Harley-Davidson officially announced that the company will stop making sidecars after the 2011 model year, but still will continue offering parts, service and technical assistance.
When Harley introduced the Tri-Glide, a model belonging to its Trike family, retail orders for sidecars collapsed. Harley makes sidecars at its Tomahawk, Wisconsin plant and will stop making them upon completing its 2011 model year. Harley-Davidson.
Too bad….
Been so long since I’ve seen a new one, I wasn’t sure if they stopped making them several years ago.
Great…. More trikes less bikes…Just the Harley image we all want. When I think Harley I think reverse gear, big plush seats, GPS,… Another reason I haven’t bought factory in years. (And yes, when you are talking American icon type products like HD it is partly about image!)
A sidecar is way more practical than a trike. They take some getting used to but you can carry so much more. And I still consider them motorcycles.
Accidental timing or may fortuitous timing on my part….this announcement from Harley Davidson was basically same time as a posting of mine. I was reviewing a book detailing the adventures of two Hungarians astride a Harley Davidson Sidecar Rig; riding around the world over eight years from 1928-1936. That HD sidecar rig of theirs went through and survived road conditions and terrain that makes today’s ride-the-world adventures seem tame at times. If today’s RTW riders think things are tough, these guys did it over half a century ago!
Link to the Book Review: Around the World on a Motorcycle – Sulkowsky
cheers!
Makes sense from a $ standpoint so you can hardly blame them. Add to that it’s a lot more difficult to really get a sidecar dialed in right and a trike is a lot easier to ride (drive?) which should help them out from a liability standpoint. I’ll be sad to see them go from a nostalgia viewpoint, but I think it’s probably a good move.
As an owner of a 100th Anniversary Ultra with side hack, this is sad news.
The side car was a real factor of differentiation for the Motor Company.
Hopefully those of us with side cars will see a silver lining in value/collect ability.
Anyone have any advice on the best tire to use on the rear of a HD with a side car?