We endeavour to provide all information as accurately as possible. Naturally, you may still have some questions. Below you will find an overview of frequently asked questions. Although we take great care in publishing information on our website and social media, it is possible that the information published on our webshop may be incomplete and/or incorrect.
No. The bicycle sidecar is not a solution to balance problems. The sidecar can hinge in relation to the bike. This is precisely what makes riding so natural. But it also means that when you stop, you have to put your feet on the ground, just like on a regular bike.
Are you looking for a bicycle solution for more stability? Then a tricycle or a bike with support wheels is a better choice.
Scandinavian Sidebike sidecars fit around 80% of all (electric) bikes and fatbikes. The exact conditions can be found in our bike check.
Not sure? Send us a photo of your bike:
Yes, most e-bikes are suitable — provided they comply with our bike check.
Send us a photo of your bike, and we’ll have a look at it with you:
Yes, most fatbikes are suitable — provided they comply with our bike check.
Note on 20″ wheels For fatbikes with 20″ wheels, the 18″ sidecar frame + wheel is needed for the large sidecar (Scandinavian Sidebike, Doggy Door). For the Sidebike Mini, you do not need to choose a size - which comes in one standard size.
Note on rear suspension Some fatbikes with rear suspension are not suitable for the mounting bracket. Always send us a photo first.
Send us a photo of your bike, and we’ll have a look at it with you:
Yes, some folding bikes are suitable — provided they comply with our bike check. Folding bikes with wheels smaller than 20″ are not suitable.
Note on 20″ wheels Folding bikes with 20″ wheels require the 18″ sidecar frame + wheel for the large sidecar (Scandinavian Sidebike, Doggy Door). For the Sidebike Mini, you do not need to choose a size - which comes in one standard size.
Mounting bracket Folding bikes often have a compact, short triangular frame that always requires the short mounting bracket. Does the lower frame tube run strongly inwards? We solve that in almost all cases with a spacer. Always send a photo.
Send us a photo of your bike, and we’ll have a look at it with you:
Yes, most mountain bikes are suitable — provided they comply with our bike check.
Note on rear suspension Mountain bikes where the triangular frame can hinge are not suitable. The mounting bracket is attached to the frame with 3 U-brackets and thus fixes the frame - the suspension will then no longer work. Some rear suspensions are possible, provided the triangle frame cannot hinge. Always send a photo.
Send us a photo of your bike, and we’ll have a look at it with you:
No. Road bikes with tyres 25mm or narrower are not suitable.
No. Use of a bicycle sidecar in combination with a speed pedelec (45km/h) or moped is not allowed.
No. Carbon frames are not suitable for sidecar mounting.
It is important that your bike meets the conditions of our bike check.
In general, an e-bike with a stiff frame (e.g. a men's frame or hybrid frame) and a slightly wider tyre rides very comfortably, especially when combined with a large sidecar and more weight (up to 40-45 kg maximum). A rigid frame ensures a stable riding experience during (small) steering movements.
Do you have a model in mind? Please feel free to send us a photo — we’d be happy to have a look at it with you.
Yes, the mounting bracket attaches to the bike with 3 U-brackets. Thanks to the clever construction, you attach or detach the sidecar in just 30 seconds. So you decide whether to ride with or without a sidecar on your own familiar bike.
When ordering a sidecar, you must choose between a short or long mounting bracket. To do this, measure the distance of the rear fork on your own bicycle. You can do this by measuring the distance (in centimetres) from the centre of the bottom bracket to the centre of the rear axle with a tape measure.
If the length of the horizontal rear fork more than 44 cm amounts to, you will need a long mounting bracket.
If the length of the horizontal rear fork less than 44 cm amounts to, you will need a short mounting bracket.
Yes, loose mounting brackets can be ordered separately via the webshop.
Take care when using different bikes: The most important adjustment of the sidecar is parallelism. The distance from the front centre of the sidecar wheel to the centre of the bike's longitudinal direction should be 1 - 1.5 cm less than the backward measurement. You adjust this distance by changing the thread length of the eye bolts on the sidecar. This is usually a one-off adjustment that ensures good riding stability and prevents (rapid) tyre wear on the sidecar.
If you use the sidecar alternately with two different bikes, the required adjustment may be different for each bike. It is then not practical to adjust this setting every time. With two identical bikes, this obviously plays no role.
We have a special mounting bracket available for the VanMoof X3 and S3.
For custom cruiser bikes like the Ruffian, you need an adapter plate + a short mounting bracket.
You can select the adapter plate separately in the shop and add it to your cart.
Scandinavian Sidebike (all-round) - for children and dogs. Max. 45 kg. Available in several colours.
Doggy Door (dogs) - especially for dogs, with rear door for independent entry/exit. Max. 45 kg.
Available in several colours.
Sidebike Mini (small dogs) - shorter and narrower. Max. 35 kg. Ideal for smaller breeds or compact transport in car/camper. Guideline: up to a large Cocker Spaniel.
Under ‘Customer Service’, you’ll find our dog check. Here you can find out which model of sidecar is suitable for your dog.
Yes. The Scandinavian Sidebike is suitable for both children and dogs.
No. The Doggy Door and Sidebike Mini are specifically designed for dogs. For children, the Scandinavian Sidebike is the right model.
The Sidebike Mini fits through a standard caravan or motorhome door. We tested this on a doorway 53 cm wide. For added convenience, the wheel can be easily unclipped.
The larger models, the Scandinavian Sidebike and Doggy Door, also fit exactly through a 53 cm wide caravan or motorhome door, but this does require some precision. The sidecar must be turned inwards in a specific way. We therefore recommend proceeding with care to avoid scratches or damage.
If your motorhome has a garage, transport is usually even easier.
You can find the exact dimensions of each model on the relevant product page.
The Sidebike Mini is our most compact model and usually fits easily into most cars, both in the boot and on the back seat. For added convenience, the wheel can be easily unclipped.
The larger models, the Scandinavian Sidebike and Doggy Door, fit into most cars when the wide section of the folding rear seat is folded down. Only in really large cars can the sidecar sometimes be placed crosswise in the boot. For example, it fits perfectly between the wheel arches of a Volvo XC60.
The wheel of a large sidecar can be removed in about a minute using a spanner and a socket wrench. This allows the sidecar to be laid flatter in the car, creating extra space. You can also place luggage in the sidecar during transport, so that you make the most of the available space.
You can find the exact dimensions of each model on the relevant product page.
Each dog sidecar (Doggy Door and Sidebike Mini) comes with two sturdy eyebolts. For the Scandinavian Sidebike, the dog eyebolts are optional. You attach your own dog lead or harness to these eyebolts. This way, your dog is safe but still has freedom of movement.
There is no separate belt for the dog included. You use the supplied eyebolts together with your own dog leash or harness.
Lying fully extended is more difficult in the Sidebike Mini for most dogs (except small dogs) than in the larger models.
Under ‘Customer Service’, you’ll find our dog check and the dimensions of the Sidebike Mini seat cushion.
Most dogs get used to it just fine - in our experience, more than half soon enjoy riding along. The big difference: your dog sits next to you and can see you all the time. For many dogs, that's a lot calmer than hanging behind you in a cart.
Yet there are dogs that really don't get used to a sidecar, no matter how sweetly you look at them. Dogs that are very anxious and persevere firmly in this, sometimes remain a challenge. A test ride together with your dog is therefore the best test - just let us know if you are coming, and we will find a quiet spot. That way, our neighbours stay cosy too. 😄
You certainly can, provided the total weight stays within the maximum load weight - 35 kg for the Sidebike Mini and 40-45 kg for the Scandinavian Sidebike or Doggy Door. We have customers with 2 or more dogs in both the Sidebike Mini, the Doggy Door and the Scandinavian Sidebike. In almost all cases, these are smaller-sized dogs.
For 2 or more dogs, we recommend ordering an extra set of eye bolts, so there are 4 attachment points in the sidecar as standard to attach the dog lead or harness.
You can find our dog check under ‘Customer Service’.
Is it permitted to ride a bicycle with a sidecar on the cycle path? Yes, it is permitted. In the Netherlands, bicycles with more than two wheels and bicycles with sidecars may not be wider than 1.50 metres. This is stated in the Vehicle regulations (Article 5.9.6). All Scandinavian Sidebike bicycle sidecars are much narrower.
Scandinavian Sidebike and Doggy Door
The distance between the wheels is on average 75-80 cm. The total width (=distance from the wheel sidecar to the outside of the left handle) is on average 110-120 cm. This depends on the width of your handlebars.
Sidebike Mini
The distance between the wheels is on average 70-75 cm. The total width ( = distance from the sidecar wheel to the outside of the left handlebar) is on average 100-105 cm. This depends on the width of your handlebars.
Comparison with cargo bike
In general, cargo bikes with three wheels are between 80 and 100 cm wide. Yes, with a sidecar you are slightly wider on average. The Sidebike Mini is 10 cm narrower and comparable to a three-wheeled cargo bike. Because the sidecars of the Scandinavian Sidebike are very light, you can easily keep up with the rest of the traffic.
Belgian traffic regulations state that three- and four-wheelers with a maximum width of 1 metre are treated in the same way as bicycles. If you are wider than this, you do not have the same privileges as cyclists and are therefore not allowed to use cycle paths or ride against the flow of traffic in areas with limited one-way traffic.
Scandinavian Sidebike and Doggy Door (not permitted on cycle paths!)
The total width (=distance from the sidecar wheel to the outside of the left handlebar) is on average 110–120 cm. With the Scandinavian Sidebike and Doggy Door, you are wider than 1 metre and are not allowed to ride on the cycle path in Belgium; you must use the carriageway.
Sidebike Mini (only possible with a narrow bicycle and handlebars, provided they are no wider than 1 metre!)
The total width ( = distance from the wheel sidecar to the outside of the left handlebar) of a bicycle with the Sidebike Mini is on average 100 – 105 cm. This depends on the width of your bicycle and handlebars. Only with a narrow bicycle and handlebars is it possible to stay narrower than 1 metre. In this case, we always recommend coming by for a test ride so that we can check the fit on location.
It depends on the width of your bike/steer. Average:
Yes! You’re very welcome to come along for a test drive at our showroom in Emmeloord. Test drives are always by appointment – we’re not a standard shop with fixed opening hours. Send us a few options (day and time), and we’ll work out a suitable time together.
Absolutely - it is even recommended! That way, you can see immediately how your dog reacts to the sidecar. We always start with a test ride without the dog first, so you can get used to cycling with a sidecar yourself. If all goes well, we continue the test ride with the dog.
Is your dog very anxious or an enthusiastic barker? If so, let us know in advance. Then we will take extra time to get acquainted quietly, or find a quiet place to cycle. That's more pleasant for your dog - and our neighbours stay cosy, too. :-)
A test ride is always with one of our bikes. We have a number of e-bikes available for the test ride.
However, it is useful to bring your own bike. That way, we can already hold the mounting bracket next to your bike and see if - and how - it can best be mounted.
A test drive is always by appointment, and can sometimes be arranged in the evening or on a Saturday. Test drives are not available on Sundays.
We only offer viewings and test drives at our location in Emmeloord (Netherlands). A test drive is always by appointment.
Yes, assembly is fine to do yourself if you are a bit handy. Count on 4 hours for assembly and adjustment. A comprehensive instruction manual is included - it is quickest with two people.
Not so convenient? Then we recommend this order:
Once mounted, you hitch or unhitch the sidecar in about 30 seconds.
We have the following videos available on our Fietszijspan YouTube channel:
There is no separate installation video for the Sidebike Mini (yet). In the installation video for the Scandinavian Sidebike, you do see mounting the bracket to the bike and adjusting the sidecar - this is the same for all models.
Definitely not.
Of course, it takes some getting used to at first, but Scandinavian Sidebike's sidecars are the lightest in the market. Because the sidecar can hinge in relation to the bicycle, you can ride as you are used to - and that quickly feels surprisingly natural. Customers regularly tell us that it is more pleasant to ride than a bicycle trailer or cargo bike.
The only thing you pay attention to in the beginning: you are slightly wider than normal. The more you ride, the more you automatically steer with your body weight and the smoother it goes. With a heavier weight in the sidecar, you notice this a bit more than with, say, a small dog of 10-15kg.
The bottom line: anyone can (learn to) do it!
This is always a sign of incorrect tracking (sidecar is not parallel to the bike).
The most important adjustment of the sidecar is parallelism. The distance from the front centre of the sidecar wheel to the centre of the longitudinal direction of the bike should be 1 cm less than the backward measurement. You adjust this distance by changing the thread length of the eye bolts on the sidecar. This is usually a one-off adjustment that ensures good riding stability and prevents (rapid) tyre wear on the sidecar.
The average delivery time for a sidecar is 4 weeks. For some models, such as the Doggy Dog, the delivery time is 8 weeks if you choose a colour other than black. Please refer to the product specifications for the most up-to-date delivery times.
A Scandinavian Sidebike sidecar is manufactured in Denmark and posted from there to the customer’s address.
You can find the current delivery charges in your shopping basket once you have selected your country.
We can deliver to the following countries:
For deliveries to the US, please contact Maddogs & Englishmen.
If your country isn’t listed, but you’d still like to order a sidecar, please get in touch with Team Fietszijspan.
The sidecar does not have its own lock.
Recommended for Sidebike Mini: use a bicycle lock (steel cable) through the eye bolts inside the sidecar, through the wheel, and secure it to your bike. This way, both sidecar and wheel are secured.
Recommended for large sidecar (Scandinavian Sidebike, Doggy Door): use a chain lock through the sidecar frame and secure it to your bike.
Rain cover - the rain cover is stretched tightly over the sidecar when parked outside. It protects against rain when parked, but is not intended for use while riding.
Rain cover - the rain hood is made for use while driving. Children are dry and cosy under it - they love it! The rain hood is available for the Scandinavian Sidebike and can also be used in combination with the Doggy Door.
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Yes, this is absolutely possible! Please note: the return costs (on average €35-84 depending on the product) are at your own expense. The bicycle sidecar must be returned within 14 days of purchase. Please review our return policy. here.
The product has a 2-year warranty on all parts, excluding tyres and inner tubes. The warranty on installed and assembled hardware applies only to materials and workmanship. The warranty is limited to the repair or, in some cases (at our discretion), the replacement of parts. The warranty covers only the original purchaser of the product.
Any defective or wrongly delivered products must be reported in writing within 2 months of the discovery of the defect.
Read all about our warranty conditions in our Terms and Conditions.
We are happy to help you with any questions you may have. Please visit our contact page for our contact details.
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