The Norfolk & Suffolk Junior Mcc will be running sidecar classes on two routes (Novice and Dead Easy). At their Christmas trial at Stonehill pit, Gt Hockham, Thetford, Norfolk. IP24 1SD. on the 15th December 2013. 10:30 am start.
This event will be laid out on the easy side as a "fun event", to encourage new/beginner crews. Entry fee for sidecars is £18.00 and entry's close At Start.
If you would like more info please feel free to phone me on 01502 568252
first thing check your head stock bearings! If you have been using a jet washer to clean your bike you may well of driven water and mud into the bearings and any grease out. I had symptoms like your describing on a bike a few years ago, sometimes the head stock would seem stiff and sometimes it was fine. In the end I stripped the front end to find that the bearings were completely shot.
Act now and you may get away with just cleaning and re greasing them.
If it's an ACU event at the absolute minimum you will need clothing that covers body and legs, boots of approximately knee length (only safety type wellington boots made of rubber,leather or plastic will be allowed) and a crash helmet, all this is covered in the ACU hand book under ACU TSR 12.
If you are a youth rider you will have to have your arms covered and have gloves that cover hands and fingers.
Bear in mind that my outfit is fitted with a foot peg on the swing arm for the passengers right foot. So more than half their weight is going straight to the wheel and not through the rear suspension. If you are using a "floating deck" setup, the passengers weight will pass through the rear shock. So you will need a much heavier (Sidecar specific) rate spring. Ian at JAM sport is the best man I know to talk to about this.
Up front I am using the standard fork springs, but have gone for 300 ml of 10 weight oil in each leg and set the damper screw to about half way in.
Hope this helps and if you have any more questions, I would be happy to help if I can!
We had our first run out on the new outfit yesterday and Boy! was it fun. So much easier to ride than the Bultaco. More power, better steering (it go's where you point it) and about half the weight. all in all well worth the work!
This is a different sidecar to the one I have on the Bultaco M49. I got this one from a friend for £150 and the one on the Bulto my son and I built from scratch.
We have been using the Bultaco as much as we can, the wife and I hope to be out on it his coming weekend in fact.
But all the steel work is done and in for sand blasting and powder coating!
I'm using http://wwww.aerocoat.net who are just down the road from me and do a great job.(had them do my Bultaco's frame) They do a semi mat/silk black that is a spot on match for the beta frame.
I have also made a new floor for the sidecar from 3 mm aluminium and new side's and top for the nosecone from 3 mm polypropylene sheet.
The sidecar bug has bitten deep, I see! Once you have one you just NEED more. Well done Bultoboy. Have you found anyone crazy enough to passenger for you?
Cheers bultoboy, I'll keep it coming. I'm hoping to get it all done in the next week or so. I've just started sorting out the twist that was in the nose cone of the chair which is taking a bit of thought and head scratching.
But it can wait until Monday now, as we are trialing with the Norfolk & Suffolk Junior Mcc this weekend.
How did you construct and bush the swing arm on the chair?? I would love to see some more pics if you have them.
The Bruce Rushton chair I have has ball race's like wheel bearings and on the chair I built I used "silent" (polyurethane) bushes. Land Rover Panhard Rod bushes to be exact.
This is the swing arm on the chair I built. I will take a photo of the Rushton chair's swing arm. but it is a piece of tube for the bearing's a piece of box section as the arm and a second tube for the wheel's axle.
Sunday 29th September, The Norfolk & Suffolk Junior Mcc will be running Sidecars on two routes at our trial at The Trials Park, Corton, Suffolk, NR32 5LE.
Camp site at the venue, Entry's close AT START. For info check out http://www.easternacu.org Events.
I've ordered a new shock for the sidecar from Falcon Shock Absorbers Ltd. All done by email and sat phone,(as I'm in the middle of the North sea) , Robin was very helpful and said he had the correct shocks in stock.
I'm still using the Hebo 07 gear I got eight years ago! Still fits too. Know what you mean about the newer stuff, me wife's Jitsie kit isn't as good and we do tend to get through gloves about every six months!
This is my son at a resent trial. as you can see the lanyard is well tucked in behind the bars. Anything pulling it off would be giving him a lot of pain as well. When riding I tend to tuck any slack into my glove or under my palm.
The thing about turning up at a trial and finding you've left it behind isn't an issue as you will get into the habit of checking it of the list. bike,check. fuel,check.helmet,check. boots,check. Lanyard,check. also it lives on the bike and we loop them onto the end of the bar's.
Unless the ACU changes it's mind they will be compulsory on all bikes ridden by youth riders as of next year.
I know what you mean about the Boots! For a big spend it may be worth a drive over to Cambs Trials Centre. Paul Davies is an A1 guy and if you give him a phone call in advance I'm sure he will get in the sizes and make's you would like to try.
Hope to see you on the 29th. and as I said we have a route to suit Beginners if you fancy bringing you bike!
First off, welcome to world of trials and the forum.
In answer to your Question, NO not a trials shop in the hole of East Anglia. But Paul Nash & Chris Edwards hold small stocks of spares/accessories.
Nearest trials "shops" are Cambs Trials Centre in March Cambs and Stevens motorcycles in kent.
I have always had great service from Trials UK and BVM Moto when purchasing things from there web sites or by phone, And would thoroughly recommend them to any one.
Another great place to practice/ride in the east is the Trials Park, Corton, Suffolk, NR32 5LE
About a 45 min run up the A12 from Ipswich. There is a Centre trial there on the 29th September being run by the Norfolk & Suffolk Junior Mcc.
every thing there from Electric and youth classes through pre 65s to sidecars with routes to suit all abilities.
Modified Rack.
in Trials Transport
Posted
What a brilliant idea !