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 At only about 100lbs and every bit as art deco as the heavier and more readily available 500's, made the decision to pursue purchase of an LS200 in the late 80's. Finding a suitable example turned out to be far more challenging than originally thought as these fragile sidecars - the metal so thin it stretches and deforms over time with load - were customarily for sale as combinations or only as bare units when thrashed or rusted beyond repair. As noted below, I had to purchase this one as a combination with alot of spares - some of which proved appealing like a complete 12volt charging system including double battery tray and offset kicker arm. As an inveterate restorer, didn't look much farther down the road - pun intended - than restoring it and then looking at it parked on the terrace. When that first ride eventually came it was an eye opener in every sense of the word. The setup - negative camber in the chair wheel with toe in along with the bike leaned outwards - should have warned me that a sidecar combination is inherently an unstable platform when underway. And a lighter combination is hampered further when saddled with outsized riders. Had I been a half foot shorter and 100lbs lighter this would have been a delightfully sporting alternative to the customary two wheeler as LS200's nearly eliminate the yaw to be found with the greater mass of the larger models. Nothing like a bright creme colored combination gliding along serenely to invite admiring glances, friendly waves and requests for rides.... while the pilot, loathing every bump in the road, grimaces with each new twitch of the handlebars and lurch of the chassis. One brief foray in the Fall nearly 18 years ago and it has sat since, only recently carefully crated and dispatched to Vancouver where, soon to be wearing a new coat of black paint, it'll motor onward attached to the R60/2 of its new owner. Had the space been available, it would have "paid the rent" indefinitely as a most delightful piece of eye candy.  I acquired this 1954 Steib LS200 (serial number 20101) in 1991 attached to a 1964 BMW R50/2 Austrian police motorcycle. This combination had been in dry storage in the Northeast since the late 60's. I sold the police /2 and completely restored this sidecar attaching it to my own Bavarian creme 1964 R50/2, finishing in the Fall of 1992. Driven briefly, it sat in this configuration on display till 1995 when the R50/2 was sold. The side car was then loosely attached to my R69S, covered in my shop and stored until June 2006 when I lightly disassembled the major components, wrapped and then stored them in my attic.
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The motorized two wheel side of a 40 year 4 wheel - and even one wheel - mechanical journey has distilled itself down to the following machines...at least for the moment. Pass your mouse over the link for a pic and overview and click for the full story. The long road to restoration of the 1941 Indian Four is now complete and it's online. Next up will be a site devoted to the 1940 Indian Four.  
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