big william's world

This was the perceived solution - what the British call a Motorcycle Combination - a gorgeous 500 cc twin motorcycle tethered to an asymmetrical receptacle for passengers. The result is unbelievable bad handling and the braking capacity of a large oil tanker.

The suspension on the bike is called Plunger suspension and you can see the plungers above the center of the back wheel. This invention followed the rigid rear end with a sprung seat found on older bikes. The amount of movement was small compared to the yet-to-be invented swinging arm because the chain tension would vary to much as the suspension compressed. By having the swinging arm pivot close to the drive sprocket at the front end of the chain the wheel and swinging arm could move up and down while maintaining chain tension.

This was the first motorcycle I did not enjoy riding - that is until I took the sidecar off and rode the bike "solo".

With the sidecar attached there were none of the advantages of motorcycles, i.e. leaning into curves so you don't get thrown around on the seat when you take corners,  no parking in narrow slots, no pushing it backwards easily with your feet.

Added to this the cornering to one side involved riding the bike around the sidecar, and risking having it lift it's wheel off the road and to the other side pulling the sidecar round the bike -  a completely different experience.