The latest combination from Watsonian Sidecars is rather unusual. Instead of its usual petrol-engined fare, the Cotswold company took on the challenge of adding a chair to one of Harley-Davidson’s electric motorcycles.
A long-standing customer approached Watsonian and said that he wanted to add an electric outfit to his collection of motorcycles, using a Harley Livewire S2 Del Mar. It’s first time that Watsonian has taken on the job of developing a fitting kit for a production electric motorcycle and it discovered that it was quite a challenge.
Watsonian General Manager Ben Hall explains: “[The Livewire] doesn’t have a conventional frame, and a cast alloy battery box sits where the engine would be found, so there are no suitable mounting points to attach a sidecar. Our engineering department had to fabricate a complete sub-frame, that inserts neatly around the battery box and allows the four arms from the sidecar to be perfectly positioned.”
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The fitting kit was manufactured from steel tube and then powder coated and supplied with heavy duty couplings, specifically designed for sidecar fittings.
An electric outfit is actually quite a sensible idea as the linear power delivery of electric motors makes them ideal for sidecar work. For example, the Livewire produces a massive 194lb/ft of torque, which is more than a 2.5 litre Triumph Rocket 3!
Although Watsonian sidecar fitting kits start at £995, that for the Livewire S2 Del Mar is considerably larger and more intricate than many and thus retails at £2495. The Harley-Davidson Livewire is seen here with a Watsonian Monza Jubilee sidecar.
Original article appeared in Old Bike Mart. To subscribe, click here: https://www.classicmagazines.co.uk/old-bike-mart
