sidecar
A small passenger seat attached to the side of a motorcycle.
A sidecar is a small, single-wheeled passenger compartment attached to the side of a motorcycle. Picture a regular motorcycle with an extra seat bolted onto its side, supported by its own wheel. The rider steers the motorcycle while a passenger sits snugly in the sidecar, experiencing the thrill of the ride from a completely different angle.
Sidecars became popular in the early 1900s as an affordable way for families to travel together before cars became common. A parent might drive the motorcycle with another adult in the sidecar and a child seated behind the rider. During World War II, armies used motorcycle sidecars to quickly move soldiers and supplies.
Today, sidecars are less common but still beloved by enthusiasts. Some people attach sidecars to their motorcycles to carry camping gear on long trips, while others just enjoy the vintage style and the chance to share the adventure with a friend or even a dog (many sidecar passengers are pets wearing goggles).