Sidecar match

[Petemate]

Got my eye on a nice Watsonian Monza. Likely minimum power bike for it?
Last charioteering for me was my NTV600 Revere with a chassis on for winter despatching, pulled it OK. Many years before that I had a BSA A7 also with a chassis for winter commuting; me and a mate with a similar rig were the only ones to get into Oxford Airport several times, him from Bicester me from Charlbury, 6+ inches of snow much fun but I digress.
Many more years back than that I ran a Vincent Shadow with a wide-bodied Busmar Astral Mk IV, frequently carrying in the chair wife, her mum, our 3 yr old and our 18 month old. It went well and saw off many a car twixt Banbury and Oxford. So power was sufficient.
Now I quite fancy the XJ600 Diversions, of which there are a few around within my budget. The Monza weighs in at 90kg, and I have read a great article on another forum where the owner of a 600 Divvy attached a Velorex (the model he had was only 5kg less). He fitted a smaller (15t) front sprocket but he reckoned that he could have got away with standard gearing. What does the team think?
TIA
Pete
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82 not out....1983 Honda LA250 Custom
2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport estate
2005 Stirling Eccles Topaz 2-berth

[Teflon-Mike]

Personally think you're mad.
Asymmetrical anathema's the lot of'em!
All the cons of a bike, all the cons of a car, none of the pro's of either, AND you have to push the thing back'ds!
There may be something in them purely for the perversion, and eccentricity.. but then that's back to where I started! I think you must be MAD!
So the answer, MUST be.... ZZR1100!
Hey, if you are gonna do it?
170mph with a wheel-barrow on the side! That gotta be fun up Sunrise! Paint the Valley Red, why don't you?!
Don't think that the weight or gearing would be much of a worry with that set-up...
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[hmmmnz]

i reckon its a job for a royal enfield,
or an MZ etz 250/300
it has to be some thing wacky, and a divvy is just boring.
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Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[JonE]

I agree with hmmmnz definitely needs to be somethng a bit odd/wacky.

I'd love an outfit, if I had the money I'd go with a Ural, my mate has one and it is great fun, on more of a budget I'd go for a Jawa or MZ.

[ScaredyCat]

Reminds me that I found this the other day..

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/188253/general/gssidecar1.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/188253/general/gssidecar2.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/188253/general/gssidecar3.jpg


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508035727789
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Honda CBF125 ➝ NC700X
Honda CBF125 ↳ Speed Triple

[Petemate]

Wow - didn't expect so many responses so soon.
Mike - I have viewed your many adventures with the 125 Dreams etc during my budget resto on my LA250 Custom, and your articles are very good. That aside, I fully agree with the eccentricity bit but not sure about the perversion lol.
So after a 22 year gap before adventuring forth on the LA, I have realised/found that I still have misgivings riding on wet roads. At nearly 80, I need to feel a bit safer but I still love motor bikes and riding them. So the only answer for me is an outfit. Agreed regarding the cons of both bikes and cars but that still doesn't put me off.
Basically, I want a reasonably modern bike, ie 90s on. I want a sports sidecar, which will give me a bit of cred (well, IMHO) So I will see what else comes from this thread. However, your reply was highly amusing and I agree that I am mad (well, look at the contents of my thread starter lol)
Pete
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82 not out....1983 Honda LA250 Custom
2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport estate
2005 Stirling Eccles Topaz 2-berth

[Petemate]

[Petemate]

[Ariel Badger]

What a waste of a Vincent.
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[hmmmnz]

sensible and fast enough for modern road,
it has to be an old bmw air head of some discription,
my r80 can cruise at 80mph all day,(more now that ive rebuilt the gearbox with a higher 5th gear)

a twin of some discription is probably the way forward, as the have the low down torque that the 4 cylinder bikes dont,

a yamaha tdm850 might also fit the bill
i want to say a kawazaki w650 or 800 but they are probably a little to expensive/ unobtainable


i owned a divvy and currently have a fazer, and to be honest both bikes are crap, they do the job, but not with any sort of style, and are both a bit to rev happy to make them any good with a sidecar

keep us posted on what you get, im quite interested
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Rogerborg]

[Petemate]

[Petemate]

[Petemate]

[Polarbear]

+1 for a Cossack/Ural outfit, The one with driven sidecar wheel and reverse gear. (not sure if all are like that).

I would love one of them myself.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[c_dug]

If I was pushing 80 I reckon I'd be tempted by one of these:

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/06/02/08/2948DE5800000578-0-image-a-1_1433230004199.jpg

Boobs not included in sale

A bit pricey mind - they're pushing £9k even second hand.
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[Petemate]

[Petemate]

[Islander]

[Islander]

[Petemate]

[JonE]

[Petemate]

I'm hoping for some reaction on here from sidecar outfit owners - I'm sure there are some. I have also registered on the Federation of Sidecar Clubs forum but cannot post yet as the administrators, who have to clear new applicants, seem to be dragging their heels. Please note this is not a criticism, just an observation - I do realise that they do a good job and unpaid at that.
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82 not out....1983 Honda LA250 Custom
2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport estate
2005 Stirling Eccles Topaz 2-berth

[stinkwheel]

Since we're onto big fat guesses.

I'm going to suggest a Yamaha GTS 1000 (if you can find one) because hub centre steering.

Or an early triumph trophy 1200 because they are big.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

Had an old Panther 500 and Canterbury combo years ago when Living in Dundee and
there is a bit of mad fun in them.
As said and like trikes, they have all the cons of bikes and none of the pros of cars
(unless you get a reliant type thing, did that years ago too)
I wouldn't consider one myself nowadays unless it was for occasional fun rides but if you're determined
a quick look shows there are a few on Ebay with LH cars

Enfield 500
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-ROYAL-ENFIELD-500CC-RED-COMBINATION-SIDE-CAR-/131648461572?hash=item1ea6dc1b04:g:lMIAAOSwQTVV~U0v

Guzzi
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moto-Guzzi-1000-SP-Sidecar-outfit-/311437331002?hash=item48831c8a3a:g:v00AAOSwT6pV5xe0

If you're going to go mad, go mad and avoid the piddly wee Watsonians get a proper side car like a Canterbury
A mate and I had to spend the night in one after running out of fuel near Braemar before 24 hour petrol stations became commonplace. 'kin freezin it was

https://www.stallard-engineering.co.uk/images/bikes/Canterbury-Sidecars-1957.jpg
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