6 Responses to “Motorbike Sidecar on a Bonneville?”

1. Ryde on says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   Contact Dauntless Motors, they will likely have a manufactured sub-frame mounting kit,
   http://www.dauntlessmotors.com

   On the sidecar I built for my dog ,I both stiffened the suspension and shortened the gearing.
   I don’t know what a Watsonian weighs, but the Ural I used is over 275 lbs.
   There are some basics in regard to the toe and camber of both the bike and the bucket, but the best way to get a good ride is to ride it ,adjust and align until it’s just right.
2. Skeeter says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   Cool,put some pics on here when you GET R Dun!!!!
3. Dad's found yer scoo'er says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   The most important adjustment is the "toe in", ie the angle of the sidecar wheel to the axis of the bike frame.
4. JetDoc says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   After you get the sidecar all set up, spend some time in an empty parking lot or back country road learning to ride it. You can’t just go straight from a regular motorcycle to a side car rig. The handling with the side car will be completely different and if you don’t get some experience in a safe environment, you may be in trouble the first time you venture out on public highways.
5. G T says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   If you live in SoCal give my friend Doug a call if you need parts or someone to install it: http://www.sidestrider.com/ Doug is one of the owners of Watsonian so he would be a wealth of information.
6. curmudgeon1955 says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   2 more links on drive chain and bigger back sprocket 4-8 teeth. Tires – to side car type or trials/street universal pattern- you will need wide footprint and stronger side walls. Depending on age of Bonneville you may have wire spoked wheels or cast- wide spoke cast is preferred. Swingarm width will limit how wide tire can be used on back – might get a 5.00/120-130 to fit, other wise a antique car tire 4.50×16, 4.50×18, 4.50×19 may be a good choice. Front tire also needs relatively flat profile, not the rounded/triangle profile of lean-over 2 wheeler- again the older pattern universal treads are good. Rear springs may need to be replaced with some stronger springs- you have to see, depends partially what other weight you’ll put in back. BMW riders I occasionally ride with have some sidecar rigs- the other brand sidecars and motorcycles join for some rides, one of the BMW people had a Watsonion double seat enclosed rig at a rally. If you have wire spoke wheels- suggest respokeing with next thicker wire and frequent checks.

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