Sidecars Make You Happy

Mrs. Bald Rider’s mom just spent a week here at BR headquarters in the San Bernardino Mountains. While she was here, I took her on a quick ride in monkey position on the Ural. When I say quick, I mean 5ish miles around the lake. I was wearing my cheap LS2 ¾ helmet without comms and she was wearing a borrowed helmet that was too large. I didn’t want to go very far or very fast. The latter part of that is rarely an issue on the Ural. Long distance travel wasn’t an option without checking her comfort level on a trial run.

She loved it.

She used to ride with her late husband on the back of a Harley. Part of the reason she enjoyed it was it reminded her of those days. But there is more to it than that. People just love riding in sidecars.

Everyone loves a sidecar and that has been proven every time I ride mine anywhere. I’ve had Natasha for two years now and the results are the same. UDF (Ural Delay Factor) is real.

But why?

There aren’t that many sidecars out there in the wild. I’ve only crossed paths with half a dozen in my life that I can recall. So it is a novelty when you see one. What I really find interesting is the willingness for complete strangers to want to hop into the tub and go for a ride.

Generally speaking, non-riders see motorcycles as dangerous. Most are likely not willing to hop on the back of a stranger’s bike to go for a ride. Sidecars are seen as more approachable. The reality is quite different. Sidecars are potentially more dangerous than a two-wheel-equipped motorcycle, especially with an unskilled pilot at the helm.

I’m not sure if there is an illusion of safety with the addition of the third wheel. That probably has something to do with it. No putting a foot down at a stop is required. A monkey is sitting in a steel tub with no safety features, just faith in the pilot and those cagers around you not to kill you (even though they drive like they are actively trying to). You cannot put yourself in a much more vulnerable position than this.

I’m pro-sidecar, obviously. I think more people should have them. It is a great way to bridge the gap between the general public and the motorcycle world. Those of us who own them need to ensure that we are good ambassadors and don’t scare our non-rider friends when taking them out. It would also be best not to crash.

They might want to get their own bike(s) if we do our job right.