Bike Trader


Charley learns about life on three-wheels

01 April 2008
News image Actor and adventurer Charley Boorman has been on an intensive training course to learn how to drive a sidecar outfit.

Charley visited Watsonian-Squire, the longest established sidecar manufacturer in the world, to prepare for a forthcoming expedition.

Driving a sidecar outfit is very different to riding a motorcycle as it needs to be steered using the handlebars rather than by leaning into corners, and Watsonian have used 96 years of experience to develop an induction course for novices. 

“Usually experienced motorcyclists have trouble adapting to driving an outfit but Charley took to it like a duck to water,” comments Ben Matthews, Watsonian’s sales director.

Charley will be using a sidecar outfit to journey through Russia as part of his latest adventure, By Any Means, for which he plans to travel from Dublin, Ireland to Sydney, Australia.

Located near the Cotswold market town of Moreton-in-Marsh in the Heart of England, Watsonian Squire has been manufacturing sidecars since 1912 and is one of only a dozen remaining major manufacturers, yet it has a full order book for its range of classic and modern designs from customers around the world. 

Watsonian provided Charley with a 500cc Royal Enfield paired with a GP Manx sidecar, which is an ideal combination to develop the skills required to pilot an outfit. 

The team will set off on their journey in April and return in August. By Any Means be shown on BBC2 this autumn.  

Page 1




read more articles