Such a thing as too light

People unfamiliar with sidecars often think they can just tack a light weight outrigger on thier bike for use on snowy winter roads. While a sidecar does add stability, if it is too light it can actually be less stable than a solo bike. On a motorcycle you lean into the corners, balancing the bike against centrifical force. On a sidecar you cant lean. Instead you rely upon the third wheel to prop you up in left turns or to act like a counterweight on a lever in right turns. If it is too light the sidecar will come up over the bike when turning right or when crossing a slight slope or over bumpy surfaces. You must match the weight and width of your sidecar to the weight of your bike or stability will be severely compromised

Some rigs need ballast. Some rigs do not.
Beginners may want to use more ballast at first but as they gain experience may
not need so much. The least amount of ballast you need to feel safe is how much
ballast you should carry. Ballast is best made up of useful stuff as opposed to
deadweight. There are costs for carrying that weight- they include reduced
stability turning left, increased fuel consumption and braking distance,
decreased available horsepower. How much these costs are and if they are a
useful trade off will vary by rig pilot and driving style. Rules of thumb are
general guidelines not the Word of God.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Adventure
• Sidecar
• dualsport
• motorcycle
• sidecars
• design
• Oregon
• KLR
• Ural
• Kawasaki

[fantazja1111]

co to ma być i do czego

[Gothtecdotcom]

Good video... I have built a bicycle sidehack to test this very principle before putting a sidecar on my very heavy cruiser. If you place a concrete slab under the body for when its empty that apparently helps alot, as well as having the bike slightly toe'd in!