a side car question

[mouse]

A friend uses a side car now and again
1. does he have to have it permanently fitted to the bike or can he remove it at will
2 .does he need a special licence to ride with a side car ?
3 .do you have to alter the reg docs to include a side car ?
4.any laws relating to the use of a side car
5. insurance ?
thanks for any info guys

[Olds]

I had a sidecar back in the 70s and way back then the answers would be
1 no-yes (but it's usually a real pain to set up properly)
2 no (you could ride unlimited size combo on a learner licence, I had a BSA 650)
3 no
4 yes  mainly lighting regs (and i expect by now seat belts & who knows what else)
5 yes (it was cheaper to insure a 650 combo than a 125) The insurance company must know its to be used as a solo or combo or both.

Best to check DVLA website etc.

[digger06]

if its tested as a outfit then the sidecar is taken off it technically needs re mot,ing as its changed class

shouldnt think anyone will bother unless u get a vosa tug though

[mouse]

thanks for your replys
ive search the internet and come up with nowt lol

[nabsim]

Okay now having one such vehicle on the road as I type I can comment on this one with a fair bit of accuracy.

It does not have to be permanent
You need to take a CBT if you do not have a bike license then you can ride any size bike so long as you stick to the 0.16KW/Kg limit, (that WILL allow 1000cc plus with the right chair) but you can only take a test on an outfit if you are disabled
The V5 does not say anything different, it is just a motorcycle. The sidecar is classed as an accessory in the same way a top box is
You do not need seat belts, anyone on the bike needs crash helmets but not in the sidecar, there are no special laws (althoug some say you need to be nuts)
Insurance was a pig for me, I struggled to get anyone to insure mine online and ended up with Carole Nash. Wasnt cheap but I have the cover I wanted. Beware though, the sidecar is an accessory so make sure you take enough cover for the accessories. ALso, even though it is an accessory you have to make sure they know it is a sidecar outfit.

Was something else I was going to put but forgot it

[Plasticpig]

Could it have been, 'Don't put your feet down at traffic lights'.

[nabsim]

Could it have been, 'Don't put your feet down at traffic lights'.

lol, my problem on solos was the opposite Doug, used to try and put the foot that wasnt there down and end up in a heap

[BikerGran]

I have a sidecar question too - was thinking about rebuilding my 100 stroker but I can't ride it cos my left leg isn't likely to hold even that up - someone suggested I put a sidecar on it - any thoughts on this iudea?

It's only an idea........

[cunningplan]

if its tested as a outfit then the sidecar is taken off it technically needs re mot,ing as its changed class

shouldnt think anyone will bother unless u get a vosa tug though

Bikes with or without a sidecar are both class 2, so the MOT stands for both.

[nabsim]

I have a sidecar question too - was thinking about rebuilding my 100 stroker but I can't ride it cos my left leg isn't likely to hold even that up - someone suggested I put a sidecar on it - any thoughts on this iudea?

It's only an idea........

Bobbi I first got a sidecar because of problems holding up a solo and I have always loved them so I would say go for it.

HOWEVER

Back in the day you used to be able to take your bike test on any outfit and if you passed you got a full bike license, a few of my mates used my outfits to do this. I will say that from my experience you will either love them or hate them, there doesnt seem to be any middle ground. While some mates did do their test there were some others who just could not get used to turning the bars to steer and ended up not bothering.

Seeing as you are used to turning bars to steer your trike you are half way there but a lot of the steering is done using brake and throttle as well although how much does depend on power of bike. If at all possible I would suggest you try to get a go on an outfit to see what you think, if its any use I will be at Copdock end of September on my outfit, if you go look for the BTW-UK stand and you can have a trial on it

[BikerGran]

I knew I'd heard of Copdock - no I've been to Suffolk once this month and I won';t be going there again this year - or probably any other year!  Bloody retirement - you've got all the time in the world to do the things you want to do but not the cash!

It was more a question of is there a sidecar small enough for a 100 stroker!

[Cabman77]

a sidewinder would do it Bobbi. There was a thread on here  about them a while ago. Mind you they are a bit weird to ride because they hold you up but you still have to ride the bike like a bike, i.e. lean into corners etc.

[BikerGran]

Better get to work on the bike first I guess! - AFTER I get the trike sorted.

Maybe that's the motivation I need.

[nabsim]

If you want it to hold it up then a sidewinder wont be any good to you. Bet Cabby is just wanting to laugh when you pull up and dont put your feet down

You can get lightweight sidecars but even better you can make your own. You could make a lightweight platofrm or trials type sidecar. The smallest I had one on was a 400 2-stroke but it was a fairly heavy chair we made.

It is a lightweight chair we got for Shane, think originally they were for scooters so that may be okay for what you want, its a Squire PV1 if you want a look. If you only want it to keep your feet up though I would make a platform. If you look at most chassis they are just a square or rectangle with a wheel one side and two mountings to bottom of frame and two higher up, think some of the smaller ones may use one bottom mount. I would go over on mounts though and have two low and two high, if you get carried away you know it is going to hold up on the mounts then.

[Cabman77]

Are you sure about that Nabs? I thought they had to hold the bike in an upright position when stationary to be accepted as a bona fide sidecar. Didn`t the manufacturers get round it with a kind of cantilever. You may be right but I`m (almost) certain I saw one or two standing upright on their own.