Car tire on a Car Wheel on a GL1500!

[PedroTQ]

G'day to All

I have finally gone full hog on a "Darkside" for my 88 HRD outfit. This story will not suit everyone but it is an option to fit what ever tyre you want that will fit in the swingarm.

I originally fitted a 195/55R16 on the back wheel but the Department of Transport did not approve of fitting a car tyre onto a motorcycle rim as the rim profiles are different and the actual diameter of a car tyre is just a smell smaller than a motorcycle tyre.

So i bought a couple of second hand 16x6" rims out of the local paper to modify to what i wanted and here is my story.

Got a length of 180mm x 6mm Aluminium flat bar and cut out some biscuits to fit between the spokes of my rear wheel.

[Sassy]

Right on! Looking forward to seeing the finished wheel.
Fred

[PedroTQ]

I cut the center's out of the car rims with an angle grinder.

My hub was a snug fit into the rim so i could tap it into place with a rubber mallet to get the flange edge measurements.

Cut out a couple of circles in 3mm steel plate.

Using a rotary table on my milling machine i drilled 18 8mm holes around the edge.

Bolted it all together to machine the outer and inner diameters.

Then welded one of the flanges into the car rim.

[PedroTQ]

Painted the hub with Aluminium engine enamel which is the closest to Honda color.

I sandblasted the rim and painted it black.

The back of the hub also got a black coat.

Bolted it together with SS button head bolts and Nylock nuts.

Fit a new tyre.

[PedroTQ]

Now that was the easy part, now comes the most fun and headaches galore

The left shock will no longer fit as it hits the wheel.

The mudguard will no longer fit as it hits the wheel.

The air pump will no longer fit as it hits the wheel.

The fuse/relay box will no longer fit as it hits the wheel.

The left saddlebag will no longer fit as it hits the wheel.

Oh boy, what have i done!? ............ This wasn't in the plan

So the fun begins;

I relocated the left shock to the right side, acquired another shock thinner in diameter and with the same travel from fully compressed to fully open (i removed the springs to check), but the shock was just a little shorter and still interfered with the wheel.

I had to remove and remodel the lower left shock mount to move it out and up a little, also extend the shock/brake arm bolt.

I purchased a trailer mudguard and modified it to fit.

[AZgl1800]

that is some pretty damn good ingenious work you did there,
and I love that you can now tell the gendarmes to kiss your arse....


Pedro,
I thought this was such a tremendously good project, that I posted a link to your work on GoldwingFacts.com

see it here:
https://www.goldwingfacts.com/threads/h ... 00.673343/
.

[PedroTQ]

Now for some electrical fun and games

The fuse box could stay where it is, nice and accessible behind the side-cover, but the relays have to go somewhere else, there seems to be plenty of room right above the rear mudguard.

[PedroTQ]

The left shock still gave me grief as it just wasnt in the correct position so out came the angle grinder again and remake it all.

With the top mount i made a sleeve out of stainless that extended the original mount, nice and easy.

Made a second lower shock mount so the bolt pin slid easily in when the rear wheel lifted off the ground and hanging on the right shock, also left room for the brake line to go through (forgot that on the first attempt).

Some extra mudflaps all round from insertion rubber.

Cut the air distributor and reverse relay mounts off the old mudguard and bolted them in place, all fits nice.


I have been called away so i will add more later.

Happy and Safe Riding to Everyone! Peter

[PedroTQ]

Back again

The right saddlebag didn't need much modification at all, just the splash rib removed.

But the left had to have a big chunk removed, i drilled around the edge where i needed to cut so it was like a postage stamp then used a jig saw blade in a pair of Vice-Grips to cut the section out.

Acquired a couple of off-cuts of 3mm ABS sheeting and made a new wall for it.

Glued it all in place then ground the edges smooth with a flap disk.

I have lost a little luggage space but that's no worry as the boot on the sidecar is big, i also don't use the left saddlebag much as access is more difficult with sidecar so close.

[PedroTQ]

I have to fit the air pump inside the left saddlebag which is now further away from the air distributor, but since i don't have an air shock on the right I can use the hose as an extension, just had to machine up a joiner out of some brass rod.

Knocked up a mounting bracket for the air pump and put a couple of new 25mm holes for the air line and wiring in the rear wall of the saddlebag.

Everything just fits in now.

I am still working on the tail lights and awaiting service parts to arrive in the mail so she is not complete, I will post more pics when she is ready for the road.

[PedroTQ]

Now all this messing about is because i wanted that size tyre, a little smaller in diameter than a stock tyre and plenty of rubber on the road, this is for a slight reduction in gear ratio as i need this for sidecar operation and not high speed.

If you want to stay on two wheels you can choose from a variety of widths in 15", 16" or 17" car rims and tyres that will fit nicely within the restraints of the bike.

Happy and Safe Riding to All! Peter

[WingAdmin]

Peter this is just the most incredible project! What perseverance!! My hat is off to you.

[ehadams]

Peter,
Another great thread. Loved the other threads on NGW!
Glad to see the sidecar project coming along.
Our sidecars are pretty standard not anywhere as much modifications as you have going on.
Keep up the great work and informative posts.

Eric in Vermont

[magnajohn]

Just watched the Wingadmin video. Great stuff! I loved the wheel/tire bead drawing comparisons.

[soumilinon]

Very skilled..BUT, would it not be easier to buy a motorcycle tire ????

[AZgl1800]

Very skilled..BUT, would it not be easier to buy a motorcycle tire ????

you missed the point, he is pushing a sidecar and needs something that will last longer than 150 miles per tire.
and he is like me, don't ever tell me "no"

[PedroTQ]

Thanks for the comments Guys,

Yes a stock tyre would be the easy way out, but as "AZgl1800" stated there is a lot more work for my tyre to do.

here is a pic of a tyre that has only done a couple of thousand Kilometres or so, you can see the strange wear pattern each side of the center strip.

I run 42psi in it and to me it is telling me she is overloaded.

Stock tyre = 160/80 B 16 M/C 75H = the "75" is the maximum weight carrying capacity which is 387 kg and the "H" is the speed rating which is 210 km/hr

Car tyre = 195/55 R 16 87V = the "87" = 545 kg and the "V" = 240 km/hr

I will never reach the speed rating but the sidecar is heavy, I am heavy, my wife is even more heavy, all sitting on the back wheel bringing it close to the maximum weight rating, thus the abnormal tyre wear.

Here is a pic of my old KZ-1300 - DJP outfit, i had the rear tyre changed as well but to a 15" VW tyre.

[PedroTQ]

The sidecar also has a 25L fuel tank under the trunk, i removed the old one as it didn't fit properly and i ma making a new one yet to be fitted, this also adds weight to the rear wheel.

The mileage i get out of the car tyre should pay for itself, but the changing will be a mongrel as lots have to come off for access, the final drive comes off with the wheel now.

She is not complete as i am still waiting for parts to arrive in the mail.

Happy and Safe Riding to All, Peter

[AZgl1800]

Even though you have 42 psi in the tire,
as you stated, it is carrying much more than it was designed for.

the wear pattern is typical for a tire that is under inflated....
and your decision to put a Car Tire/Tyre on your sidecar rig is the proper decision.





the center area is devoid of anything to help keep water from causing hydroplaning, but I doubt you would be driving very fast in a heavy rain in the first place.

I doubt that snow and ice is ever present where you live?

[Rednaxs60]

Great project and love your workshop. Sonya's brother's 1800 has a sidecar rig, took it for a ride, big and wide. Nice unit, but not my cup of tea: