What America needs: More sidecars!

Fred's 2016 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 with Cozy sidecar.

 Reader Fred Lenk, of California, likes motorcycle sidecars, and thinks you might too: 

I've been following your website for some years, since I got my own 2016 Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar. 

Interesting, in California, a three-wheel vehicle, such as an outfit, requires the same driver license as anyone driving a four-wheel vehicle. 

Remember, our former governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, crashed his outfit, but wasn't cited for driving without "a motorcycle license." Here's why: 

Post World War II, several European countries exported three-wheel cars to the U.S. and California. You know about those.

So, Mr. Sidecar, Doug Bingham, was able to convince lawmakers in California that since three-wheel cars don't require motorcycle licenses, three-wheel motorcycles don't require "motorcycle licenses."

I began riding outfits in 2008 because my employer forbade me from riding my three-wheel human powered push trike with trailer on the job. Trailer pulled my tools.

I repaired computer networks and teachers' computers for the local school district. I could pedal to all the schools to fix stuff. Some bean counter got worried about insurance, I think, and I could no longer pedal on the job.

I had some time to research a new transportation solution, and read about Gov. Arnold's problem. So I found a motorcycle outfit.

I had previously ridden motorcycles. Funny, on the way home driving the outfit, I suddenly learned I had to be very careful making a right turn (left turn in England). The Velorex car went airborne on my heavy Kawasaki 1400.

Lucky I still had my old motorcycle skills and could correct.

I wore out that Kawasaki motorcycle in a couple years, and bought my Royal Enfield 500 with "Cozy" car already installed. I can't drive the 500cc Royal Enfield on 70 mph highways, but it's perfect around town with a sidecar for shopping errands.

Fred's sidecar outfit stays off the Interstate highways.

I know all the slower backroads to get anywhere in the county at slower speed.

I'd like a freeway-capable outfit to drive 800 miles to a Northern California home. Maybe a new BSA 650 Goldstar outfit might work if the BSA ever make it to California.

Maybe a new Royal Enfield 750 might work. But even those engines would be working at their maximum on our California freeways. 

I think it would be great if some American motorcycle manufacturer besides Ural (assembled in Kazakhstan) could figure out simple technology to make sidecar motorcycles again. 

That's what Fred wrote, but it occurred to me to ask why a tricycle motorcycle, Servi-Car style, might not do? Tricycle conversions are available for powerful, full-size U.S. motorcycles. His response went farther, dealing with tricycles whether the two wheels are up front or behind the rider:

As far as trikes (Delta one front/two rear, as opposed to Tadpole two front/one rear), I found they're like driving a sidecar, with two tricky turning directions. Maybe that's why I've never seen them racing in any situation like dirt, grass, paved roads.

Tadpole trikes are much more controllable in turning situations, and have at least twice the front wheel braking ability.

Finally, a sidecar hauls a lot more stuff when running errands around town or strapping on a 4x8 piece of construction wood!