Why do Motorcycle Side Cars Even Exist?

hello everybody what is going on it is your boy your Ducati daddy your ducatista Barista Santa Claus and a red Ducati tracksuit it is of course your dear old Papa yam we're taking a break from that sweet delectable dare I say sensual Ducati content today to take a little walk down memory lane motorcycles are many things both tangible and ethereal literal and figurative they elicit arousal in ways that most street legal Vehicles just cannot they're fast they're stylish hell they're even dangerous but something most Riders will agree on is they're not always practical there are workarounds to increase practicality whether it is luggage options or touring Worthing Creature Comforts but riding with a passenger will never be as easy or comfortable as taking a passenger in a car what if there was an alternative an option as old as the motorcycle itself that is equal parts ubiquitous and Elusive I present you the motorcycle sidecar as long as people have been riding on two wheels they have lusted after the ability to card around precious cargo passengers or a dog wearing an aviator helmet with goggles so today let's explore the sidecar from its humble beginnings to Cursed Factory sidecars to the absolutely wild world of sidecar racing today's video is sponsored by our longtime Partners at rock form let's get into it the early 20th century began a time period of rapid industrialization and technological advancement grown men and children alike needed an inexpensive and convenient way to get to and from their jobs at meat packing factories where they trade the loss of their fingers for pennies a day good times as motorized Transportation gained popularity motorcycles evolved from traditional bicycles and served as a viable means of personal Mobility however the limitations of carrying passengers or cargo on a motorcycle became evident leading to the birth of the sidecar the sidecar had already existed for bicycles since the late 1800s as a solution to address the issues of limited carrying capacity and passenger Comfort this technology was then adopted to motorcycles where would help help grow the popularity of motorcycling by adding a new level of convenience locks didn't exist in the early 1900s so you literally had to carry everything you owned with you at all times the sidecar made it possible to ride a two-wheeled vehicle whilst carrying all of your worldly possessions including seven Bibles a jug of homemade liquor and a handful of coal briquettes sidecars were so pivotal to the advancement of motorcycling in popular culture that many of the original sidecar manufacturers are still in business today although their catalog of products have since far extended Beyond side cars in the last 100 years for instance the car company Jaguar was originally founded as the swallow side car company in 1922. bet you didn't know that while adding a third wheel to a motorcycle a sidecar is quite different than a trike a sidecar is an entirely separate chassis with its own frame and suspension that's a fixed to an existing motorcycle having its own suspension system allows for increased passenger comfort as well as Rider stability considering a motorcycle is designed to operate with just two wheels where turning is done by leaning from side to side adding a side cut to one side of a motorcycle comes with challenges sidecars have many different features to improve handling making high speed travel slightly less dangerous under high speed turning depending on which side of the motorcycle the sidecar is fixed the motorcycle May either have increased stability or run the risk of tipping over completely not only do sidecars have their own suspension system but many are equipped with additional brakes as well many side cars also make use of a steering dampener which reduces the negative effects from steering inputs since sidecars can also be victims to shimmying and speed wobbles at higher speeds attaching a sidecar to your motorcycle may be one of the most extreme accessories you could possibly install and I've Seen Crazy side cars Hayabusa side cars Chopper side cars I've seen it all folks it's going to change the look geometry and handling of your motorcycle conversely do you know what the most sensible accessory to install is no it's not a turbo kit it is a rock form phone mount system engineered for Thrill Seekers and adventurers their Innovative products fuse robust protection with unmatched convenience rock form phone Mount cases boast military-grade durability shielding your devices from drops and shocks while maintaining a slim stylish profile with integrated magnets you can seamlessly Mount your phone to their motorcycle handlebar mounts Crews confidently knowing your device is securely positioned allowing you to navigate or track your route Crafters from high quality materials rock form ensures your phone remains intact whether you're carving up Canyons or trying to set record lap times other than the Isle of Man sidecar races experience the ultimate Synergy of style protection and functionality elevate your ride with rock Forum today if you use the code yn25 at rockform.com you will receive 25 off of your order that's my little gift from me to you again that is rockform.com with code yn25 at checkout for 25 off now let's get back to the video War what is it good for selling motorcycles of course just like Harley-Davidson utilize the military industrial complex to become America's favorite motorcycle manufacturer and ultimately shape the trajectory of motorcycle culture in the United States 20th century wartime also solidified the prevalence of the motorcycle Sidecar motorcycle sidecars were extensively used in military history particularly during the two World Wars these sidecar equipped motorcycles played various roles in military operations due to their versatility agility and ability to navigate difficult terrains sidecars were first used in World War one where they were used as Recon Vehicles machine gun carriers and general transport Vehicles it was easier to navigate the rugged terrain of War torn Europe on a motorcycle than a prehistoric motor Carriage but motorcycles without side cars offered limited room for supplies and Firepower motorcycle sidecars were used in World War II as well solidified and replace in the annals of time and earning a rightful place in the history books right next to a phallic illustration of that cool s drawing from the 90s with the popularity of motorcycle sidecars in the American Military the sidecar quickly made its way into popular culture as I said in the introduction sidecars are both ubiquitous and Elusive everyone knows what a sidecar is through depictions and media throughout history whether they are historic military photographs or a scene from a movie like in Indiana Jones or even the Aristocats yet you rarely see one in person except for maybe a historical model parked at a car show or a bike night they're kind of like a really rare bird that you see sometimes you know although you may not be able to quickly see a sidecar traversing a modern city landscape they were relatively commonplace in the first half of the 20th century in modern society it might be the norm for every family to have a garage full of Teslas but in the early to mid 1900s car ownership wasn't feasible for many families and the motorcycle sidecar was a solution for affordable practical Transportation I mean it's kind of like India nowadays most people have bikes they don't really have cars the sidecar had room for passengers or cargo which made it ideal for a family compared to traditional Motorcycle Plus it had a motor and he didn't have to Pedal in an era where people would literally burn holes in their shoes from walking so much a motorized bicycle with room for their sickly children was a godsend man society has improved a lot guys it's actually not that bad the sidecar proved itself in a commercial setting as well all being The Chariot of choice for delivery drivers postal workers and independent vendors after the economic boom of the 1920s motorcycle sidecars also served as a recreational luxury for individuals and families even those who were social standings didn't force them to rely on a motorcycle with the sidecars or sole Transportation found pleasure in riding for recreation ultimately following the defeat of the Axis powers automobiles became less expensive and more attainable for the average family as a result sidecars waned in popularity although they would remain as a fixture of popular culture during World War II both BMW and zendap produced military motorcycle with side cars that were extensively used by German armed forces the BMW r75 and the zundapp ks-750 were renowned for their off-road capabilities and rugged construction these motorcycles were often employed for reconnaissance transportation of soldiers and Hauling small artillery pieces the Soviet Union manufactured motorcycle sidecars under the Brand's Ural and nepper these motorcycles were based on pre-war BMW designs that were acquired through various means Ural and nepper sidecars gained popularity due to their durability Simplicity and the ability to Traverse challenging terrains they were often used for civilian transport and Military purposes the Euro brand still exists today and they sell motorcycle sidecar models with switchable two-wheel drive we had a Euro on the channel a few years ago they are wonky and absurd The watsonian Squire company has been in the sidecar business since 1912 and has made aftermarket sidecars for Harley-Davidson Triumph and Royal Enfield they might be one of the few remaining companies to manufacture motorcycle side cars on a larger scale so if you're watching this video and thinking man I never knew I needed a sidecar on my meteor 350 until now I suggest you check out watsonian it seems like your other options would be limited to sidecars from Alibaba or temu sidecars for use in the general public may have weighed in popularity in the second half of the 20th century a void that would ultimately be replaced with trikes or well-equipped touring bikes that accommodate passengers and cargos with ease but motorcycle side cars managed to hold an obscure play place in motorcycle racing all the way through present day sidecar racing when perceived through an objective lens has a significant degree of absurdity it seems to exist with the same novelty as historic motorcycle stunt performances like the globe of death or the British white helmets but no for nearly 100 years motorcycle sidecar racing has existed in multiple classes from Motocross Enduro and road racing where Riders operate with the same degree of athleticism and skill as traditional disciplines of motorcycle racing but with the strange caveat of requiring Advanced coordination with a sidecar passenger whose movements are equally vital in the successes of a sidecar racing Duo sidecar racing gained popularity in Europe during the 1920s and 30s the sport quickly evolved from informal races to organized events early sidecar races often took place on a dirt track and featured rudimentary sidecar designs these races emphasize the handling challenges posed by sidecars and became a favorite among Riders and Spectators after World War II sidecar racing experienced a research in popularity the post-war period saw advancements in sidecar design safety and track facilities sidecar races were held on various types of tracks including road circuits oval dirt tracks and grass tracks the famous and deadly Isle of Man motorcycle racing event even holds sidecar races the inaugural sidecar TT race took place in 1923. the addition of the sidecar TT race added a new dimension to the event highlighting the unique Dynamics and added complexity of sidecar racing seriously look at this footage these dudes are nuts sidecars used for motorcycle racing have evolved independently of those used for traditional civilian use they are designed for performance and stability during high speed Maneuvers the motorcycles themselves are not traditional bikes either older classes and sidecar road racing generally resemble solo motorcycles with a platform attached where Modern racing sidecars are low and long and borrow much technology from Open Wheel race cars and all types of sidecar racing there is a brighter and a passenger who work in unison to make the machine work as they would almost be unrideable without the passenger and the correct position road racing sidecars became a change away from normal motorcycle racing in the 1950s with them becoming lower and using smaller diameter Wheels racing sidecars also kept the enclosed Dustbin style fairing a design that had been banned in normal racing events on a sidecar racing motorcycle the pilot kneels behind the engine as opposed to sitting on a seat above it the goal of retaining a low center of gravity motorcycle sidecars for racing are long and low to the ground using smaller tires than traditional bike as well as the sport progressed more Innovations were made to sidecar motorcycles such as the engine be moved to the rear of the motorcycle the fim sidecar World Championship is the current International sidecar racing competition it was formerly referred to as superside Yamaha Kawasaki and Suzuki each have motorcycles that compete in the sidecar racing event the participating motorcycles are all-purpose-built machines that almost have more in common with Open Wheel race cars than traditional motorcycles with their long flat chassis rear engine and using tires with a long flat wide profile these machines were known as as formula one side cards which use 1000 cc engines until the size requirement was reduced to 600 cc's in 2017. Formula 2 sidecars use a more traditional front engine style and use smaller displacement engines Formula 2 sidecars are still preferred by many sidecar Racers and are used at the club and National level F2 sidecars are the platform used by all Racers during the Isle of Man sidecar TT as F1 machines were considered to be too fast and too dangerous for the Isle of Man Mountain course consider that for a second they considered it too dangerous imagine how dangerous that actually was the lap record for the sidecar TT is 18 minutes and 59 seconds an average speed of 119 miles an hour set by Ben birchall and passenger Tom birchall in 2018 which is absolutely crazy motorcycle sidecars are weird they've lived many lives over the last 100 years from experiencing wartime glory to trivialized pop culture caricatures to the fascinating and extreme world of sidecar racing for such a niche area of motorcycling sidecars have managed to permeate the hearts in my lines of racers and Disney characters alike and that's a feat that even the Hayabusa hasn't accomplished thanks for making it all the way to the end of the video be sure to subscribe if you enjoyed the video we've got a ton more of exciting stuff in the pipeline if you think we've peaked after the Ducati giveaway you are mistaken we have so many exciting things to come left in 2023 so be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for what's Yet to Come fact in 1977 a signal named the wow signal was detected from space originating from the Sagittarius constellation it lasted for 72 seconds and displayed a radio frequency pattern that didn't match any known Celestial or human-made Source despite efforts to detect it again the signal has never been replicated or explained goodbye keep watching Eminem

Channel: Yammie Noob

Views: 77,667

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Id: tQuY0mfeYxw

Length: 14min 1sec (841 seconds)

Published: Sun Sep 03 2023