California Sidecar

What California Sidecar does

California Sidecar (CSC), founded in 1975 in southern California and relocated to Arrington, Virginia in 1998, manufactures motorcycle trike conversion kits and cargo trailers at a 75,000+ square-foot facility with 85+ employees. The company converts two-wheeled touring motorcycles from Honda (Goldwing), Harley-Davidson (Touring FL Series), and Indian (Roadmaster, Chieftain, Chief, Springfield) into three-wheeled trikes through four proprietary kits — ENCORE, VIPER, DAYTONA, and ARROW — supported by an Escapade line of three cargo trailer models (Excel, Elite, LE). Its core technology is a proprietary Independent Suspension system built with aircraft-grade aluminum, JRi nitrogen-charged shocks, and Eibach springs, combined with internally developed Internal Swing Arm and In-Line drive technology that no competitor has matched, plus a patented anodized brake caliper.

CSC sells through a quote-based model with no public pricing, distributing via a global factory-trained authorized dealer network of hundreds of locations across the U.S. and 15+ international markets, alongside direct-from-factory sales and installation at the Virginia headquarters. The customer base is concentrated in motorcycle enthusiasts — particularly aging riders, riders managing physical limitations, and long-distance tourers — seeking three-wheel stability without abandoning the motorcycle experience. Revenue is generated through one-time trike kit purchases (used resale values documented at $22,000–$55,000), trailer hardware sales, and a broad proprietary accessory platform including PowerTrak steering modification, Ground Effects body panels, Electronic Reverse, auxiliary fuel tanks, performance disc brakes, and hitches, all backed by a 5-year unlimited-mile warranty that the company positions as industry-leading.

The business is privately held under the same ownership since 1985, with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors. The company ceased sidecar production in 2009 to focus on trikes, and has subsequently extended its product line from Honda-only into Harley-Davidson and Indian platforms while expanding its international dealer footprint. Self-described as the largest motorcycle trike conversion manufacturer in the world, CSC occupies a defensible niche in the specialty motorcycle aftermarket with high customer-repeat evidence and distributed long-tail demand from individual enthusiasts rather than enterprise contracts.

Name

California Sidecar

Legal name

California Sidecar / Escapade Trailer Inc.

Website

https://californiasidecar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

California Sidecar (CSC) is the largest motorcycle trike conversion manufacturer in the world, converting Honda Goldwing, Harley-Davidson Touring, and Indian touring motorcycles into three-wheeled trikes through four proprietary kits, supported by cargo trailers and accessories, sold via a global authorized dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Trike Conversion Kits: CSC manufactures and sells trike conversion kits that transform two-wheeled motorcycles into three-wheeled trikes. Each kit is built specific to customer specifications. Kits are sold through authorized dealers or directly from factory.
2. Trailer Sales (Escapade Trailers): CSC also sells motorcycle cargo trailers under the Escapade brand. Product line includes Excel, Elite, and LE trailer models.
3. Trike Accessories and Options: Wide array of accessories including PowerTrak, Ground Effects, Light Bars, Chrome Trim, Auxiliary Fuel Tanks, Electronic Reverse systems, JRi Fork Cartridge Kits, and various wheel options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

California Sidecar designs, manufactures, and sells motorcycle trike conversion kits that transform two-wheeled touring motorcycles from Honda, Harley-Davidson, and Indian into three-wheeled trikes. The company also manufactures Escapade-brand motorcycle cargo trailers and a range of trike accessories. Products are sold through a global network of factory-trained authorized dealers and direct from the Virginia factory, where installation is also performed.

Product overview

California Sidecar (CSC) is the largest motorcycle trike conversion manufacturer in the world, offering a portfolio of trike conversion kits and motorcycle cargo trailers. The current product line includes four trike kits: ENCORE (for 2018-Current Honda Goldwing), VIPER (for 2001-2017 Honda Goldwing GL1800), DAYTONA (for Harley-Davidson Touring FL Series), and ARROW (for Indian touring motorcycles). The company also manufactures three Escapade trailer models: Excel, Elite, and LE. CSC provides extensive trike kit options and accessories including Independent Suspension, Power Trak steering enhancement, Ground Effects, Electronic Reverse, Auxiliary Fuel Tank, Performance Disc Brakes, and Trailer Hitches. The company operates from Virginia and maintains a global dealer network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Escapade Trailers: Motorcycle cargo trailers including Excel, Elite, and LE models designed to tow behind motorcycles and vehicles
• CSC Trikes
• CSC Factory

Products and services

• Encore trike conversion kit Trike conversion kit designed exclusively for the 2018-Current Honda Goldwing and Goldwing Tour, featuring custom-designed wheels, taillights, and exhaust tips that match the bike's styling.
• Viper trike conversion kit Trike conversion kit for the 2001-2017 Honda Goldwing GL1800, designed to capture Honda's styling with LED trike tail lights that match the Goldwing tour box lights, featuring 8 cubic feet of trunk storage area.
• Daytona trike conversion kit Trike conversion kit for 1999-Current Harley-Davidson Touring FL Series, featuring aircraft-grade aluminum suspension with nitrogen-charged shock and Eibach spring for handling and cornering ability.
• Arrow trike conversion kit Trike conversion kit for 2014-Current Indian Roadmaster, Chieftain, Chief and Springfield motorcycles, incorporating independent suspension with cast and forged aluminum components and proprietary brake calipers with integrated ABS.
• Excel motorcycle cargo trailer Motorcycle cargo trailer designed for 2012-2017 Honda Goldwing and CSC Viper, featuring improved independent suspension with elongated swing arm and optimized shock angle for better handling.
• Elite motorcycle cargo trailer Premium motorcycle cargo trailer designed for 2001-2010 GL1800 Goldwing and CSC Cobra, featuring sleek lines that incorporate Goldwing styling with standard and optional accessories.
• LE motorcycle cargo trailer Motorcycle cargo trailer with timeless style and modern Escapade suspension, designed for cruiser motorcycles.
• Trike accessory and options line Range of CSC-branded trike accessories covering PowerTrak steering enhancement, Independent Suspension components, Ground Effects bodywork, Electronic Reverse system, Auxiliary Fuel Tank, Performance Disc Brakes with patented calipers, and Trailer Hitch, designed for installation on CSC trike kits and applicable touring motorcycles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800lb capacity on Ground Effects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Honda Motor Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC develops trike conversion kits specifically for Honda Gold Wing motorcycles. Products include Encore (2018-Current GL1800) and Viper (2001-2017 GL1800) trike kits. CSC designs custom wheels, taillights, and exhaust tips to match Honda styling.
• Harley-DavidsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC develops Daytona trike conversion kits for Harley-Davidson Touring FL Series (1999-Current). Lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum suspension designed specifically for Harley models.
• Indian MotorcyclescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC developed Arrow trike kits for Indian Roadmaster, Chieftain, Chief, and Springfield models (2014-Current). Trike body incorporates Indian styling cues including matching front fender lines and removable fender skirts.
• Escapade Trailer BrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC acquired the Escapade trailer brand and expanded into motorcycle cargo trailers. The Escapade line was re-designed and became industry sales leader by early 1990s. Products include Excel, Elite, and LE trailers.
• CSC Authorized Dealers (U.S.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of factory-trained authorized dealers across the U.S. in states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Dealers provide installation, demo rides, and service.
• CSC Authorized Dealers (International)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational dealer network including Australia, Canada (Quebec, Alberta, Ontario), China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Motor Trike: Texas-based manufacturer of motorcycle trike conversion kits and trailers, and the closest direct competitor to CSC. Competes head-to-head across Honda, Harley-Davidson, and Indian platforms with comparable dealer-based distribution.
• Hannigan Motorsports: Motorcycle trike and sidecar conversion manufacturer with a long operating history. Competes in the same touring trike niche as CSC across major OEM platforms.
• Champion Trikes: Manufacturer of motorcycle trike conversion kits for Honda, Harley-Davidson, and Indian touring platforms. Competes with CSC on the same OEM fitments and uses an authorized dealer installation model.
• Roadsmith Trikes: U.S. manufacturer of trike conversion kits primarily for Honda Gold Wing and Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles. Directly comparable to CSC's Honda and Harley product lines with a similar dealer-installed model.
• Tilting Motor Works: Manufacturer of motorcycle trike conversions (formerly Voyager Trikes) that pivoted to a tilting three-wheel design. Competes with CSC in the trike conversion market serving touring motorcycle riders.
• Lehman Trikes: Long-established motorcycle trike conversion manufacturer serving Honda Gold Wing, Harley-Davidson, and other touring platforms. Directly competes with CSC in the same dealer-installed trike conversion category.

Broad incumbents

• Polaris (Slingshot): U.S. powersports manufacturer whose Slingshot is a factory three-wheel vehicle. Targets a similar recreational open-road customer profile as CSC, representing a broader incumbent in the three-wheel category.
• BRP (Can-Am): Canadian powersports manufacturer whose Can-Am Spyder and Ryker are factory-built three-wheel motorcycles serving the same 'stability for older or new riders' use case as CSC's trike conversions, though via a different (purpose-built) product approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/californiaside1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Sidecar