Sidecars are one of those strange footnotes in motorcycling history that never really went away. Born out of necessity more than a century ago, they were once a practical solution for carrying passengers or cargo before cars became widely affordable. Through the World Wars they served as rugged troop carriers. Afterward, they hung on as quirky alternatives to four wheels, often associated with old-school touring rigs or eccentric collectors.
Today, they exist mostly on the fringe: equal parts vintage cool and oddball practicality.
That’s why what DJ Side Cars in France is doing feels so refreshing. Instead of trying to revive the nostalgia market, Camille Puthod and Vincent Chagot are reimagining what a sidecar can be in the 21st century. Their latest creation is an off-road prototype built around the BMW F 900 GS, and it isn’t some throwback for parades. It’s a purpose-built adventure machine, designed to follow a trail bike into places where sidecars rarely go.
