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Revisiting the good old days of motorcycle sidecars
Updated On: 16 July, 2023 11:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Christalle Fernandes
While rarely spotted on the streets today, sidecars were once the rage among two-wheeler owners and are now more of a collector’s item
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Eshan Banodkar’s Bajaj Chetak with its sidecar is not just his favourite item anymore; his daughter Eshta has now laid claim to it as well. Pic/Aishwarya Deodhar
Think Sholay and the first thing that comes to mind is Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra singing Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge while zooming down a street in a scooter with a sidecar. While the 1975 blockbuster is known for many things, including its iconic dialogues and performances, the humble sidecar seems to have been lost in the lanes of history.
In India, motorbikes and scooters have long held a pride of place that’s unique to the subcontinent. It all started in the 1950s, when Automobile Products of India (API) made inroads into the country with its scooters. From there on, players such as Enfield, Bajaj Auto, and Yamaha started manufacturing various scooters and motorcycles to suit the needs of the Indian consumers. But while motorcycles began to ply on roads, ones with sidecars—the small, compact attachments that could hold a child or two, a few bags of luggage, and even a pet—didn’t become popular until nearly a decade later.
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