I build new sidecars and also do a refurbishment and fitting service. For a brand new chair fully fitted to your bike, you are looking at around £2000 > £2500 depending on the wheel/brake option. Yes very easy for a father/son team to ride, there are a few father/son father/daughter teams around. Normal minimum age for rider or passenger is 16 years old. But it is possible to get a dispensation from the ACU for a passenger of 14 years old. But you would need to talk with them and meet some requirements regarding experience of driver/ passengers previous riding etc. Recommended bike would be, the newer the better Road registered (as a lot of the nationals are road based) and a 300 2T if possible, but a 250 will cope with most things.
Yes, after every three rides is about right. I change mine after every National trial (road based events) or after three local events/practice rides. And yes Transmax Z does discolor and it's nothing to worry about.
On a side note I have had my clutch plates last two and a half years using only Transmax Z and pulling a sidecar from new. I used to run Beta Evo's and would need new plates at least once a year.
My 2017 300 Combat came new with 9:38 sprockets fitted and my 2017 300 Ice Hell 10:42. Both give the same 4.2 to 1 gearing i have gone to a 9:40 set up on the Combat as it's pulling a sidecar.
there are pleanty of them around over here, many gave me advice on how to modify my outdated outfit, they just don't seam to be forthcoming via this method
It's because we spend our time out riding them.
As pointed out Australian chairs are totally different to what we use over here in the UK. so what works for us here may be totally wrong for others. That said, here is what is the normal set up here in the UK.
Track of outfit:34.5" (this is the minimum allowed under ACU rules). sidecar wheel leading rear wheel by between 9.5" & 10.5" and toed in by 1.5" over the wheel base of the bike. Bikes rear shock fitted with a spring of around 900 to 1000 lbs per inch and sidecar shock (with 2" travel) with a 130 or 150 lbs spring depending on passenger size. I like to use the optional heavy duty spring in my front forks and I also use 10 w fork oil. As for gearing the bike down, I use a rear sprocket that is a couple of teeth bigger than stock. That's about as far as I'll take it today, but if people have specific questions they are welcome to contact me.
If you get the geometry correct you shouldn't need adjustable mounts. But do make the sidecar detachable. The most important dimensions are, Track of 34.5",Wheel lead (sidecar wheel spindle 9.5" > 10" ahead of rear wheel spindle) and a toe in of 1.5" over the wheel base of the bike. I set mine in a jig that I built. The bikes suspension is unloaded and fitted with the heavy duty rear spring. For a modern mono bike your looking at around a 900 lbs per inch spring (so you may find that your air shock will struggle). The tires are at working pressure and the bike set vertical in the jig. Most of the sidecars used have the sidecar wheel vertical or cambered in a little and the vast majority have a suspension geometry that increases the camber in as the sidecar suspension is compressed. These are just a few I have done in the last few years.
Hi Evo Boy, not a hard job at all. To tell you the truth the hardest part was getting water pump bracket over to the side enough to get the the fuel tank top/pump assembly out. once it's out its just a case of cutting the single ear hose crimps and then pop the hoses off each end. You will need two new hose clips to fit the new filter with, ideally single ear hose crimps. I think they are 12mm (I happened to have an assorted box), or you could maybe get away with a couple of high torque hose clamps (bare in mind that the pump supplies up to 3.5 bar).
Well it turned out to be the (throttle position sensor (TPS) had failed, new one from Vertigo UK is £33.40. I did check the fuel pump and lines as suggested and when in there I changed the in tank fuel filter. It's a Mahle KL97 the same as is used on the KTM 250, 350,450 EXC and loads of other fuel injected bikes. After two years the filter was looking pretty grotty and they can be had for around £16.00 here in the UK (KTM recommend changing theirs every 50 hours).
Hi Paul, the early 2017 models had problems with the fuel pressure lines inside the fuel tank where the lines could rupture (inside the tank) which means you are not getting sufficient fuel pressure to the injector and the motor feels like it is running lean and is fuel starved at higher revs. If these are your symptoms, then it is likely that a hose has ruptured. I found it very difficult to locate any flexible 6mm fuel hose in NZ that was designed to run under pressure and fit for immersion inside a fuel tank. Vertigo have replacement kits for this, try your local dealer. Bye, Peter B.
Cheers Peter, I'll check the fuel pressure and if low I'll pull the fuel pump out of the tank and have a look, Paul C.
Out for a ride This morning and my 2017 300 combat started blubing and running like a bike running low/out of fuel (it had a full tank). It cleared for a bit and then as soon as I started opening the throttle it would bog, but would tick over fine. I stopped the bike and then it wouldn't restart. After a long push back to the van I changed the plug (Had a good spark) and swapped battery, but It still wont start. I can hear the fuel pump cycle when I set the start button. So I'm thinking Injector blocked or a fuel pressure issue. Has anyone else had something similar? Any practical advice?
I can confirm that the Norwich Vikings & Norfolk & Suffolk Juniors are welcoming to sidecars (I ride them when I can) and that Southend & District Mcc run a proper sidecar class and have three rounds of the Centre championship planned for 2019. They are 17th Feb, 7th April and 6th October and all are at Poles wood, Brentwood.
There are currently only three or four active sidecar crews in East Anglia at the moment. But we do get guys coming up from Kent & Sussex to the Southend trials and if you don't mind traveling we do have a British championship with a clubman & a newcomers class. There are 11 rounds in 2019 with the first one being in Surrey on the 3rd March.
Trials sidecar outfits are like hens teeth. But if you are looking for a twinshock, you can't get better than a proper Beamish Suzuki RL outfit and if you decide that you want one built, then give me a call, as I build quite a few outfits (six last year alone) and do currently have a second hand chair in stock and I tend to know when others come up for sale.
If you would like to try out a modern sidecar outfit, I'm in Lowestoft, Suffolk and we have a great practice ground just up the road at The Trials Park, Corton, Suffolk. First photo was taken at a N&SJ Mcc trial in Suffolk, second in the Isle of Man at the Manx two day trial.
Hi Andy, The Southend & District Mcc are running a sidecar class at their October 7th trial at Polos wood, Nr Brentwood, Essex. Regs & entry form here http://www.easternacu.org/gazette/2018_Sept.pdf
If it's just sticking o ring seals, replacing just them should fix it. I doubt the spring will need renewing. I'll be replacing the o rings soon, so will let you know if it fixes it.
We have two Vertigos, A 300 Camo and a 300 Ice hell, both 2017 models. My Camo has no clutch rattle and my son's Ice hell does (disappears as soon as you start to apply any pull on the leaver). His clutch action is also stiffer than my bikes and I suspect that the O rings for the clutch piston are sticking and the "clutch piston spring" isn't pushing/holding the piston against the "clutch release armes"(triangular plates) allowing them to rattle. Check out page 25 & 28 for parts brake down.
I always do my best to keep the outfit moving and drive round turns. But sometimes the sections are just laid out so tight that you have to hop the outfit (something I'm not good at). You can always tell when the section has been plotted by someone with sidecar knowledge.
2017 300cc Combat sidecar outfit. One of only two that I know about. I've had this outfit for nearly six months now. It rides really well and I'm loving the power output of the Vertigo (had a 300 beta Evo the last few years) and we've had no mechanical issues with the bike.
Yes. We have a soft start-fast that my son has had first on his Beta Evo 125 and now on his Beta Evo 300. Must be four years old now, still looks like new and shows no signs of wear.
If your after original then Beta UK. They hold good stock levels of beta parts are very quick to dispatch orders and do FREE UK delivery on internet orders. http://www.beta-uk.com/
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I'll only use Motul 300V 5W30 in my 300 Evo.
So Little info
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I build new sidecars and also do a refurbishment and fitting service. For a brand new chair fully fitted to your bike, you are looking at around £2000 > £2500 depending on the wheel/brake option. Yes very easy for a father/son team to ride, there are a few father/son father/daughter teams around. Normal minimum age for rider or passenger is 16 years old. But it is possible to get a dispensation from the ACU for a passenger of 14 years old. But you would need to talk with them and meet some requirements regarding experience of driver/ passengers previous riding etc. Recommended bike would be, the newer the better Road registered (as a lot of the nationals are road based) and a 300 2T if possible, but a 250 will cope with most things.