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The R18 sidecar thread

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Rider0974 said:
3 to 4 seats depending on the size & age of passengers, or
in our case 2 kids in the front & use the rear seat for carrying
things in.
Click to expand...
the multiple chairs being a big thing makes the visible lean out of the RS logical. My rig is about the inverse; héavy tractor, (too) lightweight chair. The max. permissible loads of the R18 excludes a pillion passenger with a sidecar fitted.
Does not need a subframe though, the RS does no?!
 
btw for the dog lovers.
I have written 6 published books about dogs, ditto about training, 1 about generic principles of learning. Applies to men too :p
Competed with sight hounds and won several international lure coursing championships.
Bred sound dogs using artificial insemination of unrelated international stock 4 decades ago.
This little guy is exceptional 👌🤩
 
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Today Chauchina, Granada.

First 'longer' stretch highway. A doddle.
At 110 km/h did 15 km/l.

Was fun. Parked near a tree, only half in the shade. Within 5 minutes a roof was put up 🤩

As always, default, the rig was a magnet for both grey gear heads and women. The latter under frowning looks from husband :ROFLMAO: Thus chatted with the former, from the latter kept my distance while looking :cool:

I stayed only shortly though as Giacomo was at home.

1779621292139.png
 
Right, I think I have it sorted now with Giacomo. Touch wood, fingers crossed, not goof up.
This evening from the farm to the apartment. There is proper stórm blowing which he hátes but with the ears covered he simply laid down.
On the way to the first village he looked totally relaxed. The stretch between the villages is quite a nice bit with flowing bends and three sort of straights albeit short. The R18 júmps ahead so no issue there. Last time topped 60. First stretch 70. He stayed relaxe, So next 80 and the last 90. Mind in a stormwind.
At the piso he waited patiently and actually cheerful.
Phew.
I am over the moon with this!
 
Petrus said:
the multiple chairs being a big thing makes the visible lean out of the RS logical. My rig is about the inverse; héavy tractor, (too) lightweight chair. The max. permissible loads of the R18 excludes a pillion passenger with a sidecar fitted.
Does not need a subframe though, the RS does no?!
Click to expand...
No it doesn't need a subframe, it has a cradle frame similar to the
R18's.
 
Rider0974 said:
No it doesn't need a subframe, it has a cradle frame similar to the
R18's.
Click to expand...
Yes is does. Just that afaik per ´69 BMW designed their tubing befitting the local stress, in the process lightening the frame, no longer approving sidecar mounts to it.. But you had one so... thanks.
 
I had the sidecar fitted by Charnwood classics, & they used an upper mount that used
both of the front tubes. I attached the oil cooler to that fitting, although it meant removing
the fairing section in front of the engine. I liked the way you could do a service without
removing the fairing, although you needed to remove the tank to change the air filter.
 
Rider0974 said:
I had the sidecar fitted by Charnwood classics, & they used an upper mount that used
both of the front tubes. I attached the oil cooler to that fitting, although it meant removing
the fairing section in front of the engine. I liked the way you could do a service without
removing the fairing, although you needed to remove the tank to change the air filter.
Click to expand...
Yes those double mountings coupling both tubes I have seen before.
Ah well, changing the air filter is not a weekly thing.
We are quite fortunate with the R18 design.
 
Been going through 1973 - 1976 roadtests/reviews of pre WW2, most pre 1930, motorcycles. 1 in 6 is a sidecar rig.
The fastest of all with a 1000 cc OHV JAP had a (theoretical) top speed of 110 km/h. An exception though as most topped out under 90.
Add vintage rubber and largely unpaved roads as the perspective of the outfits and the all but token brakes are actually safe antiĺocking devices.
Very interesting reading providing an informative basis for modern rigs.

With my own 1939 (1935 design) Nimbus rig shod with modern compound Avon sidecar rubber on tarmac I have a hands on reference.
 
Today checked the mountings.
Next superquick-wax and fluffed.
Had the proof of the mass murder of insect washed off by hand immediately on Sunday. Did not have my chamois and the cloth was imperfect for drying.
So today actually dis a quick polish.
I am not one for that, first time since I have the bike. The water stains though bug me.
Sat Giacomo in his basket in the sidecar and it was actually pleasant for a change.
I só get the photo below. Apart from the cramping but that is not the point.
I am increasingly getting the man-with-dog-in-sidecar thing.

1779829320167.png

It also highlights a huge plus of a sidecar. You can stow stuff.
Going to buy a comfy folding seat to take along. The one in the photo is a bit low for me.
 
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Very, véry well built that one. I French builder if I remember correctly. Cosmetically well done as well; tasteful. Lóve the Steib LS200 look chair.
The look though is not spot on with mý taste but then that is irrelevant to the rest of the world :p 👌
 
btw went out for a ride with a friend yesterday morning. He on a 125 Vespa automatic. Me with the rig.
Netto 2,5 hours of local back roads between mountain villages. Beejeezus what a work out. Especially down hill. The camber of the roads is determained by the hill side so left and right is as often off camber as not. Down hill, steep, off camber right handers are :eek: as the rig wants speed up and you can not brake. Ergo judge your entry speed and be your own monkey 🫣
 
As a spin off from hobby/pashion, would buy (seriously) the following rig, It is a UK road registered one. The missing link is a dedicated monkey.
My veryvéry good Belgian female friend observed that I best fish for a woman in her forties, maybe better thirties with the caveat that she would probably want to have kids as part of the deal.
I will stick with the dog in the R18 rig.



BMWracingrig.jpg
 
and another very nice youtube imo
The boys lack a technical knowledge but they do share the experience and essence of sidecar quite well.


Yes I am in a bit of a weird lull. Previous ex still has no internet and to not be tied to that have given her the key of my place so she can use the wifi. Now she is good company but fro one working and two an ex. In effect means cramped style so more internet 'research' :D

The 'date' btw has said she wánts to experience being in the sidecar. That it is a bucket list thing. Also a perfect cramped style example; going out of my own place to be on the phone with her.

Ah on the no downside bright side is that my ex+1 takes Giacomo with her.

Life is śo much fun :cool:
 
How sidecars get a bad rep.
And lady, OF COURSE the bike was written off too; there is no way the frame was straight!


I find it striking that although spring has arrived in Blighty, no driving of the new rig with the dog has followed afaik.


Unrelated but also noteworthy is a video of a bloke with a big BMW rig and dog in the chair.
So far fairly common.
He is a Thai and rides in Thailand.
I quipped that even in Thailand the charming passenger is best a dog.
He very seriously agreed.
By Jove!!!! Then what chance do wé stand over here where we have women whom have grown up with L'Oreal commercials??!!


p.s. I have a nice whatsapp video (shot by Ex+1) with Giacomo but though short it is too large to upload here.
 
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Ok, back to the R18 rigs.
An observation for all with the original telescopic fork.
The front axle is held in place by two torx bolts either side, clamping the bottom of the fork legs down on it.
Not the stiffest of mountings but quite enough for the standard solo bikes.
With a sidecar fitted the torsional forces on the front wheel, thus the driver wrenching the handle bars result is a different way higher rate of twisting of the fork and front axle mounting.
Check the torque of the four torx bolts and preferably up it a bit.
 
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