OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA: 77The mudguard, when blasted clean, resembled
a lace doyley, several hours of welding and filling
finally produced something that looked like a
mudguard again. The wheel rim was very rusty
but sound so it was blasted and painted. The
sidecar chassis was attached to the AJS, and the
body finally reunited with the chassis after
nearly 35 years.
A quick test ride proved I had far too much
lean out and there were a couple of small
problems with the bike. Once these were fixed
the outfit was inspected and registered at the
local testing station. It felt strange, but great to be
back on the road with a combination I last rode
nearly 35 years ago. Having ridden an outfit with
leading link forks, disc brakes and a sidecar brake
for the last 15 years, the Steib and AJS feel very
“old school” but great fun. The local upholsterer
did a great job covering the seat frame, after I
rebuilt it, and the ride in the sidecar is very
comfortable with two lots of suspension. The only
jobs left to do are building a windscreen, and
finding a proper Steib sidecar light but these can
be done in slow time.
STEIB SIDECAR
The author at Stirling Point, NZ.Stout 4 point sidecar
connections.ABOVE Well upholstered
sidecar seat.
RIGHT Cosy sidecar
cockpit.
LEFT Rubber mounts for
the sidecar body.