Moped Riders Association

mountainmoped · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:47 pm Post subject: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

With much help from Daniel I got the Cozy sidecar on Ralph's scooter. The sidecar was made to bolt to the all metal floor of a Vespa and not the plastic floor of the TGB. We had to fabricate a new floor of 3/16" steel plate, relocate the battery, re-route the lines to the oil cooler, and do a lot of cutting and modification to the bodywork. We were lucky to get the toe-in and lean right the first try and Ralph is very pleased with the ride.

Ralph is worried that the day will soon come when he is unable to hold a scooter up when he stops (he is 76+ years young). His sidecar has a windshield and a convertable top! When it rains he can stop and get in the sidecar until it stops raining.

In my opinion, the sidecar looks like a huge, black, wheeled turd running alongside his beautiful red TGB 151cc scooter.

mountainmoped · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:03 pm Post subject: re: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

You can see the steel plate floor in this pix. Daniel is drilling the hole for the stabilizer bar.

John · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:28 am Post subject: re: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

Whew, that is large! Nice job on the fabrication though.

What is its weight and then a guesstimate of the added weight to the scooter? Will be interesting to here what the performance figures turn out to be. What will it be like with all the big ass hills around the area?

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

Many thanks to Bryan and Daniel. They took on this project and made it work.I 'drove' it about 7 miles yesterfsy with Bryan following on his 06 Big Ruckus and it performed exactly as expected. Hit 50 a time or two with no
strain. Riding a hack is not like riding a trike. It takes a bit of getting used to.
The TGB R9 is an oil cooled 10.2 hp unit and before the sidecar was added
would hit 60-65 with no trouble. I expect 55-60 mph with the sidecar added.
Handled the hills just fine. The weight of the sidecar is 175 lb before 50 lb
ballast was added. Gas milage as 70 mpg befor the hack, expect 50 mpg
but that remains to be seen.
Perhaps Bryan will post the pix he took of the finished job yesterday. He
expects me to be road kill at any time!!!!
Again thanks to these guys for all the hard work they put into this project.

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

PS: oops, did not see that Bryan had posted the pix, was not signed in when
I read the post. I am 76 this year and the knees are not what they used to be so a 3 wheeler was a logical answer.
Actually the Cozy is usually referred to as a large pickle or dildo in appearance.
PS: Bryan refuses to drive it!!!!! 8^)

John · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: re: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

Great to hear, enjoy it for many more years. Your stable must be getting full with all the bikes you seem to have. lol

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

Thanks, John. I expect this to be the last addition to the stable. Of course
I have said that a few times before. Count now stands at: TGB R9 w/hack,
TGB 150 Delivery, TGB 50 Del., Tomos Revival, and the infamous Ice Bear
"Ruckus" trike. The latter being the mail box rider.

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

The learning curve continues. Had 2 or 3 real cases of the wobbles yesterday
but kept on going and learning. Bryon was following me on his Big Ruckus
just in case I went ass over teakettle. A firm hand on the bars is necessary.
Rough pavement will get the wobbles started if you are not prepared. The
trick is to speed up carefully and once you hit 30 all smooths out. Most of
the wobble starts around 15-20 mph and smooths out around 28-30 mph.
Rode about 25 miles yesterday and got up to 55 mph. At that speed it took
curves well and the ride was smooth.
I will continue riding a bit every day and hopefully learning more. Bryon thinks we need a steering damper and I agree. Should not be too hard to do.

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

Have taken the convertable top off and removed the 50# of ballast. Seems
to handle a bit better but have not been able to get on the road much due
to the weather.
The top was a bit useless for me. At 6"1" I could barely get into the seat!!
Took a shoe horn to get me out. It is primarily to be a cargo carrier anyhow,

John · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:36 am Post subject: re: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

Hope it has drain holes or it will be a rolling bath tub. lol

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

Yep, it has drain holes, a Harley Davidson floor mat and a tonneu cover
so rain wont be a problem. riding the hack full of water would be interesting
for the first hundred yards!!!

oilyhans · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 6:16 pm Post subject: re: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

make it a hot tub!!

oilyhans

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

Oilyhans, it wont work!!! Only a small person could get into the tub. I tried
to test it but at 6'1" I could barely get in the thing and it took a shoehorn to
get me out!!! I am having a lot of fun with it and driving it is a learning
experience but once you get the hang of it its a lot of fun. Want to do the
Dragon at Deals Gap but Bryon and the others are not encouraging me.
Since you are a TGB dealer you should make one for yourself.
(hot tub, indeed!!!*&^%) 8^)

John · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:03 am Post subject: re: Cozy Sidecar on TGB R9i

Don't think I would do the dragon with a hack on my bike. If you do you need to be slow on the switch backs.

Ralph C Barger · Net Rider Joined: 03 Oct 2008 Location: Ball Ground, GA

I did it last year on a TGB 150 Delivery, set a speed record as the slowest
rider to ever make it down and back in one day!!! IF I do it on the hack
this year I can guarentee that it will be done slowly. Most of the roads
in the Bryson City area are curvies. May settle for a run on The Road to Nowhere. Or a run on the Blue Ridge Parkway.