


Without the monkey, the sidecar unit cannot function properly and achieve the last times necessary to win the race. It’s quite a spectacle to watch and worth checking out some videos. The second rider or monkey swings their weight from side to side crawling all over the sidecar and leaning within millimeters of the pavement. The monkey is not a passenger as in the normal motorcycle sidecar they are part of the team that steers and turns the motorcycle. The terminology for the second person is a “Monkey”. Motorcycle racing sidecars carry two people but it would be accurate to say the person other than the rider is a passenger. Motorcycle racing sidecars for off-road use bike motocross or Speedway are more similar to normal motorcycles with a sidecar attached. They are unique vehicles and have little in common with an actual motorcycle. Motorcycle sidecars built for Roadracing look more like a relative of a Formula One car than of any motorcycle unit seen. Sidecar racing was the most popular in Europe especially Germany and at the Isle of Man TT.īut racing sidecars whether for Roadracing or for motocross are very different from sidecars used on the normal road/street motorcycles. There are several different types of motorcycle sidecar racing. In some parts of the world, they are also used by law enforcement agencies. They have been around since the late 1800s and could be used to ferry around people, pets, luggage, produce, and commercial goods. The end result is that the bike becomes a three-wheeled vehicle that can carry a passenger or cargo in the sidecar to the left or right of the rider. What exactly is a sidecar? Can Any Motorcycle Have A Sidecar?Ī sidecar for a standard street motorcycle for use on public roads is a one-wheeled carrier that can be attached to the side of a motorcycle or cycle. Although it’s hard to come across bikes with a sidecar today, they continue to be a niche product and if you are wondering if you can attach one to your motorcycle, the answer is yes.
