1983 GSX1100 Prototype

Hi Dave,
I’ve been reading your page with a lot of interest. Thanks!

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.

I used a swing arm and wheel from a Citroen.

Simple Layout with 40 x 40 x 3mm square tubing.

Arch for a new damper attachment.

Motorcycle Sub Chassis and Pivots

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

Time to attach the Junak Tub.

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

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

 

Project Evolves |1988 BMW K100RS – 1968 Junak Tub

I’ve attached the second build to my 1988 BMW K100RS.

The sidecar tub is a 1968 Polish Junak with total weight under 60 kg.

I made the frame myself. The wheel and axle is from a BMW K100.

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.

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.

1968 Polish Junak Tub with a Reinier homemade frame and wheel and axle from a BMW K100.

This is a terrific example of a 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!

Thanks again for your enthusiasm and compliments.

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.

Best regards

Reinier

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