Disabledbiker Forum

bdb · Newbie Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 10

Dear hobbit1066,
Good to hear that your wife enjoyed the sidecar, I have ppMS myself so I know what struggle it is.
With best wishes, Bart

bdb · Newbie Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 10

just for info: although nothing stops you wearing one, and there are some obvious advantages especially in open sidecars; safety, noise, bad weather,..., a passenger in a sidecar does NOT need -in the UK- wear a helmet!

hobbit1066 · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 20:06 pm Post subject:

thanks bdb it is hard but i will do anything i can to get her out on the bike even converting the vstar to a trike if i have to - she insists on wearing a helmet nothin to do with safety it stops her hair getting messed up Laughing

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sidecaranne · Typhoon Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 148 Location: leeds

You can only go without a helmet if your wearing a seat belt, it's a side-CAR the same rules apply as a car unless your in a coffin.
There's a couple of buiness's out there that do a m/sidecar hearse service so the law governs the hearse but rules for the rider are the same as a normal motorcycle.
The same with a motorcycle and sidecar, one rule for the bike and another for the S/car Wink

It's not the same rules as a trike.

bdb · Newbie Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 10

m/sidecar hearse? Are you referring to the funeral sidecar hearse services that are around?

As far as a normal sidecar is concerned:
passengers in a sidecar do not need to wear a safety helmet if the sides of the car are over, I believe, 18inches high, this applies to most standard sidecars but excludes the open frame-standing race sidecars

Complex safety belt rules apply to trikes (depending on things like date and weight)

Big_Vern · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 13:52 pm Post subject:

I must say I can't find any reference to sidecars (or trikes) in the seatbelt law (The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993) which can be found here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1993/Uksi_19930176_en_1.htm

That's not to say there isn't a law which covers them, but I can't find a reference.

The only reference is this:

"Requirement for adults to wear adult belts
5.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of these Regulations, every person—
(a) driving a motor vehicle (other than a two-wheeled motor cycle with or without a sidecar);
(b) riding in a front seat of a motor vehicle (other than a two-wheeled motor cycle with or without a sidecar); or
(c) riding in a rear seat of a motor car or a passenger car which is not a motor car;
shall wear an adult belt."

Which don't really clarify matters.

I'd be interested to know if anyone knows where the regulations for trikes and sidecars are?

Vic
_________________
Vic Hawkes
NABD Rep for Dudley
National Association for Bikers with a Disability
www.nabd.org.uk

hobbit1066 · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 14:06 pm Post subject:

here is the regs for seat belts for a trike care of trike shop

Do I Need Seatbelts Fitted To My Trike?

This is the definitive guide to seatbelt requirements for trikes; except no imitations! This took some serious research, and a few arguments with the Vehicle Inspectorate, but they agree this is totally correct.

Vehicles first used before 1 April 1987.

Seatbelts are required for three wheelers that fall into the following categories:

1. With an unladen weight over 410Kg first used on or after 1 January 1965. 2. With an unladen weight over 255kg if first used on or after 1 September 1970.

EXCEPT!

Less than 410kg unladen equipped with a driving seat of a type that requires the driver to sit astride it and where that vehicle was constructed or assembled by a person not ordinarily engaged in the trade or business of constructing those sort of vehicles.

Requirements

Vehicle first used before 1 April 1981:-

Drivers - A belt that restrains the upper body (but need not include a lapbelt). Forward facing rear seats - no requirement.

Vehicle first used after 31 March 1981:-

Drivers - a 3 point (lap/diagonal) belt. [1] Forward facing rear seats - no requirements.

Vehicles first used after 31 March 1987:-

Seatbelts are not required for trikes that either ...

1. Have an unladen weight of less than 255kg. 2. With an unladen weight of more than 255kg but less than 410kg which are equipped with a drivers seat requiring the driver to sit astride it and where its been constructed or assembled by a person not ordinarily engaged in the trade or business of manufacturing vehicles of that type.

Requirements

Drivers - three point belts Forward facing rear seats ... If not more than 2 rear seats then either:-

1. A 3 point inertia belt for at least one seat.
Or
2. A 3 point belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for each seat.
Vehicles with more than 2 rear seats then either:-
1. A 3 point inertia reel belt on an outboard seat and a 3 point static or inertia reel belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for at one other seat
Or
2. A static 3 point belt for one seat and a disabled persons belt or child restraint for at least one other seat.
Or
3. A 3 point belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for each seat.
[1] A 3 point belt means a seat belt that ...

1. restrains the upper and lower parts of the torso.
2. includes a lap belt.
3. is anchored at not less than three points.
4. is designed for use by an adult.

Kindly reprinted from the original article by Wolf on the NABD website and updated by the Trike Shop (UK) Ltd. Although we try to keep this page up to date please check the DVLA Home Page for the latest changes!

Copyright - 1999-2004 Trike Shop (UK) Ltd - All rights reserved
Trike Shop UK, AppleTree Cottage, The Avenue, Rumney, Cardiff, CF3 3EG, UK - t:+44 (0)29 2036 9420
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sanity in an insane world is insane

Big_Vern · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 14:58 pm Post subject:

Yes I've seen this before, but I've never actually seen the regulations, and knowing Wolf I would rather like to see the regulations than take it verbatum.
_________________
Vic Hawkes
NABD Rep for Dudley
National Association for Bikers with a Disability
www.nabd.org.uk

Badger · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 15:32 pm Post subject:

Brill to see these scooters becoming more accepted. Blue Badger
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Minus one leg but still on two wheels

humph · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 15:13 pm Post subject:

Time passes and new bikes emerge. eg: MP3. 400 (for car drivers) but very expensive for what it is. I rode a test bike and it takes some getting used to. In fact there was precious little room for my feet and legs to stretch even a bit.
I now have a Gilera Nexus 250. The 300 came out at the time I was ordering the 250, but the lads at Turners in the Wirral advised me to stick with the 250. Its engine was tried and tested, and for the small amount of extra ooomph, of the 300, it was hardly worth the extra cash.
The Vespa 250 was lovely to ride, but I found that its road presence was causing more than the usual amount of 'nearly incidents' to happen. Cagers saw it as a scooter and ignored it as such.
Anyway, the Nexus is a lovely ride too, and to any cager it looks like a largish motorbike. I've had no 'nearly incidents' while riding the Nexus.
It has a strong side stand which stays down until kicked up into place. I wish all bikes had this fitting. The engine cannot start until the side stand is back up in its place, so no danger of riding off with the side stand still down.
The weather protection of the Nexus is far better than the Vespa. MPG is remarkable. The front slip stream effect is doing its job. But the bike has stayed cosy and well wrapped up this winter. I ain't going to risk any more injuries until I feel confident enough to venture out.
At the hospital I have to go to, one of the staff travels in 20 miles each day on a Hyosung GV 125, and the past couple of months have been a real test of endurance and nerve.
In Twist & Go magazine, Mau said that only essential journeys ought to be considered. It's hard enough coping with our own machine let alone watching other road users (cars, pedestrians, push-bikes, taxis, etc ) in our defensive riding style.
By the way, there's a chap were we live who rides a Ural and sidecar which is the military camo version. My eldest son would love me to buy one of those. It wouldn't need cleaning as much either. Wink

Delboy · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 22:46 pm Post subject:

The Nexus is a cracking machine and appears to be devoid of Piaggio's electrical gremlins. You may need to drill a small hole in the belly pan as water can collect and slosh around in there.
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Research for the NABD

The facts expressed in my posts belong to everybody, the opinions belong to me. The distinction is yours to draw

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humph · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 00:13 am Post subject:

Small hole.
I'll have a look-see to spot the lowest part of the pan. Thanks.
I did buy a pair of snail horns to replace the bike's squeaker. Cheeky Thomas wrote to me to say that they could be fitted behind the front panel where there is space. However, when I had the bike in for a service at Turners, the lads said that there was not enough space to fit them.
I got them to fit a spare 12v socket in the left side knee guard, where there is a panel hiding the fuses for the 500 Nexus. On the 250, there is an empty space behind the panel and the 12v socket fitted perfectly in there. It is wired directly to the battery via a fuse. Some people like to have it live only when the ignition is on, some people prefer to have it live even when the bike is immobile.
You pays yer money......
I keep the battery connected to my Optimate III all the time and the engine starts first time every time. Even on the days recently when it has been -7C. I like to run the engine to keep the 'blood flowing' through the moving bits.
I've come back to the Forum after a length of time because I'm getting the itch to get out riding again. I may need an operation on my left shoulder soon and the thought of being immobile is creating a strong desire to get out.