Specs:

Bike Make/Model

Suzuki 1983 GSX1100 Prototype

I built my first leaner sidecar 6 years ago after reading about it.  I’d never seen a leaner sidecar in real life at that time but that didn’t stop me.

At first I built a prototype attached to an old Suzi GSX1100 from ’83.

Make/Model and Details of Sidecar Tub – Fibreglass, Aluminum (aluminium) Wrapped, Steel Sheet Wrapped etc

1968 Polish Junak Fibreglass Tub with a total weight under 60 kg

Sidecar Tub Design – Tandem/Single

Single Passenger

Sidecar Frame Type and Measurements – (Square/Round Tubing, Aluminium/Steel)

Simple Layout with 40 mm (1.57″) x 40 mm (1.57″) x 3 mm (0.11″) square tubing

Arch for a new damper attachment

Rear Mount Ground Clearance Measurement

No measurements taken, as it was only a prototype

Front Mount Ground Clearance Measurement

No measurements taken, as it was only a prototype

Motorcycle Sub-chassis Details (Square/Round Steel Tubing, Aluminum etc) and Attachment to Motorcycle (High Tensile steel, lock nuts etc)

Motorcycle Sub Chassis 40 mm x 40 mm x 3 mm square tubing and Pivots

Total Width of Combination Lean-in

No measurements taken, as it was only a prototype

Total Width of Combination Lean-out

No measurements taken, as it was only a prototype

Distance Between Sidecar and Bike

No measurements taken, as it was only a prototype

Sidecar Tire (tyre) Speed, Weight Rating

No measurements taken, as it was only a prototype

Sidecar Rim Details, Diameter, Rim Width etc

Wheel from a Citroen

Suspension Type (Shock Absorber/Swing arm/Torsion) on Sidecar Wheel

I used a swing arm and wheel from a Citroen and a Coilover Shock Absorber

Pivot Attachment to Motorcycle, (Rose Bush, Heim Joint, Rod End etc)

Heim Joint

Sidecar Brake Details (if fitted), Drum/Disc, Plumbed to Motorcycle Rear or Front Brake Cylinder

Brake not connected

Modifications/Adjustments During the Build

Right turns could be real hard to do so I relocated the swing arm.

Creating a chair from foam I found somewhere in the back of my attic.

Photos of the End Product

First Passenger

Time to attach the Junak Tub.

This was a very rough build but it served my purpose; I learned a lot on how to build my next one.

Project Evolves

Specs:

Bike make/model

1988 BMW K100RS

Make/Model and Details of Sidecar Tub

Fibreglass, aluminum (aluminium) wrapped, Steel Sheet wrapped etc

1968 Polish Junak Tub with a total weight under 60 kg.

Sidecar Tub Design – Tandem/Single

Single Passenger – Junak Tub

Sidecar Frame Type and Measurements – (Square/Round Tubing, Aluminium/Steel)

I made the frame myself.

It is a Round Steel Tube Frame 1,5 inch steel, thin steel plate tub mounted on rubber vibration dampers.

Rear mount ground clearance measurement

170 mm (6.69″) to center mount

Front Mount Ground Clearance measurement

210 mm (8.26″) to center mount

Motorcycle Sub-chassis details (Square/Round Steel Tubing, Aluminum etc) and attachment to motorcycle (High Tensile steel, lock nuts etc)

Round tube 1,5 inch steel mounted to the engine mounting bolts and centerstand bolts

Total Width of Combination lean in

1600 mm (59″)

Total Width of Combination lean out

2250 mm (88.5″)

Distance between sidecar and bike

Frame to tub = 600 mm (23.62″)

Pannier to tub = 350 mm (13.77″)

Sidecar Tire (tyre) Speed, Weight Rating

Michelin Macadam 120/90-18  rear 65H (290kg/210km/h)

Sidecar Rim details, diameter, rim width etc

The wheel and axle is from a BMW K100 front rim 2,50 x 18

Suspension Type (Shock Absorber/Swing Arm/Torsion) on sidecar wheel

K100 shock with a Velocette Venom kind of adjustment system

Pivot Attachment to Motorcycle, (Rose Bush, Heim Joint, Rod End etc)

Rose joints (Heim joints, Rod ends) SKF 20 mm (0.78″)

Sidecar brake details if fitted, drum/disc, plumbed to motorcycle rear or front brake cylinder

Brake Not Fitted. Ralph Kalich advises no brake, since the brake action can get unpredictable due to different weight in the tub

Modifications/Adjustments During the Build

Just a few pics to show some progress, I think I reached the maximum of what my pipe-bender can do.

The Junak tub on the frame, just for show, including the fender (still to be restored).

And in close-up, I’m quite proud of the bending work, it’s the first time I’m using this machine and it works out very well in my opinion.

Photos of the End Product

The combination is proving to be very reliable and an absolute joy to ride. I’m riding it a lot together with my daughters and they love it.

This is a terrific example of the Leaner Sidecar that clearly shows how safe leaning really is!

A Few Questions for Reinier

What is it like to ride in comparison to a solo bike?

It is very similar to riding a solo bike with one very heavy pannier. The width is something to keep in mind…

It would be nice if you could explain does the sidecar try to overtake you when slowing down with a passenger?

Yes it does, but contrary to a fixed hack you don’t have to compensate this with heavy steering, you just lean a little towards the chair to counter the movement, you’ll do this automatically as an experienced solo rider.

Does it fall behind you if you accelerate fast?

Again, yes it does and again you just lean a little to compensate this.

Could you write what it is like to own and ride a Leaner?

I ride my K100 very often as a solo bike but whenever I want to take my girls on a trip I’ll attach the sidecar.

It is just mounting 1 bolt, 1 nut and a connector and within 5 minutes I’m ready to go.

Riding it is so much fun, everybody smiles at you, stopping at a gas station always ends in a conversation with someone who is interested.

Kids want to ride along, elderly people start talking about sidecars they know from the past and even policemen want to check it out.

Due to the power of the K100 it’ll do 170km/h on the highway and depending on the load it will still be fast in acceleration but the most fun is throwing it through a number of twisties on a small road or dike (we have many dikes here in Holland).

In corners to the right I’ll come really close to the passenger, most of the times my girls tap me on my shoulder whenever that happens, just because they can.

Going over a roundabout at high speed starts with a hard right followed by a hard left and again a hard right for exiting.

I’m just leaning right, left, right but the passenger gets thrown to the left, right, left in the chair, just the opposite. It is just like riding a roller-coaster!

I’ve got a lot of pictures and I like to discuss with other leaner owners.

Please comment below if you would like more information or pictures, I’m happy to help.

I hope you gather a lot of info from all the other homebuilders to facilitate new builders with advise.

Keep up the good work on the website!

Best regards

Reinier

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