FLXI Sidecars
Back in 96 when I asked my son and daughter to teach me how to use a computer so I can share my knowledge and notes which I had aquired through the years with other enthusiast about my the 1920 thru '24 Flxi sidecars. This is the begining... It all started after meeting Lance Tidwell in LaHambra, CA. in the early '80s when I saw his Flxi sidecar lean from side to side and did not fall... wow...how awsome. He told me about "EASYRIDER" doing an article on "HUGO'S FLYING FLXIES" at the time ... well, I've been hooked ever since. I ended up purchasing a FLXI sidecar frame from a warehouse in Santa Clara, CA. unfortunately, it was butchered badly and parts were missing...so that's what started all this. This website well help others understand and enjoy these GREAT sidecars of yesterday and all their possibilities...even for today's times.
On this website under History, I will show drawings of the 1918-19 semi Flxible chassis assembly and attachments. It will also cover 1920-24 full Flxible chassis assembly, springs and spring fittings, attachment fittings and combination brace assembly parts and copy of the original FLXIBLE patent. A lot of these sidecars were used on Harley-Davidson, Indian, Ace, Reading, Standard, Excslsior, Thor, Yale, Pope, Henderson, Cyclone and Flying Merkel to name a few. On this website I am going to have a pattern pages for the do-it-yourself'er. There will be a few follow along articles that are in a documented step-by-step fashion. Also keep in mind that this project is being built by a non-professional motorcycle enthusiasts just like many of you and into several other projects as well. I'm just an average guy with average tools so what I do here could be done by most anyone. Where special talents like wood working, welding, upholstery or borrowing specialty tools that I do not have that are needed or just a helping hand. I will seek outside help even bartering if neccessary...hopefully thru friends that I con into coming over or bribe with promises of free food and beverage etc... So please don't take anything I do as the only way (or right way) to do it. I will be using oldstalgia and newstalgia technology thru out on my projects, and I also decided to incorperate some of the Harley-Davidson basic commercial ideas as well. However, most info of today is so hard to find, and to this day I only know of maybe a dozen or so of them in existence.
The attachments that I will be using are my own design and will fit the 1936 thru 57 Harley-Davidson big twin frames. HOWEVER, I'm interested in doing frames for myself (domestic, commercial and a racing model). I know there aren't that many FLXI enthusiast out there yet, but I'll bet once people start seeing them on the roads there will be a huge increase in the number of people who are interested and hooked just like I was.
My website is dedicated to Lance Tidwell and his family and to his son Glenn for all the great FLXI pictures and thanks to John Cameron for talking to me about the details...I wish you and your families ALL the BEST. Also, to my Mother who always said "when you put your mind to it anything is possible" son and to my children who mean everything to me. In addition, to both my Fathers. To one for teaching me about the BASICS in business, such as how to treat people with respect no matter what nationality or part of the globe their from, to give them the benefit of the doubt and respect yourself as well, but mostly be honest with your customers. My other father taught me do not put anything off tomorrow that you can do today and do not trust anybody by their word, these were valuable lessons to learn in so many ways even today. Maybe thats why I do not play well with others to this day and to my oldest friend and former boss Terry Miller, who taught me the ins and outs in business(my mentor).
SPECIAL THANKS goes out to my new good friends Robert Jones, Gene Harper and Steve Boyce. Without them I would have never received the rest of the info and patterns that I still needed to finish my dream. In addition I'd like to thank Dana Meisner who is doing my graphics and Amy Elben for teaching me the basics on doing a webpage and for the moral support to take the first step to making this a reality. I'd also like to thank the members of Flathead Power TECH TALK and The Antique Motorcycle Club of America for their support and interest in Flxies ...Now I can get back in designing and making my master molds then RETIRE.
THANK YOU for checking out this website and I hope you come back to see whats going on .....PLEASE, keep in mind the ICON you press will link you to my favorite places....ENJOY
