MOD Pays Tribute to BMW R75 With SideCar Sahara Edition, Cheaper and Upgraded

Ladies and gents, before us today sits the one and only SideCar Sahara from none other than MOD Bikes, a crew that's bound to sound familiar, especially if you follow along with autoevolution. You may remember their SideCar 3, an electrified three-wheeler capable of spitting out some pretty amazing stats.

Well, Mod Bikes is at it again, this time unveiling their Sahara edition, and just in time for the whole wave of Black Friday deals going on all around the world. Oh, and just so that we're on the same page here, the arrival of the Sahara has also had a profound effect on the SideCar 3's price; both versions are now priced at no more than $3,500 (€3,300 at current exchange rates), a rate that stands a chance of pushing a SideCar into your garage.

The question is: What are we in for? Well, according to the manufacturer, the Sahara is a limited edition e-bike inspired by the BMW R75 of the 1940s. While it's going to be tricky as hell to get the resemblance just right, the tan paint job, ultra-long fork, and redesigned sidecar and its platform all give us the impression of the trusty WWII machine.

Now, kicking things off for this EV, let's start with the frame and what MOD has done with it. First and foremost, aluminum is the material chosen for this job, and with it, MOD creates the main bike frame, but also the sidecar's platform. This results in an e-bike that is surprisingly lighter than expected, weighing just 79 lbs with the battery. Did I mention it has a 400 lb (181 kg) payload?

Up next, let's take a look at the sidecar. To give the Sahara a cargo-carrying capacity that mimics the R75's, we can see a protrusion coming off to the side, and ready to handle some of your precious goodies; the original R75 had panniers in this area. As for the hood of the sidecar, the R75 appears to have had a machine-gun mount, and since that would be out of the question in your city, another rack is there to help you secure any cargo you may need to bring along on your adventures. Maybe set up a water gun mount and terrorize the neighborhood during the summer.

This component is designed to handle a total load of up to 150 lbs (68 kg), so this places kids, pets, and smaller adults well within the range of taking a side-seat ride around town. Oh, and if you do decide to take your pet along for a ride, a new doggy door has been integrated into the sidecar.

With this essential design element out of the way, we arrive at the all-important electronics. First off, the Sahara is equipped with a proprietary 750 W motor strapped to the rear hub, giving it the ability to hit a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). Throttle and pedal-assist are both in place, and once coupled with a 720 Wh battery, the Sahara showcases a top range of up to 100 miles (161 km), made possible with two battery packs. Since this is a number derived in a test setting, expect real-world riding to see a drop in that number.

Then there are all the little systems the Sahara has in place aimed at your comfort and ease of use. For starters, each e-bike is equipped with five programmable levels of assist—play with them to find your comfort zones—and the presence of a torque sensor means power when and where you need it.

Speaking of comfort, the Sahara is equipped with a dual-crown fork with 100 mm of travel, preload, and lockout, and the rider also benefits from a pair of shocks found under the seat and a suspension seat post. Another suspension system is the tires. Since MOD throws on 3-inch cross-section rubbers and with the right pressure, these are bound to reduce shocks and vibrations transferred to the rider and passenger, albeit a bit bouncier than your typical road tires. Throw on a pair of hydraulic brakes with 180 mm rotors and motor cut-off, and you're good to go.

The question is: Is the Sahara for you? Well, if you're the sort of rider looking to ditch your car for some urban situations, the Sahara presents itself with some rather attractive abilities. Load up that sidecar with the above-mentioned people and things, or use it to carry your groceries. The downside is its weight and size; it's going to be impossible to take up a flight of stairs of an elevator. Just a little something to consider if you're looking for a new beast to carry out your day-to-day business.