nixy Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I've had the zed 9 years and since taking up perching on the back of a modified GSXR 1000 I hardly ever use it. A sunny day comes along and we're off on the bike. It hasn't been my daily driver for about 6 years and it's in the garage the majority of time. I decided to keep it forever as the condition it's in makes it worth more to me than I would get for it. However, I'm now thinking of perhaps getting something on four wheels that provides me with similar fun as going out on the bike and with me driving (I don't have a bike licence). I saw a MNR Vortx yesterday with an R1 engine in it and really liked the look of it. For me keeping something like that in the garage as a 'toy' makes more sense but I have no experience at all of these. My other half is an engineering genius with lots of contacts so I'm not worried about that side of it. I've seen some with bike engines and some with ford zetec engines (the downside to a car engine being no sequential gearbox but the upside being you get reverse). Anyone got experience in this area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payco Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Caterham ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted August 15, 2016 Author Share Posted August 15, 2016 Caterham ? Lots more money! We've been considering building one with a hyabusa engine but you can throw thousands at it that you will never get back so I'm looking at one that someone else has already thrown thousands at that they will never get back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Kay Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Cant you add reserve to them by adding a cog and starter motor to a rear drive shaft (or something like that)? My mate had a 1000cc bike engined MK indy and it had a reverse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 What's your budget out of interest? Pistonheads list "bike engined" cars here: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bike-powered-cars/cars "Kit" cars here: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/kit-cars If it was me I think I'd rather a bike powered car if it was just going to be for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsexr Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Do your bike license, your,ll be so chuffed when you get it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nissanman312 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I know someone with one of those r1 vortex things He was selling it I know it wasnt a lot of money 5/6 grand Considered it myself then bought another house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Keyser had a mnr vortx for a while (pretty sure it was a bike engine), maybe worth a pm to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Bike engines and gearboxes aren't designed for the weight so I understand failures are more likely, but from what I've seen they go like stink when they're working. Supercharged Zetec FTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny B Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 My rage buggy has a fire blade engine and bike sequential box. It uses a quaife reverse box, so you just pull a lever and the rotation of drive to the back diff is reversed. So you've got 6 forwards gears, pull the lever you've then got 6 gears backwards. So in theory 120mph in reverse 😬 I've not got the balls to test the theory though 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floydbax Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Just swap your Coupe for a Roadster, problem solved - Before any slating, try it, I have been a coupe kinda person since whenever and my Zed is my first convertible (not counting my mum's Astra GTE a looooong time ago ). I attempted to do what everyone says on the site about trying a few before you buy, but the first one I tried was the one I have - I was just taken with the whole package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Thanks for the input - the thought of selling the zed is the hardest decision, it's like a pet after 9 years! I don't want a convertible zed I actually prefer the coupes (no offence). It's just that with my lifestyle and the fact we've got between us a daily car, a zed, a van, a motorbike I just don't drive it, it's like an ornament in the garage. I'm more into the bike nowadays and thought that a kit car has the same kind of appeal to me as I don't really want to do my bike licence. If I had a big enough garage I would probably have both! I will PM Keyser and see what his experience was. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) Late to the party as always PM replied to Ref the reverse - MNR do a kit that gives the R1 engine version a reveres gear, opinions vary but some say it will reduce RWHP by 5-10 others say it can have other issues if used for anything more than just gently backing out of a parking spot. Mine did not have reverse - doughnuts for the win (that prolly does more damage than a reveres though ) Edited August 18, 2016 by Keyser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Robin Hood? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605033563488?search-target=usedcars&make=robin_hood&price-from=4500&price-to=5000&fuel-type=petrol&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&radius=1501&page=1&sort=default&searchcontext=default&postcode=hp41qe&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&logcode=p&adPos=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Another vote for doing your bike test from me. That way you & the other half can go for rides out together etc. Bikes are cheap as chips these days so you could pick up a sporty 600 for hardly anything. Mate of mine, his missus passed her test after years of being pillion on the back of his. Now they hire a babysitter to look after their 2 kids whilst they both go for rides out. He`s got an R1 & she`s got an R6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 Another vote for doing your bike test from me. That way you & the other half can go for rides out together etc. Bikes are cheap as chips these days so you could pick up a sporty 600 for hardly anything. Mate of mine, his missus passed her test after years of being pillion on the back of his. Now they hire a babysitter to look after their 2 kids whilst they both go for rides out. He`s got an R1 & she`s got an R6. I know what you're saying but the thought of being a learner again and putting myself through all that is really off putting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Another vote for doing your bike test from me. That way you & the other half can go for rides out together etc. Bikes are cheap as chips these days so you could pick up a sporty 600 for hardly anything. Mate of mine, his missus passed her test after years of being pillion on the back of his. Now they hire a babysitter to look after their 2 kids whilst they both go for rides out. He`s got an R1 & she`s got an R6. I know what you're saying but the thought of being a learner again and putting myself through all that is really off putting. I know what you mean, I hate being a learner but its all pretty easy. One of my mates passed his the other year and did some sort of 1 week intensive course. As your a car driver your already got a head start in that you know the roads etc, its just a case of learning how to ride a bike which is pretty straight forward. Then once you pass your other half can go out with you and teach you how to ride properly!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth29 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder with the vortex - or does it look better in the flesh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 It's not really about looks - the kit cars all look pretty similar based on the Lotus 7 look. It's the fun factor really, that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I wouldnt know what the market is like for a bike engined kit car, maybe something to consider. After swapping the 350 recently and getting a vx220 they might be worth a look, in my brief experience i can say they are a lot of fun and a safe bet resale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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