It’s arduous to deny the attract of a classic BMW boxer with a sidecar. However for one French model, the mixture signifies extra than simply fond nostalgia.
Based in 1935 by Victor Bastide, Précision Facet-Automobiles obtained its begin constructing sidecar rigs particularly for BMW bikes. The story goes that Monseiur Bastide visited Germany to safe the French import license for BMW, solely to be turned down. So he returned to France and started manufacturing sidecars as an alternative.
Précision modified arms a number of instances through the years earlier than being acquired by one other French outfit, Different Facet-Automotive, 4 years in the past. “We used to work with the unique Précision Facet-Automobiles, however solely to get their our bodies to place onto our frames,” says Gene-Vincent Burdet, who runs Different Facet-Automotive with Jene Burdet and Vivien Boisserie.
“We lastly purchased the model, as a result of the previous proprietor was turning 75 and we didn’t wish to lose that handcrafted information. So we labored with him for a number of months whereas he taught us find out how to make the our bodies. Now we craft the entire sidecar rig in our workshop.”
Because the Précision Facet-Automotive model turns 90 this yr, the blokes determined to have fun with a particular BMW boxer-powered anniversary venture. However as an alternative of utilizing a classic BMW, they picked the fashionable BMW R18—particularly, the 2023-model ‘100 Years’ version, which sports activities a livery that remembers the enduring R32 and R5.
The R18 was paired with a Précision Gran’Giant sidecar—a nine-year-old design that’s grow to be one of many firm’s staples. The bike and bucket appear to be they have been made for one another, with the Gran’Giant completely balancing the 1,803 cc boxer’s heft.
As with every of their initiatives, the workforce constructed the sidecar and sidecar chassis from scratch of their workshop, in Paris’ southeastern suburbs—a course of that took 150 hours to finish. The design is impossibly elegant, with the rig’s swooping fuselage bearing the identical cocktail of black paint, chromed sections, and white pin-striping that adorns the bike.
The sidecar chassis attaches to the R18 through current mounting factors, in order that the donor bike can go unmolested (it takes an hour to detach the rig). It makes use of a custom-made wheel that replicates the look of the OEM hoops, plus a custom-built shock from Shock Manufacturing facility, and a Brembo disc brake that’s linked to the R18’s again brake pedal.
Each element oozes model. The windscreen is a classic British sports activities automotive merchandise, mounted on a bespoke bracket, whereas the rear baggage rack comes from a provider in Spain. The latter is mounted atop the sidecar’s trunk, which is secured by a pair of elegant leather-based straps and a chromed latch.
The beneficiant seat, plus the facet panels and seize rail, all put on fake leather-based upholstery that matches the two-tone design of the 100 Years version R18. Classic-style lights spherical out the bundle.
The BMW R18 itself is totally authentic, however that’s not as a result of this crew is lazy. As Gene-Vincent explains it, their mission is to design sidecars that match their accomplice bikes so seamlessly, that the entire bundle appears to be like prefer it got here straight out of the manufacturing facility.
They actually nailed it on this venture. With France heading into spring, we’re itching to take this rig out for a lazy picnic within the countryside.
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