How To Ride a Sidecar Motorcycle! Biker Scran with Geoff & Dan

How To Ride a Sidecar Motorcycle! Biker Scran with Geoff & Dan: Now we're getting a degree of freedom back in Blighty we thought it about time we got together for another "Biker Scran" - this time Geoff and I try something we've not done before - pilot a sidecar outfit! Huge thanks to big Ben and the guys at Watsonian for looking after us...despite the Jaffa Cakes!

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[davidknowles]

Wow, that brought back memories for me.Back in the 1960's my Father rode a BSA Spitfire 650, He had a 2 person sidecar fitted.We used to go for family holidays in it.My mum used to sit on the back of the bike, and my Sister and I used to sit in the sidecar.Great video thanks!

[marwood]

The mix of content on your channel is superb, Andy. I absolutely love it. I notice the permanent patch of blue sky is evident!!

[bbumble]

Thanks for bringing back memories of my BMW R80RT with Watsonian sidecar. This was our main vehicle up to the early 1990s and was used for everything from supermarket shopping to touring all over England. It’s amazing how much you can carry. Fitting leading link forks makes steering so much easier.

Sadly, deteriorating bodies, poor circulation and severe northern winters made it necessary for me to learn to drive a car, relatively late in life. Fortunately, fun on 2 wheels continues in fair weather.

[headrace]

Ref the Jaffa cakes… biscuits go soft when they’re stale, cakes go hard so that’s one way of deciding what they are. Cracking vid and stunning scenery. Fun day out was had by the look of it. Cheers 👍👍👍

[paulvarnsverry]

A quote I once read described riding a motorcycle and sidecar as “The art of doing the impossible with the unrideable.” Tongue in cheek, of course.

[simonbowen]

When I was an apprentice back in the seventies in Greet, Birmingham, Watsonian were next door. Always cool looking set ups about. Good to see they're still going.

[Dan-]

Over the 46 years I’ve been riding on the road I’ve owned three sidecar rigs. (Insanity runs in the family 🤪.) As you found out it neither handles like a bike nor a car 😉. They can be a lot of fun, but if you are going to hustle one down a twisty road it takes a good bit of upper body strength, and by the end of the day you know you’ve had a workout 😆🏍👍!

[the_mad_leprechaun]

10/10 for having a go! I did challenge a big Scottish man to come ride my sidecar but he chickened 🐔🐥🍗🐣🐤🐓out!! Your steering was heavy because you didn't have a leading link fork setup! Well done! 👍

[nzou]

I waited until I got old to get into sidecars because I was dropping my 2 wheel bike too often. I should have done it decades ago! It's so much fun. Currently I have a Dnepr mt-11 sidecar rig I restored. In the UK they were sold as Cossack Motorcycles. BTW I'm in Alabama, USA so the sidecar is on the right side of the bike. Anyway a couple of months ago a Velorex 562 sidecar came up for sale cheap so I purchased it. I restored it because it sat in a barn for many years. I put it on my Honda Shadow and really enjoy it as well. I had to build a sub-frame to adapt the sidecar to the bike.

[mikehurley]

When i started riding in the early 70s sidecars were common, it was a way of getting past the 250 limit if you were a learner.

[paulocarreiro]

So many wonderful things in this video! The ones I loved the most: those towns! So beautiful, especially if you're not used to the architecture and landscaping; Dan's factory tour! I adore seeing those small industries where people actually build stuff, with their hands! And those machines?!
On the rigs: would love to try my luck with one; would never, ever, under any circumstances, get in the car! At least, not with one of my friends riding. Come to think of it, they wouldn't want to get in the car with me riding, either! :)
Thanks Andy. I really enjoyed this one.

[mickthemaverick]

Yet another entralling watch!! I started my riding life after passing my test, twice round the copshop and courthouse in Watford while the examiner waited to jump out in front of me!!, on a Matchless 500cc Twin with sidecar attached. Hand painted it bright orange and covered the runs with Dunlop Groundhog stickers, then used it for college and weekend fun! Don't remember it seeming difficult although I did have a few hairy moments turning left with the wife to be in the chair!!

[nosferatube]

After watching Americans review big Indian bobbers on desert highways, I really appreciated this video of three Englishmen reviewing Cornish pasties and mucking around on country lanes in a sidecar. This highlights the ideological difference between American 'spirited' and English 'fair-weather' riding. Bloody lovely, jolly good.

[lynnkanable]

Brought back memories of a metal box sidecar hooked to my '53 Cushman scooter. Excellent video and content choice!!

[piearm]

As a sidecar owner I thoroughly recommend the absurd joy of three wheels.

[stevenhill]

Firstly, that was absolutely brilliant! I never gave sidecars a second thought, but after seeing the Watsonian tour and demonstration, (you looked way out of your comfort zone) i am now quite interested in them. I was impressed by the very substantial looking tubular frame and also how well the Enfield seemed to handle the extra weight. I assume that any bike can be fitted with one, which would solve the problems we shorter leg types have with tall bikes.

[marklewis]

I had a Watsonian GP fitted to a Triumph Scrambler when my daughter was 1 and she rode in it until she was 8! The guys at the factory are real enthusiasts and looked after us really well! You have to ‘re-learn’ how to ride - but great fun and a real magnet whenever we were out and about!

[Trevor_Austin]

Three men and a sidecar. Carry on with marvellous trips. I’m really enjoying them.

[anthonybahrawy]

Fantastic video Andy this channel gets better and better really interesting the cotswolds is my favourite play ground and on a sunny day I love it keep up, the good work your friends have a wealth of knowledge 😎👍

[jh]

Well, who would have thought you could get 'spray-on-naise'!! You learn something new everyday 😂