Sidecars? - Motorized Bicycle

mick29 · #1 10-29-2009, 10:05 PM

Its mick29 here just wondering you guys with vintage styled motorized bikes does anyone have a sidecar atatched I myself have a vintage styled bike and think it would look great with a sidecar I myself havent seen one PS someone with some photos would be great thanks mick29

**BarelyAWake** · #2 10-30-2009, 11:29 AM

Ya got my curiosity kickin and ya know - there's not a lot on the subject I could find easily, but here's this sweet lookin setup and a thread here on the forum for ya, good luck!

1934 Hercules Popular Lady’s 22″ Bicycle with Watsonian Sidecar www.Oldbike.eu

There's more links in this thread;
http://motorbicycling.com/f28/bike-side-car-2495.html

sseisup · #3 11-01-2009, 09:24 AM

Here's what I built over the summer

tyrslider · #4 11-01-2009, 09:54 AM

I'm doing a Ut side hack but it's on the shelf right now!

flatblackkustoms · #5 11-13-2009, 07:24 PM

I built this sidehack about 3 years ago when my son was born so I could still go for bike rides with the crew! I have been throwing around the idea of putting a motor on it!

sseisup · #6 11-16-2009, 01:33 PM

That's so cool!

silverbear · #7 11-22-2009, 09:30 PM

Like you guys, I've been thinking about a sidecar for years. In doing some research on the old timers, including the Watsonian, it seems they were set up so that the connection could flex or turn (not sure how to put it), so that the bike could still lean into turns. Wouldn't it handle kind of weirdly if it can't lean? Anyway, that's what I'm trying to figure out. I keep picturing the front end of an aluminum canoe with it chopped off a few feet back and a wooden squared off end in place as a very cool sidecar. Much of the structural support could be from the canoe itself... strong and lightweight. I've been on the lookout for one wrecked in a rapids. Maybe next summer. Still can't figure out the connection to the bike, though. I also want to be able to detach it easily. Any ideas? Some enterprising machinist could come up with an attachment kit and make some money. I think a lot of motorbikers would be interested in a sidecar if they thought they could put one together themselves and if it could detach.
SB

Kevlarr · #8 11-22-2009, 10:59 PM

Actually the Watsonian looks like it would be easy to duplicate because it doesn't look like it has one single compound curve in the design. Just build the shell out of 1/4" luan plywood then skin it in thin aluminum.

**BarelyAWake** · #9 11-23-2009, 03:41 AM

silverbear - mebbe this pic would help a bit, it appears to be a pretty simple pipe & clamp arrangement allowing the bike to lean while the sidecar stays upright... I really like the simple suspension for the sidecar as well. Kevlarr's right tho - as there's no compound curves I suspect it may be far easier to just build one than to try to convert a canoe bow... and canoes aren't particularly light or cheap (unless they're totaled, which could be even more work). Ofc havin' a few curves like a canoe would look pretty sharp too...

silverbear · #10 11-23-2009, 06:23 AM

I'd like to see that attachment setup in closeups and from above. I can see the pipe attachment in your photo would be strong and would allow the bike to lean into curves. How are they set up on motorcycles I wonder?
As for the canoe, it was Fasteddy who suggested I make one out of birch bark and cedar after we got to talking about a different kind of "Indian" inspired bike. I've done other kinds of bark work, making food storage containers (mukuks) which would make neat bike baskets or saddlebag type containers. I was thinking about the canoe front end since I live most of the year next to the million acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness and many tourists come to Ely as a launching point for canoe trips. Lots of canoes around here and some get mangled each year in rapids by inept paddlers. So, it would be an eye catcher for a little business I want to hatch selling motorbicycles... build a few in the winter and sell them to rich tourists in the summer. My big plan. Between an old cruiser with a motor and a canoe front end sidecar with Aaniimoosh the wonder dog riding in the seat... well, if that wouldn't get attention, what would? I plan to set up a small utility trailer so that I can drive it to town and on busy weekends ride around and get seen, have some business cards with a web address to a site showing what I have available at special tourist inflated prices and what is in the works. Show an old wreck of a Schwinn and let a customer decide what it should get, what color paint, fenders and handlebars, which motor... standard, pull start or automatic... and with half down non refundable the bike is theirs before I've even started. Or buy one that's already done or save a bundle and get a new Jaguar with standard motor. That's the plan, Stan. It's what I wanta do, Stew. I need some money, honey. The sidecar isn't really necessary, but would make for a cool ride, Clyde.
I've also accumulated four kiddie trailers that pull behind a bike and have been staring at one of them in particular that I think could be modified a bit and become a sidecar minus the inboard wheel and with a clever flexible attachment setup. If so, it would be pretty easy to remove the fabric and recover it in birch bark stitched together with split spruce root. It would be way lighter than a canoe bow for sure. I'll come up with something or other.
SB