Reverse gear

[Agent Wayward]

For those of us not currently blessed with a Ural.

Does anyone have a reverse gear? Electric or mechanical?

I'm looking for ideas. Initial thoughts are a Quaife reverse box (lots of engineering) or a caravan mover mounted in front of the rear wheel.

[claude]

We have built a couple of electric reverses that worked prety well. There are mechanical ones avaible for harleys.

[DRONE]

I know what a caravan is, but what's a caravan mover?

[windmill]

Originally Posted by DRONE

I know what a caravan is, but what's a caravan mover?

Just a simple friction drive motor for manually maneuvering small trailers. It would be a very simple solution for a reverse.

[FR700]

Originally Posted by DRONE

I know what a caravan is, but what's a caravan mover?

.

[Warin]

I'd put the drive onto the chair wheel. Reason: You can use it to push forward - thus aiding travel through mud/snow etc.

If you have a shaft drive on the bike side - duplicate it on the chair side and mate a dog clutch to it then an electric motor. Thus you have a source of parts if you need them for the bikes final drive.

[Steve In Ireland]

Considered the caravan mover on the sidecar wheel myself, but if you have to get off the bike and faff around engaging the drive on the sidecar wheel it kind of defeats the object as you may as well just get off and push the thing backwards. Really I guess you want a solution that can give you reverse without having to get off the bike. Can certainly see where it would be handy to have, especially if you are in a hilly area. Think the solution needs to be something fitted to the sidecar wheel as that will make it easier to use with different bikes. Look forward to seeing your solution Rod (and the new sidecar).

[Agent Wayward]

I'd prefer a solution that didn't need the rider to get off the bike, this one in particular is for a custom Rocket III project, but it would be good to sort out something I can use on the sidecar wheel for future accessory use.

I'd prefer to do something better than a caravan mover or starter motor type affair.

Will I see you at the Dragon Steve?

Maybe a DC motor built into the wheel a la electric scooter, would give drive in either direction too.

I think the Rocket will end up with a caravan mover and a remote lever engagement.

[DRONE]

OK, now I know what a caravan mover is. Another variation on the caravan mover/starter motor idea is an electric winch motor.

Also, FWIW, there was a thread about this 5 years ago -- here.

[Sidecarjohn]

The reverse topic has been around before on the forum. There were a number of possible approaches suggested, although some are clearly influenced by the sidecar location, namely left side, or right.
It's a consideration because my better half isn't getting any younger !

[boxertwin]

Ahhh, the backup gear thing again.

Yup I want one. Yup, I really like what Claude did with that winch motor in place of the BMW battery. Ingenious.

I looked at the caravan movers a couple years back online. Never seen one up close and personal here in the states.
When I rotate the sidecar wheel backwards the rig wants to turn and make a circle. So, yes you could fight the bikes tendency to turn with the handlebars. But, by powering the sidecar wheel, will the rig want to turn a circle?
If the sidecar is not loaded, will the hack wheel have enough traction to reverse the whole rig? I would think this will not be a problem on dry, flat, pavement. But I wonder if it could present a problem on wet, hilly, or off tarmac.

I've always been nervous about attaching a mechanism that could end up against or in a tire/wheel at the wrong time. Maybe I'm just a pussy but I don't like the idea that anything rigid, pokey, ratcheting, could end up in my tire, spokes, chain, etc while under way.

I also thought about a powered wheel with a rubber tire that would drop to the ground and turn. It would be positioned between the bike and the car, close to the bike. But, it seems this would need to be large, heavy, and would need a lot of travel to reach the ground.

Now, having said all this, I still want reverse on the VStrom and it was on my to-do list for this winter. But, I've still not solved the 'how'.
I'm still pushing the damned thing.

[bk brkr baker]

Will the Rotax V-twin from a Can-Am spyder bolt up in the frame of one of the Aprilla Rotax V-twin bikes?
If it will then you 'll have a big meaty V-twin with reverse built in. Rig up a subframe and mount the chair. Problem solved.