"Fly the Chair"

[Norwood]

Well, I have always took a long look at the 70's models and at the Chicken Rally I really studied somebody's R90/6...

No.... I am nowhere near ready to "Fly the Chair" but this weekend I made a deal on a 1975 R90/6 with Velorex sidecar.

Here is link to a couple of pictures:

http://dongnorwood.smugmug.com/gallery/3087311#168581204

[Wrong Way]

Don,

You will love that bike. I have a 1975 R90/6 with an R90S front end and electronic ignition. Its my favorite ride in the summer. I told my wife no matter what kind of crap I tell you never let me sell that bike.

[Bikebum]

Now Don, I will have to say that is a touch of class.

[R90srider]

Beautiful machine Don. The most frightened I have been riding a motorcycle, other that a crash or two, is driving a hack. Be careful!!

Bob

[Gail]

Don, you never cease to amaze me! That is a nice looking rig you have there.Watch those mailboxes with that sidecare (like you need me telling you how to ride) .

[Vance]

That looks awesome. Who you gonna get to drive? You plannin' to be IN the chair til that knee gets better! That is some kind of Power Chair I tell you.......I haven't seen a commercial for that model yet!

[Norwood]

Thanks all, I am really excited to take delivery, a friend of mine in Colorado just happen to live 75 miles from the rig. He and his wife have a collection of bikes and two sidecar rigs as well, so he headed over to take a test spin and check her out. He tells me that it's in mint condition, 35,000 on the clock and is a pristine bike/sidecar. He took more pictures, one with his rig in background....they look like twins... The only problem, he wants the deal. , but I told him no way . But he says that if I ever want to pass it on, his got first chance. Is that money in the bank?

He (my friend) is headed to Florida in early August with an enclosed trailer, so he may be able to deliver it to me... what a guy.

Who you gonna get to drive?

Vance, you are high on the list... the doc told me that I couldn't put the weight of the bike on my leg after surgery, three wheels it will stand alone , but I understand that the muscles in the neck and back and upper body will get a work out.

Don, you never cease to amaze me!

Gail, just wait til I buy that tent and sleeping bag, everybody will be amazed, including me.

The most frightened I have been riding a motorcycle, other that a crash or two, is driving a hack.

Bob, I order a book and already downloaded a ton of material, but that will never replace time in the saddle. I plan on taking it easy, already have a sidecar school planned. I think it will get a lot of time in the neighborhood first.

Jamie and Wrong Way, thanks I maybe I can get her over to the chicken rally next year.

Long post, but finally I am scheduled for Knee replacement surgery on the July 16th, then several weeks before back on two wheels or three wheels.

[Norwood]

http://dongnorwood.smugmug.com/photos/168948675-M.jpg

Link to the picture that my friend took, He posted it on another forum and called it "There coming out of the woodwork" Since two nearly identical rigs with a few miles of each other in Colorado.

[Wrong Way]

Sidecar Rig

Don,

Thats a great looking SC rig. I have owned 2 rigs in my life time. If I can help in any way let me know. It is different. My rigs included a R60/2 with a Jupiter SC, and a K100RS with an EML GT2 SC. Both had leading link front suspension systems which are different than the telescopic front fork. The EML rig even had radial car tires! From the picture that looks like a Velorex SC. Fiberglass body and light. You will probably need some ballast unless you carry a passenger. Camping gear makes excellent ballast.

[Jon Thornton]

sidecar stuff

Folks make it out to be worse than it really is...driving the hack..I figure those folk had set-up wrong somehow. It's a blast to drive to me, not boring for sure but I have had no terror yet except when a young A-hole passed on my right off the shoulder from 4 cars back while I was waiting to turn left at
cr34&AL 181...... Thing is that autoists want to go 65-90 on all roads regardless of conditions. Hacking is for fun, but can be fast too. WWII types
were made for top speed of 50-55, but laest ones w/lectro-lean etc can run the Interstates with traffic easily. The more rigid the suspension the greater chance to 'fly' and/or dart about. On my '78 R100S w/ Velorex 700, I have suspension as soft as possible in the rear but stiffened speings/spacers/air fittings on stock shocks. I am building an earls for it...brake causes rising w/ earls , not compression and it also reduces -lead of front wheel that is needed for two wheel cornering. Set her up right and it's no big deal. I have found that car brakes are quite nice and reduce pull when braking, much easier on old arms. Have never experienced wobble except going over culverts to parking lots, omoentary. Recommend dampner. I love it. Will help you set up or just chat.
Jon

[Norwood]

Hey Jon, welcome to the forum.

Well thus far I have the paper work/title/bill of sale on the rig. I got a friend that is going to bring it to me from Colorado about the mid of August. But as stated in earlier post, I will be out of commission as far a riding is concerned for a few weeks with the knee replacement surgery.

I have downloaded several articles and have purchase a book, to learn the basics before I find me that giant parking lot with no posts.

Thanks for your insight on the hack. I found a sidecar forum as well with some good information also....

I'm sure I will have a few more questions for you in the months to come.

[Jon Thornton]

sidecar thrill

Yup, that's what I did. And , I built my own sub-frame. You'll learn toe-in, lean-out, lead&trail of rear axle. I did my initial rides around the yard. Even 'flew' the car for practice . After having ridden 3-wheelers in the woods, flying came as no big deal but you do have to have strongish arms. It's the right turns that'll get you or bumps in sweeping right handers.
By the way. I have an old college friend who lives next door to Rock City and has worked the cave a lot. Might could get free passes to tram and cave
if he's home. That mountain road down to Scottsboro seems like fun bike trip.
On sidecar unit there is no need to put your foot down when you stop. But , beware of parking nose down; gotta push it out, ya know. Luck to the knee. Jon

[Jon Thornton]

cool &humid

My ride today took the sidecar to Week's Bay at Moile Bay about 11 miles. Early morning, cloudy and 79 degrees. No fish caught nor none seen caught so went on up cr1/us98 to Fairhope about 15 miles along the bay at 40 mph or so, nice. No fish there either, just tourists and humidity. After riding in the cool moist air, stopping makes you feel hot and sticky. I made my way back to the house totaling a mere 34 mile jaunt all 3 wheels down.
Actually, this entry is to find whether my 'avatar' shows up. These are not biker dudes for sure. One in the dance group is my daughter. Bike's not nearly so colorful.

[bill99rt]

Once you get the Avatar working, it should show up on all your old posts. Keep trying. Maybe it was too big.

[Jon Thornton]

avatar

I tried to download from my PC pics, VISTA basic, not XP. Does that make
any difference?
Should it show up on the "work" page where you 'change/reset' your profile?
Maybe I left out a step, eh. I should use a pic of the sidecar instead of 3 belly dancers anyway.
It's a color pic from Kodak ....too big? Hmmmm Y'all have color pics so what's the difference? jon