Sidecar on a 1984 XT600Z 34L

**MotoMedic** · #1 27th December 2007

I am about to embark upon the tedious and expensive project of mounting a sidecar rig to one of my Tenere's. I think it will make a great dual sport rig. Does anyone have any experience mounting a rig like this to the XT600? Awhile back there was an XT600 sidecar rig for sale on eBay. Anyone familiar with it or have any pictures. Thanks for your help in advance.

**Martynbiker** · #2 27th December 2007

Hiya Motomedic........ its indeed possible.. I dont know if i dare post on this topic! the last time I got involved in a "discussion" about sidecars it deteriorated into a war with one member getting a 3 month ban, another getting 9 points ( 10 is a ban) and stern warnings all round.
mind you the 3 months Ban was over in 4 Days..... so that is one good thing eh Caminando?

Right on with the Post!

stuff buying one......MAKE ONE!
Google trials sidecars and manufacturers, copy the designs, the wheel any 125cc trail bike front wheel with a spindle will do, make up some spacers. bish bash bosh job done.
the frame, lightish 25mm tubing with a 3mm wall should do it, (I used box tubing on a trike Ibuilt with a metro engine and a CB125 front end, that was plenty strong, it even passed SVA test)

Suspension on the sidecar may be a prob, again, look what the trials boys r doin. i dont think there is any on a trials setup.

mounting to the bike, 3 mounts is all you need. I would try to come from a front engine mount, a passenger footpeg mount and probably another, but im writing this without a good clear idea of what your looking at doing so its a bit sketchy and from memory.

Dont forget toe in and lean in to make it handle properly!

Martyn

**dave ede** · #3 27th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martynbiker

Hoya Motomedic........ its indeed possible.. I dont know if i dare post on this topic! the last time I got involved in a "discussion" about sidecars it deteriorated into a war with one member getting a 3 month ban, another getting 9 points ( 10 is a ban) and stern warnings all round.
mind you the 3 months Ban was over in 4 Days..... so that is one good thing eh Caminando?

Right on with the Post!

stuff buying one......MAKE ONE!
Google trials sidecars and manufacturers, copy the designs, the wheel any 125cc trail bike front wheel with a spindle will do, make up some spacers. bish bash bosh job done.
the frame, lightish 25mm tubing with a 3mm wall should do it, (I used box tubing on a trike Ibuilt with a metro engine and a CB125 front end, that was plenty strong, it even passed SVA test)

Suspension on the sidecar may be a prob, again, look what the trials boys r doin. i dont think there is any on a trials setup.

mounting to the bike, 3 mounts is all you need. I would try to come from a front engine mount, a passenger footpeg mount and probably another, but im writing this without a good clear idea of what your looking at doing so its a bit sketchy and from memory.

Dont forget toe in and lean in to make it handle properly!

Martyn

Hi, I'm the 9 pointer

!!

Make sure that you post pictures when the outfit is finished, Martyn knows his XT's and sidecars, lots of ideas and veiws were exchanged on another sidecar thread, until 66 posts were wiped off because someone who talked b

ks and knew FA about sidecars it appeared started to hammer his opinions into a few of us

Don't let any negative posters put you off, and don't forget updates and pictures..........cheers

**Martynbiker** · #4 27th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave ede

Hi, I'm the 9 pointer

!!

Make sure that you post pictures when the outfit is finished, Martyn knows his XT's and sidecars, lots of ideas and veiws were exchanged on another sidecar thread, until 66 posts were wiped off because someone who talked b

ks and knew FA about sidecars it appeared started to hammer his opinions into a few of us

Don't let any negative posters put you off, and don't forget updates and pictures..........cheers

NO DAVE! your wrong Dude! That person had a little knowledge, and as we know, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!
I mean, fancy removing his sidecar and riding on a square profile tyre bragging " im so fantastic i can ride on anything" then actually admitting he fell off at the first corner when questioned....

Please get your facts right Dave!

Martyn

**dave ede** · #5 27th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martynbiker

NO DAVE! your wrong Dude! That person had a little knowledge, and as we know, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!
I mean, fancy removing his sidecar and riding on a square profile tyre bragging " im so fantastic i can ride on anything" then actually admitting he fell off at the first corner when questioned....

Please get your facts right Dave!

Martyn

I stand corrected, in amongst all the old tosh he'd written I must have missed that gem, but like your good self we could be skating on thin ice and with our weight will surely go through it, so we need to exercise( not literally

) caution in our replies and I am only 1 point from a

**Martynbiker** · #6 27th December 2007

look here...... nice pics tenere with sidecar & suspension
Google Image Result for http://www.moto2.info/fotos/toro.jpg

**MotoMedic** · #7 27th December 2007

Unlike cookies, I am not sure that a homemade sidecar is going to be best for my purposes. I am looking for a dual sport rig that I can tote a small child in. So it will be rigged with an appropriate safety harness and will accommodate a car seat. The sidecar needs to be partially enclosed for protection. The sidecar will be set up for carrying an injured rider out of the woods, either in the hack or on a stretcher.

After much research, I have chosen a Sputnik sidecar that will be installed by Dauntless Motors in Seattle, WA. They will be modifying the sidecar frame to accommodate the kickstart mechanism. For offraod purposes, I decided that the Ural (steel) was too heavy and the Velorex (fiberglass) was too light.

I chose Dauntless (Motorcycle Accessory Specialists - Sidecars, Trailers, Hitch, Trikes, Parts, Fabrication and Mounting Hardware) because they have extensive experience in dual sport rigs, particularly the KLR650. Check out their site. They have never mounted to an XT600 tug but think it is possible to do what I want. Who wants to drive a plain old KLR anyway?!?!

Any pictures would be appreciated. More details to come from my end once I get her back. I will be documenting the entire process.

Thanks.

**Warthog** · #8 27th December 2007

I have no opinion/knowledge of sidecars to comment, other than I plan to go for a Ural with engageable sidecar drive: the sportman. Plus they have the reverse gear etc.

Not knowing how to, or have the tech skills to do so, I've opted for this make as they've been around for donkey's years and so are likely to have a lot of spares: we plan to travel Siberia and Africa in the future.

A side car will also allow me to enjoy handlebars despite the Estonian winter...

I'll be interested to see the end result.

**Martynbiker** · #9 27th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warthog

I have no opinion/knowledge of sidecars to comment, other than I plan to go for a Ural with engageable sidecar drive: the sportman. Plus they have the reverse gear etc.

Not knowing how to, or have the tech skills to do so, I've opted for this make as they've been around for donkey's years and so are likely to have a lot of spares: we plan to travel Siberia and Africa in the future.

A side car will also allow me to enjoy handlebars despite the Estonian winter...

I'll be interested to see the end result.

The "Urinal" as it is affectionately known is a great piece of kit...also the BMW airhead motor is basically a straight swap.... so you can go to 1000cc if you want & even with BMW 650cc there is more power & more reliable.
and the driven sidecars are FANTASTIC in the snow!

Reverse really handy for when you accidentally go down a dead end road and it is 50 metres long and no turn round at the end.....

not my Urinal combo but my mates, I borrowed it and didnt want to give ut back

Martyn

**Andrew2** · #10 28th December 2007

I reckon you'll find any answer here.
Hacks - ADVrider

Cheers
Andrew

**HaroldT** · #11 9th January 2008

My Yamaha withe a wasp enduro side car

(end 2008 go to western part off afriks in 8-10 weeks with wife (DRZ)

See pics Baghira : photos : Oost Europa Rally 2007- powered by SmugMug

**MotoMedic** · #12 26th January 2008

Just wanted to provide everyone with an update on the project. I have changed horses, or chariots, so to speak. I picked up a used MZ Superelastik seitenwagen (sidecar) that will be mounted the XT600Z. The mounting will be done by Freedom Sidecars in Penns Creek, PA. It should be together by end of April and painted by the end of July. This should be a really cool, unique rig. I have never seen an MZ sidecar stateside. The Tenere should make an excellent tug. Thanks for your input. More to follow....

**MotoMedic** · #13 12th February 2008

I've got traction on my project, finally! I dropped my bike off last weekend for rigging to the sidecar. Set up will be done by Claude Stanley at Freedom Sidecars in Penns Creek, PA. Custom mounting subframe will be fabricated. Sidecar frame will be reinforced to accomodate tub-on/ tub-off operation. Hoist and winch points will be added. Sidecar will be painted to match the bike. Here's a picture of the sidecar almost attached. What do you think?

Sidecar was imported from Iraq after Desert Storm. It's got a bullet-hole in the hood. It's a flip-nose for easy entry.

More pictures to come as the project progresses.

**Dodger** · #14 12th February 2008

Very funky , I love it .
Don't make too good a job of the paintwork or you won't want to get it dirty !

**Motu** · #15 12th February 2008

Can we have close ups of the mounts please? Particularly the front upper.