nagging inauguration question - motorcycles

[lobolance]

Why do the motorcycles in the guard have sidecars? Was the original idea that one could go scoop up the president if his car blew up? Quick googling didn't reveal the answer.

Apparently very expensive sidecars: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1557316

And a related little thing I liked in the inauguration: in addition to the variety of vehicles, there were a variety of faces doing the work; I saw women marines, marines of color, all that good stuff.

Comments

[iamradar.livejournal.com]

I think for two reasons: An extra 'layer' a bullet would have to travel through, and because they were moving so slowly during the parade, a way for the motorcyclist to keep balanced without continually having to put their boots on the ground.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

My guess:

These are designed specifically to be used for parade use. Notice they add a fan kit to prevent overheating, suggesting that these bikes are expected to not be operated at high enough speeds that would normally provide cooling for the engine.

The sidecars would serve to provide stability during the parade and during low-speed operations.

It would really suck and provide a negative media image if the perfect V formation of the President's motorcade escort broke up because one of the bike riders slipped on something at low speed and fell over.

I also make the assumption that these bikes are used for the full four-year term of the presidency, and such motorcades typically don't run at high speeds. Therefore these bikes are designed specifically for [comparatively] low-speed operation.