Car that can carry a Moto-X bike for 17 yr old?
Car that can carry a Moto-X bike for 17 yr old?
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Discussion

sp222

Original Poster:

200 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
My son will be 17 soon so we're on the lookout for a car - he also has a moto-x bike (KTM 125) and we have been trailering it around (using my van) to different tracks.

Original plan was to get an older model jimny and put a tow-bar on it, but of course I didn't consider the fact that adding a tow-bar will increase the insurance - now I think of it that makes perfect sense..

Obviously a transit would work to put a bike inside, but again insurance seems high (forget pickups too).

Does anyone have any experience of some kind of car or car-derived van that will accommodate a moto-x bike, and is not too expensive to insure, or are we better off just forgetting that for a year or two until he can just add a tow bar, or get a transit himself?

We're in Cornwall so car selection is limited - budget around £6k

Scootersp

3,702 posts

205 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Look for Brotherwood disabled converted cars.

Could just push it straight in, if all operational they have x4 ratchet straps to fully secure a very heavy wheelchair

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/12673194...


https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/15056196...



Edited by Scootersp on Wednesday 27th August 12:21

plfrench

3,761 posts

285 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Lad over the road from us has a '09 VW Caddy for this purpose. Seems to be fine rolling up / down a ramp into the back with his bike.

ZX10R NIN

29,424 posts

142 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
MPV's may well be your friend but you'll have to choose carefully as you'll need the space to actually fit the bike inside.

The ultimate would be one of these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508145...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508065...

807:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508225...

Grand Espace:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506304...

Obviously check the insurance first.

sp222

Original Poster:

200 posts

166 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies - he can do some homework on the insurance status for the options - the longer wheelbase Caddy and Ford Transit Courier look like they might work too, and the ex-disabled cars get easy loading with the ramp..

Cheers!

Scrump

23,517 posts

175 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
sp222 said:
Thanks for the replies - he can do some homework on the insurance status for the options - the longer wheelbase Caddy and Ford Transit Courier look like they might work too, and the ex-disabled cars get easy loading with the ramp..

Cheers!
If the addition of a towbar makes insurance unaffordable then I would think a wheelchair ramp conversion would do similar.

OutInTheShed

11,935 posts

43 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
Do you have quotes for insuring a small car with a towbar?

Loads of people in my sailing club have towbars and many of us find it's a zero additional premium thing that just needs notifying to the insurance company.
Some of the young members might be named drivers on a parent's car with towbar.

Were you thinking of a trailer or one of those Dave Something carriers across the back? The carrier might be a mod that needs notifying and not on a standard list like a towbar.

Scrump

23,517 posts

175 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
If you find a car with a factory fitted tow bar then it is not a modification (is my understanding).
I guess insurers may still exclude cover for a trailer without an additional premium for a new driver.

OutInTheShed

11,935 posts

43 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
Scrump said:
If you find a car with a factory fitted tow bar then it is not a modification (is my understanding).
I guess insurers may still exclude cover for a trailer without an additional premium for a new driver.
I would not like to argue that a towbar wasn't a mod, if it turns out to be dealer fitted.

At least a single bike trailer is easy to tow with a small, cheap to insure, car.

sp222

Original Poster:

200 posts

166 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
We had settled on the old model Jimny, but adding a towbar to it did increase the insurance by approx £1000. When I added one to my van it added a little on there - I guess it makes sense.

We have two trailers already, a basic bike only one and a fully enclosed one too so I'll probably avoid adding another option.

Good point on the wheelchair conversion - he can do the research, but I think the caddy or transit courier small vans might do the trick..

Nick_MSM

726 posts

203 months

Thursday 28th August
quotequote all
Years ago I used a LWB Transit Connect for a YZ125. Folding ramp to get it in, was a bit tight but worked. Anything smaller and it just wouldn't fit so I'd say something along the lines of the Connect is the minimum size you'll need.

AlwynMike

550 posts

104 months

Friday 29th August
quotequote all
I have a Caddy wheelchair car for bike (dog, shopping, and tip) duty.
Caddy's do fetch a premium because of the Vee Dub crowd.
I've found that Wheelchair cars are cheaper on insurance (modified for disabled use) as they are seen as a better risk. On other cars, I've never been loaded for a towbar addition.
For wheelchair cars, the best for bike versus costs is the Fiat Doblo....long and high enough for the bike, although I used to remove the front seat to make it easier to get the bike in. Partner/Berlingo are a bit small. Despatch etc getting a bit big.
Smallest Van for bike carrying look at Nissan NV200 - low floor but long enough to get a bike in on a diagonal. 1.5 diesel...the 6 speeders are more powerful. But van insurance and speed limits.