My First Try: Grabbing a Sidecar
Okay, so last spring I got sick of cramming groceries between my legs while riding. Saw this rusty sidecar on Facebook Marketplace for cheap. Guy said it fit any motorcycle – total lie, by the way. Brought it home laughing like I won the lottery.
The Chaos Installation
Bolted that metal tub to my ’07 Honda Shadow using scrap brackets from Lowe’s. Took three weekends because nothing lined up right. Drilled extra holes, bent the mounting arms with a sledgehammer – felt like playing Legos blindfolded. My neighbor kept shouting “you’re gonna die!” every time I revved the engine.
Storage Wins & Funny Surprises
First grocery run? Magical! Threw in:
- Two 12-packs of soda
- Giant bag of dog food
- Potted plant (don’t ask)
No more bungee cords strangling my backpack. Then the weird stuff started: random people asking for rides at red lights. One dude offered me $20 to haul his bass guitar downtown. Felt like a taxi driver!
The Epic Failure Moment
Forgot sidecars make turns wonky. Tried leaning into a curve like usual – WHAM – scraped the tub against asphalt, showering sparks everywhere. Wobbled into a ditch. Some kid filmed it yelling “do it again, mister!” Ended up reinforcing the mounts with steel plates next day.
Unexpected Bonus Perks
Turned that tub into a party trick. Hauled coolers to tailgates, let my buddy’s kid sit in it waving like a parade queen. Camping trip? Sleep under the stars while the bike watches your beer. Downside? Takes 20 mins to find parking now. People gather around it taking selfies like it’s E.T.
Why I’ll Never Go Back
True story: got laid off last month. Started doing odd jobs hauling stuff in the sidecar instead of begging for Uber gigs. Carried someone’s wedding cake 15 miles on bumpy roads – charged $100. Bride cried happy tears when it arrived intact. My beat-up Honda’s now making me more money than my old desk job. Still looks ridiculous though.
