Sunday, March 6, 2022

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.



4 comments:

  1. 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.
    I really like the old style Watsonian emblem on the sidecar nose and the flowing casting at the bottom of the fork tube.

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  2. 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.

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  3. Was it planned for the bike to be sold separately, or with a Watsonian sidecar as standard?

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  4. Apparently it was intended to be sold as an outfit.

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