Motorcycle Sidecars

For more than a century, motorcycles have been accompanied by sidecars. They’ve gone off to war together, been used by AAA to aid stranded motorists, delivered sweet treats, and even carried around the family dog. The popularity of sidecars waned through the middle of the 20th century, finding a resurgence in the ’70s, along with motorcycles as a whole. Motorcycle sidecars are still a niche part of the motorcycle community with only one manufacturer producing a motorcycle with a sidecar out of the factory.

Sidecars are a great way to enjoy a motorcycle and not have to worry about falling over or latching onto the back of the person operating the bike. Also, with a sidecar, one can carry items safer than they could compared to being on two wheels.

The short answer is yes, you can put a sidecar on any motorcycle. The real question you should ask yourself is, “Do I have a large amount of money or time to sink into this project?” If your answer is yes, then sure you can slap a sidecar on your Grom. Any motorcycle is capable of taking a sidecar, but you will have to modify the motorcycle to accommodate the changes in weight and handling characteristics.

There are motorcycle sidecar kits that simply attach to your frame, or custom sidecar manufacturers that you can contact and have a one-off sidecar made to your specifications, and they are both pricey options. A good rule of thumb is that a motorcycle sidecar can cost as much as half of your bike. There is always the DIY route, and if you possess the mechanical ability, you can make your own.

If you are looking to walk into a motorcycle dealership and buy a sidecar, you will be sorely disappointed, unless you walk into a showroom that sells Urals. The Russia-based motorcycle company is the only OEM to produce motorcycles with sidecars, from the factory. Harley-Davidson used to make factory sidecars, but it stopped production in 2011, a result of the popularity of its Tri-Glide models.

Popular in Europe—especially at the Isle of Man TT—motorcycle sidecar racing is a two-person, three-wheeled team sport. Due to their asymmetrical shape, both rider and passenger have to contort their bodies as they wrestle their machines around tracks and road courses. The sidecar chassis do not resemble any bike you would see putting around town; these sidecar rigs have a Formula 1 feel to them. Everything on them has its own place and is there for a reason; there is no such thing as superfluity on a racing motorcycle sidecar.