idear. Burned valves and piston is commen sinces the carbs are a pieces of junk and therefore can they hardly be syncronized.


The newer urals after 2005 is alot better.

My best advise is to get a old airhead bmw and fit a ural/dnepr sidecar to it. You will spend the price difference in new parts for getting the russian one to run anyway.

[Warin]

The airheads tend to be thirsty when pulling a chair, the K models are better ... but the rear suspension needs upgrading for the chair weight.

In some ways a small 4WD will be cheaper (tyres, rego, insurance etc).

[Threewheelbonnie]

If you have never driven a sidecar outfit, that should be your first goal. They are in no way related to solo motorcycles once you have them out of the garage. Some riders like the mental and physical agility required, others can't live with something that tries to flip over on 50% of corners.

Comments above all deserve a big +1 IMHO

I've had a 650 Ural which was utter **** because I didn't buy from a dealer that rebuilt them and didn't understand that this was a 45 mph outfit with service needs from the 1930's. My 2004 Bonneville was a brilliant outfit until you wanted to move two people and two dogs on the motorway. My K100 could do that. They were all thirsty and more expensive to run that a 4x4. Outfits are for fun not practicality.

Andy

[Dodger]

I fixed a lightweight sidecar onto an XS650 Yamaha last year , just to try it out and see if I liked it.
Now I'm hooked !
This year I'm bolting a chair onto my Vstrom.

My advice would be to try someone else's outfit first and then if you like it , buy a well set up machine from an enthusiast. Aim to buy a bike with 85hp or more .
In the meantime read as much as you can and search the internet for as much knowledge as you can find .
Good luck !

[Mehmet Zeki Avar]

For Turkey..:
1-Must be written on the documents and Turkish road insurance policy as SEPETLİ MOTOSİKLET which you will buy at the bordergate if your green ins.doesnt cover Turkey.
2-Must be very careful during dark time rides..
Side car must definetely be seen clearly by the opposite direction drivers.. Lightening very important;Strong front lights and big red rear lights for the side car is a must for safety..

Wish you all the best..
mehmet zeki avar

[pecha72]

Originally Posted by Dodger

I fixed a lightweight sidecar onto an XS650 Yamaha last year , just to try it out and see if I liked it.
Now I'm hooked !
This year I'm bolting a chair onto my Vstrom.

My advice would be to try someone else's outfit first and then if you like it , buy a well set up machine from an enthusiast. Aim to buy a bike with 85hp or more .

Bolting on a DL1000, right?

I´ve been thinking about this setup (or actually a Bandit 1250 could be even better, and I don´t own either bike at the moment)... but the big problem is, I have zero know-how on sidecars, I have ridden one shortly a couple of times, but that´s it. This kind of conversion is quite a big project, and it´s probably something that I will not even try to make fully on my own. But if you decide to try it, would be interesting to hear, how it works out for you!

Actually I have a well-used DL650 with 85000 kms, that´s practically unused for the moment, as I also have a newer one, so I´d like to fit the sidecar on this one, but thinking maybe it should have some more power&torque for pulling (but haven´t tried, so not really sure).

[Threewheelbonnie]

The main thing with the Wee/Vee would be the subframe. I assume Vee is like my Wee only bigger? You have the centre stand mounts that give you point 1. I'd go under the engine and up towards the radiator for point 2. You them have a problem getting upper mounts as there are no external shock connections or tubes. At the rear I'd come off the subframe near the centre stand connections and head up via the pillion peg and rear frame bolt points, but extend the run to give a sidecar fastening making as big a triangle as you can up near the edge of the seat. You might have to weld a lug onto the rear frame section. The front upper mount will be a PITA. You will probably need to modify the bodywoork and come off the spine of the frame at either fairing mounts (use every single one), or make an MZ style box clamp that'll go round the headstrock. Either way you want the subframe to be as 3D as possible so it reaches across the bike and spreads the load. Once you have four mounting lugs the rest is just assembly, lead, toe-in and lean out aren't rocket science to set up.

If you can't weld and no-one makes a subframe, buy a different bike. Velorex clamps of bits of scaffolding will ruin your day with 70 plus HP in play.

Andy

[Jake]

Try contacting patta he has just returned froma round the world trip on his bmw r100gs sidecar set up look at them on this link Sidecar-Vagabonds and they are currently sorting out somewhere to live in Durham UK He might even be selling the sidecar I was speaking to him a few weeks ago and cant remember if he was or not. Cheers Jake.

[Dodger]

Originally Posted by pecha72

Bolting on a DL1000, right?

I´ve been thinking about this setup (or actually a Bandit 1250 could be even better, and I don´t own either bike at the moment)... but the big problem is, I have zero know-how on sidecars, I have ridden one shortly a couple of times, but that´s it. This kind of conversion is quite a big project, and it´s probably something that I will not even try to make fully on my own. But if you decide to try it, would be interesting to hear, how it works out for you!

Actually I have a well-used DL650 with 85000 kms, that´s practically unused for the moment, as I also have a newer one, so I´d like to fit the sidecar on this one, but thinking maybe it should have some more power&torque for pulling (but haven´t tried, so not really sure).

Yes I'd be using a DL1000 , it has about 100 hp .
A 1200/1250 Bandit would be a good choice as well , it also has 100 horse power and has the advantage of a steel frame which makes fitting the sidecar easier .

A subframe is essential on a Vstrom because of the frame design .
Here are a couple of threads dedicated to subframes .

My Vstrom DL1000 and Hannigan Dual Sport sidecar Outfit - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

Hack "BUILD" pics - Page 2 - ADVrider

A 650 Vstrom has about 69 hp which ,in my opinion, makes it marginal for sidecar duty . If you use a lightweight sidecar and don't load it too heavily it may be fine , it all depends on where you intend to drive and how fast you want to go . Because it's chain drive you can change the gearing to suit the terrain .