Motorbikes & sidecars

[Nemo]

Just watch an old episode of Death in Paradise. They were driving around in a motorbike and sidecar and I realized that I had never seen one on UK roads for years.

Are they still legal here?

Thanks

[BullDog]

Yes .

[Watis]

Presumably, although you've just reminded me of my first - and last - ride in a sidecar. It was a noisy, uncomfortable and rather hairy experience.

A schoolfriend had a combination - a Matchless 600cc twin if anyone is interested - because the capacity limit for a learner rider didn't apply if the motorcycle had a sidecar attached.

Happy days,

Watis

[Tedx]

I used to have one nailed to the side of my Yamaha RD250LC.. Not sure if a passenger would appreciate a ride in it. It was little more than a shower tray with a wheel....but it was a well known licence dodge.

It did make wheelies an interesting event though.

Ah....Elsies and Sidewinders. I smoked like hell too back then.

How am I still alive?

[Nemo]

After much googling I've found the answer - generally illegal:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/198 ... on/93/made

[Watis]

After much googling I've found the answer - generally illegal:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/198 ... on/93/made

... but only if the sidecar is attached to the offside of the motorcycle.

Watis

[Nemo]

... but only if the sidecar is attached to the offside of the motorcycle.

Watis

Well spotted - I've never been a motorbike person so I missed this.

My next query is why don't we see any?

[BullDog]

After much googling I've found the answer - generally illegal:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/198 ... on/93/made

Normal UK practice is to have the sidecar on the left. There was a time when a number of low cost bike/side car combinations were being imported. Notably from Russia. They had right side mounted side cars (since their home market drove on the right). As far as I can recall there weren't actually any serious accidents solely as a result of right side mounted side cars. But nonetheless they were banned.

Left side mounted side cars remain legal and are rather a niche interest. You can buy a brand new one should you wish -

https://www.watsonian-squire.com/

[staffordian]

My next query is why don't we see any?

I suspect that in the fifties and sixties, most owners had motorcycle combinations through necessity rather than choice. Cars being relatively expensive, there were far more who rode a bike because it was all they could afford rather than as a lifestyle choice, which also meant fewer actually had a car licence. So when marriage, and especially kids came along, it was get a sidecar or get the bus...

This also explained the popularity of the bubble cars (which were three wheeled in the UK but often four wheeled in Europe) and the uniquely British Bond and Reliant three wheelers. Legally, they were more or less motorbikes and sidecars, and subject to being less than (IIRC) 8cwt and not having a reverse gear (!) could be driven on a bike licence.

[Tedx]

....and I guess theres also less chance of falling off a three wheeler if the road happens to be icey.

[gryffron]

My next query is why don't we see any?

Because they’re rubbish.
Cold, wet and dangerous like a motorcycle.
Stuck in traffic like a car.
Terrible in an emergency stop too.

And motorcycles aren’t cheap any more. So they’re not even a cheaper option than an old car.

Gryff

[csearle]

The guy that does maintenance of my motorbike, Matt, of Machine And Development Services, races them during the TT races on the Isle of Man. C.

[swill453]

A TMF user of old, InkyAnn I believe, used to be a sidecar racer.

Scott.

[csearle]

A TMF user of old, InkyAnn I believe, used to be a sidecar racer.

Ooooh yes, I remember meeting her once, somewhere in London involving Champagne and TMF. C.

[didds]

....and I guess theres also less chance of falling off a three wheeler if the road happens to be icey.

#

falling off... yes... but...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

couldn't happen to a nicer bloke...

[Nemo]

Because they’re rubbish.
Cold, wet and dangerous like a motorcycle.
Stuck in traffic like a car.
Terrible in an emergency stop too.

Gryff

Yes, makes sense! Motorcycles aren’t cheap any more. Some of the prices quoted in the link Bulldog posted would buy a nice car.

I recall a neighbour who had something like this, into which his wife and two small children went:


https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/700/21184 ... 7f59_b.jpg

[airbus330]

Sidecars, from being the cheap family transport choice mid 20th century, has now become a niche activity, but still with a little life in it yet. Watsonian, est. 1912, is still going and had a stand at the Brum m/c show last year.
I ride quite a lot in an area of the UK where bikes are a popular pastime and very rarely see an outfit on the road. Strangely, trikes seem to increase (marginally) in popularity every year, but I suspect that says more about the demographic and failing strength.

[BullDog]

Because they’re rubbish.
Cold, wet and dangerous like a motorcycle.
Stuck in traffic like a car.
Terrible in an emergency stop too.

Gryff

Yes, makes sense! Motorcycles aren’t cheap any more. Some of the prices quoted in the link Bulldog posted would buy a nice car.

I recall a neighbour who had something like this, into which his wife and two small children went:


https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/700/21184 ... 7f59_b.jpg

It's a niche enthusiasts past time now. Very much not family transport, cheap or otherwise. The entire motorcycle market is dying as far as I can see. Cost has a lot to do with it, I think. Go to anywhere where motorcyclists gather and the average age is about late 50's to 60's. Riders aged 70+ is pretty common. There's almost no interest in motorcycles amongst younger people as far as I can determine. So, side cars being a niche within motorcycling, they're almost extinct apart from the die hard enthusiasts.

[monabri]

... but only if the sidecar is attached to the offside of the motorcycle.

Watis

Well spotted - I've never been a motorbike person so I missed this.

My next query is why don't we see any?

Price of bike + price of sidecar = ? ( see link provided by Bulldog).

At £7k for the sidecar and then the cost of the bike on top...

[DrFfybes]

A TMF user of old, InkyAnn I believe, used to be a sidecar racer.

Ooooh yes, I remember meeting her once, somewhere in London involving Champagne and TMF. C.

She's still around, despite crashing out ofthe sidecar at The Veranda on the IoM racing in the TT. Married to Flymo who I also think is ex of these boards (IIRC they met at a trackday in Wales with some other TMF people, but it was a long time ago )

Paul