Chair tuning

So, having realised that the chair pulling hard to the kerb (to the
extent I ended up bailing off the M5 and using back roads) isn't a good
thing I started to fiddle this morning.

Adjusted by four turns the two adjustable 'rods' between the bike and
car (to push the bike more upright) and it was a lot better. Adding a
bit of air to the front and sidecar tyres (from 15 to 25psi) helped too.

Of course, now the front tyre is less flat (or is it fewer?) it shakes a
bit more at low speed but a damper/sidecar tyre will sort that I'm sure.

So, it's a lot more driveable now.

However my daughter's now steadfastly refusing to ride in it again. I
suppose I shouldn't have lofted the chair really... Fortunately I
couldn't hear the screaming that much but I could feel the punches.

One area of disappointment is the fuel consumption; about 40mpg. I
suppose new plugs, filters, oil, points etc. might help a bit but not
back up to the 50mpg that I'd hoped for.

 

Steering with 15psi in the tyre must have been like trying to stir
concrete with a spade. I suppose the secret is to get it just on the
verge of becoming unstable and then fit a damper.

40mpg sounds ok for an old bike carting a lot of weight. What's the
fuel capacity and can you bungee (1) a jerry can on anywhere?

(1) I'm assuming the chair will be used for camping kit and other
'supplies'.

 

Not having leading links (which greatly reduce the steering effort
required) means you can't run a really low pressure. I used to find 25
was about right on the Guzzi/Squire with leading links and a 'square'
front tyre.

Weight and wind resistance take a toll. As Andy says, you need to
investigate auxiliary tank arrangements.

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

sidestand, on an outfit?

 

Air filter looks a bit manky but not that bad. I'm replacing it once
the order from Wemoto arrives.

 

You haven't seen it...

 

Book values for the Ural are 22psi front and chair, 36psi rear. This seems
to work well.

And tyre scrub. At 40mpg, he's probably got an easy 120 mile/2 hour range,
by which time he'll be desperate for a break.

 

Outfits generally have a little shake somewhere in the speed range. You can
usually tweak the settings so it shakes at a speed you don't use much. The
Ural will sometimes flutter a bit if I bounce it over a speed bump, but
otherwise it's very steady,

"Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to have
only three wheels."

Tell her you're getting her one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200154127643

You'll be getting about 70mpg if you try to keep up with the Ural.

 

I used to run lower than that on the back, but that was a Firestone car
tyre.

Indeed. We didn't get in to the complexities of discussing toe in.

Even with the leading links I must admit that after a long journey my
shoulders would feel as one would imagine a channel swimmer's might.
--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Where have I heard that before?

 

Doesn't the idea work for you?

 

To be honest, it was a bigger problem that the chair was dragging it to
the gutter. Sure changing direction took some 'leverage' but it was the
maintaining that was tiring.
Oh, absolutely. Only onto one pavement and into one fence today.

Well, it's about 100miles to reserve and I got another 20miles after
that. I'm sure that there was at least 10 miles left. So after a
service maybe 140 miles per tank is possible.

Absolutely; it would be foolish not to carry 5 gallons of petrol 'just
in case'.

 

Well, after this week's little 'incident' her mini currently only has
three wheels.

****. Why hadn't I thought of that?

We'll see.

I'm thinking of fitting a fairing once I've sorted the important stuff.

 

You must have a go on the Ural, then. The Chimay weekend had a couple of
days in the 350-400 mile range, and I felt fine - no aches, pains or
stiffnesses. The throttle was a bit wearing, but that's about it.

 

Really? I thought you were walking a little uncomfortably.

 

I really must. Next BOSM perhaps?
Remind me of the Ural's cruising speed again ;-)

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I have an old SU pump I used on the bangers which can act as a transfer
pump.

 

All you need to carry is a few litres of 2-stroke oil and we'll all
be sorted then. I can't see how we'll avoid being spotted if we stop
together to syphon fuel out of the locals cars but it's worth a try.

 

We could call the outfit "Victor".

 

It's The Eastern Front we're re-opening, not the fucking Falklands.