I've decided with disabilities and problems more than age I'm going to look into getting a sidecar for my k100 rat.

Got a few questions wondering if I could get some advice.

So just wondered as I can't find a sticky has anyone got any information on the laws in the uk regarding them sidecars simplified?

Has anyone ever fitted or made a reverse gear for a k bike?

Also how often does the mounting equiptment come up for sale?

Reason for the last question is I'm not a welder and save paying a lot for something else be easier to get bolt on mounting than making one.




kind regards
Sam

TheJoker wrote:I've decided with disabilities  and problems more than age I'm going to look into getting a sidecar for my k100 rat.

Got a few questions wondering if I could get some advice.

So just wondered as I can't find a sticky has anyone got any information on the laws in the uk regarding them sidecars simplified?

Has anyone ever fitted or made a reverse gear for a k bike?

Also how often does the mounting equiptment come up for sale?

Reason for the last question is I'm not a welder and save paying a lot for something else be easier to get bolt on mounting than making one.




kind regards
Sam

Back in 80s/90s there was someone in Germany converting 5 speed K boxes into 4 + reverse for K use.  Never had one but am aware of their existence.  Good luck finding one.  I've survived 24 years of K sidecares without having reverse, don't need one now, you just need to be selective about where you park etc.

Al

might be worth while looking up "slow phil"   (sidecar radio ) fame )  who has a fair bit of experience at constructing sidecar stuff  for the track (found on fb )

also "Sidecar Paul "  may know some of the ins and outs regarding sidecars in blighty

good luck

I can't comment on the laws in the UK with respect to sidecars but you should be able to find somebody that can fabricate the mounts.  

On this side of the pond DMC sidecars makes a subframe with sidecar mounts for the K bike, but then you have to adapt that to the sidecars attachment mounts. So you need to know what sidecar you are going to mount to your bike.  So you would normally get the sidecar first and then go from there.

Several good sites on the Web that offer info on sidecars.  Some of the most unique stuff seems to come out of Australia.

Good luck on your quest.

Never heard about a German reverse gear conversion on K gearboxes, but it does exists on Airhead gearboxes, Siebenrock deals that.
In Switzerland, Arnold Wagner, founder of Peraves, converted the K Gearbox to a 4 gear  + reverse, to be used on its monotracer the Ecomobil. Out ouf business for several years.
I've seen some DIY reverse gears on sidecars, most using an electrical motor (from a starter device) with a chain transmission on the sidecar wheel.

Note that:
- there are bikes with genuine reverse gear: K1200LT, 1500 Goldwing...and sidecar with reverse Urals, Sidebike Zeus...
- I never got stuck since I drive sidecars because of the lack of reverse gear.
- About disabilities, driving a sidecar may be physically much more difficult than riding a motorcycle.
- It's usually cheaper to buy a used complete assembly than building your own sidecar.
- before starting, try to drive a sidecar.

Herr Kayser did build K100 gearboxes with a reverse. But to get the space the first gear was dropped. So not option if you do not lower the overall gearing.
But on Germans forums I've read that the 1200GT has an electric reverse gear. Maybe it is possible to adapt such a gearbox

On Wagners conversion, you don't need to modify the overall gearing, as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears are modified for a shorter ratio.
For a sidecar use, yet, it's usually necessary to ave a shorter ration final drive, but a smaller wheel, besides being more adapted to car profiled tyres, is giving this shorter ratio.
Yet the Kayser conversion was adding a reverse gear to the 5 genuine ones. But they seem to be out of business.

To the best of my knowledge Herr Kayser added an extra reverse gear to the boxer gear boxes. For what i've read he did not add the reverse as an extra in the K-boxes. apparently losing the first gear. Usually for sidecars on the continent no problem because we drive car wheels. But among the left hand combo's i see a lot of large rear wheels.
Herr Kayser must be around 75 years old by now. He finally seems to have been retired.