Sidecar

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BMW motorcycle with sidecar

Vespa scooter with sidecar

This article concerns sidecar as an attachment to a motocycle. For the alcoholic drink, see Sidecar (cocktail). For a type of insurance, see Reinsurance Sidecar.

A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle. Early sidecars were intended to be removable devices that could be detached from the motorcycle.

A sidecar motorcycle is a three wheel vehicle with the sidewheel not directly aligned with the rear motorcycle wheel, and is usually powered by the rear wheel only. This is different from motorcycle trike, where both rear wheels are powered and share a common axle.

The sidecar consists of a frame (which is rigidly fixed to the motorcycle's frame on one side and is supported by the sidecar's wheel on the other side) and of a body. The body typically provides one passenger seat and a small trunk compartment behind. In some case the sidecar has a removable soft top. In some modifications the sidecar's body is used for carrying cargo only (like a truck's platform).

Before the 1950s, sidecars were quite popular, providing a cheap alternative to passenger cars; they have also been used by the army and police. During WWII, German troops used many BMW and Zundapp sidecar motorcycles. On German and Soviet military sidecars, the side wheel was sometimes also driven using a differential gear), to improve the vehicle's all-terrain ability.

In Taiwan, Article 39-2 of the Road Traffic Road Traffic Security Rules (zh:道路交通安全規則) prohibits motorcycles from attaching sidecars when applying for registrations. These Rules do not specify the use of sidecars thereafter.

1 Manufacturers
2 Racing
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Manufacturers

Although sidecars have become much less common since the mid 1950's, a number of manufacturers worldwide have continued to produce sidecars for many popular motorcycles and scooters. Active sidecar manufacturing companies include: