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07-25-2008, 12:33 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? I'm seriously looking at buying an old 1000 Goldwing for my sidecar project - and wondering the pro's and con's before I invest ....... as I keep thinking the bigger - the better for hwy. runs - and know I probably couldn't hold a wing anymore due to weak knees and back - especially in city traffic (kinda imbarrassing being picked up in the middle of every intersection) <grin>  ...... but with a sidecar - I'm thinking very possible - as long as I keep it going forward <smiles> ..... Anyway, would appreciate your comments before I get too deep ...... Cheers, n' Happy Trails ..... Bryan '78 CX500 z (running good) '78 GL 1000 (in my dreams!) Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-25-2008, 3:52 PM Anonymous Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? I've got a Dneper sidecar mounted to my '83 GL650. I too keep thinking I need more horsepower. The Goldwing is a good candidate, but I 've got to tell you, my GL650 can pull 80 mph on the flats with the sidecar. When I first started to learn how to handle my rig, I thought is was a wallowing pig. It had some bad habits that scared the you know what out of me. I have since gotten used to the quirks (low speed wobble, sidecar wheel lifting on right turns, and front wheel washing out on hard left turns). It's still a wallowing pig, but a Goldwing just be a bigger wallowing pig. I think sidecars are like playing golf. You need a different club for different conditions. I need a light weight rig for dirt riding, a high performance low slung rig for tearing it up on the twisties, a mid size traditional rig for work, and a touring rig with a 2 seat chair for the family. Oh yeah and 4 more jobs to pay for all the fun. Mark in Idaho

07-25-2008, 3:57 PM roadster5580 Joined on 01-18-2008 Atlanta, GA Posts 73 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Where's Side Car Bob?  I'm sure he can give you some valuable in sight.     Report

07-25-2008, 5:04 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Aye Mark - I hear you loud and clear ...... I'm still pondering - n' was thinking about buying a complete Dnepr kit from Ohio (only $4,500) - but the bike engines suck - albeit really like the sidecars !!!  - so sent an email and they want $3,000 for the sidecar plus $500. to ship it here - so basically giving away the bike <grin> .......  anyway, I love my ol' CX500 for around town, and running the shoreline roads ...... and can very well ride a great distance - overall  (about 300 miles or so) with many stops .....  - but have been thinking about riding even greater distances ie" the Amish Rally or across Canada ....... so also want to take my doggie with me - and what better way than a sidecar !!!!  Yet, don't really think the CX 500 will handle the extra load ....... especially via any Hwy ....... so I'm still sitting here pondering n' do like the idea of building a unique sidecar n' custom fit to a bigger engine .......  yet, is 1000 too big - as know Sidecar Bob has a 650 with sidecar and 1000 without for summer ???? Cheers, n' Happy Trails, Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-25-2008, 7:59 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Actually have decided a change of plans - as now have figured out my main goal has been over the past 6 years is to go home to Ontario - and be able to ride the ol' routes - so now thinking a better plan than ridin' with sidecar n doggie by my side - would be to haul my bike in a enclosed trailer - and still be able to bring my doggie in my wagon - and have the ol' CX in the trailer (plus sleeping quarters) - so that's my plan and now looking for a 6ft x 8ft trailer - or more likely gonna build it .......... Cheers, n' Happy Trails, Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-25-2008, 9:14 PM Sidecar Bob Joined on 03-02-2006 Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Posts 978 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? GL1000s make great sidecar machines. I had one with a Dnepr sidecar years ago and it would easily cruise at 75 MPH all day and go faster when you wanted. The biggest problem with a GL1000 is fuel mileage - solo on a good day a 1000 will give you maybe 35 MPG if the wind is at your back. When you add a sidecar you can expect to loose at least 20% and more like 25-30%, and with the price of fuel these days......... Re importing a Ural "kit" from the U.S.: There was some discussion on the Canadiian Ural &Dnepr Riders (CURD) forum about this a while ago. Apparently the kits are collections of parts that were left in the Ural factory when it closed. It is my understanding that a lot of them were rejected for use in production and, if you know anything about Soviet quality control, that speaks volumes about what you would have to go through to make a roadworthy machine from them. On top of that, unless the vehicle is on Transport Canada's approved list it would be almost impossible to register it here. They concluded that it would make much more sense to look for a good used Ural. Re hauling a CX: Maybe 5 years ago there was a series of articles in Cycle Canada by a fellow who hauled a CX behind an Astro mini-van with a mattress in the back. His philosophy was that, although he could have gone everywhere on the bike, if he travelled in the van he had his own bed to sleep in every night and he was fresh enough to use the bike for side trips to interresting roads and sights. But he didn't have a furry companion with him. Re building a tailer: From what I have heard (none of it confirmed) you can buy a trailer frame from Canadian Tire for about the same as it would cost for the materials to build one. The box is the easy part. GX650EI + Velorex 700 (winter), '83 GL1000 (summer) '84 CB750SC Nighthawk (died - anyone need parts?)    Report

07-25-2008, 9:34 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Thanks so much for your insight Bob - I totally agree with you as usual - and albeit was exited about travelling to Ontario n' all over with my doggie in a sidecar - the weather doesn't always co-operate either - so after a half dozen brews -my insight has sharpened as I'm now thinking strongly about buying a trailer or building one (If necessary) - but do want to incorporate the 6ft x 8ft x 2 1/2ft. truck capper as the topper - as has sliding windows and just a waste sitting in my backyard for the past 5 years ........ even though my doggie uses it as his little escape from when I'm mad at him for something <grin> ........ I want to use it and build the sides up to make it a nice walk in high trailer with ventilation n' pull down ramp for the bike ...... so that's my current plan - and probably has been all along - but my mind does stray every so often - Cheers, n' don't get Gene or Don too drunk in Ontario - as you know Canadian brews will paraize Yanks <LOL> ..... Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-25-2008, 9:41 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? <sp> paralize Gene yet don't know about Aussie Don - so maybe weak  ??? <grin> ...... anyway, that's my story n' I'm stickin' to it till I find a better one ...... come here Buster I want to teach you how to weld !!!! Cheers, n' Happy Trails Ahead, Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-25-2008, 10:23 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Regardless Bob - I'm sure you'll have to admit that designing and building a car trailer is a lot easier than any sidecar ...... as I've built a aluminum trailer for a 24 ft. sailboat, as well as a couple trailers for speedboats and a utility trailer - but never a enclosed bike/camper trailer (till now) - and another bonus is I have a lot of crap layin around - so may incorporate the aluminum door, and aluminum siding - as well as definately the fibreglass truck capper into this project - so don't really even need a welder - albeit neater job - but will need a few lengths of channel or boxed steel beams and axle n' bearings - so time to call my past structural steel employer for another belated perk for all I did over the years ......  yet kinda doubt I would want to build it with structural I beams ...... I'm sure he still has some aluminum on hand <grin> ....  Cheers, n' wanna keep it as light n' strong as possible ...... but definately a go-fer- ..... Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-25-2008, 11:41 PM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Before I call it a day Bob - I just checked C.T. - and their basic trailer frames are only 4 1/2 feet wide - albeit they do have a 5 1/2 ft. x 10 ft. heavy duty for $1,400. - I know that I can build one for much less than half that cost ........ (what are you barking at now Buster????) ...... oh well, better check it out - n' call it another day shortly (as only have 3 brews still cooling in fridge) ....... yet have made a lot of progress today - as next step is building the trailer box then getting 4 guys to help lift the capper <smiles> ..... Cheers, n' have a goodun' ..... (I'm coming Buster - hold your horses!_) Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

07-26-2008, 10:50 AM Sidecar Bob Joined on 03-02-2006 Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Posts 978 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? I'm sure someone who comes from the land where Foster's Lager based it's world conquest from can handle our stuff. I don't normally have beer in the house, though - I mostly drink wine from the wine making shop - 30 bottles for about $100-120 if I bring my own bottles and it's as good as the brand names, or at least that's what my inlaws say when they ask me to bring the wine to famiy get togethers ;-}   Is 8 feet long enough to put the bike in? It might be a bit close so make sure you measure everything carefully - it would be a lot easier to build it with a bump out for the front wheel than it would to add it afterward. Other than that, you could use some structural aluminum for the floor and just build wood walls with 2x4 framing and whatever sheathing you want. Maybe aluminum siding over 1/2" plywood flooring?  I would recommend pressure treated lumber if possible. A 4 1/2 foot trailer frame and a 6 foot cap would work out just about right if you let built it with indents for the wheels. The truck cap was made for something with wheel wells, after all. GX650EI + Velorex 700 (winter), '83 GL1000 (summer) '84 CB750SC Nighthawk (died - anyone need parts?)    Report

07-26-2008, 11:01 AM bfknova Joined on 03-15-2008 Nova Scotia Posts 480 Re: Sidecar on GL1000 Goldwing ???? Thanks Bob ...... New Plan again ....... Check out the customizing list under "My new sidecar" - which will tell you what my new plan is !!!!!! Cheers, Bryan Keep the rubber side down and alway shake a bro's hand when passing or standing still - EH !!    Report

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