Why ride a sidecar? What do you need to know before you start?

"To ride a sidecar is to enjoy the disadvantages of both motorcycle and car." But then what? A motorcyclist's only pleasure is to pass cars in traffic jams? Well... We'd say that the three-legged bike combines the best of the motorcycle and the car! This strange tricycle also allows you to be in direct contact with the outside elements, to enjoy the fresh air, to feel the smells, the sun (and the rain)... Above all, it's a real vehicle for meeting new people and sharing experiences! So, is a sidecar just a weird motorcycle? Or is it a little more than that? Let's dive into the crazy world of three-wheelers!

When you see a three-wheeled motorcycle, you have to wonder why normal people would attach a bathtub to their bike. Well, historically, the sidecar is a utility vehicle. What's that supposed to mean? Well, it was a handy means of transport for workers without a shield. Yep, a moped + a wooden crate = a utility vehicle for getting to work. And, incidentally, it could also be used to transport wives and children. During the war, the sidecar proved a useful tool for moving infantry and small artillery quickly over rough terrain. The BMW R71 and the illustrious Soviet Ural come to mind.

And nowadays? Let's face it, the need to tow a 120mm mortar is a little less pressing. The sidecar has thus become a leisure and travel vehicle. And there's something for everyone. From the Mash family 400 for fetching bread with the grandchildren, to the incredible 2-wheel-drive Ural, to the Hayabusa mounted on car rims: the possibilities are endless!

An all-terrain vehicle (or almost)

Its third wheel considerably reduces the risk of falling (with a few exceptions, which we'll cover later in the section: "How not to corner"). All in all, the sidecar is the ideal attachment for tackling rain and snow without fear of losing grip, or for off-road riding with a passenger.

A comfortable motorcycle for the passenger

There's one point on which everyone agrees: the monkey is pampered. The what? The monkey, the person sitting in the basket. And if you find this nickname a tad pejorative, remember that on a bike, the passenger is also called a "sandbag". Not much better, is it? In short, the comfort provided by the basket's interior - which can be completely enclosed - means you can share your passion for motorcycling with someone who's put off by the idea of traveling or riding in the frog position behind a sports bike. It's also ideal for taking your dog and grandchildren on a motorcycle tour. Depending on the model, it can even carry 3 or even 4 people!

3rd point in favor of the sidecar? Carrying capacity

That's right, the basket is full of attachment points for saddlebags, bags and suitcases of all kinds. Some models even come with a trunk. What else? You'll have no excuse not to take your superb accordion collection on a roadtrip.

Last but not least, sidecars offer unique driving sensations.

It's hard to put it into practice without taking it for a test drive. And then, just like on a motorcycle, you offer yourself to the outside elements and to others. And yes, the sidecar is also a trigger for unparalleled encounters. During stops, it's common for someone to come up to you with a big smile.

Space, a false flaw?

Let's face it, this appendage - known as a basket, bathtub or coffin - presents a few constraints. First and foremost? Space. Parking a sidecar is more complicated than parking a motorcycle. And you'll have to make do with the fact that you'll have to make do with the fact that you'll have to make do with the fact that you'll have to make do with it. However, it doesn't seem to us that slaloming between cars is the essence of motorcycling.

Where does it hurt? The wallet

Getting your favorite GS hitched up is an expensive business. On top of the price of the bike, you have to add the purchase of the basket, the manufacture of the chassis, its assembly on the motorcycle and homologation. The most affordable option? Opt for a pre-assembled sidecar. Retro Ural, Mash family, Chiang Jiang Dynasty: these are just some of the models that offer a first three-legged experience at a moderate price. However, with around 50 horsepower and a weight flirting with 400 kilos, don't expect to tear your forearms off at every throttle.

Clutch, throttle, brakes, shifter, switches: a sidecar has the same controls as a motorcycle. But that's where the comparison ends. After all, a three-wheeler is not driven like a bike, nor like a car, nor like a quad for that matter. A sidecar is driven like a sidecar, which is truly unique.

And even if - with rare exceptions - an A licence is sufficient to legally drive a sidecar, it is often necessaryto go through an initiation course. So what's so complicated about it? Well, if you think three wheels = stability, you're barking up the wrong tree. Riding a sidecar requires you to play with physics, and mass transfer in particular. Let's explain...

How does a sidecar react in a straight line?

A little clarification: in France, the baskets are mounted on the right-hand side of the bike. The opposite is true in the UK, Australia and India - in short, wherever the motorcycle is driven on the left. In a straight line, the basket acts like dead weight. In fact, this 3rd wheel is braked but not driven (with rare exceptions). So when you accelerate, the whole carriage will tend to pull to the right. This is due to the inertia of the basket. When braking, the opposite effect occurs. The bathtub tries to overtake the bike, taking the whole assembly to the left. So yes, inevitably, a sidecar pulls to the right when accelerating and to the left when braking. It's intrinsic to its design.

How do you take corners in a sidecar?

Well, going straight is fine, but you can imagine wanting to turn. What happens? This is where it gets fun. When turning left, you have to manage to "take" the basket on the right trajectory. In other words, you have to push on the handlebars hard enough to overcome the inertia of this dead weight and get the whole thing turning. Yes, driving a sidecar can be a bit physical, depending on the model.

But the real pitfall lies elsewhere: right-hand turns. This is when balance becomes precarious. Why is this? Well, centrifugal force transfers mass, taking the weight off the basket. At best, the wheel lifts off, at worst (extreme case), the bathtub falls over the motorcycle. There are two possible outcomes: a straight hairpin turn without any serious consequences - apart from a change of underpants - or a full-scale rollover. Hence the introductory course....

In a nutshell? Riding a sidecar is like playing with physics.

And as long as you've mastered it, it's fun, even exhilarating, but as with a two-wheeled motorcycle, it's a lot less fun when you end up in the ditch. The key word: humility.

Well, we hope this article has given you some insight into the obscure world of sidecar racing. A final word in conclusion ? Apart from the very down-to-earth aspect, riding a three-legged bike is also a philosophy. Discovery, mutual aid, a taste for travel - sidecarists also share that biker spirit we hold so dear. So whether you're on 2 or 3 wheels, it doesn't matter what you're on, as long as you're intoxicated by the road!