| According to the Oxford Compact Dictionary, the | | | | hold. We took with us a 4-man auto-erect tent, |
| definition of a sidecar is:sidecar. noun, a small, low | | | | another smaller dome tent with a separate flysheet, |
| vehicle attached to the side of a motorcycle for | | | | the Budweiser, a two-burner camping stove, sleeping |
| carrying passengers. | | | | bags and mats for all of us, clothes, food, a water |
| Well, I guess that's not a bad definition, although I | | | | carrier... plus the kids, of course, sitting on the seat |
| have seen some sidecars that definitely could not be | | | | (the luggage all went inside the nose and in the space |
| described as "low" in any sense of the word. Nor are | | | | behind the seat). The weight of all this stuff actually |
| all sidecars particularly small. In fact, when you boil it | | | | helped it to grip the road, as it was normally a bit |
| right down, the Oxford Dictionary's definition of a | | | | light, particularly on right-hand bends. |
| sidecar sucks! Maybe I should write and let them | | | | That outfit is long gone, as is the guy on the front, |
| know. | | | | and I have to say sidecars have become something |
| Anyway, this article isn't about the Oxford | | | | of a niche market. To be honest, they were already |
| dictionary's accuracy or lack of it, but about sidecars. | | | | that when we took ours down to Kent, but at least |
| Where did they all go? You hardly ever see a sidecar | | | | you saw them around reasonably often. I used to |
| nowadays, unless you are an afficionado, of course. | | | | know a guy in Ilford who had a Triumph outfit. He |
| When I was a teen, in the mid-late 60s, the law in | | | | got it after he became paralysed from the waist |
| the UK said that you could ride a motorcycle on a | | | | down, to help keep the bike upright! I would often |
| provisional licence up to a certain cubic capacity. I | | | | see him flashing by (his injuries didn't seem to have |
| think it was 250cc or thereabouts. But, if you stuck a | | | | affected his enthusiasm for speed one little bit). But I |
| sidecar on, you could ride anything! So that was one | | | | moved away, and recently the sight of a sidecar |
| reason why you saw a lot of sidecars in those days, | | | | outfit on the road has become rare enough that you |
| although to be honest some of them really weren't | | | | get the impulse to flag them down for a chat, not |
| any use for anything except making the rider legal - | | | | that I ever actually do that. |
| just extra wheels stuck on the side on whatever | | | | Rare beauties So, what's out there? Can you still buy |
| attachment they had managed to juryrig together. | | | | a new sidecar in the 21st century? Well, you may be |
| The other reason sidecars used to be popular was | | | | surprised to hear that you can. In fact, there are at |
| because it was much cheaper to run a motorcycle | | | | least a dozen different models available in the UK |
| combination than a car. In those days, insurance on | | | | alone, mostly home produced. |
| motorcycles was not as prohibitive as it is today. It | | | | If you're interested, there are three main sources |
| wasn't uncommon to see an elderly couple going out | | | | available that I've been able to trace, although there |
| on a motorcycle (or even a scooter) with the | | | | may well be more. |
| husband on the bike, and the missus in the sidecar, | | | | In my opinion, the most attractive of these is the |
| well wrapped up against the cold. | | | | selection available to order from Merlin Sidecars. They |
| I suppose the little group of fledgling bikers I | | | | only do a couple of different styles, but both are |
| belonged to should have had more respect for them, | | | | very nicely put together, and they are made |
| but we used to laugh at the pensioners next door | | | | individually by a family firm. They also have second |
| with their Lambretta and its matching sidecar. Well, | | | | hand outfits available. |
| they did make such a picture. And anyway, they | | | | There's also Hedinghams, who have a number of |
| used to take it to a mechanic when it needed a | | | | different styles to choose from, all very nicely turned |
| service! We just didn't understand that at all, as we | | | | out, and Watsonian-Squire, whose range is very |
| spent almost every weekend stripping down one | | | | comprehensive, all attractive in their own way. They |
| bike or another, just because we enjoyed it. | | | | also sell complete outfits. |
| The standard type of sidecar on sale in those days | | | | Should you be the proud owner of a Ural motorcycle, |
| wasn't much to look at, in fact they could be | | | | there is a supplier of specialist sidecars designed |
| downright ugly, but if you can get the balance sorted | | | | specifically for this marque, though to my mind they |
| out properly when you hook them up, they are very | | | | are rather odd-looking. |
| practical. In the late 80s, we took one down to the | | | | Finally, if you're on the lookout for a second hand |
| Kent Custom Bike Show from East Ham in London, | | | | motorcycle combination, you may be lucky at Free |
| him and me on the bike, and the two kids AND all | | | | Bike Ads. |
| our gear for the weekend, including a whole crate of | | | | If you're looking for a sidecar or outfit, I hope this |
| Budweiser, in the sidecar. | | | | article has been helpful to you. It would be nice to |
| It was unbelievable just how much this thing would | | | | see a few more of them out there. |