SBW Sidecar

[Prmurat]

I'd love to be a poseur and have this kind of money available... Listening to envious knee jerks reactions would be the proverbial cherry on the cake!

[whitham_wannabe]

Yeah really! I think it is a cool bit of kit, and find it surprising that a new adv style sidecar attracts so much negativity.

Nice to see something that is so thoroughly un-ural-esque!

[DRONE]

Negativity? On AdvRider? First time I've ever seen that?

But, yeah, I think it's bad ass! Not only "un-ural-esque" but "un-American-esque" when you think about it. It's not like anything you can get in the lower 48. Brock Smith has done some pretty wild stuff, and at least one sidecar that reminds me of the SBW car (can you say Triumph Tiger?), but he's in Canada, so "un-American-sque" I think is accurate.

Would love to see some video of that outfit tearing up rugged terrain somewhere.

[mightymatt43]

Wow. That looks really great. I would love to see how it would hold up in real world conditions. Some very nice features going on - I wonder what the body is made of?

I gotta say though, my vote still goes to a CSM...

[slowpoke69]

Originally Posted by YOUNZ

How does one actually get into the seat, and out?

I suppose you could turn over the bucket that was holding ALL THAT CASH before you gave it to the dealer!

It does LOOK nice, how's it go? Need some footage. Why don't one of the richer guys buy one, film and post the beating and let us know?

We'd be appreciative, probably not much, but appreciative nonetheless.

[tripodtiger]

Originally Posted by FR700

50+ inches of track , hardly any lead , massive front overhang
.

The frontal length, approach angle thing is an issue, IMHO. That's why I had a new body designed / built for mine.

If they've got the geometry correct, it's correct.

I can't see why you'd leave the bike tyre on the bike & have a wider tyre on the sidecar. I'd be inclined to switch the tyres over.

The suspension looks trick. Is it complicated for engineering appearance. Maybe they figured that the Paralever / whatever-lever setup on the BM deserved something that looks trick. Maybe they couldn't get the performance they wanted with it inside the wheel diameter, or maybe they just did that so it was easy access to the spring/damper for adjustments. How about changing the shocker for one of those ESA jobbies that BMW use these days?

I love the looks. You dont' get appearance nor performance cheap.

Question is, are you getting both for your money?
The answer will be different for every owner, or potential owner.

At least they've made a righty & a lefty

[tripodtiger]

And it needs a race pipe.

[FR700]

Originally Posted by tripodtiger

The frontal length, approach angle thing is an issue, IMHO. That's why I had a new body designed / built for mine.

If they've got the geometry correct, it's correct.

Approach angle , front bike wheel dropping into a hole/rut and that tub will kiss the deck. Axle lead on road as you said doesn't matter if it works. Off road with that long low front overhang ...


Close to twelve thousand £ for the chair alone ... I'd want to be able to sleep in it and have it fetch me a sandwich and beer



.

[tripodtiger]

Yep, I had my long fronted earlier sidecar beached several times, lastly being on Davies Plain track - twice. That was the final straw to me deciding to have the short front sidecar built.

And the chassis is above the sheet aluminium floor.

And there is a sheet aluminium slider under the nose.

Still, I've now got a bit of cosmetic damage at the rear, behind the sidecar wheel where I dropped it over some rocks.


Having done that, the most damage I get is to the bash plate, right in front of the rear tyre. It's still far too low.

[SmellyGoatBoy]

I want to pose in one.

[DRONE]

Originally Posted by SmellyGoatBoy

I want to pose in one.

[FR700]

Originally Posted by tripodtiger

Yep, I had my long fronted earlier sidecar beached several times, lastly being on Davies Plain track - twice. That was the final straw to me deciding to have the short front sidecar built.

And the chassis is above the sheet aluminium floor.

And there is a sheet aluminium slider under the nose.

Still, I've now got a bit of cosmetic damage at the rear, behind the sidecar wheel where I dropped it over some rocks.


Having done that, the most damage I get is to the bash plate, right in front of the rear tyre. It's still far too low.

I've watched the videos you posted up. I like your set up.

My harley goes 350 Kg ... stripped down , add the weight of the chair. If that sucker goes down I'll toss the key in the tank , grab my swag , billy , set it on fire and walk out

Both ends of the body are tapered to help it slide over/off stuff.

Originally Posted by SmellyGoatBoy

I want to pose in one.

It's all about the style ... don't let anyone bullshit you



.

[Sidecarjohn]

Like the vast majority of GS models the SBW is unlikely to venture off road, so maybe comments about off tarmac issues won't arise. Undoubtedly, the "build" video is impressive, very professional, and that does influence some of the thinking, even though much seems to refect opinions on how to approach a particular problem, e.g. suspension. Ultimately the jury is out on that one.

The involvement of Harris, Mobec and Watsonian perhaps should be taken as not indicative of some big master plan for sidecar production. Could be that Watsonian provided NEC bike show space because of them having produced a component part(s). Certainly when asked for some information, the suggestion was to wait for the SBW's creator to arrive. An interesting point of view heard was that the SBW primarily stood out because of the advanced years of most of the Watsonian display, some models now well beyond their 50th birthdays.

Price is clearly something to reflect on and no doubt is influenced by the premium prices associated with BMW ownership. At over £11k sterling, this is approaching double the most expensive Watsonian sidecar available, something that already limits customer numbers in the UK.

Styling wise, very much trying to mirror the GS look such as use of some bike parts, e.g. the screen, although how will that perform in protection is anybody's guess. Other things are down to taste and opinion. Fascinating and intriguing yes, but price will be an issue, as will the fact that some other sidecars are established as good partners for the GS.

[claude]

Cool looking sidecar no doubt! Lot of thought
went into that one.
We have been kicking the merits of a perimeter type frame around for quite a while. Nothing new to the sidecar world of course.

[M37cdn]

I don't know if it's just me but the nose of that sidecar looks just like the fiberglass front end of an old style snowmobile