Would a motorcycle with side-car qualify as an environmentally-friendly vehicle?

[P-hack]

Lets assume, since we are talking about motorcycles, that the rider is capable of proper judgement about when/where to ride one, ok? a sidecar is gonna screw up handling too, but this is about efficiency.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by P-hack

Lets assume, since we are talking about motorcycles, that the rider is capable of proper judgement about when/where to ride one, ok?

Let's consider a car-less household, as it's not so unusual in my country. For many different reasons, there are people who choose to not own a car, and other ones who eventually couldn't afford to have one but can get a low-displacement motorcycle. So, regardless of weather, they're gonna have to ride it.

[P-hack]

sidecars still suck at handling, moreso in one direction than another, and add a lot of frontal area.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I used to be radically unfavorable to side-cars, as much as I am unfavorable to hybrids, but in spite of their issues they are actually a practical option for some operators.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Altough I'm not a fan of sidecars, I like that old BMW

But you're the one that started the thread and has posted the most pictures.

My uncle gave my grandfather (on the other side) a ride in a motorcycle sidecar. He lifted the outrigger wheel and drove along the edge of an excavation pit.

My suggestion:

[RedDevil]

My sister has a GoldWing 1100 with sidecar. It is getting a new engine and Interstate guts and fairings right about now (it was an Aspencade, but she does not care for the air suspension as it was not strong enough for sidecar use anyway).

There are 2 basic problems with her (and probably most) sidecars: speed and range.
We are allowed to drive 130 km/h on half of our highway system. But she can't if she does not have a strong rear wind or so. This is an 1100 CC motorbike with more power than some small cars, but the air resistance is much more than any small car has.

The GoldWing has no small tank for a bike, but as it easily uses 1 liter of fuel every 10 km or so (about 23 mpg) even at a more moderate 100 km/h; you need to tank within 200 km or 120 miles.

Driving it more slowly makes it somewhat less thirsty but at over 600 kilograms for the combination the sheer mass will always work against it.

On the plus side, it can carry 3 adults and a small kid (or 2 and 2 not too large kids) and quite some luggage. It can even tow a small trailer. But so can a small car.

If bike and sidecar are (much) more aerodynamical then you can drive that on the motorway, even with a slightly smaller engine, but you'd have little to spare. It takes the fun out of motoring.

The small engined motors with sidecars are fit only for city and rural use, And that's the only environment where any sidecar combination can get 'eco'-like FE.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

But you're the one that started the thread and has posted the most pictures.

It was initially as a matter of curiosity, but actually I have reconsidered some of my previously unfavorable opinions about side-cars. At least they can still be seen as a last alternative instead of a hybrid. And even an entry-level single-cylinder motorcycle from 125 to 300cc with a side-car still look more macho than most of the hybrid cars available (and it may sound kinda dumb, but is important for an average Latino like me).

[freebeard]

Fair enough.

[RedDevil]

^^^ not a sidecar, but way cool! Somebody's been mowing some grass...

I feel getting a long way on a tank of fuel is quite macho.
Not caring too much about what others think, or at least taking that stance, is quite macho too.

Aw, now I see the gem in the picture of the Messerschmitt a few posts back.
It has plenty of space for your suitcase... on the outside!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by RedDevil

I feel getting a long way on a tank of fuel is quite macho.
Not caring too much about what others think, or at least taking that stance, is quite macho too.

Indeed. Anyway, maybe if hybrids weren't so much more expensive than a comparably-sized non-hybrid, and with a more conventional design approach than the spaceship-look of a Prius, they could break some resistence back here.