Champion Sidecar History
HISTORY: In the beginning.
In 1990 Champion Sidecar was started by three former employees of California Sidecar. Peter Smith design engineer, Barry Bates shop Forman, parts manager & salesman, Craig Arrojo sales manager. Their first model introduced was the Escort Sidecar.
Peter and Barry had decided to leave the employment of California Sidecar and at the final dinner meeting they started joking about the quality of the CSC products and started talking about what they would do differently to improve the sidecars. During this Craig suggested that maybe they should start a sidecar company and things started happening from there.
The first Escort sidecar was put together in a matter of a few weeks in Pete's garage so they could show it at Americade, the motorcycle festival. The new sidecar was not perfect but they got it there and sold quite a few Escort Sidecars. Finally there was a sidecar that was sized more for an adult. Entry was and still is as easy or easier than any sidecar on the market. Peter designed an electrical trim system (lean control) or T.I.L.T. now it is standard in the sidecar industry. Back then it was a first. And there was also a real suspension, not the old stiff torsion bars that made CSC owners use 16 psi in their tires to get a decent ride.
They decided to use a sidecar body design similar to the CSC Friendship I and Friendship II. Similar, but not the same. Barry Bates personally built the new Escort sidecar body and it was considerably larger and had a totally different front opening and actually had front running and turn signal lights and even had a built in automotive tail light from a Honda. A considerable step up from the little accessory lights on the rear (only) of the CSC Friendship models. Barry and Peter wanted to go with a new sidecar design but Craig thought it was to their advantage to stay with a proven popular design similar to the CSC models he had been selling for many years. The Escort with its many innovations soon became a popular sidecar. The Legend and Daytona sidecar models were soon added to their sidecar line up all of which have been in production for over 30 years.
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Champion Sidecar Model Line from 1990 to 2019. Here are pictures of 3 sidecar models Champion Sidecar built. They started making the new Vintage Sidecar in 2014. It is a copy of the old Harley-Davidson "Peanut" sidecar, but I do not have a picture of it. In 2015 they started making the new Avenger Sidecar. It is a copy of the old Harley sidecar from the 1914's time fame and has a side door. Looks very cool. I do not have a picture of it.
Now in 2022 they build 3 models. The Legend Sidecar, Vintage Sidecar and the Avenger Sidecar.
I own a 2005 Champion Legend.
Champion Escort Sidecar. This is the first model that Champion came out with when they started in 1990. The hatch opens and is called a flip nose or clam shell hatch. The Escort Sidecar has been dropped from their line up as of 2020.
The Escort was a much improved copy of the California Sidecar Friendship II.
The Escort Sidecar has a amber marker & turn signal light in front, that is how you can tell it is not a California Sidecar because CSC has never put a turn signal on the front of their FS I, FS II or FS IISE sidecars, all of which could be mistaken for a Escort Sidecar.
Escort Sidecars with their hatch open. That is an air vent in the floor. The cap screws out to let the air in.
Escort Sidecar trailer hitch. It slides into the 1-3/4'' frame tube and is held in place with one bolt. I have one on my Legend Sidecar and believe me it is strong and looks great! Also shown is the newer style trunk and smaller taillight.
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This is the Champion Legend Sidecar. It is a copy of the old Indian Sidecar body from the 1930's & 1940's. You have the option of getting it with the Harley fender or the Indian fender which is pictured below. The step is an option.
Most of the chrome trim is aftermarket on this Legend Sidecar. The smoked windshield is an option. I got one with my Legend Sidecar.
I love the look of this Legend Sidecar!!!
This is a 2014 Indian Chief Vintage Motorcycle & 2014 Champion Legend Sidecar in Indian dress. It sure looks great! Owned by Kip. F
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Champion Daytona 2+2 Sidecar. This is a two passenger double wide sidecar with a flip nose hatch. The Daytona 2+2 sidecar was dropped from their line up in 2020.
Daytona 2+2 convertible top.
Daytona 2+2 without convertible top.
Daytona 2+2 sidecar front end, marker light , turn signal & mounts on a 1997 Honda Goldwing 1500.
Daytona 2+2 sidecar with hatch open.
Daytona 2+2 sidecar two person seat.
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Left Hand Mount Champion Legend Sidecar. This new 2012 Legend was ordered by Geoff N. in New Zealand.
Legend Sidecar crate at the Kiwi Shipping warehouse near the Champion Sidecar factory in Los Angeles California waiting for a ship heading to New Zealand.
New 2012 left hand mount Legend Sidecar in primer. Just opened the shipping crate in New Zealand. You can see the steering damper mounting bracket on the front pinch bolts. The brake line is coiled in the back and in the front is a bag with the chrome trim.
This is a mounting bar that Geoff made to mount a step on both sides of the Sidecar.
These are left hand sidecar mounts made by DMC Sidecars for a Harley RoadKing. The two lower mounts you see on the right hit the road when riding without the sidecar so Geoff cut them and shorten the front mount by 2'' and tilted both mounts up and re-welded them so they would not hit the ground.
New Legend Sidecar just back from the painter, WOW!!! Two tone paint job. The extra 3 chrome trim pieces on the sidecar nose were added by Geoff. They are 3/8'' and are called flexable trim.
The Harley RoadKing and left hand mount Champion Legend outfit complete in New Zealand.
Legend chrome nose trim and chrome Harley light and turn signal. The steps are Markland and is what Champion used on the Legend when they still offered a step as an option.
Step on the right side also. The frame tube in the rear is where the trailer hitch bolts in.
Chrome upper mounting struts. And chrome steering damper on the front forks hooked to the front lower sidecar mount with a bracket attached to the two pinch tube bolts.
On the left rear of the Legend Sidecar you can see the T.I.L.T (lean control) assembly.
A big thank you to Geoff N. in New Zealand for the great pictures and information and all the work he put into building a great outfit!!!
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