A "Leaner" Terraplane

[Christian]

I have a Moto Guzzi 1400 California Custom with most of the "Touring" models additions, "touring handlebars, windscreen, comfort seat, running lights, as well as custom luggage. After 63, yep, 63 motorcycles I have a favorite and this is it. I recently located my favorite sidecar in Michigan. I love Vetter Terraplanes.
I want to make the bike a "leaner" so when I like, I can unpin the sidecar and ride it solo. I have all my tools, welder, painting equipment, lift,etc. in Spokane,Wa. where we live Spring, Summer and Fall. Arizona the rest of the time.
The California has a robust frame so making the mounting points will be fairly straight forward.
My question is how far do I need to mount the Vetter away from the bike? I want to mount it as close as possible but the bike still has to lean. I plan to remove the inboard pannier for additional room.
I see a few "leaners", mostly on European forums, and mostly on BMW's. Some are some distance from the bike and they look a little goofy.
Thank you, in advance for your advice,
Christian

 

[turbodog]

I doubt that there is a single answer to your question. It will depend on the bike. You need the spacing such that the bike can lean to the right as far as you would ever want to lean, without the bike touching the sidecar. If you compromise this, someday you will find yourself unable to make that right hander without wandering into oncoming traffic. It seems like you need to build stands that support the bike and sidecar (separately) at this angle, then slide them toward each other until they touch.... then back off some, because the bike's suspension is not compressed the way it will be in actual cornering with a rider aboard.

 

[Christian]

I doubt that there is a single answer to your question. It will depend on the bike. You need the spacing such that the bike can lean to the right as far as you would ever want to lean, without the bike touching the sidecar. If you compromise this, someday you will find yourself unable to make that right hander without wandering into oncoming traffic. It seems like you need to build stands that support the bike and sidecar (separately) at this angle, then slide them toward each other until they touch.... then back off some, because the bike's suspension is not compressed the way it will be in actual cornering with a rider aboard.

GR-8 advice. I will do just that. I found the sidecar in Michigan. I was attached to an earlier Moto Guzzi but in a conventional manner. I'm having it shipped to Spokane, Wa. where I'll be after May 1. I have all my equipment there, welder, painting equipment, lift, etc.. I'm looking forward to this project. I don't know what I will do re: sidecar brake.
The Moto Guzzi has killer brakes, ABS all that, don't know if I can plumb the side car disc into that system or not. The previous owner didn't use the sidecar brake on his older Moto Guzzi for one reason or another.
I recently rode my friends BMW powered EML sidecar with intigrated brakes and it stops straight and immediately. I'd like to duplicate that. Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Christian

 

[turbodog]

Actually, I recently complete a linked braking setup on my rig. So far, the results are not stellar, but I know what I need to do to fix it. I 'teed' off the front brake line with a braided stainless hose to the frame. Then steel 3/16 tubing the rest of the way to the sidecar swingarm. Then another section of braided line to the caliper.

I have a union in the line where it crosses over to the sidecar to make divorcing the chair and the tug easier.
Over-wrapped the steel line with reinforced fuel hose at potential rub points.
I put a brake bias adjuster valve in line with the steel tube running from the front to rear of the bike.

The issue for me is that my front brakes are overkill. 4-pot GSXR calipers and a pair of 210mm discs generate way more braking than the 1981-spec wheel/tire combo can put to the road. The sidecar braking is never quite balanced with the bike, even with the bias valve wide open. And a total of 10 caliper pistons is too much even for a 19mm master cylinder.

So, I need to drop back to 2-piston calipers in front.

BUT, back to you. I would think the physical plumbing would be straightforward. Just be careful and double check all your bubble/flare fitting connections - twice. I don't know if your Terraplane brake hardware is completely missing. If so, I have some suggestions, since you can weld up a custom mount (as I did also).

The antilock might complicate things just a little. If so, it might be because the software that controls the ABS will have a different physical system than it was designed for. Some control calculations might be a little off. The only way to know is to build it and test - carefully- in a big parking lot.

 

[Larry Fine]

What about a slave cylinder with greater area?

Would tying into the rear system instead work?

 

[Christian]

I considered the rear brake system on my Moto Guzzi. It just might be the key to the door. The previous owner of the Terraplane didn't use the sidecars brakes at all. Fortunately, all the components are there.
I rode my friends BMW powered EML with intigrated brakes and it stops quick and straight. I would like to duplicate that.
This is a "super fun" project. Thank you for any advice.
Christian
P.S. 77 in Mesa, Az. today------just sayin'

 

[Ken-T]

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