Sidecar Sunday; Watsonian Motorcycle
After WW2, Brough Superior never restarted production but the Watsonian sidecar company thought there was still a market for a large side valve V Twin-powered motorcycle for sidecar hauling. They contacted JAP for a suitable engine and this good looking prototype was the result. The project died when JAP said they needed a minimum order of 500 before they went into production.
Kinda' reminds me of a Moto Guzzi Eldorado with the engine the other way 'round. We often think of vintage bikes as being light and "airy" but this is pleasingly dense and solid looking.
ReplyDeleteI really like the old style Watsonian emblem on the sidecar nose and the flowing casting at the bottom of the fork tube.
At a glance I thought this was a (ugh) "retrocustom" with a c. 1980s Japanese engine. Definitely a modern-looking, together-looking item. Thanks for showing us it.
ReplyDeleteWas it planned for the bike to be sold separately, or with a Watsonian sidecar as standard?
ReplyDeleteApparently it was intended to be sold as an outfit.
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