In the already crazy world of motorcycle racing, I don’t think it gets crazier than sidecar racing. Here’s your chance to get started in the sport.
Right off the bat, let’s take a look at what these crazy people go through. Do you have the guts to try the same?
This bike is built around a vintage Mike Fiddaman chassis. It was apparently abandoned for years and then the seller brought it back to life, sparing no expense. The engine is out of a ’73 Kawasaki Z1, and everything is claimed to work great. It fits in the back of a 1/2 ton pickup, is claimed to be ‘very competitive with the right team’, and competed last season in VRRA. Find this sidecar racer for sale in Ayr, Ontario, Canada with an unmet opening bid of $1,000
P.S. Turns out there’s something even crazier than sidecar racing on pavement…sidecar motocross!
A product of the French, the Poirier Voiturette was a tandem-seater design that was a hybrid between a motorcycle and a two-seater sports car. Voiturette roughly translates to ‘cycle-car’, which basically means ‘small motor vehicle’.
This is a XW5 Monoto, powered by a 125cc Ydral engine. This example has just 337 miles and imported into the US from Belgium last year. The bike looks good and the seller says it is “ready to start and run you down the road”, whatever that means. Find this Poirier for sale with a buy-it-now of $5,900 or best offer
If you can overlook some minor imperfections, here’s your chance for a vintage sidecar rig that just oozes cool.
Installation of the sidecar rig was done by Dauntless Motors, and the seller has enjoyed the combo for over 12 years. As stated earlier, the Guzzi isn’t perfect. It’s claimed to run well but there’s some cosmetic imperfections and the speedo/tach don’t work, they just bounce the needles. The sidecar is a replica Steib S500 unit, and it features a Guzzi wheel and brake assembly that’s driven by a second foot pedal.
Find this Eldorado sidecar rig for sale in Seattle, Washington with bidding up to $4,350 and the reserve not yet met
This was a tough one to find information on – but meet the GD750, a product of the Goliath manufacturing company (itself part of the Borgward group). Goliath specialized in 3 wheelers and the GD750 was fairly successful, as it seems between 30-36 thousand were sold between 1949 and 1955. Here’s a fully restored example.
The seller suggests that only about 10 of these trikes are left – who knows if that’s true. But this example (VIN: 21607) is fully functional and is original (again, it’s been restored) except for the wooden bed in the back and the chrome rail. Find this Goliath for sale in Artigas, Uruguay with bidding up to $5,666 and the reserve not yet met
Heinkel started as a German aircraft manufacturer that found themselves without a product after the Allies banned them from making planes after World War II. They moved on to bicycles, a microcar, and scooters like the Tourist to help Germans who couldn’t afford a car but needed personal transportation.
When offered in markets outside of Germany, the Heinkel was marketed as an upscale scooter (pricier than a Vespa or Lambretta) that was well quipped – clock, luggage rack, spare wheel, steering lock, etc. In England it was called the Rolls-Royce of scooters, a dealer in Massachusetts called it the Cadillac of scooters. This specific example is from the 3rd generation (the 103 AO), which was built between 1955 and 1957. It was restored about 20 years ago and has been kept in excellent condition since. I wish every for sale listing was as well done as this one – I suggest you check it out just for the completeness of the photos and documentation. Or check it out because you want to buy a beautiful scooter/sidecar rig!
Find this Tourist for sale in Morongo Valley, California with bidding up to $5,550 and the reserve not yet met
8-10 Update: This 5x Ohlins rig is back up for sale with bidding up to $4,550 and the reserve not yet met
Post-Listing Update: This crazy sidecar rig did not meet reserve at $7,623 after 23 bids on eBay.
Three words you don’t expect to see in the same sentence:
1.) VRSC
2.) Sidecar
3.) Off-Roader
Yet they all come together for this featured bike, a custom rig built with a Harley-Davidson VRSC.
Though I found this to be an unlikely combination, turns out it’s been done before. Hog Wild Racing is a sidecar racing team run by Scott Whitney and Joe Desrosiers. They won at Pikes Peak in 2003 and competed in Dakar as well.
This specific Harley-Davidson VRSC Sidecar Off-Roader is street legal and was supposedly built in the spirit of the Hog Wild bike. Not much detail is given, though this is the first motorcycle I’ve ever seen with 5 Ohlins shocks!
Find this Harley-Davidson VRSC Sidecar Off-Roader for sale in Virginia Beach, Virginia with an opening bid of $0.99
The seller of this interesting hack rig doesn’t give much information on these 3 wheels of fury, but it’s just too cool not to share!
The seller says this bike is the only one known in the US and that it ‘needs some attention’, including a carb cleaning at the minimum. If my eyes don’t deceive me, the sidecar is the factory designed MZ unit. The seller also says ‘restore or ride as is’, so hopefully it doesn’t need a lot of work…
Find this rare sidecar rig for sale in Baltimore, Maryland for $7,500 here on Craigslist.
The NSU Kettenkrad (Ketten = tracks, krad = German military abbreviation for motorcycle), was a half-track designed initially as a light tractor for airborne troops. Due to its diminutive size, it was the only ‘gun tractor’ capable of fitting in certain Nazi aircraft. The formal name was the SdKfz2, and the majority were used to lay down communication cables (remember the scene from Enemy at the Gates?), transport soldiers and cargo through deep Russian mud, and as runway tugs for aircraft.
Powered by an 1.5L, inline 4 cylinder Opel engine that produced 36 horsepower, the Kettenkrad was capable of 44 miles per hour, according to the driver’s manual. The engine was selected as NSU did not make a big enough engine at the time. NSU selected the engine from the Opel Olympia because the car was already in use by the Wehrmacht, so field mechanics were familiar with it. For such a contraption that weighed 2,726 pounds, it impressively got 18 mpg on-road, and about 13 off-road. Last thing you should know is how the steering works. Up to a certain point, steering was done by the front wheel, controlled by the handlebar. But if you wanted to turn even further, the bike would automatically apply brakes to the inside track to enable tighter turns. Because the Kettenkrad could turn by using brakes, you could even run without the front wheel, which is what the manual suggested when you were on serious off-road terrain. If you want more information, you should check out the Kettenkrad Homepage, especially the FAQ section.
And if you want to see what it’s like in motion (if you don’t want one after seeing this, you might be dead inside):
This specific NSU Kettenkrad received an engine overhaul less than 350 miles ago with some modern upgrades – newer valve seats, valves, and bearings, specifically. Only two items from wartime have been removed (but they’re included) – the 6V generator and the cooling turbine/linkage. Everything is claimed to work and it’s been with the seller for the last 24 years.
From http://www.kettenkrad.de/index_e.htm
Find this NSU Kettenkrad for sale in Albion, Illinois for $115,000 or best offer here on Hemmings.
Developed by Swiss students for the 1986 World EXPO in Vancouver, British Columbia, the TWIKE won an award for best ergonomic design in the “Innovative Vehicle Design Competition”. At the time it was 100% driven by the human power of pedaling. The initial success led to a commercial venture in 1992 (with production starting in 1995) with the third evolution of the design that included an electric motor in addition to the pedal power!
190 units were produced (mostly in Switzerland and Germany) in the first run – you can still get them today, and apparently 900 had been sold by 2011. The name was a contraction of TWin and bIKE, because it’s designed to fit two people (and their luggage). It can apparently hit a top speed of 53 miles per hour, though that will shorten the range from the maximum of 50 miles. The seller claims that there are only 25 known Twikes in the US.
This sale includes two Twikes, one of which is a concept that’s only good for parts. The other example is ready for the road, but both bikes will need batteries. Find these Twikes for sale in Eden Prairie, Minnesota with an unmet opening bid of $6,500 or a BIN of $10,000
Fans of vintage automobile drag racing hopefully remember the Hawaiian, the race team of Roland Leong – a team and career that spanned AA/Fuel Dragsters and a whole lot of funny cars. Apparently this trike was given away by Hawaiian Punch as a promotion on behalf of Leong.
Over the years, Leong was sponsored by companies like King’s Hawaiian and Hawaiian Punch, which resulted in liveries like these (photos from the above Hot Rod article):
from http://www.hotrod.com/features/celebrities/hrdp-1005-getting-to-know-roland-leong/
from http://www.hotrod.com/features/celebrities/hrdp-1005-getting-to-know-roland-leong/
from http://www.hotrod.com/features/celebrities/hrdp-1005-getting-to-know-roland-leong/
This little trike is claimed to still run very well though it’s got plenty of rust. Just don’t expect to get anywhere fast, as the Tecumseh engine put out 3.5 horsepower when new.
Find this promotional ATV for sale in Toms River, New Jersey with bidding up to $79 and the reserve not yet met
Founded about 50 years ago, Rokon has become synonymous with two-wheel-drive motorcycles that are able to go anywhere. Initially designed as a motorcycle/tractor, the Trailbreaker lives up to its name with incredibly low gearing that enables riders to climb up steep hills balancing at just 0.5 miles per hour.
New models use a Kohler 208cc engine that produces 7 horsepower and 9.1 pound feet of torque – never a good sign when you need to include decimal points in your engine output figures. But of course, that’s not the point. You won’t be going quickly, but you’ll be able to go wherever you’d like. Want to learn more? Check out Rokon World for as much information as you can handle, including an excellent history that dispels a lot of myths about how the Rokon Trailbreaker was born. By far the coolest aspect of this bike is the wheels. Built as hollow drums, they’re able to store liquids like extra gasoline or water when you’re on long trips. It doesn’t get much more utilitarian than that – which is why these are so well suited as farm/working bikes.
This example (VIN: 1YJAT7019ER800190) might be even better suited as a working bike thanks to the factory installed custom sidecar. It’s a street legal demo model that has about 100 hours on it – modifications to make it street legal include the lighting, horn, mirror, DOT approved tires, and more. Other extras include the sidecar, game carrier rack, and brush guards. Find this Rokon hack for sale in Port Angeles, Washington for $9,200 or best offer
I didn’t realize it, but there IS a way to make an Eldorado even cooler – slapping some white walls on it! Adding a sidecar doesn’t hurt, either.
This Eldo has less than 25,000 miles and is claimed to run strong. The matching sidecar is a Velorex unit and if you want to pull it off the seller includes brand new saddlebags for the bike as well. Find this cool combo for sale in Denver, Colorado for $8,500 here on Craigslist.
Adorned in Hot Pepper Red, this beautiful rebuilt Harley has been paired with a 1954 original sidecar.
This bike (VIN: 55FL5667) is apparently out of the personal collection of Jim Schlarb, and it’s been completely rebuilt with documentation. It does have an oil leak, but it did place second at the Salisbury Concours d’Elegance (which apparently had its last show in 2013).
Find this Panhead hack for sale for $31,000 here on Craigslist in Denver, Colorado.
Starting with a Honda CB125S that was sold new in Salt Lake City, someone imported a period sidecar from the Philippines to form one heck of a (slow) attention getter.
The original owners (Morrie & Faye) had a mural painted on the front of the rickshaw, including their names, and the current owner has kept it. The seller notes that “this bike has only been used in parades and to putter around town.” I’m not sure what else this would be capable of!
This bike (VIN: jc045104247) is claimed to start on the first kick bike and be in great condition though it’s got a small dent on the tank and some chipping paint. Find this CB125S rickshaw for sale in Salt Lake City, Utah with an unmet opening bid of $500
In 1984, Kawasaki apparently pulled 300 KLT 250’s off the production line and converted them into Police trikes. Of those 300, 50 were donated to the LA Olympics Games Planning Committee to help patrol the Olympic grounds. This bike comes with a certificate stating that it was originally provided for the Olympic police force.
The 249cc engine was paired to a 5-speed transmission and the whole package had a dry weight of 362 pounds. This example has 1,147 miles and is claimed to be a great running vehicle. Flaws include some missing decals, a leak in the carb, and a leak in the front tire. In addition, there’s some rust and scratches, though those should be expected. In addition to the rear rack, this bike also comes with a tow hitch.
Find this KLT for sale in Mohave Valley, Arizona with an unmet opening bid of $1,750
When it comes to swapping in an older BMW twin engine into a Ural, the man to know is Richard Winters, known as Bural on the Soviet Steeds forum. He’s performed this conversion several times (and now has a waiting list for his work) – here’s an example if you’re not the patient type.
The seller has had this bike for two years and he says that he’s completely gone through it, adjusting the valves, replacing the ignition, alternator, rectifier, regulator (a whole lot of the electrical system). The engine is from a ’77 BMW R90 and the whole rig now has the seat from a 2010 Ural, a new clutch with pushrod (the conversion requires a custom pushrod each time you change the clutch) and a new mainshaft and seals in the transmission. You’ll get some spare parts, the original seat, and tool kit.
Find this BMW-powered Ural for sale in Anaheim, California for $7,500 here on ADVRider (registration required).
By 1920, HD was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer – with dealerships in 67 countries. One of their featured bikes at the time was the 1000cc Harley-Davidson JD, which became the first motorcycle to ever win a race with an average speed of over 100 mph in 1921, on a board track in Fresno, California. Here’s an example that has no racing pretensions thanks to the beautiful, color-matched sidecar.
As a ’29, this is the last year of the JD. This example is an older restoration with the twin headlights, luggage rack, and 100mph speedo. Impressively, the seller notes that the bike retains the original exhaust system. The bike was apparently sold new in Perth, Australia to a farmer. It got a new owner in 1975 that gave it a cosmetic restoration and then rode it less than 500 miles in 10 years, and then sold it to the current owner in 1985. The current owner hasn’t done much better, riding the bike less than 1,000 miles in the last 30 years! In the seller’s words, “My JD is not cheap, however I believe I am asking a reasonable price for a bike of this rarity and completeness, and one which I have the known provenance of.”
Find this JD hack for sale in Mount Hawthorn, Australia with bidding up to $17,216 and the reserve not yet met
Introduced in 1982, the Gyro series of scoots are three-wheelers (one in the front, two in the back) where the body is able to lean up to 40 degrees compared to the rear axle! GYRO is actually an acronym, which stands for “Great Your Recreation Original”. Well, the translation’s not great, but you get the idea. The initial designs were for utility-based uses – so you got rear racks, canopies, and plenty of storage.
In 1984, Honda mixed it up with the release of a variant called the Road Fox. Most of the utility disappeared, and instead you got exposed frames and a chopper-ish rake. It only sold for two years – and this was the variant that made it to the US, marketed as the Honda Gyro S. The Gyro featured a one-touch parking break, and even a limited slip differential. The short importation period and poor sales have made the Gyro a collectible scooter – perfect for someone looking for something quirky and fun. Thought it only weighs 140 pounds, the 4 horsepower engine meant you couldn’t go faster than 30, and you weren’t going to reach that speed quickly. Still, the scoot was capable of 160mpg, which is why it saw so much success as a tiny utility vehicle in Japan.
The seller is offering two Gyros, both of which are claimed to be in great condition. One has 736 miles and the other has 1,094 miles, unfortunately only one of the scoots has a key and they’ll both need a tune-up. Find these Gyros (typing that word over and over again makes me hungry for the Greek sandwich) for sale in Arlington, Washington for $2,000 each here on Craigslist.
Built by the Owosso Motor Car Company, the Pulse was produced under a few different names, all of which were considered GCRVs – Ground Cruising Recreational Vehicles. With a fiberglass body designed to look like a plane and a rear-mounted motorcycle engine, the Pulse (also known as the Litestar) was a 2-seater was considered by the DMV to be motorcycles. Before the company went out of business in 1990, 347 of these vehicles were built – and here we have 2 of them, both from the same seller.
I also assume you’re going to want to see what it looks like on the road:
The first example is actually just the 4th one built (VIN: 1LSECP2E7F2000004). The original engine has been replaced with the 1,100cc engine from a Honda V65 – wonder how fast it goes now!
The original dash fell apart and it has been removed, the seller has a new dash but it has not been installed yet. Due to the powertrain swap, there is no longer a reverse gear, and there’s some other things that need to get taken care of. Find it for sale in Portage, Michigan with bidding up to $5,300 and the reserve not yet met
The second option (VIN: 17JTW12J5FM000108) is #108 and it has also had the drivetrain replaced – this time with a 1,000cc engine from a ’78 Goldwing. This example is a bit tricker, with a repaint, turn signals that are ’59 Cadillac tail lights, leather interior, new windshield and canopy glass, as well as a custom dash with a flip-out screen/backup camera.
Reminds me of KITT from Knight Rider…
Find it for sale in Portage, Michigan with bidding up to $7,800
From the factory, a ’67 VW Beetle produced 53 horsepower. Thanks to an interesting reverse trike conversion with the powertrain from a 1,100cc Suzuki Katana, this Beetle now produced 136 ponies!
Apparently both vehicles were off the road and the Beetle needed an engine replacement. Someone creative/crazy decided to merge them and now it can be yours. Everything is probably as you expect, though it should be noted that it has a custom sequential shifter so it’s hand operated but it works in the normal pattern you expect on a motorcycle. Find this VW Trike for sale in Menasha, Wisconsin with an unmet opening bid of $100
