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