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.
At the Alpes Aventure Motofestival, the rig stood out on its knobby tires and angular aluminum tub. It weighs just 176 pounds, a fraction of the bulk that usually defines touring sidecars. The thinking here is modularity: the seat can be swapped for a cargo tray or even a dog crate, depending on what the ride demands. A 12-liter auxiliary tank from AMS extends range. There’s a winch bolted on for when the trail turns nasty. And with 11.8 inches of ground clearance, the whole setup looks ready to muscle through ruts, mud, and rocks.
This isn’t theory either. Two prototypes are bound for Morocco for real-world testing, where sand, scree, and desert heat will do their best to break the design. DJ Side Cars planned for that, with reinforced rims, interchangeable wheels between the bike and the sidecar, and enough suspension travel to make the idea of a three-wheeled “mini 4x4” feel less like a stretch. It’s a playful take on mobility that invites a different kind of adventure: one where orienteering and problem-solving are part of the fun, and where three wheels add a layer of challenge instead of convenience.
The price also reflects the team’s philosophy. Traditional touring sidecars can cost around $27,000 before the bike, but this off-road setup should land closer to $16,000. For a project like this, it’s not about mass production or market share. It’s about passion—two riders who inherited a sidecar company in Savoie and decided to turn it into something new, something personal.
In that sense, the BMW F 900 GS off-road sidecar isn’t just another quirky prototype. It’s proof that even in motorcycling’s forgotten corners, there’s still room for innovation, imagination, and just a little bit of badassery.
Source: DJ Sidecars
