Multi Purpose HPV

[Wildcat]

I just picked up this bike with a sidecar. I plan to use it as my main vehicle over here in the Philippines. It will be used for just recreational riding, along with shopping and transportation here. I live within 3 or 4 miles from everything I need to get to. It'll keep me in shape at the same time. It's like most of the bikes with sidecars here, except that it uses 26" wheels instead of 20". It has a one speed freewheel that I may have to change out for gears, but I may keep it as is and get used to working harder. With a 46 tooth chain wheel and 24 tooth freewheel, it is geared low. I've tried it out with a passenger, load of groceries, and a case of refreshment from the local market and it did pretty well. The one band brake isn't quite good enough for my liking, so it will go on the sidecar wheel and I'll put a new one on the drive wheel. Then it will need a cover to keep the rain off and the sun off the rest of the time. I need to keep it as lightweight as possible and have a few ideas so far. Then it will get lights and extras to make it my own.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Cool! That looks like great fun!

Luke.

 

[Wildcat]

I may also see if I can find pedals with stirrups. That will give a little more torque to get up the slight inclines.

 

[Wildcat]

I need to fix the brakes, so I tore it all apart to see if the rear wheel would fit in the forks so the front can have a band brake too. Now just waiting for funds to get another brake or two. The sidecar wheel, what was the front wheel, will probably get a home made friction brake that will double as a parking brake, like a wheelchair uses. I just noticed the brass spoke ends on the one wheel, I wish they all 3 were like that.

 

[Wildcat]

The new brake was only 95 pesos, about 2 dollars, so now I can stop. Now to fab up the parking brake.

 

[Nagant]

I really like this bike. Keep the updates and pics coming. WOW, only $2 for the brake.

 

[Wildcat]

I'll document everything I do with this bike. I thought I had gone through it completely, but I missed the problem with the seat post. They had tightened it to the point it was crimped and started to bend backward as I was riding. Luckily there was enough post to cut off the bad part and make the rest work. I also added a piece of shower curtain rod that barely fit inside to strengthen it.

 

[Nagant]

I'm glad you were able to find that problem before if folded on you while riding. That could have been very bad.

 

[Wildcat]

I noticed the diameter of the seat post is an odd size, there's no change in diameter for the seat clamp. I was going to use a wooden dowel rod to reinforce it before I found the old curtain rod. I have to take the rear wheel in to have it trued, we had a wild ride coming back from the store. I was riding in the sidecar as we went off the edge of the pavement and down into a lower parking lot. We nearly wound up inside a small store on the corner. Just a warped rear rim. No refreshment or groceries spilled out so we continued on like nothing happened.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Good work spotting it before it got worse!

Luke.

 

[Wildcat]

Since I'm taking the rear wheel in for truing, I think I'll have the big freewheel cog changed out to a 5 speed cluster. If the brake assembly was 2 bucks, maybe the gears, derailleur and everything will be cheap too. If I take the sidecar off, I'll need higher gears, and the low gear will come in handy when the thing is loaded down.

 

[Nagant]

The 5 speed free wheel sounds like a great idea. WOW that portion of seat tube you had to cut off is certainly scary looking.

 

[Wildcat]

Now it's a 5 speed, but I need to get more chain to finish up the conversion. Maybe I'll get a 36 tooth chain wheel and not need the extra chain. The shop did the truing on the rim and installed the 5 speed cluster on the rim. I added the cable and shifter and everything total for about 10 bucks.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Hard to beat those prices!

Luke.

 

[Nagant]

I agree with Luke. It definitely seems bike labor and parts are much less expensive over there. Having 5 gears should help a bunch.

 

[Wildcat]

So I went with the 36 tooth chain wheel and it works fine. The low gear is perfect for the sidecar. Just under 2 bucks for the sprocket.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Such a cool bike!

Luke.

 

[Wildcat]

The strut that attaches at the seat post is made for a shorter frame, it is angled upwards and doesn't fit the armrest. I'm hoping it's just right for a cruiser frame, usually 18". I plan to get a vintage cantilever frame in the future and change out the diamond frame. That should give it a classic look, maybe a springer would be a good idea also.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

That would make it even better.

Luke.

 

[Nagant]

A canti frame would probably look nice with the side car. I also think the diamond frame bike would look great by itself. Not that there is anything wrong with how it looks with the sidecar. The current setup is cool looking for sure.