A second-hand outfit – at half the cost of many new sidecars

Mick Payne concludes his series about getting into sidecar riding by looking at a bargain second-hand outfit with great possibilities.

The word serendipity, first coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, is said to be one of the most difficult words in English to put a meaning to, but it sums up the subject of this month’s piece.

After writing about the various ways of getting into sidecar riding, I noted a ready-made high-spec outfit being advertised for sale by our local classic bike dealer, Pembrokeshire Classics.

While occasionally outfits that pass through their hands get separated, the Honda that’s the subject of this piece is destined to remain hitched because, unlike many such units for sale, it has been built as a nicely equipped vehicle.

I can think of no better introduction than to use Anthony’s description of the bike from Pembrokeshire Classics’ website: “Honda CB750 Combination (1975) – Honda’s CB750 caused a sensation when introduced in the late 60s. Renowned for reliability and smooth power delivery, these four-cylinder roadsters have become increasingly sought after.

This slightly later single overhead camshaft example was converted into a combination back in the late 70s. Fitted with Earls forks and Rickman fairing, this lovely period outfit has a patina of use but starts on the button and drives very well. Mot’d till March 2018, this Historic Vehicle outfit is ready to enjoy and a bargain at just £2995”.

Read more in the October issue of OBM – on sale now!