I'm committed now. After spending a couple of days going around the various UK chair makers, talking to some very helpful people in the British Sidecar Federation, I am pretty well sold on the idea and more importantly so is the wife.
One thing that has come to the fore is that there are almost as many opinions on every topic, forks, shocks, tyres, steering dampers etc. as there are chair makes. I will find out myself with all the advice to hand.
One thing is certain, you are not going to put a new chair on a bike for much less than £ 10k excluding the bike. Deciding not to throw money at it I have managed to source a second hand early Hedingham S/S that I intend to fit to the Steamer I bought from Jay in NI last year (it's still in his shed).
Plan is to get it all together on a budget and see how we like it before starting to spend a lot on leading link forks, rims, tyres and matching paint job. I have treasurer's approval this plan and there may be a Trophy (two wheeled type) at the end of the tunnel if I can pull this off.
I am off to Dubai for a few weeks on Sunday so the project is not going to get started till October when I'll hire a van and collect all the parts together in one place and get the welder fired up.
This is the photo that started it all.
be forewarned ........you will either Love it or Hate it .
There is no middle ground ! :bug_eye
If it turns out you love it , you may as well sell your other bikes cuz you will very rarely ride them .
Tigger 2 has No Chair and has not even been started since last September .
Tigger 4 is the same .
Tigger 3 has a chair and runs daily . I like to think it's because the sidecar has to be moved to get the other tiggers out of the garage , but that just isn't the real reason .
That's a common comment I hear, like it or hate that is.
The main protagonist for this is my missus wanting to join in the fun but in a bit more comfort for longer runs. So I need at least one bike that I can still get some me time, there is still a bit of hooligan in me yet :icon_wink:
if you love it , you'll see what I mean .
you can still be a hooligan with the chair .............trust me :thumbsup
Sorry in advance for the highjack. Still relevant though. :icon_biggrin:
Mustang, I have a couple of old Soviet era outfits and am planning on mounting one of the hacks to my Tiger. I am on the scrounge for sub-frame plans and the like. I ask because as the saying goes, I don't want to re-invent the wheel. I plan on fabricating it myself, largely on account of I am in Sweden and getting something shipped from the US and then paying EU/Swedish customs duty makes it prohibitively expensive. ( They even charge 25% on the cost of shipping) Having built 2 sidecars, 1 a trials outfit and the other an enduro/mx one, I believe I am up to the task. :new_all_coholic Getting it through Swedish vehicle registry/inspection on the other hand...... :Topes
No problem with using this as a common thread for sharing. Might warrant a sticky if we can come up with enough information worthy of sharing.
In my research to date I have seen three variations due to that frame being used for several models. Asking around nobody would admit to having actual plans but Headingham had a pile of bits that they couldn't rember which triple of that era it was for. Whatever you do it's always going to look a bit ungainly.
I will be starting my fabrications in October and will happily share what I do, there might be something you can use.
I remember seeing a 1200 Daytona in France with a chair on it. Guy was a bit shirty to start with because he mistook my incredulous laughing as taking the piss. He soon calmed down though and we had a good chat. Might still have some photos somewhere, I'll have a look...
I will be watching this thread as this is something that i want to do to a Tigger some time in the future. :icon_lol:
With my friend Jay helping out as usual, I managed to get the other Steamer delivered to the door from Northern Ireland.
Now tucked away in the garage until I get back from my next trip.
Managed to get the seller of the chair at home and luckily a good day for it, so it was off to Brechin with the trailer to collect it.
Nice run up, all loaded up in daylight and off down the road. The first couple of miles down the farm tracks made sure anything that was going to come loose was found before hitting the main road.
Stopped for a double check after the first few miles of dual carriageway, beautiful sunny but cold day, snow on the tops of the hills in the distance.
Everything still in one piece by the time I got home thankfully. The unit is a very early Headingham Solo, from when Keith Wash the original owner was making them. Complete and in good shape other than rusty fittings, seat pad been a bit chewed by mice and a few cracks in the gel coat in places.
Now the search starts for a sub-frame or plans to make one.
Hijack. I'll delete this later to keep the thread pure. What's the ratchet strap holding down on the Range Rover????
It's holding down another roof panel, if anyone was going to ask it would be you :icon_rolleyes: That Rangie is getting cut up for parts as soon as I can get the plate off it. There is a CSK under a cover behind it, the long term project in the garage and an early Rangie Ambulance down on the farm, not to mention the two early chassis' under the lean to with a few engines scattered about :augie
Quote from: Sin_Tiger on December 04, 2013, 10:31:49 AM
It's holding down another roof panel, if anyone was going to ask it would be you :icon_rolleyes:
Attention to detail, it's what I do. :ImaPoser
I thought it was a surfboard.
Probably not a lot of waves on the Lochs up there :icon_lol:
By the way Sin, did you get the handguards?
Quote from: rf9rider on December 05, 2013, 01:07:49 AM
By the way Sin, did you get the handguards?
I did thanks, thought I'd sent you a reply, apologies if I didn't, very nice they are too, saving them for the stocker since they are so good. :thumbsup
Quote from: Sin_Tiger on December 05, 2013, 06:57:26 PM
Quote from: rf9rider on December 05, 2013, 01:07:49 AM
By the way Sin, did you get the handguards?
I did thanks, thought I'd sent you a reply, apologies if I didn't, very nice they are too, saving them for the stocker since they are so good. :thumbsup
You might have said so, can`t remember, been away a lot recently in the "other" house :augie
Right. got the new V5 for the tug while I was away, Thought I might free up the brakes and sling it through an MOT just to see how she goes and any other niggles.
Then I had look at the rear rim :bug_eye it was a bit cheese like before but during the winter it has gone severely mouldy Swiss cheese, I think the spokes and the tyre are holding together. I want to stay with spoked wheels, therefore it's time for a new rim with stainless spokes.
So question for Mustang. What width is the Trophy rim that you're using, haven't been able to able to find specs for the Trophy that show the rim width only the tyre size.
Quote from: PompeyLad on August 30, 2013, 10:35:48 AM
Sorry in advance for the highjack. Still relevant though. :icon_biggrin:
Mustang, I have a couple of old Soviet era outfits and am planning on mounting one of the hacks to my Tiger. I am on the scrounge for sub-frame plans and the like. I ask because as the saying goes, I don't want to re-invent the wheel. I plan on fabricating it myself, largely on account of I am in Sweden and getting something shipped from the US and then paying EU/Swedish customs duty makes it prohibitively expensive. ( They even charge 25% on the cost of shipping) Having built 2 sidecars, 1 a trials outfit and the other an enduro/mx one, I believe I am up to the task. :new_all_coholic Getting it through Swedish vehicle registry/inspection on the other hand...... :Topes
How'd you go with finding some sub-chassis plans / ideas?
No luck yet, did you make it up as you went along or work to an existing plan?
Spent the last week all rebuilding the calipers, bike was not movable at all, what fun :icon_rolleyes: , just as well Jay didn't get around to doing that before sending it to me, he would be :icon_mad: as some previous joker had used a pair of mole grips on the pistons :icon_rolleyes:
While waiting for the paint to dry on the bits, I decided to have a play. Hooked up a jumper battery, turn the key, all lights on :icon_biggrin: , hit the starter and she spins over nice and free and the oil pressure light goes out after about 4-5 revs :thumbsup. Hooked up my test tank with some petrol stolen from the other half's lawnmower stash and fill the float bowls. Kick her over and blow me if she doesn't fire first rev :bug_eye
Not enough room to do my little happy :qgreenjumpers but you get the idea. Only problem is she sat at 3500 rpm, choke cable seized, maybe she will rev a bit more, nope, throttle cable seized :icon_cry: oh well, can't win em all, still a happy chappy.
I've a couple of old Trophy rims out in the garage, if you need I can check the rim size.
Cheers, Mustang helped me out, 5.5" if you have a tape measure in your hand next time you're in the shed.
Not out on the Tiger, crackin day for it :wheel
Well things have taken a decidely left turn. As some may have spotted, thanks BB :augie, a Steamer with chair recently came up on Fleabay. After a chat with the vendor and more than a chat with the other half, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. It was all in one piece, already had leading link forks, was already colour matched and was a proven article, unlike my project :^_^
Some waiting and I finally made a bid in the closing hour, after some nail biting and calling up as much Karma as I could I was lucky enough to win. I managed to get down to Bromley South after the weekend to collect it from a very helful vendor who had a huge amount of paperwork from the original (who kept a detailed log) and previous owners, I have come to the conclusion this is the same rig that started me off on this journey (see pic in first post), having featured on an earlier version of Hedingham's website (not there now).
After getting my sh1te together and mustering a fair bit of courage, not having operated a combination since I was in my teens and then only around a field and farmyard, I set off through the streets of greater London just as the evening rush hour was starting to build in search of petrol, the M25 and Scotland. I know, mad as a box of :wav and asking for trouble :nono Well the Gods must have taken pity on me because I managed it without any collateral damage but not without scaring myself on a few occasions, stopped for a break part of the way home and to cut a long story short ended up in a hotel that I hadn't planned on much later than I would have liked, thanks Laterooms.com (not).
Pure coincidence but the bar in the hotel as you see below :thumbsup I don't think I will be getting approval to redecorate with a similar theme anytime soon. Since I was near enough to Hinkley I couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in a little spiritual homage before heading North, I think I caught a glimpse of John Bloor closing his curtains and taking the phone off the hook as I rocked up at his front door, the custom SUS end cans are loud :ear
It's hard to believe but the engine in this thing is the sweetest of the three I now have, and the quietest, I wasn't expecting that after the PO admitting that he had drilled a few extra holes in the end plates because the single outlet had a whistle that he found irritating and the airbox has been truncated on one side to accomodate the subframe but she pulls like a good 'un without a hiccup or flat spot anywhere :icon_scratch:
Serious recalibration has been required, I need to overhaul the brakes, I think the suspension may be getting a bit tired, I will need to do some setting up to suit my loading, after 500 miles in a little over 24 hours, I now know why regular sidecar pilots have neck and shoulder muscles like a Welsh Scrum Front Row but I am seriously hooked and importantly so is the Boss, anybody want to buy a low mileage Trophy SE, I'll throw in a spare sidecar I happen to have lying around?
Cool, that's good buy mate. Are we going to see it in Wales?
Fantastic mate! Looking forward to seeing it. Jackie says the whiskey must've gone to your head.... :icon_lol:
if you grin like an idiot when you ride it ,
it's hard to go back to a solo bike again , you'll want to take the hack everytime !
Yup, going to get a new open lid so I stop deafening myself laughing :icon_mrgreen:
Note to self: try not to make big decisions after drinking English Whiskey :new_all_coholic
have you "flown the chair", yet?
Yes but I wouldn't call it planned or in control :icon_redface:
:bug_eye :icon_biggrin: :thumbsup............ I knew it :eusa_clap
Quote from: Sin_Tiger on April 25, 2015, 08:32:05 PM
Yes but I wouldn't call it planned or in control :icon_redface:
soon you'll be doing it on purpose ................**hint: it will come up a lot easier empty **
the grandkids love to fly ,the dog not so much :ImaPoser
Thought it looked a bit funny but hard to tell when it's upside down. The mounting bracket was actually bent as well :icon_scratch: chicken or egg.
Disconnect the hose, nothing dribbles out, reservoir is definately full, squeeze the lever, no resistance but still nothing. Let's try the other side, same. Disconnect the hose at the master cylinder, squeeze, nada. Here we go again :icon_rolleyes:
Have you serviced the master cyl yet? Sounds like the piston stuck open.
Stupid phone!
Exactly, it's a full rebuild job.
I have tat model of phone too.
By strange co-incidence I was talking to you in the petrol station in Sanquhar a couple of weeks ago on your way to Moniaive....today you leave a note on my bike at my work in Ayr....small world eh?
:5moped
Hi, I had no Idea. That space is usually only used by South Ayrshire Council people, so I thought it was someone local. Sorry I missed you. By the way you do have the earlier engine with the inspection cover, I couldn't resist having a look :icon_redface: anorack is back in the closet now. Glad to see you managed to escape for a run and you picked a great day for it :XXsunsmile :icon_cool: must catch up next time either in down your way or you're up this way.
Its certainly been a good week for 2 wheels thats for sure :5moped
I work for SAC so i'm in Burns House every week day - i'll text you my number and we can catch a brew next time you're in town :icon_cool:
Quote from: bunker on June 12, 2015, 10:23:15 AM
Its certainly been a good week for 2 wheels thats for sure :5moped
I work for SAC so i'm in Burns House every week day - i'll text you my number and we can catch a brew next time you're in town :icon_cool:
That's a bit of a commute, look forward to that :thumbsup