Topic: Can a sidecar be cool?

[weekend_junkie]

I came across a 550 with a sidecar rig on it and was pretty surprised that it had a decent look to it.  Aside from the fact it's only a 550, it apparently lasted 20+ years this way and only 7k miles.  My father has been harping for a sidecar for the better part of 20 years so it's something I'm thinking about going halfsies with him.

Dilemma:  my wife rides everywhere with me and refused to ride in a sidecar because they are lame.  I'm not held down by her decision, but it would stink to not have her along on rides, ESPECIALLY with a sidecar.  She laughed at me and even said "search 'hot girl in sidecar' on google and I bet nothing will come up."  Well, unfortunately she's right.

I'd like some opinions on the situation.  Are sidecars lame-o?  Is my wife just going to cave in and love the sidecar?  Is this a father-son kinda thing and I shouldn't get worked up about it?  Does it make sense to even use a sidecar unless you have a passenger or groceries?  Has ANYONE ever seen a hot girl in a sidecar?

Finding this picture did not help my case.

[Old75_ratafe]

I say go for it weekend I've seen some pretty cool side cars and if your worried about the girl.... Most side cars have brackets to make them come off and on easy.

[Lars]

Hah, I like your wife! I totally agree and find them pretty lame, too (the side cars, I mean) - how can she feel hot in those cars - the rider/driver behind can't really see her!
Besides, we ARE riding MC's because we like to speed off on the rear wheel only and stopping only with front wheel touching ground, rear wheel high up, as we feel the womans frontside pressure on your back and the delightful scream in your ear? Yes??! And the joy of how we do the curbs - footrest rubber slightly touching the asfalt leaving a black, even striping???!!!

If not, I would go for a real cool car - you know - those with 4 wheels

Lars

[Ayrity]

first of all I take offence to the "only a 550" comment! hahaha j/k buddy. but ya a tastefully done sidecar can look awesome! I like this one.

[Lars]

If it has to be a side car, it has to be this one. May I ask your wife for a comment???

[andy750]

Oh man how wrong can you be! Sidecars are very cool!

http://www.adventuresidecar.co.uk/

I wish i had one

Andy

[Lars]

Maybe you would like to see it from this angle, too.

[gtyler5]

I would like to have a sidecar, cool or not.

[cafenut]

the right sidecar is super, super cool. grew up around one, through out my childhood one uncle or another owned it and it was relocated last year rotting into the ground out side of a barn. the car is now completly restored, back at an uncles, and real sharp looking. my girl and i have been looking for  the right one at a slightly under resonable price for 2 years. oh yea, shes HOTT! ya wanna hear a good squeel and giggle, wait till you go around a left turn and pop that sidecar a few feet up in the air!

[lrutt]

I sure like mine, and I think my wife would take offense if she were not put in the category of hot chick in a side car. At least I think so.

[MJL]

[wannabridin]

side cars are awesome, end of argument!!

the first pic says it all, the 2nd, you be the judge!

[laser145]

I've seen that same 550 with the sidecar.  I think it's awesome... My only concern would be the 550 having enough power to handle the sidecar.  I've never been on a 550 though, so I can't really say.

I would love to get a sidecar for the wife, the dog...thin it would be fun.  But I would want to be able to detach it easily.

[gmonkey]

You want a side-car, get the side-car.  Don't let your wife stand in the way of your father-son thing.  If she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to ride in it.

And yes they can be cool :

[goaarongo]

I gotta vote no on the sidecar.  I have never had one, but I can't imagine what it would do to a bike's maneuverability.  How are you going to lean into a turn with that thing bolted to the side?  Plus, I know who usually wins in the old wife vs. dad argument... lucky you your wife is the cool one in this case.

And for the record, I also think trikes are pretty lame.  If you need more than two wheels, just buy a convertible!

[weekend_junkie]

Wow, you folks were busy over night!

Hah, I like your wife!

Me too.

first of all I take offence to the "only a 550" comment! hahaha j/k buddy. but ya a tastefully done sidecar can look awesome! I like this one.

I've seen that same 550 with the sidecar.  I think it's awesome... My only concern would be the 550 having enough power to handle the sidecar.  I've never been on a 550 though, so I can't really say.

I would love to get a sidecar for the wife, the dog...thin it would be fun.  But I would want to be able to detach it easily.

A Harley Davidson is already designed to lug around 400 lbs. of dead weight... the driver.  Someone mentioned to me that 550's have a weakish clutch for this type of application.  I have to imagine it's got more guts than a 350F.  Also, I have other bikes to ride and would not really want to connect and disconnect a sidecar all the time.

I sure like mine, and I think my wife would take offense if she were not put in the category of hot chick in a side car.

Your smiling wife is exactly the kind of evidence I need that 'girls like sidecars'.  Rest assured, she's a babe.

Here's my smiling wife, who's more of a fan of 2 wheels than 3 for now.

[weekend_junkie]

goaarongo, I agree that trikes are lame.  There's no good place to mount a machine gun and ammo can.

[gerhed]

I built one a while back
--put it on my Indian
--looked O.K. I think,but
doesn't ride like a motorcycle and
don't make your sidecar wheel's brake too strong.--problems occur!

[bikehenge]

Cool or no, my 750 did 106MPH in a landspeed event a few weeks back with a sidecar on it.  Should be a bit faster once I get the Mreick-head-equipped-race-engine installed...
second picure down: http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,7763.0.html

Mine is built to hinge at the mount so that you still ride like a motorcycle.  Not sure how that would go with an enclosed car plus passenger.  My initial setup was a more rigid mount and I agree that it drove nothing like a motorcycle.

Rob

[lrutt]

I couldn't have a hack as an only bike. It's great for a utility vehicle, but sometimes you just gotta stick with 2 wheels.

[754]

Get it , the hack is probably worth more than the bike..

 Wife on back of bike, Dad, dog, groceries,BEER,  parts,(pick one, or several)  in hack..problem solved..

 besides she may end up liking it, its pretty relaxing..

[bistromath]

I saw a sidecar at a car show this weekend. It wasn't really a sidecar, though -- no room for a passenger. Instead it contained a 1.6L Mazda twin-turbo rotary engine.

Now THAT'S a sidecar I can get behind!

[weekend_junkie]

oh yea, shes HOTT! ya wanna hear a good squeel and giggle, wait till you go around a left turn and pop that sidecar a few feet up in the air!

Wait a minute... left turn?  The sidecars here in the US are mostly on the right side, and you're talking about flying the car on a LEFT turn.  Maybe I'm a brick and don't get it, but are you a Brit?

[754]

My platform was on the left, ran a few times on a left turning dirt track..

 They go on either side..

[ttr400]

A few old photo's from the mid 70's in the UK. Old Friend of mine used to build these sidecars. started off as a hobby for himself, then used to build to order. His wife would ride on the back of the bike and his 4 children would ride in the side car, also note the camping trailer tent being towed. After a while he started making the leading link front forks for the bikes as the std type forks were not up to the job. You can see them fitted on the Yamaha. I seem to remember the rear sprocket n the CB750 being nearly as big as the Rim. would still pull 100mph + fully loaded.

Kevin