Smitty901
400+ Posts
Velorex 563
We know going in the Velorex is a lower end basic sidecar. When I purchased it new it had a simple purpose .
Payton my granddaughter with CP needed to ride and that was the only way. Plan at first was simple short rides on back roads around the farm, a parade now and then. After mounting it on my 1996 FB just under $4,000 in it.
Despite warnings from many it worked well on the FB and served Payton far better than expected . We rode it every where and put 3,000 plus miles on it. The FB 22 years old was due for some minor work and inspection. Not wanting to take Payton's ride away , we mounted the sidecar on a 2015 HD Street 750. Couple hundred in steel and other parts to adapt the fit . Again the warnings , won't work , Street can't... Well in worked on prefect . Payton now has 1,500 miles in it on the Street.
Early on sidecar flat tire . Tube tire valve stem came loose. Easy fix. At 4,000 miles sidecar tire a cheap China one had side wall cracking that worried me while it still had tread on it. Replaced it, with Dunlop HD tire.
At about 4,500 miles windshield cracked. The canopy top attaches to it and we had used it a lot in winter and rain. I am sure that effected it. $200 for a replacement with all the mounting parts. I wanted the other mounts to make a shorty latter. Velorex shipped part the same day.
Today I noticed the grommets the front Canopy snaps into were loose. They are held in with a ring and glue. Pulled them out re-glued them .
Some of the carpet lining came down , sprayed 3m glue put it back.
As I said from the start it is not a High end sidecar. The 563 is a heavier frame than the 562 and has a few add on's.
The sidecar has years of life left in it and has far exceeded what we expected from it. I would do it again without a thought. If I were buying one for a larger bike and wanted something large I would look at a different model. But if you have no need for all of higher in things like ECC , it can be an affordable option.
Tomorrow Payton and Grandson will ride in a Truck show and motorcycle parade this will be their 4th year riding it. The motorcycle ride part raises funds for Make a Wish.
We know going in the Velorex is a lower end basic sidecar. When I purchased it new it had a simple purpose .
Payton my granddaughter with CP needed to ride and that was the only way. Plan at first was simple short rides on back roads around the farm, a parade now and then. After mounting it on my 1996 FB just under $4,000 in it.
Despite warnings from many it worked well on the FB and served Payton far better than expected . We rode it every where and put 3,000 plus miles on it. The FB 22 years old was due for some minor work and inspection. Not wanting to take Payton's ride away , we mounted the sidecar on a 2015 HD Street 750. Couple hundred in steel and other parts to adapt the fit . Again the warnings , won't work , Street can't... Well in worked on prefect . Payton now has 1,500 miles in it on the Street.
Early on sidecar flat tire . Tube tire valve stem came loose. Easy fix. At 4,000 miles sidecar tire a cheap China one had side wall cracking that worried me while it still had tread on it. Replaced it, with Dunlop HD tire.
At about 4,500 miles windshield cracked. The canopy top attaches to it and we had used it a lot in winter and rain. I am sure that effected it. $200 for a replacement with all the mounting parts. I wanted the other mounts to make a shorty latter. Velorex shipped part the same day.
Today I noticed the grommets the front Canopy snaps into were loose. They are held in with a ring and glue. Pulled them out re-glued them .
Some of the carpet lining came down , sprayed 3m glue put it back.
As I said from the start it is not a High end sidecar. The 563 is a heavier frame than the 562 and has a few add on's.
The sidecar has years of life left in it and has far exceeded what we expected from it. I would do it again without a thought. If I were buying one for a larger bike and wanted something large I would look at a different model. But if you have no need for all of higher in things like ECC , it can be an affordable option.
Tomorrow Payton and Grandson will ride in a Truck show and motorcycle parade this will be their 4th year riding it. The motorcycle ride part raises funds for Make a Wish.