Side car recomendation needed

[Rwatkins]

This would be for a 2000 VMax.

 

[Fire-medic]

No experience with this product, but claims to be made in USA:
Classical RocketTeer Side Car Motorcycle Sidecar Kit (rtsidecars.com)
$2,000



Steib is a brand used on European brands of bikes. Steib sidecar S350 and S500 for Vintage BMW, Triumph, Vincent etc. | eBay ($6,900)

They are very traditional in appearance.



Here's another brand, but almost 3X the price of the RockeTeer ($5,400)
The Ranger Sidecar – Texas Sidecars for motorcycles and scooters

 

[Tom Determan]

Leave your Max unmolested and get a BMW, BSA, Triumph, or a Ural and be done.

 

[one2dmax]

I've seen a few Vmax's with sidecars and even have one that I debated installing at some point. I would however sell it if you were interested? Currently installed on a CB900 so you would have to make your own mounting brackets. It needs cleaned up and a new screen plus other misc. You won't find a cooler looking one though!

It's the Terraplane model.

 

[Fire-medic]

The wedges look more-modern, but I like the zeppelin-appearance of the Steib.

Have you ridden that much, Sean? I recall the R-50/R-60 BMW's came with sidecar brackets/lugs to make installation of a sidecar fairly-easy. One of my So. FL friends is having his father's 1954 R-68 BMW, bought new, refurbished as a gift for his father, who still rides occasionally. No sidecar on it. The work is being done at a shop I've been to in W. Palm Beach FL, they have a good reputation.

 

[Parminio]

I've seen a few Vmax's with sidecars and even have one that I debated installing at some point. I would however sell it if you were interested? Currently installed on a CB900 so you would have to make your own mounting brackets. It needs cleaned up and a new screen plus other misc. You won't find a cooler looking one though!

It's the Terraplane model.

I can see that with a Star Wars Y wing fighter paint scheme on it strapped to a yellow Vmax.

 

[Incider]

****** leg means I can't trust holding a solo up.the black one has been on the roads just over a year including 6,400 km around Europe last year. The red with leading link forks should be finished in a month

 

[one2dmax]

Nice. I think it's very common for the front to get modified to a car type tire which i think helps with wear and handling. I've also seen versions that have power tilt pistons that is run by a switch on the bar (with your thumb) to tile the bike and sidecar which I always thought was cool too.

I haven't ridden the setup that I have but it was bought from the original owner. The entire bike and sidecar are available if anyone is interested. The CB900 Custom hasn't run in more then a decade (or more) and actually has a secondary trans to make it into a 10 speed actually. If you look carefully you can see the dual shifters.

 

[Sidecarjohn]

Sidecars should be considered seriously. Before venturing into this take on motorcycling it’s important to determine what is required. Big touring trips, short rides to the local hangout, off road ventures, and crucially with, or without passengers (dog ?). Your purpose is key because what you put together, or purchase as a job lot, should be suitable for your needs.

Key to the whole venture is information and advice that stems from knowledgable sources rather than the inexperienced “experts” and naysayers. Dialogue such as “rode one once and it nearly killed me”, “why would you want to spoil a perfectly good bike”, or “there for old guys who are passed it”, should be expected.

So, a source of information and advice about sidecars on the Adventure rider website;
Hacks
Also, happy to provide information via a personal message or;
https://www.sidecarjohn.co.uk/

A Vmax with a sidecar is unusual, but not an absolute rarity. There are some good examples around Europe and a few have emerged over the years here in the UK. Obviously, more than enough power, which requires respect. We have had ours now for some time and it has proved ideal for extended rides in Europe and the UK. After 50 years of Honda and BMW powered rigs, plus some less glamorous options, including a 250 cc two stroke workhorse, the big Yamaha is the most powerful by far. Near 100 mph towing a small camping trailer just to see what it would do sticks out as a less than sane experience. The sobering thought is that it could have gone faster !

 

[Fire-medic]

Near 100 mph towing a small camping trailer just to see what it would do

That must have been exciting!

Sean's comment:
"The CB900 Custom hasn't run in more then a decade (or more) and actually has a secondary trans to make it into a 10 speed"
one of my fire-rescue co-workers had one he bought new. An interesting concept, but nothing in-which I had ownership tendencies. The CB750F, CB900F and the CB1100F were more interesting to me. I had a two year-old CB750F in the early 1980's, but I sold it after being blown-off by a 911. Then I bought the first of several KZ1000's.

I suspect a CB900 Custom would make a great match for the proper sidecar. Around town, the low-range tranny would make for sprightly performance, and on the open road, the high-range tranny would make cruising more relaxing in RPM's and better economy.

 

[one2dmax]

I suspect a CB900 Custom would make a great match for the proper sidecar. Around town, the low-range tranny would make for sprightly performance, and on the open road, the high-range tranny would make cruising more relaxing in RPM's and better economy.

This is almost verbatim what the original CB owner said! Have the best of both worlds. Vmax's did not exist when that setup was made!

 

[odinmagnet]

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to diagnose this parameter without disassembly, so you have to rely only on a driving test. The motorcycle should not lead to the side, and it should fit into left and right turns with equal ease. in any case, it is better to entrust this test to an experienced rider or mechanic. Another weak point is the steering column bearings. They often get hurt when installing it. So be careful. I've read a lot about it using ข่าวสารยานยนต์ รีวิวรถ ข่าวรถยนต์ เปิดตัว รถออกใหม่ . Try to use it, maybe you will find something useful for yourself.

 

[ZAMMAX]

Hello you good folk. im new, swiss pensioner (71), living in Lusaka,Zambia. recently flew to Cape town (SA) to buy my first VMax after riding 55 years on BMW, HOREX, Triumpf and ofcourse various Japs. A friend of mine here in Lusaka was looking for a side car for his '99 Goldwing. Hence the add for a VMax with home built sidecar in Gumtree(south african second hand online site) looked like a win win situation. The seller, a senior from originally the UK, built it together with his son, had a serious hip problem and couldnt mount it anymore. It was a solid construction,all MIG welded with a 35 litre aluminum tank under the seat (gave the bike an autonomy of 500km). I was a little afraid during my first test drive as the handle bar started to shake at low speed but became quiet at 30km/h and up. I found out later that this was due to the heavy front wheel extension construction. this was added for easier steering. {trail} pushing the handlebar forward with both hands corrected this low speed wobble. after days of rubber stamping all the necessary documents for exporting the bike from South Africa and importing it to Zambia i hit the road up north ,crossing Botswana to get to the Zambian border. A pitoresqu 3000 km journy , some of it in game parks with giraffs and elephants crossing the road...took me a day to convience the zambian customs officer that this is still a motorcycle and not a chinese commercial 3-wheeler and happily got home. now i have 2 jobs: A the mating of the sidecar with the Goldwing and the total refurbishing of the VMax as it consumed 1.5 l of oil for 1000km. Its an '88 model with the upgrade of the 43mm fork