No one really knows when the first motorcycle sidecar was created. The history books mention a wicker chair sold by a British concern, Mills and Fulford, in 1902. But maybe a couple kids tied a barrel to their bicycle and bolted on an extra wheel. If you think about maybe even the ancient Sumerians (or whoever) invented the concept when they came up with the chariot. All I know is that all the blood in my body sloshed to the left when the late great John Cameron and Lance Tidwell (original founders of the legendary “Boozefighters” post-WWII motorcycle club) took me for a ride in their1928 2-cam JD Harley-Davidson/Flexi-sidecar rig. Flexi is the operative word. It tilted when you turned corners and James Cameron always went at full tilt himself. I came away from my first ride in a “performance” sidecar with a new view of the world…tilted.
Since then I’ve grown a bit fonder of “cars,” thanks to my association with Mr. Doug Bingham aka Mr. Sidecar. Doug runs Side Strider, Inc. and builds and sells about everything you need in the world of sidecars, in fact, he even builds a sidecar rig complete with a machinegun for the U.S. Marines.
By the way, Doug’s an inductee into the National Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, an honor well earned as a designer/inventor, a racer and for his contributions to the advancement of motorcycling in general. Doug also serves as the Director of the Sidecar Industry Council so if Doug builds a sidecar rally, they will come.
Each year he conducts the Griffith Park Sidecar Rally oddly enough in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, a sprawling expanse of grassy fields that swell with weekend picnickers, horseback riders, golfers, and motorcyclists who enjoy the twisty road that leads to the top of hill where you find the Griffith Park Observatory and obviously great views of the L.A. area. Down below you can visit the famous Los Angeles Zoo or Train Town and ride miniature locomotives. But once a year sidecars converge on the park in a wild and wooly spectrum as we shall see here. Hop in and come along for the ride. But perhaps don’t eat their bangers and that extra pint. You might be riding in a Flexi-Sidecar or one of its modern variants.
You say you might be interested in getting hacked in a good way? Well, here’s a bit of Q&A from Mr. Sidecar. Call it FAQ about adding one more wheel to your motorcycling experience.
So Doug, how does one get into riding a sidecar for the first time?
“If you want to get into sports cars not everybody goes out and buys a Ferrari. Maybe you buy an old MG and say, hey this is fun? The same with sidecars. You could start with an economical Cozy sidecar and match it to a nice used Japanese bike or even to one of the new 500cc single Royal Enfields.
That raises the question, what size bike do I need to haul a sidecar?
“Back in England when sidecars were popular after WWII, a big bike was a 500cc. Even the BMWs of the time, 500cc bikes, were purpose made for sidecars. So today you hitch a sidecar up to a 400 or 500cc bike and it will be fine. Even the new scooters will take a sidecar. The only rule about shopping around for a used bike for your sidecar is to make sure it has an exposed frame rather than a bike covered up with body parts. You need to be able to attach the sidecar to the frame. You’ll also need to stiffen up the rear suspension and we recommend a steering damper. And you need to know how to use a phone…so you can call if you need help.
Do you need to have special training and a license for riding a sidecar rig?
“Riding a sidecar requires understanding new techniques in addition to riding a solo motorcycle. If you go to www.sidecar-industry.com under the “Tech” menu there’s a description how to line up a sidecar and how to drive one. There are also some books available. Meeting up with experienced sidecarists is another way to go, for instance at one of the various sidecar events across the country. And remember a sidecar will never fall over and you don’t even have to put your feet down when you stop.”
Can a first-timer attach his own sidecar or should he go to an expert?
“Of course if there’s someone in your area that’s available, sure it’s better to go that route. What I tell people if you’re mechanically inclined and have regular shop tools, you can handle. Most sidecars are attached via clamps, while occasionally some of the models require simple welding.
Do I need to change the tires on my solo back when I attach a sidecar?
“Your regular motorcycle tires will tend to wear flat since with a sidecar you’re not leaning as on a solo bike. A lot of guys switch to a heavy treaded tire, for instance dual sport or trials tire, which gives you more rubber to wear off and of course they work better on dirt roads and snow.”
What kind of price tags are we looking at for an entry level sidecar?
“The more economical entry level sidecars run between $3-4,000 include the Velorex, the Cozy, and the Texas. Another way to go is the complete package like the Ural. Enfield also has a package of bike and sidecar. Another sidecar and bike package is offered by Harley-Davidson, but that’s a pricier package.”
What’s the legal rules and regulations regarding sidecars? Are they bikes or cars?
In California, you’re not required to have a motorcycle license to operate a sidecar. You might remember when Gov. Schwarzenegger had the accident with his sidecar where the driver backed out in front of him, and they made a big stink that he didn’t have a motorcycle license. Well, the truth was, he did have a license, a car license and that’s all he needed as a CA DMW says with a trike or sidecar you can operate with a standard driver’s license. As far as I know that only state that requires a specific sidecar license is Washington State.
Now how do I convince my better half that it’s a good idea for us to get a sidecar?
Basically you talk about sidecar safety. In England a while back they used to cut your insurance in half if you rode a sidecar because of the increased safety. You just can’t fall down. And when you go through an intersection in a sidecar, you’re such of a spectacle that they can’t help but see you which means they’re not going to run into you. And you can carry more, people and stuff, and it’s just a great family adventure.
Be there for next year’s rally and get hacked in style. Whether you ride solo or sidehack mark the annual Griffith Park Sidecar Rally on your calendar. For more info on the event and all things sidecar log onto www.sidestrider.com or call Doug Bingham at 818-780-5542.
Sidebar: Harley-Davidson Sidecars
The Milwaukee Motor Co. helped popularized sidecars back in the early part of the 1900s. It is estimated that H-D manufactures and sells an estimated 20-25% of new sidecars in North America annually. They sell complete motorcycle/sidecar combinations as well as solo sidecars, but officially doesn’t endorse installation of any kind of sidecar on other than their Road King and Electra Glide touring models. Of course that doesn’t prevent people from happily attaching them and non-Harley sidecars to all kinds of Harleys, including Sportsters, Dynas and Softails.
The Russians are Coming, the Russian are Coming
If you talk sidecars, you gotta talk the Russians, well at least their Ural sidecars. Joseph Stalin himself established IMZ-Ural in 1941 specifically as combat vehicles for the Red Army. They were based around the rigs used by their German enemies, ultimately 10,000 of the M-72s going to war. They were built in Siberia in a factory east of the Urals and thus their name and still home to modern Urals. In the mid-50s civilian Urals went into production and in 1993 they were introduced into the USA. At last estimate there are something like 3,000,000 of them on the road mostly in Eastern Europe and Russia. They are as tough as the T-34 tank and can go the distance and the new Ural Russian Motorcycles have taken the ‘40s BMW/Russian clone and updated it both mechanically and cosmetically.
Sources – A Partial List of Manufacturers and Distributors
Armec, established 1985, is a globally operating engineering and manufacturing company whose product line includes the Armec Sidewinder billed as “the only true free leaning – motorcycle/sidecar combination in the world” and the Armec Tremola II, the world's first production sidecar for the BMW R1200C, as well as the world's first volume produced Scooter sidecar the Armec Tremolino. More info at www.armec.com
Champion Sidecars, located in Huntington Beach, CA, offers several models including the Daytona, Escort and legend applicable to wide range of motorcycles specializing in sleek designs, no-weld custom mounting hardware, special safety features and comfortable suspensions. More info at www.championsidecars.com.
Dauntless Motors, located in Covington, WA are dealers for Champion Sidecars, Ural (Irbit), Sauer Sidecars, Hedingham-Unit Sidecars, Texas Sidecars and Hannigan 3 wheeler products, a true smorgasbord of sidecar goodies. More info at www.dauntlessmotors.com
EML has been building sidecars in the Netherlands for more than 30 years and offer ultra modern, hi-tech cars for a variety of European and Japanese motorcycles including models for the Hayabusa and CBR1100XX. Call them fast lane chic. More info at www.emlsidecar.com.
Hannigan Motorsports, located in Murray Kentucky, have been making sidecars for 15 years, but are pioneers in windshield fairings going back many more years. In 1984 David and Rude Anne Hannigan dreamed up a two passenger aerodynamic Astro Sidecar was produced, the design a hit. They also offer single seat sidecars and the new innovative Tri-Car, half trike and half sidecar. We are currently shipping products to many countries in Europe and Japan. More info at www.hannigantrikes.com.
Liberty Sidecars, located in Seattle, WA, offers their Liberty Classic Sidecar designed exclusively to fit late model Harley Davidson. The sidecar is a faithful reproduction of the 1937-1966 H-D sidecar, updated with a modern undercarriage, including a dual suspension, disc brake and four-point mounting. They also have a model for Sportsters and carry the EZS European sidecars for BMW, Honda Goldwings and other bikes. More info at www.libertysidecars.com.
Motorvation Engineering, located in Sibley, Iowa, manufacture sidecars and cargo trailers for motorcycles including their SPYDER sidecar featuring a choice of many different fender and tail light combinations custom designed to match your motorcycle. Their Formula II and Roadster Royale sidecars provide room for two people. More info at www.motorvation.com.
Side Strider, located in Van Nuys, CA is a center for all things sidecar including the Mark I and Mark II, Watsonian, Squire and Velorex line of “flying chairs.” Doug builds cars for street, off-road and competition and even for the military. For more information about Side Striders sidecars and services log on to www.sidestrider.com or call Doug Bingham at 818-780-5542. For the Sidecar Industry Council go to www.
Watsonian-Squire, located in Gloucestershire, England was established in 1912. The home of British sidecaring and solo motorcycle trailers, it’s one of the largest producers in Europe with worldwide sales of the longest established and best-known side-car manufacturer Watsonian, and the most successful of modern producers, Squire. More info at sales@watsonian-squire.com
Velorex, located in Ronkonkoma, NY, has been making sidecars for over 25 years and is one of the top importer of sidecars throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and South America. The Velorex Sidecar features a tubular steel frame, rugged fiberglass body and a wheel axle is supported by a hydraulic shock absorber and coil spring system mounted on a swing-arm for smooth and comfortable riding. More info at www.velorex.com.
