New to me sidecar

[sandsman]

Just picked up this sweet sidecar for my bike. It's a Motorvation Formula II Flipnose. I am gonna attach it to a 2002 Suzuki Intruder 1500. If anyone has one of these, since this is my first sidecar, chime in and tell me about you setup.

[karitoki]

Congratulations on your find! I just bought an older Motorvation Formula II (non-flip) last week. I'm waiting on the company to send me information so I can see what parts I'll need to mount it on my GL1100. Do you have the manual or electric torsion bar control? Mine is manual. My thread is "Got It!". I'll be watching your progress with interest!

[sandsman]

It has the electric motor to adjust the torsion bar, and mine came of of a Goldwing 1800. I looked at all of the parts and I am sure that I can adapt them for my application. I even got the steering stablizer too. All of the wiring, the unit has less than 12,000 miles on it and looks new. I really got a pretty good deal on it at $2,300. It sold for over $6,500 new i was told and by looking at the website, I believe it.

[karitoki]

Sounds like you got a great deal! Please post more pictures if possible. Gary at Motorvation is the guy to talk to on parts and pieces. Good luck on your build!

[sandsman]

It is home now......I want to go to work on it, but it's 32* outside.



Can't wait for a pretty day to get started. The tug is gonn be my 2002 Intruder 1500. More to come later

[sandsman]

I also have a car tire ordered for the rear of the bike, 195/65-15. Going to the darkside.

[claude]

Originally Posted by sandsman

I also have a car tire ordered for the rear of the bike, 195/65-15. Going to the darkside.

15" car tires on motorcycle rims should be avoided. This discussion has come up many times.

[sandsman]

Thank you Claude for your concern, the seating of the car tire is the most dangerous part, and the failures that you show are from overinflation to 2 to 3 times thier recomended inflation. I plan on lubing up the rim very well and not over inflating.

[claude]

Originally Posted by sandsman

Thank you Claude for your concern, the seating of the car tire is the most dangerous part, and the failures that you show are from overinflation to 2 to 3 times thier recomended inflation. I plan on lubing up the rim very well and not over inflating.

15" cycle rims are larger at th eseat than 15" auto rims. This can pose aproblem.. Other rim sizes are closer and seem to pose no problems. There have been some injuries over the years with 15" rims.tire combinations when inflating. There have also been reports of tire failures after the tire was installed most likely due to overstressing things during installation. The latter can be more of a concern than the former. I would feel guilty if thisi info wewre not posted and someone got hurt., Face it , sidecar tend to carry precious cargos.

[sandsman]

Again, thank you Claude. I will take your concerns into consideration.

[sandsman]

I did not dismiss it, I went and did more research and found that yes he is correct and Claude is an installer of sidecars and has alot of experience. So grasshopper, you missed my point. All of the failures involved overinflation, and yes the 15" car rim and 15" cycle rim are different. So he did not get ignored. Thank you Claude, I need all of the help I can get to be able to pull this off with the limited knowlege I have. I have read alot and luckly the guy I bought this from had all the books and set up sheet from the factory for the original install.

[cleatusj]

I have read that some have turned down the bead lock ridge to get a diameter that car tires will fit over.

[sandsman]

Originally Posted by cleatusj

I have read that some have turned down the bead lock ridge to get a diameter that car tires will fit over.

I read that too while I was doing the RESEARCH that I was talking about earlier, and was accused of ignoring Claude.

[FirstPath]

I've got the same sidecar on my '85 Voyager and I'm running a cycle tire on the stock rear rim. I've got over 6K miles on that tire and it is do for replacing. I've thought about a car tire but haven't found too much info for the Kawi rim. I'll just replace it with another cycle tire and enjoy. It's not my primary bike and I'm sure I'll get a summer or two out of it at least before replacing.

Scott in Shoreview
'85 Voyager Hack
'79 Suzuki GS55

[sandsman]

I have a nearly new Pirelli MT66 Route 180/70-15 tire on it now, maybe it has 600 or so miles on it. I will run it out first before I replace it. I have a 12,000 mile trip planned an that was the inspiration for the car tire conversion. I found a intruder site that had a thread about running a car tire on intruders and read it all the way through. The biggest issue was the seating of the car tire. There was only one negative comment. One guy could not get his tire to seat, and that was the only negative comment. So the issue as I see it is being able to seat the tire. I am considering having my rim's bead lock shaved down a few thousandths, not enough to effect the structural integrety of the rim though, just to allow the car tire to seat easier. But like I said, first I'll get the car all set up and ride it for a while before I decide the course I will follow.