Other than for the few niche vintage collectors, the dabblers in the unusual (Ural riders, all six of them), and my friend, Greg, who added a sidecar to his Goldwing because he likes to show off at rallies by doing sidecar wheelies (picture sitting in a sidecar and looking down at the top of the rider's helmet), most riders are not interested in investing in a side car.
Its not difficult to understand why. If you need extra space for beer or food or, well, more beer, you can use a trailer, which is cheaper, requires less riding skill, and doesn't mean major surgery on your motorcycle.
Sidecars demand an entirely new set of riding skills. They destroy a bike's cornering capabilities. And forget what happens to your moto's vaunted fuel mileage and with that, the one excuse your spouse accepts as reason to own a two-wheeled vehicle.
But as it happens, there may be a few instances when you might wish your favorite moto sported the ungainly appendage from its side. Really. Its true.
You would want a sidecar when:
A boat just wouldn't do the job:
You couldn't decide whether to take the Ferrari or the Ducati to the Hamptons for the weekend:
The store was already closed when you realized you forgot to buy milk:
You need an extra target for the enemy, preferably not you:
You (rightfully) refuse to ride an automatic, yet can't figure out how to work the front brakes and clutch while shooting at the bad guys:
You would rather make your buddy, who is too cheap to buy his own bike, ride fender fodder than your best friend:
Its easier than forcing him to walk 10-feet behind you:
Cheers!
Its not difficult to understand why. If you need extra space for beer or food or, well, more beer, you can use a trailer, which is cheaper, requires less riding skill, and doesn't mean major surgery on your motorcycle.
Sidecars demand an entirely new set of riding skills. They destroy a bike's cornering capabilities. And forget what happens to your moto's vaunted fuel mileage and with that, the one excuse your spouse accepts as reason to own a two-wheeled vehicle.
But as it happens, there may be a few instances when you might wish your favorite moto sported the ungainly appendage from its side. Really. Its true.
You would want a sidecar when:
A boat just wouldn't do the job:
You couldn't decide whether to take the Ferrari or the Ducati to the Hamptons for the weekend:
The store was already closed when you realized you forgot to buy milk:
You need an extra target for the enemy, preferably not you:
You (rightfully) refuse to ride an automatic, yet can't figure out how to work the front brakes and clutch while shooting at the bad guys:
You would rather make your buddy, who is too cheap to buy his own bike, ride fender fodder than your best friend:
Its easier than forcing him to walk 10-feet behind you:
Cheers!