• Welcome to the BMW R18 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

The R18 sidecar thread

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1789222567#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Petrus
  • Start date Start date
Beeejeeezus :eek:
Been rolling about on the tiles to tighten bolts and nut. Will do a second round when I am satisfied with the settings and then fit the split pins. Did mark the bolt heads with the position of the bores for those.
My poor ti hips and shoulder not to mention my fractured dedo gordo of my left foot (dropped a ´gold´ weight on it :rolleyes:).
Slowly but surely getting there though and when done will be proud as a monkey with seven tails and the wrath of now not so charming company will bounce of my adamantium skin.

At the moment, before fitting the top mounts(lean out), I have a 123.5 cm track width, 34 cm. sidecar wheel lead and 15 mm. toe in. I hope to set the lean out at 0.5 degree.

For the moment done. Because this week we have rainstorms and extended floodings of roads so had to postpone the electrics.

Setting lean out;

LeanOut.jpg


The toe in:

ToeIn1.jpgToeIn2.jpgToeIn3.jpg
 
Petrus said:
Beeejeeezus :eek:
Been rolling about on the tiles to tighten bolts and nut. Will do a second round when I am satisfied with the settings and then fit the split pins. Did mark the bolt heads with the position of the bores for those.
My poor ti hips and shoulder not to mention my fractured dedo gordo of my left foot (dropped a ´gold´ weight on it :rolleyes:).
Slowly but surely getting there though and when done will be proud as a monkey with seven tails and the wrath of now not so charming company will bounce of my adamantium skin.

At the moment, before fitting the top mounts(lean out), I have a 123.5 cm track width, 34 cm. sidecar wheel lead and 15 mm. toe in. I hope to set the lean out at 0.5 degree.

For the moment done. Because this week we have rainstorms and extended floodings of roads so had to postpone the electrics.

Setting lean out;

View attachment 20195


The toe in:

View attachment 20196View attachment 20197View attachment 20198
Click to expand...
I really like how clean your workshop floor is 🤣
 
Bit in the doldrums: The toe is curing great but literally hobbles me. Basically ideal to finish the rig.
However...
The two mountings are still at the workshop.
The electronics specialist has had an emergency.
For the rest I am done.

Ergo móre still research on the theme 😅
 
Thinking ahead.

When you screw it together, the nuts tend to obscure the holes and for one it is crucial to find them and secondly usually important from which side you stick the pin in.


SplitPinMark.jpg
 
Last edited:
With humble thanks to @laennecr who shared how he modified and connected the sidecar electrics.

I felt a bit unsure about my interpretation of the ezCAN instructions and he has done it the exact same way albeit with the extra leads for the trailer.

Picked up 6 pin connectors, extra pins etc. and my crimp pliers.

Bit the bullet and ordered LED lights. Had them in the shopping and @laennecr confirmed.

What a help the online community is!!
 
It is provoking stress as I am from the gen that adjusted points of the moped with a cigarette paper. More illustrative still perhaps, from when 6V electrics were still quite common. Heck my first motorbike had ´+´ ground.

That observed; it being mé, I need to write in CAPITAL letters that the ezCAN is very user friendly. Was a doddle to register with the laptop connected to the dongle.

As illustrated had already made 3 x 2 out of 4 and now connected the three stubs.

One ´worry´ is that there is not really any space to stuff the extra cables and the dongle.


Should now connect the laptop and configure but... :oops:


HEXezcan3.jpg
 
Not adding a side car, hardly understanding what this stuff is about, but ALWAYS enjoy your input into all forums P🏆
 
HUNTS said:
Not adding a side car, hardly understanding what this stuff is about, but ALWAYS enjoy your input into all forums P🏆
Click to expand...
Thanks.
If it´s any consolation, I am seriously advancing the boundaries of my understanding 😅 with this.

The hardware, geometry and alignment is a doddle but the dynamics of the lardy tractor are pushing the numbers out of bounds on fresh ground.
Well and the CANbus is ALL next level new for me.
 
The car software guru had a sick cat so had a go myslef.
Some wiring :rolleyes: some (for mé) weird HEXplanations* and some user stuff later...
WORKS!!!

* Someone familiar with the CANbus technology would understand it straightaway. Someone familiar with over centre toggle switches understands it ... a bit later 🫣


R18VelorexCanbus.jpg
 
Ok, I know about walking before running but survival in motorcycling involves looking ahead:
Over here places like car parkings and access to airports or the like are governed by cameras reading the front number plate.
LEZs and traffic cameras register the rear.

For motorcycles thus rigs no front plate is needed. However...

One problem (there are several but just illustrating this one) is that access to LEZs depends on the pollution rating of the vehicle. If too dirty than you get a draconic fine. When making use of a public parking you are exempted albeit at a higher tariff.
See the issue?
 
Petrus said:
Ok, I know about walking before running but survival in motorcycling involves looking ahead:
Over here places like car parkings and access to airports or the like are governed by cameras reading the front number plate.
LEZs and traffic cameras register the rear.

For motorcycles thus rigs no front plate is needed. However...

One problem (there are several but just illustrating this one) is that access to LEZs depends on the pollution rating of the vehicle. If too dirty than you get a draconic fine. When making use of a public parking you are exempted albeit at a higher tariff.
See the issue?
Click to expand...
Over here motorcycles were generally excluded by default and when I had a Harley trike, don’t ask, that was strangely still classified on our DVLA taxation look up as a motorcycle with a sub class of three wheeler so ended up ok. No front plate on that either. I guess it may depend on something similar, do you have to alter any road tax class or registration? I do remember playing safe and paying for a car a few times though when I took up a full space.
 
Today received the Torx socket set.
Took the passenger foot rests off. Surprisingly heavy.

Side stand delete is next and that will be heavier still. First try the delete plug though.

It will all stay hefty obviously but I find it über:cool: that the rig weighs less than a TransContinental.
 
An observation triggered by a thread on ASC.
Because of the asymetric construction, the rear wheel of a sidecar rig scrubs quite a lot. It can best be compared to the inner rear wheel on a car in a very tight corner with a locked rear differential.
On dry tarmac it will only scrub noticeably in véry tight brusquely taken corners.
On wet surface or gravel it is significantly exaggerated.
Ergo, it is much more opportune to know when/how to switch the ASC off to avoid unwanted power reduction while driving.
 
Arrrrgggggg.....
Yesterday collected the parts from the workshop.
The front tube is júst off. Just is the same as completely though as cannot fit.
The workshop in the village can correct this but has no time today. Máybe Monday.

Rather p...ed off as it could have been easily sorted wééks ago. My own fault for being patient and courteous.

Fitted the rest. Drove the rig in reverse out of the garage but could not go further because the exit is blocked by a car from a neighbour. Thus in first back again. So, in a way saved from going out on the road 🫣

1773406562597.png
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top