Impossibly Cool, or...

[jbcollier]

While it may look impossibly cool, I am starting to think it is just cool looking and impossible. I am talking about the sidecar/scooter carrier rig that I built up last year. I rode it down to Calgary's rally for the day -- speaking of impossibly cool and Calgary, Cory was the coolest dressed cat I have ever seen! -- and was an absolute physical wreck when I got home.

At first i thought my slight weariness and grumpiness while I was at Calgary was due to the early start. I am getting old after all. There's no spring left, just chicken. However, on the way back home I realized I was having to apply steering pressure left, all the time! It's not much but it always there.

I have recently reset my rig's alignment to eliminate this problem and I have, as long as it is just a rig. Bolting on the scooter carrier and a scoot adds a huge aero drag which makes the scoot want to turn right all the time at speed. It might be possible to add yet more lean out/toe in but then it will want to turn left all the time at lower speeds!

I didn't notice it that much on the way down but, by the time I got home, my upper body was just screaming in pain. Six hours of steady pressure to the left is just too much. So there goes my dream of riding my rig to far off rallies. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Yup, the dream has died or, maybe not. What if I towed my scoot be hind my BMW? Converted to single track, of course. Motorcycles can be set up with small trailers and a scooter doesn't weigh much... hmm.

Cheers from Sore in Edmonton and sorry if I was a bit grumpy while down south! Calgary is a beautiful city and, even better, filled with wonderful scooterists! See you again in the fall for the Jaguar's run and I promise to be in much better shape then!

[jbcollier]

Hmm, been doing a little more digging. It seems I could add a linear actuator which could raise and lower the sidecar suspension as I rode along. That way I could trim the lean-out to suit road conditions. Stay tuned...

[coyoteran]

You know, I am pretty sure you are speaking english but I don't understand a single word of it. But whatever it is, sounds cool. Best of luck
T

[Sowelu]

I hope this lifts your spirits John:

We won a trophy at the rally for "Best Wolf Pack". Our club had the best showing at the rally.

Graham has the trophy and has promised me that he will take it to Tra Amici next Sunday.

Cheers!

Shannon