1st Namibian Sidecar (almost complete)

[GRAVELTRAVEL]

Don't look too closely at the state of my workshop. Its been hectic and my "assistant" has not been here for a while. (handy excuse)

[GRAVELTRAVEL]

 I have been to the local Natis to find out how the attachment of the sidecar will affect my licence as it clearly states "motorcycle without sidecar". Seems like I will have to almost completely re register the whole vehicle with police clearances , weighbridge certificates etc. The fact that I built it myself does not help either!!

I am also told that it will have to have a taillight as well as an indicator.

Is this the same in RSA? Anybody had this experience before? Any advice on how the rules work will be appreciated.

[Vis Arend]

Is this the same in RSA? Anybody had this experience before? Any advice on how the rules work will be appreciated.

Some has it easy, others, like me, struggle their asses of.    I eventually got mine done.      
It seems to differ from Province to Province.

I think the best info would be from Humfree.
 

[Laban]

...taillight as well as an indicator....yes that's a must have...

[GRAVELTRAVEL]

At last! I have managed to attach the sidecar to the bike! took it for its maiden ride/drive? Just 50 m down the road. I must admit that was scary! I always thought that the whole rig might be too heavy. However , it actually felt like the bike wanted to tip over and that the sidecar is too light! I filled two twenty litre cans with water and put that in as ballast. That made things a little bit easier but still really weird!

I have not done the final proper measurements regarding heel and toe in yet, but at a glance it seems to be ok. During the trial fit I measured/marked everything carefully and put it back on in the same position this time so it should actually be relatively close.

The plan is to ride it to work tomorrow. hope I get there in one piece! I can see this is going to be a steep learning curve before I will feel comfortable.

Will post some pics tomorrow. Was a little too dark to take proper pics.

[Vis Arend]

Great news.   

It is indeed a scary experience at the beginning.    My first day was a nightmare.  I thought I made the biggest mistake in my life by buying the rig.  The second day took a mere 10 minutes and I had the neck of it.  From there on it just became better and better, to such a point that it became addicted.   
 
All of the best for todays ride to work.   
 

[Wooly Bugger]

 

[woody1]

I had the same feeling when Visarend allowed me to test drive his Karretjie. I thought this will NEVER work for me.
500 meters down the road I got the FEELING... came back smiling. 

[GRAVELTRAVEL]

 Ok , I had the first proper ride this morning and I must admit after about 500m I thought that I had made a big mistake in doing this! I was so uncomfortable to a point where I wanted to stop and walk! But I assume I will have to check all the various alignments and measurements and keep on trying until it becomes comfortable.

About half way to work , my ABS alarm came on. I assume I will have to switch the ABS off? Any comments on this will be appreciated. I assume the "scrub" is causing havoc with the ABS brain!

Anyway , herewith some pics before the maiden ride. Road Hog was the first one to test the seat. even with his 130kg everything stayed in one piece!

[GRAVELTRAVEL]

and some more

[Vis Arend]

Hang in there, you will get the feeling of the ride soon enough. 
Try playing with the throttle gently to stay in a straight line.   Open throttle to go left, close throttle to go right. 

ABS light should not come on.  Do proper measurements, toe in enc, if that is horrible out it might have a effect.  I only switch the ABS off when on the gravel, only reason for that is to play a bit (read broadsiding).          

[BlueBull2007]

Lekker man!

Hope you get it sorted.

[DirtRebell]

Dit lyk goed!