The Flexi Sidecar project

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 4:55 pm

Well we got the axle somewhat mounted today and it leans both ways

now have to make a front mount and more frame to attach to that.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:06 pm

So are you building this from scratch or do you have an existing side car that you are adapting to this bike?

Joe

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:15 pm

From scratch, not sure what i`m going to build the car body from yet.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:21 pm

Back around 1971 there was a small shop in costa mesa california that was building a version. I tried one out. Cant remember the name of the outfit, probley been out of business a long time now. As I recall it had a nice looking fiber glass carrage.

Nobody · Post by **Nobody** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:36 pm

.....

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:45 pm

Good idea but might be hard to find a canoe that`s no good, drop tanks from airplanes work too.
We might make a wood one, we have the steamer to bend some thin boards like we did making the toboggans.
We`ll figure somethin out when we get that far, we being the wife, she works just as hard in the shop.

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:57 pm

yea Pitchy build a birch bark canoe, you have the talent
talk bout one of a kind

ollogger

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:01 pm

don`t know if we could pull that off or not but would look neat.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:02 pm

Dont wear your spurs in it!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:17 pm

Booger Bill wrote:Dont wear your spurs in it!

Now, that's funny.

I'm sure whatever you plan on doing it'll turn out great.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:26 am

Thanks gents, if i can get to feelin good enough i`m heading to the shop .
I`d like to try it out around the yard today just to see if it tips over.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:33 am

Lookin' good Pitchy. I've had a couple of side hacks but never a leaner like your building. Never could get used to them so I started building trailers.

We used to build midget racer tails out of front fenders but can't remember what make or model. I'm sure something will come to you.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:43 am

Pitchy wrote:Good idea but might be hard to find a canoe that`s no good, drop tanks from airplanes work too.

If you run across a belly tank, here's what you need to build:

Think your passenger is up for a little sidecar racing?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 2:23 pm

Wheeeeee, heeeeeeeeehawwwwwww

Don`t laugh to hard boys and girls it was a experiance for sure, almost ran into my truck

Thing is a little stiff, oiled up the pivots and it got better but she`s plenty scary

Will have to ride it some more to see if i want to procead.

Click on picture for Video.

walks with gun · Post by **walks with gun** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:43 pm

A small horse trough, she's a horse girl. Or one could always build a coffin, always handy in case of a crash. I need to make one for a trailer for the old trike.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:51 pm

Think we`ll build one from wood, just pulled a pine tree up to the mill to make some boards from. Will have to sleep on it.

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:05 pm

Pitchy; I have a couple of "cockpits"from LDPE kayaks we had to cut up cuz the ends were too thin. One is 5foot long by 32inches wide and burnt orange in color. Other is 4feet long 30inches wide and yellow.

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:17 pm

I remember some years back some fellas were building racing canoes. Used cedar 1X10 0R 12boards. Involved cutting the boards lengthwise into maybe 1/8th of an inch and length was usually quite long. Would cut a mess of strips, then glue them into the side walls of the canoe. These were narrow canoes, with minimal bracing, kept the weight down. Epoxy coated I seem to remember. Everything was geared to keeping them narrow, as light as possible for two people. They had annual races on the Fox River in Illinois and I believe Wisconsin. The length was important as well, they had different classes of racers. I have been out of that area for almost 40 years don't know if they still build them that way or not. It wasn't a cheap hobby either. The cedar was kiln dried, very straight grained, but they could really move through the water. They were only good for a few races then wore out, had to build new ones every year. Even the paddle shape was critical. Haven't thought of these things for all that time. Anyway good luck on your project. Hope it works for you. ATB

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:33 pm

I found this site on one of these forums. Seems to have all kinds of Goverment surplus stuff up for auction from towels to vehicles. http://www.govliquidation.com. I did a quick look but it is way loaded with about anything imaginable. Just thought I would mention it. Good Luck.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:07 pm

Cool, a cedar strip sidecar. Kind of has a ring to it.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:39 pm

Thanks guys, i think we`ll plane the jack pine boards we`re going to saw tomorrow to about 3/8ths. We`ll glue long boards together and brace for the sides then saw them round on eacg end. Then we`ll screw narrow boards cross ways all around the thing and leave open the cock pit area. That pine has some red in it sso after it gets some lindsead oil it will darken up and look pretty good.
Should have it on tomorrow so keep a eye out.

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:53 pm

Pitchy--when I grow up I want to be YOU--amazing... :)

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:52 pm

rjf415 wrote:Pitchy--when I grow up I want to be YOU--amazing...

Your too kind but thanks and glad ya like it, hope it looks good when we get the car done.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:17 pm

Got company so didn`t get the car done today, got the lumber sawed out so tomorrow should get er done.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:15 pm

Well it`s a car, gotta put a seat in it and a windshield on , what ya think?

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:23 pm

lumber's a bit knotty Pitchy!

Have you left room for the air bag?

N.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:41 pm

Put a little compartment on the inside for a place to put your last will and testament.

Here`s a few more pics of it leaning and with the windsheild.

Want a ride

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:50 pm

Pitchy: Looks like you could rock a baby to sleep in that thing.

Sorry but I can't help wonder what Col. Klink would think of it ...

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 7:10 pm

That bad lookin guys ?

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 8:52 pm

Looks like the perfect road hunting rig

What kind of finish do you plan on putting on the wood? Looks better than the plastic kayak body i was gonna give you. When kis the real road test? Todd

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 8:57 pm

Put the lindseed oil you gave me on it

The way it`s lookin it will be spring before it hits the highway.
Thanks for lookin bro.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:26 pm

Pitchy,

That's pretty darn neet lookin if I may say so. I like it. You gonna put a fender on the outside?

Oh, and I'd ride with you. WHOOOOO HOOOOOOOO ..........

Joe

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:36 pm

J Miller wrote:Pitchy,

That's pretty darn neet lookin if I may say so. I like it. You gonna put a fender on the outside?

Oh, and I'd ride with you. WHOOOOO HOOOOOOOO ..........

Joe

Thanks Joe, i should make a wood fender, think i will, thanks

BC in TN · Post by **BC in TN** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:40 pm

Will there be brakes on the sidecar or just the two on the bike?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:53 pm

BC in TN wrote:Will there be brakes on the sidecar or just the two on the bike?

Brakes on bike only, not a high speed affair.
I only ran a rear brake on most my old choppers, we used to call it puttin

rode easy.
Of courae back in the day when drunk no amout of brakes would make a difference, had to be there to understand.

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:10 pm

Pitchy i cant belive you got that far on that in a day or so
great job, that red heart jackpine is good looking wood

be careful with that

ollogger

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:15 pm

Thanks buddy, used to ride my ridged hacks on snow no problem, on back roads of course. Not to sure how this leaner will handle on snow, will probably find out soon.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:33 am

Watched the vid. Pitchy, you make my day.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:34 am

Thanks Kim and everyone else, gotta take a break today and go see a dentist about dentures

and talk to the VA about my claim

But you can bet there`s another vid coming riding it with a new fender.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:37 am

Pitchy: Another finish option would be to go over the pine with epoxy and fiberglass or kevlar. Your sidecar would then be weather and bullet-proof -- and you could also take it fishing.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:39 am

Bill in Oregon wrote:Pitchy: Another finish option would be to go over the pine with epoxy and fiberglass or kevlar. Your sidecar would then be weather and bullet-proof -- and you could also take it fishing.

epoxy and fiberglass or kevlar

Naw i like the wood look but ya have a good point

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:12 am

.....or take it one step further and make the sidecar a removable short canoe or kayak.

Gobbler

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:20 am

Looks great Pitchy, beats the heck out of the old Avon I used to have hanging on the side of a 650 BSA

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:24 am

The wife sits on a creeper and there is a door on the nose of the car, to unload her if she gets cranky i just release the latch on the door and hit the brakes.
Off she goes on her own inside car.

harry · Post by **harry** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:23 pm

Pitchy wrote:The wife sits on a creeper and there is a door on the nose of the car, to unload her if she gets cranky i just release the latch on the door and hit the brakes.
Off she goes on her own inside car.

Thats what I like, a man that thinks ahead.

Harry

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 6:57 pm

Well it`s to scary as a flexi, not user friendly at all so i welded it up solid. We just took a spin around the place, dark wind blowing and snow on the ground but it was fun and handled well. Gotta finish up the fender and put another brace on the frame, will take new pics later tomorrow.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:27 pm

Pitchy, did you allow for the Ackermann Theory on the geometry?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:45 pm

Old Time Hunter wrote:Pitchy, did you allow for the Ackermann Theory on the geometry?

Huh, probably not, ya better fill me in.
To late now anyway we got it welded solid and i like it better that way anyway, handles better and ya don`t have to put your feet down. It will look good when we get the fender on it.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:20 pm

Kevlar will not stop an arrow.

LeverBob · Post by **LeverBob** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:33 pm

Pitchy wrote:The wife sits on a creeper and there is a door on the nose of the car, to unload her if she gets cranky i just release the latch on the door and hit the brakes.
Off she goes on her own inside car.

Pitch...just remember that you have to sleep at night.

Call you later Pard...all in good fun. Now, to clean the monitor....

LB