Sidecar Ride

In the center of Lisbon, more than a hundred years of history pass by us at 50 km per hour. Yes, there goes the most elegant motorcycle ever, the sidecar! In the Roaring Twenties, the Portuguese capital, like all big cities, was flooded with them. Back then, they functioned like cabs. Today it’s “without a doubt the best way to get to know Lisbon!”

This is Daniel’s assurance. He is a master of these motorised tricycles. It’s work, but it’s enthusiasm: “I’ve always ridden a motorcycle since I was a kid!”, and everyone knows that motorcycles are eternal toys – toys that require responsibility, but toys nonetheless. When he launched the company, he was perfectly aware of the fascination these vehicles exert: “Everyone empathises with the sidecar. It’s like an old VW Beetle, a Vespa or an Austin Mini. They’re romantic, adventurous and full of vintage charm.”

The aesthetic appeal is also irresistible. Daniel knows what he’s talking about. Before embarking on this business, he was a graphic designer for decades. He lived in Switzerland (he designed a lot of Swatches!), Italy and Hong Kong. In 2010, in a sort of coffee chat with a friend, João, they decided to change their lives and start a new journey on three wheels.

“Only in a sidecar can you get a real inside view of Lisbon. And Lisbon is the star of the show. That’s no exaggeration. In the city, the sidecar, unlike all the other tourist vehicles, is the only one that can circulate in the bus lanes and park in both car and motorcycle spaces. It’s not just any road detail: it’s what allows you to cross Lisbon almost without limits, getting to know it in depth.

Added to this is a team of drivers who were all born here, making them natural experts on the city. And that’s not all. Beyond Lisbon, they take us on a fascinating program, far from the tourist hustle and bustle. These are the trails of the fabulous Arrábida Mountains, an hour to the south, beyond the Tagus River. You’ll cross the 25 de Abril Bridge, go to Cape Espichel, the castles of Sesimbra and Palmela, with a wine tasting in Azeitão and, of course, explore the very maritime Setúbal. It’s 140 km of pure relaxation, the highlight of which is crossing the natural beauty of Arrábida.

That’s not all: there are also routes through the best of the Algarve, from Silves to Sagres, via Portimão and Lagos. There’s nowhere a sidecar can’t reach.

Daniel is very proud of his fleet. There are eight sidecars, with the most advanced technology in this segment, full of safety features (they have ABS) and in the best retro design. If we’re lucky, we can ride on a true masterpiece, the protagonist of the set: a 400cc BMW from the 1940s. Even better if it’s driven by one of the drivers who is a sidecar collector!

“I always tell my team: the main thing is to have fun with the customers,” says Daniel. “If they’re not having fun, there’s no point in coming to work! This is really important: the closeness between people in a sidecar instills friendship.”

Then it’s on into the night, literally. One of the routes is through Lisbon at night, from the bohemian areas to the spectacle of the lights on the other bank of the Tagus, along the waterfront to Belém. Daniel is sure of this: “As soon as you get to Lisbon, jump into a sidecar”. Deal!