question re BEC -advice please

[doclip]

hi there
im looking for some practical advice
i have owned a caterham 7 and westie in the past but fancy a BEC rather than shelling out a lot of money on an expensive car engined 7 -cant afford a caterham fireblade so looking at cheaper alternatives
i'm ummhing and arrhing about buying a BEC with fireblade engine [7esque ] which doesnt have a reverse
im trying to get my brain around how much of a pain it will be not having the reverse facility
anyone out there with 1st hand of living without a reverse
im going to use it as a fun toy for weekends and maybe an odd trackday
also is it important for road use to have a dry sump or accusump given the G forces -or that really only applicable for track work
Cheers

[Furyblade_Lee]

I have had BECs for 9 years, never got stuck. My blade Fury had a mechanical reverse, but never really used it. You just cannot reverse paralel park! No problem as long as you think ahead.

[Furyblade_Lee]

early blade cars 893, 919 carbed engines need absolutely no sump mods, they are indestructible virtually! My 2003 inj. R1 needs a sump baffle mod but no dry sump. Some do, but not those.

[doclip]

thanks for the advice
my missus thinks im raving bonkers not having a reverse -she says it wont look cool having to get out and push -have to sya kind of see her point

[Sam_68]

It depends how risk-averse you are, but if you're planning track days you might want to consider the implications of spinning a car with no reverse gear. Getting out to push when you've got a couple of Mitsubishi Evos bearing down on you at a 3-figure speed might not be too appealing.

This is one of the reasons, of course, why MSA regs for circuit racing cars, but not sprint/hillclimb cars, need an operable reverse gear.

[singlecoil]

doclip said:

but fancy a BEC rather than shelling out a lot of money on an expensive car engined 7 -cant afford a caterham fireblade so looking at cheaper alternatives

Do you see BECs as being noticeably cheaper than CECs? Surely it depends on what sort of engine you feel you need?

Anyway, if you decide to do the BEC thing then all you need to overcome the reverse problem (and get you through the IVA if needed) is one of these (at the bottom of the page).

http://www.lynxae.co.uk/Products-Bikesports.htm

[Furyblade_Lee]

We tour Europe 2,500 miles every year in BECs, use the ferry, chunnel, do trackdays, blats, go shopping to the supermarket, pub, multi-story car parks, ect. ect. ect. As i said never got stuck yet. Car is 450kgs, so can even push it on my own on my gravel driveway. Nobody has ever shouted idiot or similar yet, but a few have offered to help push then spent 5 minutes chatting about what car it is. Must admit I have had to pull a few donuts down dead ends a few times, but it spins and stops on a sixpence. Obviously if you park downhill facing a wall or car you are in need of a hand to get out but i have never been that dumb. It is honestly 100% never something I worry about when I drive it, even through the centre of London.

[doclip]

ok most helpful again chaps
its really SWMBO who has said i cant go ahead without the reverse
actually umming about a forumla 27 honda fireblade instead of another 7
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1400818.htm
Ive bought a 7 off this chap before
Anyone got any experience of this -has inboard suspension set up which looks quite cool
would this engine spec need dry sump or accusump for fast road and occ track days -ie with regard to what was elaready said above
i dont want to be tipping any extra money in as i have a ltd budget here

[mr_fibuli]

My reverse box has got me out of a few sticky situations. Wouldn't have been the end of the world, but it is handy to be able to reverse uphill sometimes. Also the turning circle on the Westy is huge too so reverse is handy in tight carparks etc. You can still knacker yourself if you don't leave enough room though as you need to creep forward until the reverse box will engage. In fact a lot of the time its easier just to push it

[Sam_68]

doclip said:

actually umming about a forumla 27 honda fireblade instead of another 7
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1400818.htm

I've never actually driven a Formula 27 personally (so I expect I'll be flamed by any F27 owners on the forum ), but I'd advise caution on two counts:

• The F27 started off as a plans-built car (which can mean very variable quality and accuracy of chassis geometry), and the early factory manufactured chassis are reputed to be not much better.
• You'll notice that the upper rocking arm on that sexy inboard suspension is just a single square section tube, without the diagonal tube you'd normally expect to see to triangulate it and make it stiff in a longitudinal direction. This means that under heavy braking the upper arm is taking pretty substantial bending loads and (again reputedly) this manifests itself in some judder and instability.

Not to say that you should discount buying it, but make sure you are happy with the build quality and the way it behaves when driven hard before you part with any cash.

[mr_fibuli]

Or go for something a bit more tried and tested for the same money?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1599831.htm

Edited by mr_fibuli on Thursday 22 April 18:18

[Furyblade_Lee]

I like that Westy. With my favorite 893 blade!

[doclip]

does anyone happen to know that westy ?
would prefer a proper screen so i dont need to wear a lid
i mean if you have to ear a lid then may as well just get a bike
is it daft to look at BEC for predominantly road use ?

[Jon Ison]

doclip said:

is it daft to look at BEC for predominantly road use ?

You have to ask yourself that question.

If you asked me I would answer no, if you ask others some will answer yes.

[singlecoil]

There's really only one way to be sure, go ahead and buy an on the road version of the car you fancy, make sure you don't pay to much, drive and live with it for a while, then either keep it or sell it on if it doesn't suit.

[Stubby Pete]

Reverse Gear:
It doesn't take long to remember to drive through spaces to be facing outwards in supermarkets or multi storeys. Park facing uphill where possible.

Suitability For Road Use:
I use mine regularly, simply because it's hilariously quick!

Helmet?
I've got a small aero screen and will always wear a lid on at main road speeds (after beng hit in the head at 40mph by a stone chip which really fkig hurt!). Round town and short blats (say across the moor) a decent pair of shades will suffice.

PS YHM.

[doclip]

Cheers Pete
i got hit by a pheasant in my 7 at speed -scared the life out of me -came out from nowhere -hit the cylce wing -then the screen then the roll bar -then was good road kill for someone -made a right mess