Bingham Mark I Sidecar

BINGHAM MARK I SIDECAR

CYCLE WORLD IMPRESSION

This Side Strider Is A Low Cost, Lightweight Rig That May Introduce Many To The Fun Of Three Wheels.

OFTEN IT IS just plain nostalgia that turns their heads and makes them smile. “Back when I was your age ...” and the old boy in the parking lot begins to recount his experiences with a sidecar. But his is a long monologue getting longer and you want to leave without hurting his feelings. Besides, just the sight of the sidecar obviously brings him a lot of pleasure. Even so, you’ve got to go. “Been nice talking with you,” you tell him. He acknowledges with a nod, and his eyes are fixed on the hack as you buzz away.

And those not drawn to the threewheeler by fond memories approach it out of curiosity, asking all sorts of questions, stroking its upholstery and lightly knuckling the fiberglass. “How much one of these gadgets cost?” and “Why don’t it turn over when you turn right?” You field these queries and go.

But regardless of motive, the sidecar never fails to attract attention. This is because they are more or less novelties here; rare but pleasant diversions.

Unlike Europe where sidecars abound (due to expensive gasoline and narrow roads) hacks are relatively scarce in the U.S. for a variety of reasons.

The primary reason is, of course, that they cost too much. Upwards of $600 is a lot to pay for a one-wheeled box no matter how pretty it is. There is also the objection of mounting hassles. Few motorcycles come standard with sidecar mounting provisions, often necessitating some welding and grinding. And unless you’re prepared to do this yourself you’ll have to pay someone to install it, increasing your investment further. Weight is yet another drawback. Most commercially available sidecars weigh in excess of 200 lb.: too heavy for anything other than big bore machines.

So you see that the sidecar buff has been in somewhat of a bind for lo, these many years. However an enterprising “hack” enthusiast, Doug Bingham of Side Strider Inc., in Van Nuys, Calif., has come up with an outfit that effectively eliminates the above complications. As a result, we have every faith that now more people than ever before will find themselves on three wheels.

Bingham’s product fills the bill in several respects.

First of all, for the complete Bingham Mark I sidecar one needs just $350. This price accounts for everything except the optional windshield and handholds, but includes the 12-in. wheel and tire.

Its overall cost is comparatively low because the sidecar’s design has been kept simple and straightforward. The fiberglass body rests on a platform of chrome plated 1.25-in. diameter mild steel tubing. In turn, this platform is fixed to the motorcycle’s frame by four 1.0-in. diameter struts, which brings us to another point: the Bingham sidecar can be fitted to almost any tube-framed machine. This is made possible by a complete set of mounts, clamps, washers and heat-treated bolts that come with each outfit, so welding and other modifications are unnecessary for most motorcycles. Also, there is the added benefit of convenience; once the sidecar has been set up, attaching and detaching are done in a few minutes.

Enhancing the unit’s versatility is its light weight; 125 lb. In this respect, most smaller displacement twostrokes—hardly torquers—can handle the added burden. And as a consequence, it seems that Bingham has scored in a hitherto untapped market, for he has already installed his product on several 250 and 350-cc machines with demand rapidly growing.

Passenger accomodations inside the sidecar are quite comfortable with carpeting, vinyl covered side panels and rubber moldings. The seating position and upholstery are such that extended periods on the road would be no more fatiguing than a couple of hours in an easy chair.

But long range trips also require a certain amount of luggage and paraphernalia. Bingham has provided for this with a hinged seat that folds forward revealing several cubic feet of needed storage space.

Surprisingly, with the Mark I sidecar attached to a motorcycle, the bike’s behavior is not altered as drastically as you’d expect. Granted, steering becomes a little heavier, particularly if there is much fork trail. But its effect on acceleration and braking is delightfully mild, with only slight steering corrections necessary as you speed up and slow down. However, we should caution the inexperienced rider to allow sufficient clearance between the sidecar’s wheel and the curb during right turns. Often the novice neglects making necessary allowances for the increased width with rather precarious results.

But the proof of the Side Strider rig’s strength is in its performance. Accordingly, Doug Bingham, himself a longtime sidecar racer, treated staffers to a series of woooowee up-on-two-wheels sidecar tilts while bustling through a 50-mph sweeper near our offices. And while such antics pose obvious risk for the beginner, they clearly attest to the strength of the sidecar’s mounting.

There was absolutely no flex or wiggle. In all, we are more than pleased with the Bingham sidecar. For the enthusiast it offers a challenging and different dimension in motorcycling at a reasonably modest cost. Additionally, it combines the convenient storage space and seating of a small sports car with the basic pleasures of true motorcycling. [O]