GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I have searched and searched and am wondering if anyone knows if/how/what type of sidecar can be mounted onto my '98 GS500??

Thanks in advance.

I don't have any advice for you, other than to search for sidecar manufacturers...

But that's a cool idea!  8)  
Well, cool if you're not driving on US roads... The engine might be just a little too weak for traffic conditions here.

You could always look at manufacturers at http://www.sidecar.com/manufacturers.htm and ask the expers some questions :)

And then buy a used one somewhere... you'll need a different rear tire and the sidecar mounting hardware might be bike-specific.

I doubt the Gs's front end would handle a sidecar  very well-there's alot of lateral loading on the front end.... You'd likely have to do a conversion front end ( tack on 1000-1500$ on top of the sidecar price..)....

I'd think about buying a Ural if you have to have a sidecar....NEW ..top of the line price is under 10 grand for a Ural with a sidecar ...most sidecars cost almost that much alone and then you have to have them setup...(there is actually a science to sidecars...)......


a Ural is a copy of a 1939 BMW (russians copied it for world war 2....factory was moved to the Ural mountains...(German couldn't bomb there..) So the name became the Ural....

It's 1939 brakes...and just about everything else....but they are fun..(I've driven one)....

Sidecar rigs are a completely different animal to ride...

I'm a closet sidecar enthusiast....(someday...I will have one..)...


Armec (they make the sidewinder....VERY cool  rig... lets the bike lean/ride pretty much normally..)...EML... JAWA<<--they may still be around  I think.....


Goos luck.

Most sidecar rigs aren't based on sporty bikes, favoring torquey engines and a stable chassis.  I doubt you could find 17" tires for sidecar rigs anyway.  I noticed that besides the Ural, you can buy a new sidecar rig using an Enfield Bullet 500 (long on low-end torque, short on HP).  I noticed on ebay a month or so ago, some guy in Indonesia had a Vespa scooter with a sidecar rig.  That might be great for getting around Jakarta, but I don't think it's up for highway travel. ;)  
For the money of a sidecar rig, you can get a older Mazda Miata for the same price (and a helluva lot less hassle). :cheers:

There is a UK manufacturer "Watsonian" that is still in production, they have recently had a new lease of life assembling Royal Enfields to a "custom" standard. If the Enfield bullet can pull a sidecar I don't thing the GS would struggle, sounds like great fun! There is a guy with a vespa and sidecar runs around this town and it looks the biz.

These people might be able to help,   www.sidecars.org.uk

Go for it, let us know how it goes.

There's a tremendous difference between a Bullet's power delivery and a GS's.  With a 6.25:1 compression ratio, long stroke, and a flywheel resembling a manhole cover, the Bullet's only strong suit is low-end torque--  exactly the type of power that is required to get the combined mass of a bike, car, rider and passenger moving.   Accomplishing that feat with a GS  would require drastically lower gearing so the powerband would kick in at an appropriately low speed.  The end product would be a rig that would be screaming down the highway at 60 per in top, and would still eat clutches on a disturbingly regular basis.  Notice most of the modern sportbikes in the pictures for the UK sidecar link.   It appears that the predominant bike is a Yamaha FJ1100/1200; the bike with "locomotive-style torque" that critics raved about back in the day.  
    The reason a Vespa can get away with such foolishness is it uses a centrifugal clutch, and I'd bet drivetrain components are short-lived regardless.  If I was going to try this stunt at home, I'd begin with a '70s Yamaha SR500, and source a bolt-on heavy flywheel from the Japanese aftermarket.  On second thought, I'd search the classifieds for a used TR-4A in either red or BRG.  If I wanted quaint, I'd lash a wicker picnic basket to the boot--  with leather straps, of course! :cheers:

Quote from: JLKaspersome guy in Indonesia had a Vespa scooter with a sidecar rig.  

I saw several in India. I even took a picture of one in Mumbay. Unfortunately the light was not ideal, I should have used a flash. Note the tonneau cover. The vespas are actually local replicas, they are not made by Piaggio, but some other local brand.



Edit: It looks like direct linking is not allowed. Click here to see the image:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/63525630/63525846PiiYEf

If you want it bad enough, you can find a way, this guy did

http://www.farm.net/~mason/motorcycles/sidecar/gs450.html

I am sure that JLKasper is correct, engineering wise, still it would have been a great experiment (with someone else's bike)

The Vespa and sidecar local to me are the genuine article from a genuine enthusiast, looks new but it's vintage 60's.

Lastly those pix that Blueknyt found reminded me of a colleague who "does the monkey" in sidecar racing, you have to be truely certifiable for that.

DA MONKEY!!! yes, didnt think anyone knew what that was.  Its neat watching the racers in the UK.
http://www.sidenet.co.uk/Gallery/2003/valencia/pages/image1.htm

page 4 tuning gallery of joris's site
http://www.bikepower.net/gs500e-power/gs500e-power.htm

bottom row #2

Just came across this on another board. It look like it could be adapted to the GS withouth major modification to the bike.
http://www.armec.com/

Quote
ARMEC's Tremo Leaner sidecar is light, easily detachable and steers like a solo motorcycle. Repeat the Tremo Leaner is to be driven like a solo bike, leaning, left or right as the road demands while the sidecar remains firmly horizontal. The sidecar consists of a fully MIG welded frame, stress free annealed, sanded and epoxy powder painted. The body is fully rubber mounted featuring the Swiss Made Rosta suspension for a smooth and comfortable ride Yes and just in case, for those solo riding days or if you have limited garage space, you can disconnect the sidecar from the bike in less than 10 minutes. The support frame simply stays on the motorcycle without affecting the solo performance at all.

Quote from: Turkina on February 24, 2004, 11:05:36 AM
I don't have any advice for you, other than to search for sidecar manufacturers...

But that's a cool idea!  8) 
Well, cool if you're not driving on US roads... The engine might be just a little too weak for traffic conditions here.

You could always look at manufacturers at http://www.sidecar.com/manufacturers.htm (http://www.sidecar.com/manufacturers.htm) and ask the expers some questions :)

And then buy a used one somewhere... you'll need a different rear tire and the sidecar mounting hardware might be bike-specific.

gear down front to 14 tooth acceleration issues solved. k&n filter helps and prper exhaust too will help it wont bea speed racer but shell keep up with traffic and pass it too

Yama - reviving a thread from 2004?  :cookoo:

I love it when this happends...lol.  GO YAMI.
:)
Actually interesting read, I never thought about side cars befor.

i saw a vespa 40 years ago with a factory sidcar on it and it went extremly well for a 175 cc IN TOWN