Now the weather is still fair to fine. But the leaves are already beginning to fall. For the classic enthusiasts who think that the season does not necessarily end at the end of September, there are still a few very nice rides ahead until the first brine is poured.
But even before the brining time it can be slippery. Because of those leaves + some moisture. And then a third wheel can just ensure a longer motorcycle season. Or not?
Because sidecar riding has very little to do with motorcycling.
Okay, you get wet when it rains. But for the rest? Then we have to go back in time. Poverty-mongers ran. People without money cycled. People without money for a car drove a motorcycle. And because anticoncentration was not yet fully arranged at that time, families with child(ren) drove but without money for a car sidecar.
Such a sidecar is a bit of a mess due to its asymmetrical construction and drive. You can't go through the traffic jams with it. And you can emphatically fall over in bends with it.
But once you get the hang of it - and experienced motorcyclists have a whole bunch of learned skills to unlearn - then you just have a really nice hobby.
Anything from say 250 cc is traditionally sidecar compatible. But with a third wheel on a 250 cc Jawa or a single-cylinder BMW, the actual party stops at about 70 kilometers plus a bit. The same applies to the 750 cc Harley and Ural/Dnepr side valves. And with a walking pace of 70 plus a bit you are really too slow in traffic.
From 350 cc, it is nice if the engine already delivers its maximum torque at low revs. Otherwise, driving becomes a very nerve-wracking affair.
To get the mass of such a sidecar going, it is also clever to mount a sidecar that is not too heavy. A Ural or Dnepr box (The Uralbak has a trunk lid, the Dnepr does not) on a Moto Guzzi Natootje is kind of mean compared to that good little Guzzi. On the other hand: such a feather-light Velorex box on a Yamaha XS1100 is not good either. That light sidecar tends to lead its own life in the vertical plane in the better cornering. An experienced sidecar driver can 'play' with it, but it remains tricky. We also once saw a BMW K100 combination where the box was mounted with some threaded rods and brackets from Praxis or Gamma. Do not do that!
Make sure that all bearings of such a tricycle are in top condition. Certainly the front and rear fork are not always designed for working with an extra wheel.
Also important: practice in a very quiet, spacious location. And don't get overconfident. The first time I thought I had everything under control I ended up in a bunch of blackberry bushes. And that was even better than happened to an acquaintance: his maiden voyage ended with his sidecar in the ditch and his arms in plaster…
But when things go right, sidecar riding is one of the funniest things you can do. Shopping with a sidecar becomes a party. And many events are held every year where you can provide a very nice day for disabled people of all types and genders with your sidecar.
The Jawa in the photos is a balanced combination. The 350 cc Jawa and the Velorex box are made for each other. And as ballast in the box, a sturdy battery is mounted there. A clever practical trick! We saw the combination at Dutch Lion Motors in the always dynamic Grubbenvorst
The story is great again Dolf. Personally, I did not end up in the blackberries myself, but in a fairly deep ditch from which the case could not be removed with manual force. The damage was a glass of the turn signal and a big dent in my ego.
The combination is a BMW R 1100 RS with a French box that is so heavy that you cannot lift it by hand. You need a jack for that.
I also love Maurice's reaction with his description of overtaking a truck. My wife and sons said exactly the same after the maiden voyage in the tank.
But indeed, solo driving is just very beautiful, but driving a sidecar is great to do.
Robert Palmer – meanwhile also 'whilen' already sang it: we want the best of both worlds”
No not really. This 3-wheeler is symmetrical, a sidecar is not.
75km/h can be a lot of fun.
It is difficult to unlearn a small 50 years of solo driving.
Tip of the week, practice a sidecar at a sidecar driving school, in my case at Rob Teffer in Leleystad. This really puts you in the right mindset and an accident is much more expensive.
Great tip!
Is this an alternative to a sidecar?
No not really. This 3-wheeler is symmetrical, a sidecar is not.
Just fun. Just score one for the extra!
Not a sidecar after all, and yet you can fall over!
And so it is!!
Good analysis and interesting story Dolf. Although sidecar riding is not motorcycling, as you nicely indicate, it is quite something. More than just another dimension. Being a baker is also a pleasure. With my buddy we rode out solo in all the right-angled bends in the city.
to the left yes, but to the right you still have to work quite a bit to stay ahead of a solo bike.
Nothing wrong with hard work! That has made the Netherlands great. And then managers came….
That is ego-destroying! Fie!
Four on a motorcycle gets very cramped. That's why I put a sidecar on it. One of the disadvantages is that your sidecar, when you are somewhere, will serve as a collection container for all helmets and motorcycle clothing of the entire group. The other drawbacks have already been mentioned by Dolf. You get just as wet and can't get through the traffic jams. But when the daughters had grown out of the sidecar, I continued on two wheels. The occasional trip on three wheels, however, remains fun.
Sidecar riding started out as a weakness, but it turned out nicely!
Unfortunately I have no experience with driving a sidecar and unfortunately I have no room for a sidecar combination for a while 😢 However, when I see a Ural with sidecar, I get a warm heart. I'm very honest about that. Playing a baker seems like quite an experience to me. Especially if the driver is going to overtake a truck and you as a baker come face to face with those potentially devastating wheels 🥶
I hope that the batteries in the sidecar in the photo are screwed tight. Otherwise, sooner or later they will start to lead a surprising life of their own.
In terms of baking: Near death experiences are things you get used to. And why do you think there are two wires tied to such a battery?
A sweet 12hp AWO with a Polish Junakbak is my sidecar pleasure, my 'city truck'.
With a little tailwind and sunlight in the air filter, 75~80 Kilometer-Stunden can be achieved, but tertiary strumming with 60-70 is more appropriate.
And yes; you will get there, even if you have to go inside..
That's great, man..
Beyond that. But what a beauty!
In the past , yes who gets old talks a lot about ??
just EARLIER 😉 with our motorcycle gang was anton with his BMW incl. police sidecar, who
Became a baker for the first time with anton
on it, bends with the bin off the road
but everything masters a real virtuoso, have
got to practice once with his canonized bmw with sidecar 😥 gave up after fifteen minutes and thanked anton, sorry anton nothing for me, i like my maneuverability on my motorcycle 😉
Sidecar riding is a verb! So you will work!