Aviator gets centenary off to flying start

Watsonian sidecars celebrate their centenary in 2012 and to mark the occasion the British manufacturer has produced a special edition of its popular GP Manx.

Named the Aviator, in honour of RAF Moreton-in-Marsh which is located close to the factory, it is shown paired with a 500cc Royal Enfield Battlegreen motorcycle.  The distinctive octagonal nose shape, dating from the 1920's, is reminiscent of the nose cone seen on fighter aircraft so Watsonian removed the traditional aluminium beading featured on other models in the GP range and added the 'shark mouth' logo that was made famous by 112 Squadron RAF ("The Shark Squadron"). 

Its aeronautical appearance is further enhanced by the addition of the short screen, originally fitted to the modified Manx sidecars supplied for the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

At 85kg the fibreglass-bodied Aviator is one of the lightest sidecars in the GP range; it has a black steel perimeter frame, with a traditional 16” spoked wheel and leading link suspension.  Offering 1.35 metres of legroom and at 46 cm wide the cockpit will comfortably accommodate and adult and the seat tilts forward to reveal a 370 x 400 x 400 mm boot space. 

Prices for the Watsonian Aviator Manx start at £3995 (in plain black without decals) and a full factory fitting service, with tuition for novice drivers, is also available. 

Watsonian is planning a major event to mark its 100th birthday on the weekend of 18th - 19th August 2012.  For more information on this and the full range of sidecars contact Watsonian-Squire on 01386 700907 or visit watsonian-squire.com.

Sidecar stories - Dennis and his Monza

We recently received some fabulous photos from Dennis, showing his BSA Shooting Star with Monza, taken in 1968.  This is the story behind the picture;

"My then girlfriend and I had a disagreement and she went back home to Newcastle County Down. Eventually I found out where she had gone, then headed off in the combo to Liverpool to catch the Belfast ferry. Got there too late for the crane to lift the bike on, so I dis-assembled it drove the bike up the gang-plank and paid five shillings (a lot of money in 1964) to a 'wharfie' to help me carry the sidecar on board.  Then I  re-bolted it together and fastened it solidly to the deck. Went and got myself a drink and a roll, then climbed into the sidecar pulled a blanket over my head and slept the whole way. Then I and the other half went touring.

I think I was the first person to ever have a fairly fat tyre on the rear end of a road going combo.  I had tuned the Shooting Star and fitted spitfire cams and I needed a wider tyre to do a bit of drifting around the country bends of Staffordshire. Later in London I was around a friend's place who had a scrap yard and I helped him dismantle an old Austin Ruby.  Then I noticed that the wheels were the same size and that the 420 tire would fit the Beeza and it did.  Made a distinct change from the 325 normally fitted. The girl loved the sidecar and was always leaning out of it when we went around left-handers. Magic.

88 mph flat out down the new M1. Not bad for a 500cc."

Manx to the Manx

Product testing for British sidecar manufacturer Watsonian Squire is a family affair. Sales Director Ben Matthews has just returned from the Isle of Man, where he spent several days riding the company's latest GP Manx demonstrator outfit around the island's roads accompanied by his son Troy (12) in the chair.

Their trip coincided with the Manx Grand Prix, after which the sidecar is named; painted in distinctive light blue “Wizard” colour scheme, created to celebrate the appearance of Watsonian sidecars in the blockbuster movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the outfit attracted considerable attention wherever it went.

"I've been nagging my dad for the last few years to take me to the Isle of Man, so when he told me we were going to the Manx GP I was so excited!" comments Troy.

“Testing the outfits is certainly a fun part of the job” Ben admits. “But there's also a serious side to it, because a significant proportion of our customers are motorcyclists who want to include their family in their hobby. So it's important to test the outfits from the passenger's view.”

Troy certainly enjoyed the experience; "I love riding in the sidecar - it's so much fun, and it's a great way to explore the Isle of Man. I can't wait to go back next year".

Styled to replicate the traditional octagonal nose shape dating from the 1920's, the fibreglass Manx retains the aluminium beading originally used to hold the wooden body panels together. Prices for the Watsonian GP Manx start at £3995 and a full factory fitting service, with tuition for novice drivers, is also available. For more information on sidecars contact Watsonian-Squire on 01386 700907.

Wizard time with Avon Tyres at Castle Combe

Watsonian sidecars were delighted to be supporting fellow British manufacturer Avon Tyres when they attended a unique Castle Combe race event held on September 3rd to honour the Wiltshire track’s 60th anniversary.  Avon borrowed a Watsonian Manx sidecar and Royal Enfield classic combination in the Wizard colour scheme produced to celebrate the company's products featuring in Harry Potter and the Deatly Hallows.

The circuit was originally opened in the summer of 1950, making it one of the oldest and established circuits in the UK, and held its first dedicated motorcycle race in 1951.  To honour this 60th anniversary the circuit hosted a very special race meeting – the Fowlers Pro-Bike National.  This 60th anniversary coincides with Avon Tyres’ own 100th anniversary of manufacturing motorcycle tyres and located just 12 miles away from Avon Tyres in Melksham, both companies have a long and close relationship. Castle Combe has been used constantly in the development of Avon Tyres over the last 60 years and recently Avon Tyres unearthed rare film footage of the firm testing Geoff Duke’s Manx Norton racer on Avon tyres.

Today, Avon Tyres is the only UK-based manufacturer of road-going motorcycle tyres and their latest range of road tyres covers every category of motorcycles from adventure sport to power cruisers and sports bikes.  Over the last century, famous motorcycling names such as Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Barry Sheene have raced and won on Avon Tyres.

Joining Avon Tyres at the event were be a host of bike race stars including Carl Fogarty, Michael Rutter and his father Tony, Martin Jessop and Mike Hailwood’s son David Hailwood, all taking part in a one-off ‘star parade’ on the circuit after which they will be on hand to sign autographs for fans. Four-time World Superbike champion Fogarty knows the circuit well, having taken the first 100mph average lap of the circuit back in 1989.

Avon’s Global Motorcycle Sales Manager Graham Matcham said, “We had a very busy day and the Watsonian Wizard was no doubt a star attraction within the collection of bikes we assembled.  Hanging on for dear life in the sidecar is my close colleague Pete McNally Product designer and manager for the Avon motorcycle range. He is absolutely delighted that his product Roadrider features on such an iconic motorcycle sidecar".

The Gus Bus sidecar

 

This is the Gus Bus - a Suzuki Bandit paired with a Watsonian GP DL sidecar.

 It's named after Gus, the Rotweiler puppy who loves to ride in the chair.

 

Owners John and Sandy take the outfit to bike meetings to raise funds for Help 4 Heroes.  On the back is a picture of OB, the original Afghan Hero mascot.

Sidecars are natural choice for BBC Springwatch

When BBC Springwatch presenter Martin Hughes-Games invited his colleague Chris Pakham to explore the Isle of Man, he turned to Britain's longest-established sidecar manufacturer to provide them with appropriate transport.

A self-proclaimed "obesessive motorcyclist" Martin had visited the Isle of Man on many occasions to watch the TT races and wanted to reveal the island's varied wildlife to a wider audience. So he approached Watsonian Squire, who have been manufacturing sidecars in the Heart of England since 1912, to borrow a motorcycle and sidecar combination and provide him with instruction in the art of 'driving' and outfit.

Watsonian provided Martin with its demonstrator outfit, a classically styled Manx GP sidecar paired with a brand new Royal Enfield Classic motorcycle, which the company also distributes. It featured prominently in three episodes of Springwatch, which regularly attracts more than 2 million viewers on weekday evenings, making it one of the UK’s favourite natural history programmes.

For more information on Watsonian Squire sidecars and Royal Enfield motorcycles call 01386 700907 or visit www.watsonian-squire.com

BBC Spring Watch in a sidecar

BBC Spring Watch presenters Martin Hughes-Games and Chris Packham put on leathers, got on a motorbike and behaved badly... as Martin took Chris on his ideal wild weekend across the sea to the Isle of Man. (It's probably just a coincidence that bike-mad Martin chose the home of the TT races.)

Hagrid's Motorbike

Way Down with Watsonian sidecars

Watsonian Squire have produced a special low profile version of their popular GP Manx sidecar to match Harley Davidson's new 883 SuperLow motorcycle.

With 18” front and 17” rear wheels the SuperLow sits closer to the the tarmac than previous Sportster models, which presented certain challenges to the experienced engineering team at Watsonian. A smaller diameter wheel was specified for the Manx chair so that it did not sit too high above the motorcycle and then the perimeter frame had to be redesigned, in order to give the belly of the glass fibre body shell sufficient ground clearance when paired with the big V-twin.

Styled to replicate the traditional octagonal nose shape dating from the 1920's, the Manx retains the aluminium beading originally used to hold the wooden body panels together. Normally fitted with 16” spoke wheels, the low rider version of the Manx has a 10” cast alloy wheel with distinctive deep sided DL mudguard.

Completing the package is a 6" acrylic screen, originally developed for the sidecars supplied for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Harley's Evolution engine is well suited to sidecar work and copes easily with the relatively light single-seater Manx (85kg).

Prices for the Watsonian GP Manx start at £3695 and a full factory fitting service, with tuition for novice drivers, is also available. For more information on sidecars contact Watsonian-Squire on 01386 700907 (www.watsonian-squire.com).

Sing something single

Some people buy a motorcycle to move themselves from A to B, but when singer Songwriter Gray Hawke bought a Royal Enfield it moved him to write a song. Here's his story;

"I got a wonderful motorcycle earlier this year - a Royal Enfield Bullet 500efi DL. As with most truly life-changing experiences, it had to have a song. I'd written a lyric, found what I think is a really catchy chorus and got a rhythm and feel for the song nailed about a month ago, but I was really struggling to find a tune and structure for the verses".

"Anyway, I decided to give it another bash yesterday (27th May) and finally got something that worked. A bit quirky and asymetrical - also quite difficult to remember! As I was already planning to go to Commonfolk yesterday, I gave the new song a run out in front of an audience - the first time I've ever finished and performed a song on the same day".

"It went pretty well - a few very positive comments from audience members afterwards, even though it was obviously a bit rough. Definitely one to polish up".

A sample of Gray's song can be heard on his Myspace site.

Charity CD "A Place to Live" is now finished and available for sale at £7 inc £2 p&p / admin. The CD includes the track "Bullet".  To obtain a copy people should email Gray at grayhawke619@gmail.com with their name and dispatch address details. He'll then send their copy of the CD by first class post with instructions for making payment.

Watsonian sidecar stars in the Gadget Show

Our trusty Royal Enfield + Manx sidecar demonstrator was called into service by Channel 5's Gadget Show to assist them in the final part of the Smartphones challenge.  Presenters Jon and Pollyanna had to race across Birmingham using apps on their respective Smartphone’s – the first to arrive at Aston Hall would be provided with a special banquet! Jon chose the sidecar outfit, leaving Pollyanna to travel in a horse and carriage. 

Click here to view the Royal Enfield/Watsonian Manx sidecar outfit in action in the Gadget Show.

Police, Himalayas, Action

We recently received the following letter from Dave McBirney and Grant Goodings of the Thames Valley Police Driving School.  It wasn't a speeding ticket. 

"Last summeryou very kindly spent a morning introducing Grant and I to the 'mysteries' of riding a sidecar.  This was to help us prepare for a ride which would take us across three Himalayan passesand support Robert Lawrence MC (of 'Tumbledown' fame) as he trialled and promoted Global Adventure Plus, a motivational concept to help injured and troubled servicemen.  Our ride proved to be one of the most testing things either of us had ever done, physically arduous and not without one or two mishaps ... It would not have been possible without the knowledge and advice you gave us in preparation."

It was a pleasure!  Now watch the video;