Jackal sidecar project

[Lee Bruns]

Just finished up this sidecar install for a guy in Minnesota. 130,000 mile jackal got a brand new Velorex.  Photos show some details, if anyone else wants to put a Velorex on their Guzzi, these photos might help.  Fussiest mount is the lower rear. See in the photo that the eyelet on the sidecar end of the arm is horizontal, and on the bike end of that arm it is vertical. Also note that the lower rear clamp is on the TOP of the sidecar frame rail, not the bottom. I have sent my mounts to people to use and too often they come back with 'your mounts don't work well', but every time it is because they've not followed my instructions. 

 

 

 

[url=https://ibb.co/LPNy1gN]
 

[s1120]

Looks nice. Ive always like the simple looks of the Velorex sidecars. Not too old, not to modern...  just works.. 

[Lee Bruns]

I'm trying to talk the owner into leaving the windshield off. It just looks SO right without it on there. The 'universal' mounts that come with the Velorex are really only good fur the upper mounts. If used for lower mounts they can move, and then really bad things happen.

[tazio]

Cool!
I bolted my Velorex to a HD Sportster for a year or so.
Lots of fun and interesting experiences.
When I pulled up the youngsters would think the circus was coming to town.
"The Ultimate Compromise" was how I've heard sidecar use described.
No kidding~gas mileage, tire wear braking/acceleration etc..
A part of motorcycling not to be missed and an incredibly interesting part of our history!

[Lee Bruns]

Cool!
I bolted my Velorex to a HD Sportster for a year or so.
Lots of fun and interesting experiences.
When I pulled up the youngsters would think the circus was coming to town.
"The Ultimate Compromise" was how I've heard sidecar use described.
No kidding~gas mileage, tire wear braking/acceleration etc..
A part of motorcycling not to be missed and an incredibly interesting part of our history!

True. A FUN way to ruin a perfectly good motorcycle. I prefer to use inexpensive 80's vintage liter bikes. (Bang for the buck) knowing that it is a terrible thing to do to a motorcycle, but fun.

[Ronkom]

Pass on to your customer to watch the rear wheel spokes closely on his Jackal. A fellow here in Va has a Jackal w/a car mounted & has had loosening/broken spokes to deal with.
Ronkom

[StuCorpe]

Question Lee, have you made up or installed any brackets or mounting hardware to put a steering damper on an EV with a sidecar.  I'm in the process of trying to mount a VW damper on my 03 EV with Texas Ranger sidecar.  Just curious.

[John A]

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=197_199&products_id=115
I use one of these, it bolts right on and is all I ever needed but I've read that the VW dampers are good and inexpensive.

[StuCorpe]

JohnA, yes the VW damper is a bit cheaper ($25) which seems to fit in with a lot of Guzzi riders.  However you do have to fabricate some type of mounting, right now I think I have it figured out but was hoping someone else had already done it and could give some pointers.

[Lee Bruns]

Pass on to your customer to watch the rear wheel spokes closely on his Jackal. A fellow here in Va has a Jackal w/a car mounted & has had loosening/broken spokes to deal with.
Ronkom

Good info. Thanks for the heads up. I have put them on many EV's but the tubeless spoke design is a lot different than the jackal. I'll mention to him to keep an eye on it.

[Lee Bruns]

Good info. Thanks for the heads up. I have put them on many EV's but the tubeless spoke design is a lot different than the jackal. I'll mention to him to keep an eye on it.

I'm no help on that one.  ON the EVs they have a factory damper, and on everything else, headshake was not much of an issue (Not that I had any issue with headshake on the EVs even). Building a leading link front end for my Suzuki tug right now, maybe I'll need one on that.

[StuCorpe]

The stock damper on the 03 EV was friction type and lasted about 500 miles after putting the hack on.  I don't have a lot good to say about it.

[jrt]

Hi Lee- I don't have a lot to add to this discussion, but I  bought a set of sidecar mounts from you...maybe 10-12 years ago?  Really well made- I sold bike/car, but they worked very well while I had that rig.  Thanks for providing a quality product!

[BillinPA]

Looks good Lee. I used your mounts years ago with my Cal2/velorex. Worked well. One thing it didn't  prevent was the velorex frame from rusting due to W.PA winters LOL

[larrys]

As posted previously, a lot of bike for a light chair. Might want to put some ballast in it when not carrying a passenger. I put together a Velorex 562 with a '69 Bonneville. A 750 big bore kit and a Trident oil cooler made it work. One of the nicest driving rigs ever. The owner's manual came with the sidecar and it had all the dimensions, angles, etc. to put it on a CZ/Jawa 350. I used those numbers to set it up on the Triumph. I wired in a lawn mower battery in the chair behind the seat. It would carry a 1/4 keg of beer with the seat out...
Larry

[Lee Bruns]

Yepper, the customer is fully aware to start with a hundred lbs of ballast while he learns the specific handling of the rig, and over time, reduce it to about 40. I've done probably 50 Velorex installs over the years. The new ones with the big axle have a few frame upgrades also. Ask them to be what they are and they're fine.

[drdwb]

Lee have you ever mounted a Vetter Tera Plane to a California? I’m thinking about taking it off the 1978 XS1100 Yamaha,and putting it on my 03 EV. PM me if your interested in taking part in this project. Have you found a fork brace necessary/ helpful? I’d like to keep the Vetters  trim adjuster feature. I’m about an hour away from you, could we get it mounted and set up right over a weekend?
Dave

[Lee Bruns]

I have too many children to get a straight weekend to dedicate to much of anything. All I do for installs these days is get the bike and sidecar here and work on it an  hour here and there for two weeks. Just not a lot of time all in one chunk.  Last teraplane I did was on a GL1000 and one other was on a GSX1100G. Great chassis on the terraplane, for sure. Happy to make any pieces you need.  I ran a fork brace on my XS1100 and may eventually add one to the GS1100G that it is on right now. Certainly no harm to add a fork brace, can only help. 

[wolfeguitars]

Having just acquired a 2002 Cal EV 1100 with Velorex 565 just a week ago, I find this discussion interesting. The rig runs really well and it's all in excellent condition. In examining what can easily be seen of the frame I found a crack, so I just disassembled the car to check the entire frame, have the crack welded AND add some plating to strengthen and add ballast. Previous owner had the Vel. installed & painted to match in '05 and used it little, The NY installing dealer installed Dauntless mounts & that all looks sturdy. I plan on keeping the rig and riding it rather easily. No rough stuff. The tear down affords me an opportunity to do some rust prevention & touch-up. I live near the ocean & the factory paint leaves some unfinished areas. The 1100 Cal cruiser seems to be a capable tug and a delight to ride. I wish you good fortune with your project.