"Many a true word .....

[Cato]

..... is spoken in jest."

Like many at the moment I was having a conversation (with a chippy) about work and self-employment which turned into a moan about rising costs, and especially diesel. I joked that instead of turning the '58 Enfield into a pre-65 trials factory replica I'd build a tradesman's sidecar for it.

That set me pondering when I left and the more I think about it the more it seems like a good idea. Not only for saving on fuel costs, but it's tax/MOT exempt and can bob in and out of the low emissions zone FOC. I reckon it'd be a pretty good marketing tool too, no doubt there'd be a few enquiries as to Gromit's whereabouts but we've been on about getting another dog for a while now.

 

[rtcosic]

I think that the VED, MoT, Emissions and Congestion Charge exceptions are removed for vehicles used for commercial purposes.
Have fun getting commercial use insurance too!

 

[Matchless]

..... is spoken in jest."

Like many at the moment I was having a conversation (with a chippy) about work and self-employment which turned into a moan about rising costs, and especially diesel. I joked that instead of turning the '58 Enfield into a pre-65 trials factory replica I'd build a tradesman's sidecar for it.

That set me pondering when I left and the more I think about it the more it seems like a good idea. Not only for saving on fuel costs, but it's tax/MOT exempt and can bob in and out of the low emissions zone FOC. I reckon it'd be a pretty good marketing tool too, no doubt there'd be a few enquiries as to Gromit's whereabouts but we've been on about getting another dog for a while now.

Go for it, great marketing tool and saves a fortune,

 

[bourbon]

THE SIDECAR FOR TRADESMEN'S USE. | 14th July 1925 | The Commercial Motor Archive

'THE SIDECAR FOR TRADESMEN'S USE.' first printed in the 14th July 1925 issue of Commercial Motor

archive.commercialmotor.com

It would be a good marketing tool, but I would be concerned about security.

 

[Cato]

I think that the VED, MoT, Emissions and Congestion Charge exceptions are removed for vehicles used for commercial purposes.
Have fun getting commercial use insurance too!

To be fair it'd be commuting rather than actually doing anything, partly due to carrying capacity, but mostly due to security. The days of being able to leave anything especially tools in something like that are long gone. The van will always be the main beast of burden.

I'm thinking more of the signage space on the side, pottering to and from the unit in decent weather, nipping for a coffee/sandwich and parking it outside the unit.

 

[Cato]

THE SIDECAR FOR TRADESMEN'S USE. | 14th July 1925 | The Commercial Motor Archive

'THE SIDECAR FOR TRADESMEN'S USE.' first printed in the 14th July 1925 issue of Commercial Motor

archive.commercialmotor.com

It would be a good marketing tool, but I would be concerned about security.

Yeah we overlapped.

 

[bourbon]

 

[Cato]

Is that yours?

 

[bourbon]

Nope, just a quick browse on the net

 

[rtcosic]

To be fair it'd be commuting rather than actually doing anything, partly due to carrying capacity, but mostly due to security. The days of being able to leave anything especially tools in something like that are long gone. The van will always be the main beast of burden.

I'm thinking more of the signage space on the side, pottering to and from the unit in decent weather, nipping for a coffee/sandwich and parking it outside the unit.

Back in Pembrokeshire I occasionally saw a local carpenter with a modern touring motorcycle with panniers and top box he seemed used for small domestic jobs in fine weather.

Using yours for commuting and advertising would be fun. Just watch the insurance though. When I retired I changed my car insurance from Social, Domestic and Pleasure plus Commuting to just SDP and there was a significant reduction in premium. The last time I had Classic insurance it SD&P only.

 

[Munkul]

I have literally just bought a commuter bike to save on fuel.
Doing 350 miles a week in the car at 40mpg diesel.
Now planning to do 250 miles a week at ~70mpg petrol, and the other 100 in the car 2x a week. For around maybe 35 weeks/year.
It will save me less than it initially sounds, around £600/year at current prices after tax and insurance... but hey ho, I like biking

 

[Cato]

Back in Pembrokeshire I occasionally saw a local carpenter with a modern touring motorcycle with panniers and top box he seemed used for small domestic jobs in fine weather.

Using yours for commuting and advertising would be fun. Just watch the insurance though. When I retired I changed my car insurance from Social, Domestic and Pleasure plus Commuting to just SDP and there was a significant reduction in premium. The last time I had Classic insurance it SD&P only.

I always add commuting on the classic policies for peace of mind even though it adds a bit. Just nipping to the unit to pick something up might end in arguments over commuting so as far as possible I try to give insurance companies no excuse.

 

[Cato]

I have literally just bought a commuter bike to save on fuel.
Doing 350 miles a week in the car at 40mpg diesel.
Now planning to do 250 miles a week at ~70mpg petrol, and the other 100 in the car 2x a week. For around maybe 35 weeks/year.
It will save me less than it initially sounds, around £600/year at current prices after tax and insurance... but hey ho, I like biking

All my bikes are tax/MOT exempt and very cheap classic insurance, but the big thing would be short stop start journeys around town. It'd cost me as much in DPF cleaning/replacement per year as I'd pay to have a bike on the road.

 

[Robotstar5]

A couple I've seen at shows, may give you ideas?

 

[Pete.]

All my bikes are tax/MOT exempt and very cheap classic insurance, but the big thing would be short stop start journeys around town. It'd cost me as much in DPF cleaning/replacement per year as I'd pay to have a bike on the road.

I nearly fell foul of this a number of years ago. For insurance purposes commuting means that you go to the same address every day of the year (aka travelling to and from permanent place of work). If you work on sites you won't be going to the same address every day so commuting is not adequate. That's why I pay about 15 quid a year more for 'business use 1' (use in conjunction with your employers business). Its a small price to pay to make sure I have the correct cover.

 

[Melvyn Best]

Reminds me of the old AA and RAC motorcycle combinations from many years ago

 

[Arc Tourist]

View attachment 336901

That's one heck of a minibike set up for direct belt drive, not even a centrifugal clutch for the lawnmower engine.
Yeah, I know its just for giggles & sh**s.

 

[octo0072000]

AA bike

later one

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Was randomly chatting to a bloke last night who had landed up outside the spar on a tidy 80’s yamaha 100 2stroke. He had been pondering a classic bike for a bit and with fuel prices the way they are (and classic bike prices on the up ) it made up his mind.

 

[Robotstar5]

That's one heck of a minibike set up for direct belt drive, not even a centrifugal clutch for the lawnmower engine.
Yeah, I know its just for giggles & sh**s.

Here's the business end