Watsonian sidecars now available for the Svartpilen 401
Watch out where the Huskies Go...
Watsonian Squire, purveyors of the finest sidecars are constantly developing ‘chairs’ for all sorts of bikes, quite a lot of which we wouldn’t immediately expect to see one on. Their latest and newest sidecar outfit stars a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401!
These days the Husqvarna range is made by a holding company called Pierer Mobility AG. These guys have an interest in other brands such as KTM, GasGas, MV Agusta and CF Moto. The styling of the range, particularly the road bikes is still very much Scandinavian. The challenge for Watsonian was to build a sidecar that reflected such a different looking bikes styling.
Making for a date night with a difference
Watsonian have nailed it. Taking the Svartpilen and working around it’s trellis frame was one thing, but reflecting the high spec such as the standard fully adjustable WP suspension and radially mounted Brembo brakes takes a bit of work. The 46bhp single cylinder engine needs a light unit attached, but one that needs to be comfortable and safe.
The team took the bike and modified the kit to fit it rather than trying to do it the other way around. The subframe bolts onto the bikes trellis frame using mounting points which in turn allow the builders to attain the right axle point for the third wheel. This makes the chair handle properly and do so in a stable and predictable manner. A bit like my mental health.
The frame of the sidecar is made from steel tube. The tubing is powder coated, this ensures its durability. Everything is manufactured to Watsonian's specification, with every component built to cope with the inevitable forces generated through the sidecar.
Oozing quality
The one pictured is called the Platform Chassis. The gloss paint on its body compliment the bikes paint scheme and details such as the line of the mudguard cleverly mirror the unique lines of the Svartpilen tail end. Even the stitching on the seat nods its head to the pillion seat on the bike. The cross spoke wheel is the icing on the cake.
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is available from CCM Racing here in Dublin. Drop Gavin or any of the team a note to find out more including price and availability. The fitting kit comes from the Watsonian factory in the UK and costs ST £995. The sidecar pictured will run you £4,895. They can either send them over here or you can drop the bike to them in the UK if you’d prefer them to fit it.