Anyone have a Convert hauling a sidecar?

[Guzzi relic]

Curious about whether this would be a good combination.
Short story is I'm looking for a sidecar rig and there is a Convert for sale 5-6 hours from here that interests me. Its a "solo" bike but if suitable I could then look for a sidecar.

Long story--- I bought my 1974 Eldo in 2005 and it did sidecar duty up from then until last season when my only other "street" bike was down for a month. (1972 Suzuki Two stroke ruptured an inner crank seal).

So I temporarily removed the chair from the Eldo and since have really taken to riding it the way it was meant to be.
But my wife misses the sidecar and to be honest I enjoyed it too. So the search is on for another complete rig or a bike that I can attach my old one to. Hence my interest in the Connie.

thanks for any feedback offered.

Ken

[Lee Bruns]

Sure. I've build two for customers. Great tug. Have at it. WHat brand of hack are you using?

[Guzzi relic]

The chair I had on my Eldo I built myself. Steel tube frame with a rubber torsion axle suspension. Fiber glass body with a hinged seat.
I purposely built it big to fit my wife, (at the time lets just say she wasn't tiny), small dog and camping gear.
It turned out ok and we logged almost 20,000 miles.
But I'm an amateur and for my first attempt it turned out heavier and wider than it needs to be. It sure is stable but the Eldo had trouble making 60mph on hills or against headwinds. Plus no matter how much I played with the lean out and toe I could never get the right pull completely out of it over about 55mph.
I even swapped out my Eldo triple trees for V7's which helped. Never the less it served us well for all those years and miles.

So at this point, I'm trying to sell this sidecar, (I have a potential buyer with a Valkrie-that should pull it!) and I'd like to find a Velorex or something similar that would be easier on the bike and easier on me. As I age I was finding the rig was really taxing my shoulders etc on longer rides.
If my home built chair doesn't sell I might re-engineer it somehow. I might be able to reduce the overall weight by a bit but I think the main help would come from taking 3 inches out of the width to reduce the track. It also uses a 13", 5 stud trailer wheel/tire on a 1" spindle that I might be able to change to something with less rolling resistance?


Back to your experience with Convert rigs --- I always thought they should work very well and with the fluid coupling, (torque converter) should be less strain on the drive line, u joint, splines etc?
And I'd expect better performance from the larger engine than with my Eldo?

Ken

[fotoguzzi]

And I'd expect better performance from the larger engine than with my Eldo?

Ken

that will all be lost in the fluid coupling  .. But as long as you don't mind slow a Vert will be good to go.. a LL fork will make it a dream machine..

[Shorty]

I had a Convert/Ural combo. It easily powered the 250 plus pound chair and passenger. Not having to shift, nor dance with the clutch on steep hills is a joy. I had trouble keeping the battery charged, a common Connie fault. I ended up Appalachian engineering a car alternator. There is no engine braking, you get used to it quick.

[nick949]

You should try mine solo first Ken. It's comfortable at 60 and will go faster but I could see it being a bit of a dog with a loaded chair.

[larrys]

My first Guzzi was a '76 Convert with a California sidecar on it. It was badly put together and so out of line it was darn near undriveable. After I sorted out the mounts and alignment it was a nice driving rig. I wouldn't want one for my only ride, gotta have a solo, too.
Larry

[rodekyll]

A lot of Convert tugs out there.  It will do it.  My trike has a 1200 Breva motor and a Convert torque converter.  My 76 'vert has an 1100 engine and no shifter.  It's a bit of a hot rod by Convert standards.  But the bigger engine would make hauling a chair so much nicer.  If I was making a hackVert I'd be looking for a basic, unrunning donor and wedging in a bigger engine.

$0.02

[Hacksaw]

My 76 Vert has tugged a Milray Coupe Royale sidecar for most of the 10 or so years I have owned it. It has towed a cargo trailer behind it as well as a 1988 Bunkhouse camper. While maybe 'slow' by freeway standards, it has always performed well and is a solid platform.

[dsrdave]

Love mine with a Ural chair.  If you have any shoulder issues I'd HIGHLY recommend a leading link front.  Absolutely transformed mine.  Also may want to upgrade the charging system.

[Guzzi relic]

Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate all the info and experience.
The bike I'm thinking of looking at has the EuroMotoElectrics alternator and the Dyna 3 ignition along with a few other upgrades.
Of course at this point I'm only going by the description in the ad.
I'll follow up here if I make contact with the seller.

again, thanks gentlemen!

Ken