Friday, January 25, 2013

Malaysian Sidecars and Trikes

In my previous post, I wrote about motorcycles in Malaysia and how numerous they are, but I intentionally left out three-wheelers like sidecars and trikes.

Malaysian Sidecar

The trikes I saw really weren’t trikes at all because they were the trike-kits that just add two wheels to a scooter-framed motorcycle effectively giving it four wheels.

Malaysian Trike

I saw more than just these two, but didn’t manage to get a photo worth posting.

Malaysian Trike

As for the sidecars, I saw more of them than I did the “trikes”. They were all “working” sidecars though not the passenger style that is common in the US.

For example, this ice-cream sidecar. It was hot and sunny in Malaysia. Riding under an umbrella would have bee nice. Of course, the handy frozen treats would help beat the heat as well. I might have eaten my inventory before being able to sell it.

Malaysian Icecream Sidecar

Here he is back on the main road going to the next neighborhood.

Malaysian Icecream Sidecar

Another working sidecar hauling sacks of rice.

Malaysian Sidecar

A closer look at the “working” sidecars. A deck on top and a larger compartment underneath. Sometimes I wish I had something like this for my Ural, but the driveshaft to the sidecar wheel precludes having a low, flat base to pile stuff on.

Malaysian Sidecar

I didn’t see any passenger sidecars. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist there, I just didn’t see any. The differences in sidecars to me further highlights Malaysia as a moto-transport culture vs. the US as a moto-recreation culture.

More Malaysia pictures and posts coming.

 

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8 comments:

  1. "moto-transport culture vs. the US as a moto-recreation culture"

    Maybe if transportation fuel prices rise rapidly there may be a short term change but folks really don't want to change...

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    1. Yea, I don't see it changing even if the fuel prices rose dramatically in the US. It is what it is.

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  2. The ice cream hack with the umbrella up is really sweet.

    When back in Europe I didn't see many working bikes except for (rush) courier services but due to high gas prices and heavy traffic people use more and more two-wheelers as means of transport for commuting. Its potential as a recreational vehicle however is a welcome side effect.

    Please keep the pics coming.

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    1. Yea, I enjoyed watching him. He came around almost every day. Yes, don't get me wrong I love the recreation side of it. Just commenting on some of the cultural differences.

      More pics coming :-)

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  3. I can see why the working sidecar rigs are so popular over there for hauling goodies.

    I'm with you, I'd probably be eating my ie cream inventory in that heat.

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  4. Eating my ICE cream inventory. Damn proofreading skills are lacking this morning.

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    Replies
    1. lol. I need to figure out how to get a working sidecar here. The Ural isn't quite the right platform though.

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