750 sf cameltank

Someone on here said he found a Ducati spline from the 90's that worked. My solution for broken right legs was a simpler engineering exercise.
 

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jockula said:
would anybody know of a steel lever with the right spline size to make it easier for me (to weld)?
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I'll have a scratch around in my boxes of Laverda parts to see if I have something I could donate. I know there's an aluminium lever somewhere, and I have a vague recollection of there being a steel one. Although I could be thinking of some other bike. I wonder if the Laverda gearshift lever spline is common to any other makes of bike.
 
jockula said:
I,m a disabled rider. Been riding modified outfits for years now without problems. Have
had my early SF since 1989 and couldnt bear to sell it. Just having a go at fitting a
chair to it. Basically all I need to do is move throttle and brakes to the l/h side.
Obviously more difficult... homemade subframe running off under where the
centre stand fits and a sturdy plate under the headstock. Not everyones cup
of tetleys,but being able to still get out and about,albeit on 3 wheels and only
having one arm and leg,makes me grin from ear to here and back. Never had
or wanted a trike. Seen a pic of a dutch blokes GT with one,would like to
see more pics of that.....or anyone else who tackled a 750 twin
Click to expand...

Hi Jock
Are you the bloke that got T boned by a car, on your SF with your wife/girlfriend on the back?
I seem to remember you both lost arms and legs??
 
chrisk said:
Hi Jock
Are you the bloke that got T boned by a car, on your SF with your wife/girlfriend on the back?
I seem to remember you both lost arms and legs??
Click to expand...

chrisk said:
Hi Jock
Are you the bloke that got T boned by a car, on your SF with your wife/girlfriend on the back?
I seem to remember you both lost arms and legs??
Click to expand...
No,not me/us.However,my lefthand earchange setup is coming along nicely.
 
Dellortoman said:
Did the factory ever make a crossover gearshift for the 750 like they did for the triples?
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Theres an exploded view of that 750 set up on p.87 of the green book. Trouble is,
I need everything on the left. Think they made that more for certain countrys
laws as opposed for disabled riders. Theres a shed load of parts on that diagram
too. No doubt someone,somewhere fitted this back in the day. I think certain
parts in that might do me but I reckon it would be very rare to find a complete
set as that. Prob be easier (and cheaper) to copy from the view
 
jockula said:
Theres an exploded view of that 750 set up on p.87 of the green book. Trouble is,
I need everything on the left. Think they made that more for certain countrys
laws as opposed for disabled riders. Theres a shed load of parts on that diagram
too. No doubt someone,somewhere fitted this back in the day. I think certain
parts in that might do me but I reckon it would be very rare to find a complete
set as that. Prob be easier (and cheaper) to copy from the view
Click to expand...
It's part of what's known as the "varianti America".
Along with reflectors on the side of the headlight and rear light mounts.

Paul
 
Hey Jock, have you heard of Alan Kempster? Sadly he's no longer with us, but he was an Australian motorcycle racer who, like yourself, didn't let the loss of an arm and a leg slow him down. He was an interesting bloke and a reasonably competitive racer. He obviously had a sense of humour because he called himself "half man" and his racing number was 1/2. See web link below.

I was a spectator at Sydney's Motorsport Park when he fell off on the starting grid. I guess a gust of wind caught him and pushed him over to the non-leg side and he could do nothing but fall in a heap. They held up the start while a couple of track marshals picked up the bike and helped him back on board. The fall didn't seem to bother him too much. Apparently it wasn't the first time he'd had a "delayed start". I remember thinking at the time that he would be better off racing sidecars.

I've got all the usual number of arms and legs and I have a sidecar outfit. They're a lot of fun.

 
Dellortoman said:
Hey Jock, have you heard of Alan Kempster? Sadly he's no longer with us, but he was an Australian motorcycle racer who, like yourself, didn't let the loss of an arm and a leg slow him down. He was an interesting bloke and a reasonably competitive racer. He obviously had a sense of humour because he called himself "half man" and his racing number was 1/2. See web link below.

I was a spectator at Sydney's Motorsport Park when he fell off on the starting grid. I guess a gust of wind caught him and pushed him over to the non-leg side and he could do nothing but fall in a heap. They held up the start while a couple of track marshals picked up the bike and helped him back on board. The fall didn't seem to bother him too much. Apparently it wasn't the first time he'd had a "delayed start". I remember thinking at the time that he would be better off racing sidecars.

I've got all the usual number of arms and legs and I have a sidecar outfit. They're a lot of fun.

Click to expand...
Wow ! What a bloke,a truly amazing sense of balance. I wouldnt have the bottle to try a solo. Especially on my SF !!
I,m sure I recall an article years ago about this, I thought he competed in England ? Wonder if it was indeed him,
over here. Truly brilliant inspiration to anyone needing to get back in the saddle......damn,I know some amputees
with much less lost and they do nowt but moan. My old man used to say "your not a biker till ye leave some skin
on the deck" hahahaha..
 
I used to ride back in the 80's with a fellow missing most of his right leg. Met him because he was riding an SF and he said he needed a RHS shift as he had the shifter angled upwards and shifted with his hand. Crazy fellow. Mental Mike we called him. He rode with an open face helmet and no goggles. Rain, dirt, bugs ........ never a problem for him. He was fairly quick on his bike too. Went to a track day once and he lowsided in a slow corner. He was trying to get back on the bike but his dummy leg was turned cockeyed and the marshals were having a fit thinking his leg was badly broken. He finally got on the bike ..... straightened his leg and off he went again.
I bought his SF when it had a main bearing come apart. He tried a Brit bike after that but didn't enjoy it. I haven't seen him since.

Jim
 
SF3s that came into Australia all had the left hand gearchange. Yes, quite a complicated crossover arrangement. But there's nothing that can't be put together with a bit of ingenuity and machinery.
 
Hey Jock. I'm a sidecar man too. I noticed that your SF has its original front forks. The solo suspension setup isn't particularly suited to sidecar use because you don't need as much trail with a sidecar.

On a solo bike, you don't actually move the steering much as you lean into a corner. It just needs a little nudge of counter-steer. But on a sidecar outfit, you turn the steering a lot. Like a car, the front wheel has to be turned to point where you want to go. You occasionally need to use full lock if you're doing a U-turn. Reducing the trail makes large steering inputs a lot easier. It's a bit like fitting power steering.

I know it's an additional expense, but I'd recommend a leading link front suspension with much less trail. It can make the bike steer a lot easier because you're not fighting against the self-centring action of the front end. I reckon ease of steering would be more important to a one-armed rider than someone with two hands on the bars. My (Kawasaki) outfit has a leading link front end that's specifically designed for sidecar use, and it still requires fairly hefty steering input.

Another potential issue with original forks is that the excessive trail can cause over-correction if the front end is disturbed by a bump. Sometimes this can lead to oscillation. A tank slapper is hard to damp out if you only have one hand on the bars.
 
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Dellortoman said:
Hey Jock. I'm a sidecar man too. I noticed that your SF has its original front forks. The solo suspension setup isn't particularly suited to sidecar use because you don't need as much trail with a sidecar.

On a solo bike, you don't actually move the steering much as you lean into a corner. It just needs a little nudge of counter-steer. But on a sidecar outfit, you turn the steering a lot. Like a car, the front wheel has to be turned to point where you want to go. You occasionally need to use full lock if you're doing a U-turn. Reducing the trail makes large steering inputs a lot easier. It's a bit like fitting power steering.

I know it's an additional expense, but I'd recommend a leading link front suspension with much less trail. It can make the bike steer a lot easier because you're not fighting against the self-centring action of the front end. I reckon ease of steering would be more important to a one-armed rider than someone with two hands on the bars. My (Kawasaki) outfit has a leading link front end that's specifically designed for sidecar use, and it still requires fairly hefty steering input.

Another potential issue with original forks is that the excessive trail can cause over-correction if the front end is disturbed by a bump. Sometimes this can lead to oscillation. A tank slapper is hard to damp out if you only have one hand on the bars.
Click to expand...
I,d like to leading link suspension at one point. What I,ve been doing up to now is fitting external springs,steering
dampers and proper flat sidecar tyres. The SF will get a set of 18" metzeler block K tyres. Both my Goldwing and cb550
have front avon 19x350 sidecar tyres on and the 18" metz on 550 rear. Goldthing rear is more difficult,its 17" and
always looking out for something more square. Bit of mix and match but I aint trying to break any speed records
here. All my outfits over the years have been stable enough. Any sidecar pilot will know straight away if
your not set up right. just experiment with your toe in,eyeball your lean out until you feel it tracking straight.
Dellortoman said:
Hey Jock. I'm a sidecar man too. I noticed that your SF has its original front forks. The solo suspension setup isn't particularly suited to sidecar use because you don't need as much trail with a sidecar.

On a solo bike, you don't actually move the steering much as you lean into a corner. It just needs a little nudge of counter-steer. But on a sidecar outfit, you turn the steering a lot. Like a car, the front wheel has to be turned to point where you want to go. You occasionally need to use full lock if you're doing a U-turn. Reducing the trail makes large steering inputs a lot easier. It's a bit like fitting power steering.

I know it's an additional expense, but I'd recommend a leading link front suspension with much less trail. It can make the bike steer a lot easier because you're not fighting against the self-centring action of the front end. I reckon ease of steering would be more important to a one-armed rider than someone with two hands on the bars. My (Kawasaki) outfit has a leading link front end that's specifically designed for sidecar use, and it still requires fairly hefty steering input.

Another potential issue with original forks is that the excessive trail can cause over-correction if the front end is disturbed by a bump. Sometimes this can lead to oscillation. A tank slapper is hard to damp out if you only have one hand on the bars.
Click to expand...
Would like to try a leading link at some stage in the future. Heard nothing but good about them. Up till now
I,ve only ever used combinations of external fork springs/steering dampers and either Metzeler or Avon
proper sidecar tyres. Must say I have never had an outfit pull me off the road. Usually fit wider bars too,
my favourites are American spec T120 bonneville. Nice comfortable width/ rise.
 
When we rode up to the ILOC rally in Stirling, Scotland in 2001, there was a guy with a black 750 with side car. He had lost an arm and a leg. The side car was weighted with packs of beer which he consumed all weekend.

Paul
 
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