Re: kit car you can drive on a motorbike licence?

[lee1980]

Newbie here! did a search could'nt find anything. Is there a kit car that is light enough to driven on a full motorcycle licence with B1 entitlement?

There a are French quadracycles (Aixam, microcar) around but they sound unreliable and are expensive! and you got our relain robins etc lol!
I believe they need to under a certain unladen weight of around 450kg i think, but cc is unlimited.
Wouldve though a light weight frame with a motorbike engine be ideal!!

thanks

Lee.

[V8 GRF]

Not up to date on the licence entitlements but wouldn't anything with three wheels qualify?

That would mean the Grinnall Scorpion or the Blackjack ZERO

and one or two other morgan threee wheeler lookalikes.

HTH

[lee1980]

Thanks V8, the blackjack zero is under the weight at 450kg, i just checked on dvla its up to 550kg unladen weight for 3/4 wheel light vehicles, the black jack looks great but not practical need to find a vehicle that is more practical!

Thanks

Lee.

[Davi]

I don't know the rest of the regs, but if it's purely a case of under 550kg then there should be a few more available - both 3 and 4 wheeled. You could always look to kits that are close and see if they could be pared down a bit using a bike engine. I know a fair few on Locost Builders have built below that weight.

You might want to get yourself along to Stoneleigh in a couple of weeks for the show!

[robcollingridge]

It's not purely about weight though. My Fury R1 is well under 450Kg but it is defined as a car.

[Jon Ison]

If that is the case, and I don't know if it is (550kgs) then 99% of bike engined cars will come in under, for example mine is 440kgs wet.

It raises another off topic area I'm not sure of but it relates to 550kgs, I'm told it is not a legal requirement for a car under this weight to display a front number plate ?

[lee1980]

Thanks for replies guys will have to a bit more research i guess, Im sure i read on dvla some where that cc doesnt matter just got to be under 550kg. I guess it also depends on how its registered would need to be classed as a quadracycle for me to drive it on bike licence.

Be great if i can get some sort of kit car that i can drive on my bike licence! and it will be much better than whats on offer from the french lol!

Thanks

Lee.

[Davi]

lee1980 said:

Thanks for replies guys will have to a bit more research i guess, Im sure i read on dvla some where that cc doesnt matter just got to be under 550kg. I guess it also depends on how its registered would need to be classed as a quadracycle for me to drive it on bike licence.

Be great if i can get some sort of kit car that i can drive on my bike licence! and it will be much better than whats on offer from the french lol!

Thanks

Lee.

let us know how you get on and what you find out - I seem to recall many years ago there was something to do with having no reverse fitted, but that may be complete boolarks!

[lee1980]

Hi Davi, Will let you know whati find out. Well all the Aixams, micrcars etc have and autmatic box with reverse, and forwards is fully automatic variable belt like a scooter!

On dvla it says B1 entitlement is:- Motor tricycles, quadricycles and three- or four-wheeled vehicles with an unladen weight of no more than 550kg.

Might email them and see what they say.

Thanks

Lee.

[Jon Ison]

I'm surprised at that but...........

It sure opens up the market for you, as said earlier almost all BEC's will come in under 550kgs, the one in my profile pic is well under........

[Davi]

Jon Ison said:

I'm surprised at that but...........

It sure opens up the market for you, as said earlier almost all BEC's will come in under 550kgs, the one in my profile pic is well under........

the one on the right maybe, the one on the left, not so sure...

[lee1980]

Jon Ison said:

I'm surprised at that but...........

It sure opens up the market for you, as said earlier almost all BEC's will come in under 550kgs, the one in my profile pic is well under........

Sorry whats a BEC?

Thanks

Lee.

[Davi]

Bike Engined Car

[lee1980]

AAAaaahhh course! lol What kits use a bike engine but have a roof?

Thanks

Lee.

[Snake the Sniper]

Not that many, although most of the 7 type cars can have a windscreen, doors and a rag top fitted, but don't expect it to keep all the rain out.

[Davi]

Also you don't necessarily have to look at kits that were originally designed for Bike engines - have a look about for what takes your fancy that you think can come in underweight (which will be rather limited admittedly...) and get researching BEC conversions

[FlossyThePig]

Davi said:

lee1980 said:

Thanks for replies guys will have to a bit more research i guess, Im sure i read on dvla some where that cc doesnt matter just got to be under 550kg. I guess it also depends on how its registered would need to be classed as a quadracycle for me to drive it on bike licence.

Be great if i can get some sort of kit car that i can drive on my bike licence! and it will be much better than whats on offer from the french lol!

Thanks

Lee.

let us know how you get on and what you find out - I seem to recall many years ago there was something to do with having no reverse fitted, but that may be complete boolarks!

DFT website said:

The ECWVTA definitions are:
Category L7e -
Quadricycle - Four wheels, with a maximum unladen mass of 400kg or 550kg for a goods carrying vehicle (not including the mass of the batteries in an electrically powered vehicle) and a maximum net power, whatever the type of engine or motor, of 15kW. The construction requirements are those for a motor tricycle unless otherwise specified in a particular Directive.

[lee1980]

FlossyThePig said:

Davi said:

lee1980 said:

Thanks for replies guys will have to a bit more research i guess, Im sure i read on dvla some where that cc doesnt matter just got to be under 550kg. I guess it also depends on how its registered would need to be classed as a quadracycle for me to drive it on bike licence.

Be great if i can get some sort of kit car that i can drive on my bike licence! and it will be much better than whats on offer from the french lol!

Thanks

Lee.

let us know how you get on and what you find out - I seem to recall many years ago there was something to do with having no reverse fitted, but that may be complete boolarks!

DFT website said:

The ECWVTA definitions are:
Category L7e -
Quadricycle - Four wheels, with a maximum unladen mass of 400kg or 550kg for a goods carrying vehicle (not including the mass of the batteries in an electrically powered vehicle) and a maximum net power, whatever the type of engine or motor, of 15kW. The construction requirements are those for a motor tricycle unless otherwise specified in a particular Directive.

Thanks for that, strange how different sites say different things! no mention of it being a goods vehicle on dvla website to be 550kg and certianly no mention of power limit, this might be why all french ones are like 500cc twins!

Have you got a link to where you got that text from?

Thanks

Lee.

[Toltec]

The other thing you might want to look at is insurance, even if you find a car that is legal to drive would any company insure you?

[lee1980]

Toltec said:

The other thing you might want to look at is insurance, even if you find a car that is legal to drive would any company insure you?

Yep thats very true, i had enough trouble trying to get a quote on a microcar i was going to buy. all i need to say is have licence to drive the vehicle and that is the B1 entitlement I have, the moment you say i have a bike licence they get confused! As we all have licence to drive its just which categories you have entitlement to!

I also believe that after 2001. When you take your motorcycle test you no longer get the B1 entitlment now. So any new riders wont be able to drive robin reliant quadracycle etc! Luckily i took my bike tst in 98' so i be ok!

Thanks

Lee.