Author Topic: My new tiddler (Read 7498 times)

Sasquatch Jim · « **on:** October 15, 2017, 05:54:36 PM »

Is now complete and painted and mounted. The sidecar got the toe In was adjusted yesterday, along with lean out.
10 mile test ride showed no bad manners at all. 0 amount of head shake and no tendency to pull to either side.
It was cold today at 51 to 54 degrees F. I went to dinner and bought a space heater and a battery charger for the winter to knock the chill out of the garage when I want to tinker in the winter.
The Suzuki Van Van is a great tiddler for around town and short trips.
When I moved here I saw a lot of golf carts around town. I wanted one until I found they were very restricted about
where they could be used. Hell, I could not go to the big R outdoor store or Wally World or any of the stores on the other side of Rte. 66 or on any road with greater speed limit than 35 MPH.
The cost of a golf cart with all the stuff to make it legal was 2000 to 2500 dollars above the cost of the vehicle.
I bought the Van Van and went to work building a sidecar. It will only go about 55 MPH but that is double what the best golf karts can do. And it is legal on any road or trail that a motorcycle can use.
Too dark and cold for photography today so that will have to wait for a better day.

Muzz · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2017, 07:51:15 PM »

Hopefully it will serve you a lot better than the Rokon did Jim.

oldbike54 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2017, 08:15:54 PM »

Plus golf carts aren't any help attracting young ladies

Dusty

Shorty · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2017, 12:40:31 AM »

Didn't happen without photographic evidence...

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2017, 03:27:19 PM »

Okay Shorty, How do I post photos? I forgot. Someone told me the new way without bike pics or photo whatsis, but I forgot. Directions need to be on a sticky at the beginning of the site.

Triple Jim · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2017, 03:34:22 PM »

Where are you living now, Jim?

Shorty · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2017, 05:36:50 PM »

Quote from: Sasquatch Jim on October 16, 2017, 03:27:19 PM

Okay Shorty, How do I post photos? I forgot. Someone told me the new way without bike pics or photo whatsis, but I forgot. Directions need to be on a sticky at the beginning of the site.

If you have the pics stored on your computer (the only way I know how to do it), you hit the "add images" link in the "reply" box. You can then browse your images on your PC. Pick the ones you want, then hit upload. There are possibly more ways to do it, but It's beyond me......

Oh and the rules say you must include pics of your latest nubiles as well..........

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2017, 06:31:14 PM »

Okay I will try to post the images here. As for the nubile, I don't live in Hawaii anymore so all there is around here are the Walmart fatties. Besides, the wheelchair is a damn effective birth control device.
Oh, I now live in the state of Ill Noise. Where it took 6 months to get all my titles and license plates changed from Hawaii to here.

Shorty · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2017, 07:34:38 PM »

That looks cool. I bet that saddle is ace!

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2017, 08:42:17 PM »

Yes, it is. It also has factory oil cooler, fuel injection, comfortable riding pos., 520 chain, and a few other niceties.
Not bad for 200cc of a civilized duel purpose bike. Oh and same price or maybe a few dollars less than the Yamaha TW 200.

Muzz · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2017, 03:21:28 AM »

Nice functional looking unit Jim.

Interesting way to mount the steering damper. Who came up with that one? Work ok?

webmost · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2017, 06:53:45 AM »

Yep. That saddle looks way comfier than the TW200.

Explain me how that fascinating damper works from the sidecar to the front wheel.

This rig reminds me of a guy north of Baltimore goes by the name TwoWheels rides a Wing with a wheelchair bracket like that. Had both legs clipped off by a train when he was a boy. But I don't remember any such damper on his rig.

Now you got to join FSSNOC & tiddle on over to a couple of their ThumperCafes. Great bunch of practical & down to earth fellers.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2017, 07:55:39 AM »

I have always com up with my own designs for steering dampers. That particular one is the only position I could use because of the fat tire. With the forks that far apart the distance moved was longer than the stroke of the damper.
By moving it up and out I was able to get a place where it used the whole stroke and no more. It works fine.

RinkRat II · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2017, 09:26:14 AM »

Nice Job Jim

Was the whole rig your design or did you start out with some pre built unit?

Paul B

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2017, 09:07:01 AM »

For the lower parts I modified parts from a sidecar frame from Enumclaw, there rest is my own.

Tom · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2017, 09:11:16 PM »

Looks close to where you put the damper on my Eldo. I'll have to look at it closer. IIRC it got bolted to the end of the axle utilizing the hole that was there.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #16 on:** October 19, 2017, 08:24:19 AM »

There is a steel bar held on by the same bolts that hold the caliper. It is 3/8 inch thick so I had to use longer bolts.
Same type him joint as yours. I turned the front to full left turn and that stuck the damper way out and still didn't get full use so I had to move it forward some so as to keep full turn angles.

Tom · « **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2017, 12:47:27 PM »

Looks like a VW steering damper?

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2017, 02:10:56 PM »

That looks AWESOME, Squatch !!

What's your cruising speed with this rig?

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2017, 09:33:15 PM »

As for cruising speed , that has a lot to do with which way the wind is blowing. And the engine only has a little over 200 miles on it, so I'm still taking it easy.
I just got done welding up a wheelchair carrier that fits on the back of my Honda sidecar. It sits about 10 inches lower. Friday I'll take it to be blasted and painted.
A V.A. nurse visited me today and sucked the blood out of my arm. She also checked out the brands I am wearing from all the welding on these things. The worst was about 1 1/2 inches square 2nd degree burn inside my forearm.
Oh, and I used to be a member of FSSNOK. The was back when I had multiple 650 singles. I went to several of their rallies. Sometimes riding more than 500 miles for a 1 day rally. Sometimes solo sometimes on a sidecar rig.

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2017, 07:53:46 PM »

Hey Squatch, just got my new Rider mag and a guy talks about what it's like riding his new VanVan 200 in central Callifornia. He says it's a 5 speed and top speed is 65 mph. Wet weight 291#. 56 to 66 mpg. It's a 3.5 page article w/pics.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #21 on:** October 29, 2017, 06:35:47 PM »

Well my Van Van is finally complete. I got the 54 tooth sprocket and longer chain on Saturday and today I put them on. My top speed is a little over 50 MPH and cruise is 45. The wheel chair hangs on the back and the steering is perfect with no pull to either side or any hint oohed shake.

Tom · « **Reply #22 on:** October 29, 2017, 07:15:44 PM »

Looks good. How does it ride?

TimmyTheHog · « **Reply #23 on:** October 29, 2017, 07:31:21 PM »

I read that title REALLY WRONG...

ANYWAY! Great looking add man!

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #24 on:** October 29, 2017, 10:25:17 PM »

Quote from: Sasquatch Jim on October 29, 2017, 06:35:47 PM

Well my Van Van is finally complete. I got the 54 tooth sprocket and longer chain on Saturday and today I put them on. My top speed is a little over 50 MPH and cruise is 45. The wheel chair hangs on the back and the steering is perfect with no pull to either side or any hint oohed shake.

You done real good, Squatch.

Now you have practical around town transportation. Just what you wanted.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2017, 08:39:21 AM »

The wheelchair presents a lot of wind resistance which is why I went from 46 to 54 teeth on the rear.
Makes it much better. This should get some oohs and aahs at the VFW bar from all the other cane walkers.

O · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2017, 09:41:59 AM »

I

and give a

to your dedication to riding!

Tom · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2017, 01:11:09 PM »

Jim....makes you wish that you kept those flannel lined jeans.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2017, 02:10:44 PM »

Yes, but I did not know I would be leaving Hawaii
And it has been cold here, down in the thirties this last week.

guzzisteve · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2017, 02:41:39 PM »

Cold? Must be the IL plate causing that. Great looking rig Jim, nice rigging too!!

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Author Topic: My new tiddler (Read 7498 times)

oldbike54