Isle of Man sidecars

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • Rob S.
    Forum Guru
    Past Site Supporter
    • Dec 2013
    • 9384
    • New York City
    #1

    Isle of Man sidecars

    I think you know how I feel about anything that bolts on to a motorcycle, but the sidecars at Isle of Man are pretty wild. Question: if we removed all the bodywork from one of those rigs, would it look like a motorcycle? It seems too low, and the finished product looks more like a go-cart.

    Isle of Man TT rocks!
    1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

    2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.
    Tags: None
    • KiwiAlfa156
      Forum Mentor
      • Sep 2012
      • 660
      • New Zealand
      #2
      Yep, they are unique. Up until 1996 the were part of the FIM World Champs (which became 'MotoGP). In 1949 they were a motorcycle with a chair bolted on, but logical engineering developed them into what they are today. In the 1980, 7 x times world champion Rolf Biland built a sidecar where the passenger sat like an F1 driver and didn't move. A passive passenger was a bridge to far and this prototype was banned. Monkeys have to work, no free ride.

      Biland-Williams-1978.jpg
      Last edited by KiwiAlfa156; 12-14-2025, 07:11 PM.
      82 GSX1100SXZ Katana
      82 GSX750SZ Katana
      82 GS650GZ Katana

        Comment

        • Buffalo Bill
          Forum Guru
          Past Site Supporter
          Super Site Supporter
          • Jun 2008
          • 6004
          • New Buffalo, Michigan 49117
          #3
          Interesting, driver's seat is part of the body so not shown.
          Modern_racing_sidecar_%28without_fairing%29.jpg
          1982 GS1100G-
          1990 GSX750/1127
          1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane
          1985 Kawasaki GPz750

            Comment

            • Rob S.
              Forum Guru
              Past Site Supporter
              • Dec 2013
              • 9384
              • New York City
              #4
              Yikes! Talk about a hot seat!
              1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

              2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                Comment

                • Jinks
                  Forum Apprentice
                  • Sep 2022
                  • 65
                  • Deanmill sth/west W.A.
                  #5
                  In the early '70s I got to be the swinger on a road race H2 kwaka 750 2 stroke for a few practice laps, Out of the pits kneeling on the platform hugging the back gaurd then 1st right hander bracing my feet on the side car wheel mount & weight over the back wheel, the short straight down hugging the back gaurd, at the left hander holding the mounts at the side car wheel & bracing my feet on the back gaurd whilst scrapping my hip shoulder & helmet on the race track then fluid change on the right hander to put my weight over the back wheel, all this at full race speed, then fluid movement to lay down on the platform down the main straight at 100+MPH, I had to point my toes of my boots to stop them scapping on the track. Repeat for a couple of laps. One of the best experiences of my life!!

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...