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When you get too decrepit to ride two wheels would you consider a side car, or something else?

Adventure Hack: Africa Twin Sidecar Story

97K views 464 replies 43 participants last post by  Beowulf  
I think @Beowulf there is immense opportunity to take the lead on such a project.

Just think: An AT that is resistant to napping.

Wut power. :whistle:

= = =

But thinking beyond the box:
  • Never run out of battery juice again. (available spare capacity in the car)
  • Think of all the running lights you could add to the car. The creativity level would be limitless ...
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  • You can carry a dawg.
  • You can carry a bigger tool bag (heck, a toolbox!)
  • Forget the tire tubes, carry whole tired rims!
  • Carry more than one 2-4 of beer.
  • Almost never run out of gasoline again.
  • The massive surface area for stickers and labels!
  • Subwoofer: Now that is a Pandora Box discussion.
  • . . .
 
Cool, I would be interested!

Was it DMC sidecars, maybe? Looks like they make mounts and a variety of sidecars that would work on an AT:





So now the thought process:

Would I keep the 2017, low milage DCT that I have owned since new, or buy a new 2022 Adventure Sport, since there are a few bells and whistles on the new bike?

Or switch to a BMW GS, and add a side car?

Decisions, decisions...

Money is not unlimited, but I think I could afford any of those ideas. Just not sure I would enjoy the more expensive options enough to justify the additional bucks.
" ... Sidecar-Beowulf ... " has a certain ring to it.
 
Absolutely... the goal is for it to go places I might not take a 2 wheel bike.

So far, design specs will retain or possibly enhance the factory suspension travel with the combination of Ohlins shocks and leading link front end design. Woody's wheels might be a little tougher than the factory rims, from what I read, at least.

So yes, I want it to be able to go off the beaten path with impunity.
... like this for example:
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Lacing up some fairly stout Woody's 4.5" x 18" rims all the way around, then will start out with Mitas E07 Dakar tires 150/70 - 18 at all three points. I decided that I like the tread pattern on the back of my red bike, so will use it on front, back, and sidecar wheel, only with the stiffer Dakar sidewalls. Tubeless, of course!

I suspect that there will be some fooling around with the front speed sensor ring, to get the rotational speed difference accounted for after the front becomes an 18" rim. The OD of the 18"E07 is actually with in 2 inches of the 21" 90/90 factory tire, so it may be a non issue. Jay, over at DMC says that he can fabricate a new sensor ring, with the right number of holes to make things work, if we need to do so.

Rear tire size remains the same, so maybe Speedo will be happy, if not, Speedo Healer to the rescue.
So reasonable to assume then no dark-siding? :LOL:
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... Scott X series oiler, but couldn't find a super convenient place to hang the reservoir, ...
Project Challenge: Enclose the chain. Never service again. A non-issue since it is unlikely you'll be going through mud pie swamps, and even then it will do the job.
 
I did a leaning sidecar. Had the same problem getting the rig and I grossly underestimated the build. Took an extra year to build. I did the build myself after buying the car and frame. I had to build a subframe for it to mount to, had the tub and frame lineX’d with the top half of the car painted to match my bike.

I was intending to ride to Alaska last summer with my dog but my dog stepped out when the lash point released (I think the vibration and my dog stepping on it allowed it to come out). My dog dislocated her elbow but was otherwise fine. She was wearing Doggles which were completely destroyed but she only had a tiny cut on her eyebrow. Literally worked like a helmet and saved her head.

A leaning sidecar has some extra complication, the big one is the suspension reacts to the sidecar. My bike was starting a death wobble at freeway speeds. I have since added a steering damper, progressive springs on the front, a progressive and adjustable rear shock with a taller stance and it has made it rideable, but it is a different beast when riding.

The main advantage is there are only two mounting points and a power cable: makes it easy to take on and off so I still have a proper Africa Twin for off-road trips. It isn’t so easy to do that I would take it somewhere and drop off the sidecar but with my garage tools it’s about 15 minutes on or off.

Congrats on your build! It is quite the adventure in building a trike and you did a more stable option. I had wanted to avoid changing my tires but that didn’t avoid problems on my end.

One other note, I mounted a hammock stand that folds away to put a hammock tent on the sidecar. It allows me to sleep in “trailer only” parks, have options in marshy areas (Alaska has a few) and I still have a ground tent that easily packs.

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Very, very cool @Skishades.

That is pretty awesome to see - seems to be a popular thing to do these days.

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