The adventures of the Smiling Swordfish

Jeanmarc FR · 04-07-2012, 06:35 AM

Hi all,
GS hacks are not so often here in France, yet we're a bunch of fanatics decided to promote them, and also we have a few sidecar manufacturers who think interesting solutions to create GS sidecars. So I'll review GS hacks here in France and also in Europe, and try to show you the different technical solutions.
Firstly here we go with the first pics of my new hack

Sorry for the poor quality, they were taken with a mobile at the EML distributor in northern France. I still haven't seen it "in real", I'm going to bring it back home next week, 800 km drive and I'll post better pics with the cases and all accessories.
It's an EML roadster with a 1200 GS Adventure. I left the bike on 10 december, so it took 4 months to do the job, due to roadster kit's availability, and that was a very long time waiting ! Still it's there now, ready for it's new life

His name is the Smiling Swordfish, due to it's ressemblance with that fast fish, and happy to carry its passengers around Europe and Africa !
First trip will be GS days in southern France in 3 weeks, then small rides in the Alps, this summer the BMW days in Garmisch Partenkirschen, then the Euro Gespann Treffen (EGT) in Luxemburg, Popham meeting in the UK in september, and a trip to Germany in October. In 2013 scheduled the Dragon rally and a trip to Marocco later in October.
I Hope to see some of you soon and look forward riding together

Ride safe and take care !

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smith8833 · 04-11-2012, 05:18 PM

What is the front end???? More info please!!!

TouringDave · 04-12-2012, 04:19 PM

Wow! very nice! Congrats on your new ride.

BeeMaa · 04-13-2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smith8833

What is the front end???? More info please!!!

Yes please, more info!

NortwestRider · 04-13-2012, 07:53 PM

I think those front forks cost more $$ than my last 2 rigs combined !!!!!!

Jeanmarc FR · 04-14-2012, 10:28 AM

Thanks ! Sorry for the delay, just rode back from northern France 800 km, that was great even if the weather was awful. The steering is super accurate thanks to the EML extensodive fork. The sidecar itself is very light, so up it goes easily in right curves. With a passenger it'll be more easy to drive thanks to the extra weight. Fuel consumption is very satisfactory, more or less + 1 l/100km with that extra 100kg on the right side. The bike's aluminium swingarm has been changed by an EML steel swingarm, more robust. Other than that, the hand brake still controls front and rear motorbike brakes (ABS is still in use), while foot brake controls bike's rear and sidecar brakes.
A little issue is that with a 175mm large rear wheel, on wet roads a lot of shit spreads on the saddle and on the cases even if the bike has already a mudsling, gotta find a solu[IMG][/IMG]tion

. Also, as the tyre pressure sensors have been withdrawn due to the change of wheels, the on board computer thinks the sensors are still there, so it warns of a tyre pressure problem

. That needs to be corrected by BMW dealer.
So the Smiling swordfish is born ! First trip will be the GS days here in southern France in the town of Orange in 2 weeks time. Report will follow

Take care and enjoy riding !
Jean-Marc

DirtyDR · 04-14-2012, 10:57 AM

Very nice rig.

jpalamar · 04-18-2012, 11:49 AM

Just awesome!!!! Congrats!

TouringDave · 04-18-2012, 04:46 PM

I love the modern take on the U Boat decals!

Beautiful outfit.

BeeMaa · 04-20-2012, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NortwestRider

I think those front forks cost more $$ than my last 2 rigs combined !!!!!!

Yep - they do look a wee bit costly.
But sooooooo sweeeeeeet.

Cheers.

kailuasurfer · 04-21-2012, 08:06 PM

Outstanding!

Is it a dual-wheel drive?

Jeanmarc FR · 04-22-2012, 11:31 PM

Thanks !

Quote:

Is it a dual-wheel drive?

No, but I hope one day... My dream is fitting a MOBEC haldex duodrive system like the red hack below... The day when I win at the lottery

GS1200 are not frequently fitted with sidecars here in France, but we're a bunch of guys willing to change things

One of them is having his GS fitted with a sidebike Megacométe by DJ side-car french manufacturer, and another one with a RDS Neptune... For the first one, it's not easy due to the width of the bike and of the pannier, it's very close to the 2meters maximum width authorized by legislation... (the pics show integration test with an old megacométe pannier that will not be used). I'll post pics as soon as they come in

BeeMaa · 04-24-2012, 11:56 AM

Just a FYI here.

Rode my rig back from Pittsburg on Sunday.
It was raining pretty good.
Ran into a rather deep puddle at speed.
The front wheel went right through it, but the back wheel hydroplaned, reved the engine and then caught traction.
It didn't cause a problem and we continued to ride without incident.
Just want to let you know, because with the car tire on the front of your rig, you may experience the same thing.
Could really be a sucky day if you loose front traction in a turn.
Cheers.

Prmurat · 04-24-2012, 06:48 PM

Tres bel attelage!! A peu pres la taille d'un Kangol?

Jeanmarc FR · 03-12-2013, 09:17 AM

The Sworfish was modified this winter by french sidecar manufacturer DJ in the Alps. A few accesories were added as you can see... Then we participated early february to the 1st "white pass sidecar rallye" in the french Alps near Annecy. Great fun, with 35 hacks out of which 4 GS ADV

Next big change will be the mounting of a 2 wheel drive system in September by another french sidecar manufacturer, Choda. We've got a bunch of sidecar wizards here in France

04-07-2012, 06:35 AM	#1
Jeanmarc FR ^OP n00b Joined: Feb 2012 Location: Limoges, France Oddometer: 9	GS sidecars in Europe Hi all, GS hacks are not so often here in France, yet we're a bunch of fanatics decided to promote them, and also we have a few sidecar manufacturers who think interesting solutions to create GS sidecars. So I'll review GS hacks here in France and also in Europe, and try to show you the different technical solutions. Firstly here we go with the first pics of my new hack Sorry for the poor quality, they were taken with a mobile at the EML distributor in northern France. I still haven't seen it "in real", I'm going to bring it back home next week, 800 km drive and I'll post better pics with the cases and all accessories. It's an EML roadster with a 1200 GS Adventure. I left the bike on 10 december, so it took 4 months to do the job, due to roadster kit's availability, and that was a very long time waiting ! Still it's there now, ready for it's new life His name is the Smiling Swordfish, due to it's ressemblance with that fast fish, and happy to carry its passengers around Europe and Africa ! First trip will be GS days in southern France in 3 weeks, then small rides in the Alps, this summer the BMW days in Garmisch Partenkirschen, then the Euro Gespann Treffen (EGT) in Luxemburg, Popham meeting in the UK in september, and a trip to Germany in October. In 2013 scheduled the Dragon rally and a trip to Marocco later in October. I Hope to see some of you soon and look forward riding together Ride safe and take care ! [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] Jeanmarc FR screwed with this post 03-14-2013 at 01:33 AM

04-11-2012, 05:18 PM	#2
smith8833 Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 80	front susspesion What is the front end???? More info please!!!

04-12-2012, 04:19 PM	#3
TouringDave Ok Human Let's Ride! Joined: May 2005 Location: Frankston, Vic, Aust. Oddometer: 6,391	Wow! very nice! Congrats on your new ride. __________________ K7 Strom with Chair 84 Kwaka GT750 Cafe Project 84 Kawaka GT750 Outfit Project

04-13-2012, 07:53 PM	#5
NortwestRider TRIPOD ADVENTURER !! Joined: May 2008 Location: 3.7 miles North of Hell...SEATTLE.... Oddometer: 2,352	I think those front forks cost more $$ than my last 2 rigs combined !!!!!! __________________ 2012 Honda NC700X..THE SILVER BULLIT 1982 GS850G..BLACK SUNSHINE..The tripod !! GS500PE..THE PURPLE EXPLORER So what your saying is that I have the worst hack AND a smelly wife??. MY BUILD http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=657673&page=6

04-14-2012, 10:57 AM	#7
DirtyDR Dana Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Edwards,Colorado Oddometer: 1,794	Very nice rig. __________________ 06 Ural Patrol 03 R1150 GS Sport/ Friendship II 94 R1100RS 99 Rokon Ranger 71 Rokon RT140 Hack'n the TLH http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=592860 http://dirtydr.smugmug.com/ Proud Member of the Patrol Patrol

04-14-2012, 10:28 AM	#6
Jeanmarc FR ^OP n00b Joined: Feb 2012 Location: Limoges, France Oddometer: 9	Thanks ! Sorry for the delay, just rode back from northern France 800 km, that was great even if the weather was awful. The steering is super accurate thanks to the EML extensodive fork. The sidecar itself is very light, so up it goes easily in right curves. With a passenger it'll be more easy to drive thanks to the extra weight. Fuel consumption is very satisfactory, more or less + 1 l/100km with that extra 100kg on the right side. The bike's aluminium swingarm has been changed by an EML steel swingarm, more robust. Other than that, the hand brake still controls front and rear motorbike brakes (ABS is still in use), while foot brake controls bike's rear and sidecar brakes. A little issue is that with a 175mm large rear wheel, on wet roads a lot of shit spreads on the saddle and on the cases even if the bike has already a mudsling, gotta find a solu[IMG][/IMG]tion . Also, as the tyre pressure sensors have been withdrawn due to the change of wheels, the on board computer thinks the sensors are still there, so it warns of a tyre pressure problem . That needs to be corrected by BMW dealer. So the Smiling swordfish is born ! First trip will be the GS days here in southern France in the town of Orange in 2 weeks time. Report will follow Take care and enjoy riding ! Jean-Marc

04-18-2012, 11:49 AM	#8
jpalamar Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL (Northeast FL, USA) Oddometer: 2,914	Wow! Just awesome!!!! Congrats! __________________ '07 R1200GSA Adv 2011 DMC Hack '06 R1150 GSA Adventure (new 09/2011) '11 HD Road King/Police '12 K1600GT The Red Faster One 2013 Nissan GT-R

04-18-2012, 04:46 PM	#9
TouringDave Ok Human Let's Ride! Joined: May 2005 Location: Frankston, Vic, Aust. Oddometer: 6,391	I love the modern take on the U Boat decals! Beautiful outfit. __________________ K7 Strom with Chair 84 Kwaka GT750 Cafe Project 84 Kawaka GT750 Outfit Project

04-21-2012, 08:06 PM	#11
kailuasurfer Dreamer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Mid-Atlantic Oddometer: 280	Outstanding! Is it a dual-wheel drive?

04-24-2012, 11:56 AM	#13
BeeMaa Hack Pilot Joined: Feb 2011 Location: NoVA Oddometer: 1,092	Just a FYI here. Rode my rig back from Pittsburg on Sunday. It was raining pretty good. Ran into a rather deep puddle at speed. The front wheel went right through it, but the back wheel hydroplaned, reved the engine and then caught traction. It didn't cause a problem and we continued to ride without incident. Just want to let you know, because with the car tire on the front of your rig, you may experience the same thing. Could really be a sucky day if you loose front traction in a turn. Cheers. __________________ Eric B '06 R12GSA/Hack An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life. Robert A. Heinlein

04-24-2012, 06:48 PM	#14
Prmurat Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 382	Tres bel attelage!! A peu pres la taille d'un Kangol?

03-12-2013, 09:17 AM	#15
Jeanmarc FR ^OP n00b Joined: Feb 2012 Location: Limoges, France Oddometer: 9	The Sworfish was modified this winter by french sidecar manufacturer DJ in the Alps. A few accesories were added as you can see... Then we participated early february to the 1st "white pass sidecar rallye" in the french Alps near Annecy. Great fun, with 35 hacks out of which 4 GS ADV Next big change will be the mounting of a 2 wheel drive system in September by another french sidecar manufacturer, Choda. We've got a bunch of sidecar wizards here in France

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