Trike License Regs...?

[eli_74]

HI,

I've been trying to get my head around the law regarding trikes, I have a provisional driving license and my Bike license (restricted to 33bhp for 2 years)

Would I be legal riding a trike

Would I be able to carry passengers

From what i've read I could ride a trike, but then it says something about L plates, and the passenger has to have either a full bike license or driving license....which seems odd because I'd have a full bike license, albeit restricted for now.

What with trike laws and 33bhp restrction laws you have to be a mastermind just to get on the road!
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Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.
bn125 Eliminator / En400 Vulcan / XV250 Virago

[stinkwheel]

I'm pretty sure it depends on the trike and what it is registered as.

I think the small, light ones count as a Category A. ie a motorcycle (33bhp would apply).
The big heavy ones will be registered as Category B. ie a car.

Then we get the complication of inbetween ones which can be category B1, which you used to get automatically with your motorbike licence (but not sure if you still do).

Just to throw a MAJOR spanner in the works, before the advent of the SVA test, a lot of cheeky shenannigans went on with VIN plates and log books so older trikes could be just about anything. For example, this leyland engined trike "stormin norman" is officially a BSA A10 according to the logbook and VIN plate

https://www.eighteleven.org.uk/Bikes/iom/norman.jpg

You might get a better reply if you posted the question on something like 100% biker, there aren't many (any?) trikers that come on here regularly.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[biketeacherda...]

https://dsa.gov.uk/SpecialVehicles.asp
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www.dgridertraining.co.uk

[BlackSheep]

The law has changed to ride any type of trike now you need a full car licence , not even a full bike licence counts anymore.

[eli_74]

Thanks for the info

*goes off to have a cry *

Spose I could get a lawnmower instead
____________________
Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.
bn125 Eliminator / En400 Vulcan / XV250 Virago

[kal9001]

As far as i can gather a Trike is anything with 3 wheels and for the purposes of this scenario an engine

so wether its the likle NRG trike i see every now and then, or a proper Hyabusa Trike, oe even a Huge goddamn Harley 1800cc trike. or if its not a bike at all and its a custom built thig with a V8 turbo, or even the ole Robin reliant, these days they ALL come under the B1 category, wich is anything under 550Kg's with 3 or more wheels (so add very small cars to that as well...

the category used to be given with your A "bike" test, but since 1997 (i think) when they changed the CBT and the restrictions they also stoped the A "bike" test granting B1 as well, so anyone who passed their A test before 1997 you can ride a trike on the road regardless ofany other licence restrictions as it is a seperate class altogether. ifyou passed your A test after 1997 then you have to fork out and ether somehow take it seperatley, or pass your cartest when you will be awarded B and B1 automaticaly.

hope that helped.
the realy grey area for me is Quads, ive herd there is a Maximum of 33Bhp for a Quad to be road legal, then iv ebeen corrected that its a 33BHP minimum for a quad to be road legal (again these are seperate to any Category A restrictions so my 33BHP limit ATM wont be in efect if i get a 33BHP+ quad or trike) now i dont know who to believe as both werepretty reliable sources. and id love to build a quad an dget it past the SVA...maybe even a gokart thats just about legal enought to pass it with a GSXR1000 engine.
but now im getting carried away and loosing the thread, sorry hope i helped tho and maybe raised some relative questions wich may also help you or infact anyone
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Anyone stupid enough to think we will drag a load of wooden horses full of soldiers into our city is certanley stupid enough to drag all of ours into theirs!

[dave1rs]

kal they were both wrong...quadricycles(quads)should be no more than 22hp legally lol,they can only be ridden on a full car licence,and have to be registered under the plg category...unless your a farmer then it can be agricultural registered.

however you can get bigger hp quads if you are prepared to have the quad sva tested,this is how you get vehicles such as the 700 raptor road legal.

downside of quads is you have to pay the same tax as cars .

great fun on and off road too

[stinkwheel]

Then there is the sidecar issue.

I am pretty sure you are still allowed to ride any size of bike you like on L-plates providing it has a sidecar attached.

[eli_74]

I was nearly born in a sidecar

I do believe that a sidecar can still be ridden on a normal bike license, but if you take your test on a combo, you can only ride a combo, your not licensed to ride a solo bike...

they like to make things confusing don't they

I fancied getting a trike as my 8yr old won't come on the bike with me, indeed I wouldn't want to take him on it, but if I got a trike he'd be up for it and i'd take him out for short trips, I think they're pretty cool too

I guess one day I might just have to take my car test then
____________________
Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.
bn125 Eliminator / En400 Vulcan / XV250 Virago

[Flip]

[G]

[stinkwheel]

[kal9001]

Id love to have a Quad if i had the money, i was contemplating trying to construct my own at some point. but i lack the proper mechanical knowladge to build it on my own so a partner would be needed. then try and get it SVA'd then the Quad morphed into a Go-Kart type thing, basicley as light and possible with a SV650 (or other V2/V4) but again i lack the proper knowladge, anyone from south yorkshire who would fancy a progect
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Anyone stupid enough to think we will drag a load of wooden horses full of soldiers into our city is certanley stupid enough to drag all of ours into theirs!

[Odie]

To ride a trike with-out "L" plates on you will need to have passed you car test or passed your bike test before jan 2000 /2001.
The trike must only have one seat if you are on "L" plates.
you can only carry passenger's who have passed their car test or passed a bike test before jan 2000 /2001.
Hope this helps, probably not what you wanted to hear.
____________________
You are so ugly when you were born the doctor said "I?m gonna drop it, if it falls is a rat, if it flies is a bat."

[stinkwheel]

Road legal 1200 bandit quad bike (with no rear differential!).

https://www.bikersweb.co.uk/2003/storming03/web-gallery/images/DSC_3055.jpg
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[mchaggis]

[eli_74]

Sod building a go-kart, get an Ariel Atom

https://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/press/Atom_2_top_g_1.jpg

if you do, you have to let me have a go!

Watch the Top Gear Clip to see Jeremy Clarksons face get even worse than it already is
https://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/press.htm

Sorry I know it's almost car talk...but it's such a fun beasty!
____________________
Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.
bn125 Eliminator / En400 Vulcan / XV250 Virago

[kal9001]

Yea but i would get alot of fun from building something myself. designing and building it all from scratch

Plus a 220BHP Civic motor is abit pansyish!
lob a high revving Busa engine in there, probably alot lighter for the same power and will be ALOT more compact and with a Sequential gearbox, just fit it with one of those funny lil gizmos that cut the fuel when ya hit the gears to allow clutchless changes 100% perfect every time and no "short shift" would touch it!
also who realy wants to go that fast when you have no eye protection! jeez a Bumble bee at 30MPH hurts like hell...ive had stones at 90MPH glad to have my visor down that day!

no TYVM id prefer to build it all myself, and get it past the SVA justto say i have, and when someone says to me "thats an unusual car/"thing"" i can say its all my own .
that quad looked fun how hard is it to weald? and can you acctualy do tube section like that by hand? or is box section better?
____________________
Anyone stupid enough to think we will drag a load of wooden horses full of soldiers into our city is certanley stupid enough to drag all of ours into theirs!

[eli_74]

Can't fault you at all, if I had the time/money/expertise/space...the list goes on, i'd love to build my own bike.

Maybe one day, when i'm old and rich...

as long as I don't have to grow a beard

I was hoping to do a motorcycle mechanics course this year at college, but they're full i've considered offering my services for free at a local garage or somthing, but I get the feeling they'll just look like at me
____________________
Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation.
bn125 Eliminator / En400 Vulcan / XV250 Virago