Up and Riding! Building a new rig for my BMW 1200 GS Adventure

[Vis Arend]

If you need a S-10 to make the fitting.. I have time, I have a S-10 and I will camp on you lawn for a few days so that you can make this thing up for us okes with the Yamaha's

I can also bring BEER !!

Every time I see a Super Tenere I take a look... in many ways its a lot easier because of the frame you have on it. I'm moving onto the farm middle of this month, let me just settle in and then come for a visit, a few modifications here and there to my chassis and I'm sure it can be done. Cheers.

I am taking you up on this and I am sure Visared Louis will be AS pleased as I am when we can get this on our bikes.

 

[Man from Nam]

Count me in for a S10 sidecar

[woody1]

Nou ja NOU gaan ons almal sidecarre ry...want ons is mos oumense... 

[Man from Nam]

Dis nie ons wat oud is nie dis die vrouens

[woody1]

Ja hulle is bang as ons omval GEBEUR daar dinge in die bos...

[Man from Nam]

Ek koes solank
Na ek gesien het hoe lekker die Visarende laas hier getoer het met hulle karretjie het ek nie 'n keuse nie, selfs 'n yskas in die karrejie

[Vis Arend]

I would like the same info as Jupiter , I have a new 2015 GS 1200 Adventure that I want to keep as is , but based on your price for a complete rig I may sell one or two of my other bikes to get the right bike for your sidecar.

I have owned a Ural and the sidecar is fantastic but highway speed is a problem , I want to cruise at 120km/h but have a bike and sidecar that is safe and stable enough to overtake at say a max of 150 Km/h.

I like long distance touring but my job does not allow me to be away to long. With this in mind one of my favourite destinations is Namibia . I need a rig that I can do JHB to Uppington in one day on tar to allow me more time to travel and explore on dirt at a sedate speed.

I am watching this thread with interest and have buyers for two of my bikes.

These sidecars is comfi between 120 - 130.  Everything over that is an effort.  You will not be able to do long distances at a speed more than 130km/h, unless you super human.  Short burst at between 140-150km\h is possible but then you have to hold on for dear life.  I have reached 163km\h true speed (GPS) once, but you can hear and feel the bike battling.   My prefered speed is 125km\h.  The bike just feels happy at this speed.
But as 2bfree mentioned, they ride like a dream on gravel roads.  I have been to Nam with mine and we encountered some horrible sandy roads.  It was no problem for the rig, you just keep your cruising speed by slightly adjusting the throttle input.
I have found that I can travel further distances on gravel in a day with the rig (loaded) than with the bike, pillion and luggage.  But once again, I found that traveling on gravel between 80-100km\h was the best.  At this speed you can cruise all day long and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.  Yes, and you can also drink a cuppa (or something cold) at this speed.  You must just have a trained monkey.   I am a smoker, and at times I smoke on the go.    
      

[Vis Arend]

Ek koes solank
Na ek gesien het hoe lekker die Visarende laas hier getoer het met hulle karretjie het ek nie 'n keuse nie, selfs 'n yskas in die karrejie

Yes ou mater, hoop dit gaan goed.    

Yip, daai yskas was 'n lifesaver.  Altyd koue drinkgoed gehad en genoeg ys vir die dop.     

[2bfree]

I would like the same info as Jupiter , I have a new 2015 GS 1200 Adventure that I want to keep as is , but based on your price for a complete rig I may sell one or two of my other bikes to get the right bike for your sidecar.

I have owned a Ural and the sidecar is fantastic but highway speed is a problem , I want to cruise at 120km/h but have a bike and sidecar that is safe and stable enough to overtake at say a max of 150 Km/h.

I like long distance touring but my job does not allow me to be away to long. With this in mind one of my favourite destinations is Namibia . I need a rig that I can do JHB to Uppington in one day on tar to allow me more time to travel and explore on dirt at a sedate speed.

I am watching this thread with interest and have buyers for two of my bikes.

These sidecars is comfi between 120 - 130.  Everything over that is an effort.  You will not be able to do long distances at a speed more than 130km/h, unless you super human.  Short burst at between 140-150km\h is possible but then you have to hold on for dear life.  I have reached 163km\h true speed (GPS) once, but you can hear and feel the bike battling.   My prefered speed is 125km\h.  The bike just feels happy at this speed.
But as 2bfree mentioned, they ride like a dream on gravel roads.  I have been to Nam with mine and we encountered some horrible sandy roads.  It was no problem for the rig, you just keep your cruising speed by slightly adjusting the throttle input.
I have found that I can travel further distances on gravel in a day with the rig (loaded) than with the bike, pillion and luggage.  But once again, I found that traveling on gravel between 80-100km\h was the best.  At this speed you can cruise all day long and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.  Yes, and you can also drink a cuppa (or something cold) at this speed.  You must just have a trained monkey.   I am a smoker, and at times I smoke on the go.    
      

Ha! I know that one Louis... on the long flat sections like on the backroads through Veneektepan I always did the same, helmet off, put her in 4th gear for powering through the sandy sections, feet up and have a smoke or chew on some biltong at 70 km/h... try doing this on the dirt solo. This is when these rigs come into their own and you just can't stop smiling!  

[Vis Arend]

This is when these rigs come into their own and you just can't stop smiling! 

       

[frans1]

Its really nice and I know its hard work, but preferred the shape and ergonomics of your previous one.

Why did you change to Glass fibre ? Ease of construction, cost, weight, weight to strength, aesthetics ?

I am busy drawing up all the sizes and measurements on a cad program for people to make the various components for these rigs themselves... proper DIY. They will also be able to source the components directly if they don't want to do it themselves. These bodies will be available as well as the drawings on CAD for my old body I used to make... people can make up their own minds about what they prefer.

  When you've done all the R&D and ready to market this one, please give me a price fitted to my bike.

2bfree please the same for me.  Just not before the end of 2015 for me   2016 will be better for the moelas

[2bfree]

Just back from the engineers and they've done a fantastic job on my new raised chassis... a whole 100mm higher ground clearance than on my previous models, we now have 300 mm ground clearance under the tub, a true dual sport rig! Hoping to put the whole thing together for the first bit of gravel riding this weekend, bullbar, lockable luggage rack / fold out table, polycarb windscreen etc on the new body all complete and ready to GO!  

[VaalBaas]

Ek voel die excitment opbou. Laat kom daai pics. Dit is 'n lekker thread om te volg

[jangys]

...

[1ougat]

 

[woody1]

I am glad it is getting there... I have spare leave that I need to take.....

[2bfree]

I said I wouldn't do any branding on my new rig but I had to call it something... so I've decided to call them Smiling Wind sidecars... here is the sticker I've designed and had made up. My new frame is looking amazing, and it now has a new design, very strong swingarm suspension fitted.

I need to sell a few things first to pay for it and pick it up next week,   it's a VERY expensive business this developing and building a new (quality) sidecar.

But so worth it for the enjoyment of riding the thing!!  

[VaalBaas]

Great stuff,. It looks cool

Lyk my dinge gebeur oor naweke, so nou wag ons maar vir volgende naweek vir die foto update

[Laban]

...

[Jag man]