Hoping you guys could help me I have been looking at buying a built kit car for some time. I have seen this on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK-INDY-FIREBLADE_W0QQitemZ320114353340QQihZ011QQcategoryZ29750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am hoping you guys could answer some questions for me.

How reliable are bike engines in cars?

How easy/much would it be to get a screen for this car?

A rough idea on insurance I am 28 with 5 years no claims but 3 points for speeding. Or a company who will be able to help?

Will i fit? I am just under 6 1" and not skinny.
Is there anyone in the reading area i could pop round to see if i do indeed fit?

Many thanks to all those who replie

[Edited on 15/5/07 by larrythelathe]

welcome along

Reliability for kit cars is mainly down to the build quality and maintenance. No personal experience with bike engined cars or BECs, but from the number of them around they must be OK for reliability.

Yes you will fit in an Indy without a problem.

A perspex aeroscreen will cost you anywhere between £35-70 and about an hour to fit.

A full glass screen will cost you ~£230 from memory. Contact "mangogrooveworkshop" on this forum - he makes and supplies windscreen kits specifically for the Indy.

HTH
Nick


Edit to say...
Looks like a tidy well specced car to me.

[Edited on 15/5/07 by nick205]

Hi Larry,

First of all welcome to the site.

In answer to your questions.....

Bike engines seem to be pretty reliable in cars, generally bikes engines are pretty well built and the Fireblade in a car is pretty bulletproof. You main get through a clutch quicker than a car clutch but then again it's alot cheaper for a new one.

It really depends on what you're going to use the car for, generally for road use everday I wouldn't recomend one but then again for outright fun you can't beat them.

You could get a screen no problem but I'd suggest maybe drive it first and see how it feels, most people just wear goggles or if worried then wear a helmet, the aeroscreen it has on it will direct all the air over your head anyway.

Insurance would be fine I'd suggest on a limited mileage which is how these cars are generally insured, someone else a similar age will be able to confirm this hopefully.

I'm 6ft 4in and 20 stone and I fit so in answer to your question you will definitely fit in it no problems, my car is identical, MK Indy Fireblade.

Sorry can't help with taking you out in mine as in Sussex but if you are ever down this way let me know.

Hope that helps,
Rich.

[Edited on 15/5/07 by shortie]

Larry - I'm in Basingstoke if that helps? I also have a MK Indy but one with a slightly bigger and more powerful engine. Mine's a GSXR1000 - pictures in my achive. I'm debating selling mine at the moment just as I don't use it enough but if you'd like to come to have a look without any obligations whatsoever please drop me a line.

Bike engines are fine for reliability, I've had more issues with my MK4 Golf than my Indy!

Insurance is really quite reasonable once you're over 25. I pay less than £178 now fully comp with one claim within the last five years (not on the Kit Car on another policy)

As you can see I don't have a screen but enjoy the "wind in your face" type drive! I wear glasses at moderate speeds and lovely weather and a bike helmet when it's not!

Feel free to pop over to Basingstoke if you want to see what sort of car you could get!

Hi Larry

Glad you went straight to the BEC side!

Insurance, I'm 33, had four points for speeding when I first insured it, got a ZZR1100 Indy, fully comp, £7,500 agreed value, 7,500 miles per year for £150. Then I put the missus on the insurance and it dropped to £135! That's with sureterm direct. Oh and they threw in a Green Card and European breakdown cover, just in case I need to scratch that Nurburging itch this year!

As Nick said it'll be as reliable as the guy who built it, the guy who owned the bike the engine came out of and how the engine came to come out of the bike (if you know what I mean).

I've been on the road for 3,000 miles now, in just over 18 months. No way it's as reliable as an Audi A4 TDi, but it's a damn sight more fun.

Be prepared to spend some time under the bonnet. A BEC will need oil / filter changes more frequently than the manufacturer recommends.

Other than that they are pretty light on wear on springs, shocks and brakes.

Cheers

Mike

McLannahan many thanks i would love to pop round i am in tadley in fact so not far at all.
my email is larrythelathe@msn.com if you could send me your number

Many thanks to you all i just want to check the engines were not really stressed.
I guess you could get a replacement easy enough

did this car sell in the end?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK-Indy-Factory-Built-in-2006-R1-powered_W0QQitemZ280112224656QQihZ018QQcategoryZ29750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Welcome Larry,
You will fit easy in a Indy I am over 6ft and rather fat aswell.
My fly screen was from Mac#1 and was £35 ish.
Insurance, considering the performance you have is usually reasonable but shop around a bit. Mine was £160 ish with recovery included.
Have fun.
Steve.

quote:

---

Originally posted by larrythelathe
McLannahan many thanks i would love to pop round i am in tadley in fact so not far at all.
my email is larrythelathe@.com if you could send me your number

---

Hi

Bike Engine cars are perfectly reliable

there extremely fast

I was 21(23 now) when I had my first Indy R1

agreed value of 10k

they dont use your NCD on the kit car

it cost me £420

let us know how you get on

i have a zx9 indy and a zetec striker either 1 is for sale



forgot to add with removable rollbars now






[Edited on 15/5/07 by snoopy]

quote:

---

Originally posted by larrythelathe
Hoping you guys could help me I have been looking at buying a built kit car for some time. I have seen this on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK-INDY-FIREBLADE_W0QQitemZ320114353340QQihZ011QQcategoryZ29750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

JUD: Welcome aboard - thats a nice looking car at a reasonably sensible price.

I am hoping you guys could answer some questions for me.

How reliable are bike engines in cars?

JUD: Pretty good, clutches/gearboxes can be a little fragile, but so long as you break a few bad habits (e.g. engine breaking) then you will be fine. Remember you won't get reverse gear!

How easy/much would it be to get a screen for this car?

JUD: Wouldn't bother really. If you stick a screen on it then the wind will merely smack you in the side/back of the head. Accept it will be windy and that you will need a crash helmet.

A rough idea on insurance I am 28 with 5 years no claims but 3 points for speeding. Or a company who will be able to help?

JUD: Well I am slightly older than that (!) and pay £160. You should get something for £200 or less with no problem. Adrian Flux have a 15% discount with MK Owners Club (www.mkownersclub.net) and BEC Owners club (www.becowners.co.uk).

Will i fit? I am just under 6 1" and not skinny.
Is there anyone in the reading area i could pop round to see if i do indeed fit?

JUD: I am 6'1" and also built for comfort - you will fit easily. I am north of Oxford and always looking for a reason for a run out somewhere different. Give me a shout if you want to meet up - my car is not (and will never be) for sale though!!

Many thanks to all those who replie

[Edited on 15/5/07 by larrythelathe]

---

thanks to all been blown away by how helpfull everyone is on here.

One more qeustion how is the lack of reverse? is it a problem?
How much is a reverse? Are they easly fitted?

What sort of money do you have in mind?

quote:

---

Originally posted by JUD

quote:

---

Originally posted by larrythelathe
Hoping you guys could help me I have been looking at buying a built kit car for some time. I have seen this on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK-INDY-FIREBLADE_W0QQitemZ320114353340QQihZ011QQcategoryZ29750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

JUD: Welcome aboard - thats a nice looking car at a reasonably sensible price.

I am hoping you guys could answer some questions for me.

How reliable are bike engines in cars?

JUD: Pretty good, clutches/gearboxes can be a little fragile, but so long as you break a few bad habits (e.g. engine breaking) then you will be fine. Remember you won't get reverse gear!

How easy/much would it be to get a screen for this car?

JUD: Wouldn't bother really. If you stick a screen on it then the wind will merely smack you in the side/back of the head. Accept it will be windy and that you will need a crash helmet.

A rough idea on insurance I am 28 with 5 years no claims but 3 points for speeding. Or a company who will be able to help?

JUD: Well I am slightly older than that (!) and pay £160. You should get something for £200 or less with no problem. Adrian Flux have a 15% discount with MK Owners Club (www.mkownersclub.net) and BEC Owners club (www.becowners.co.uk).

Will i fit? I am just under 6 1" and not skinny.
Is there anyone in the reading area i could pop round to see if i do indeed fit?

JUD: I am 6'1" and also built for comfort - you will fit easily. I am north of Oxford and always looking for a reason for a run out somewhere different. Give me a shout if you want to meet up - my car is not (and will never be) for sale though!!

Many thanks to all those who replie

[Edited on 15/5/07 by larrythelathe]

---

---

his car isnt for sale

reverse is no problem the car weighs 450kg

pushes back easy

just plan ahead when you drive

oops sorry wrong qoute
how much are you after for the indy?

quote:

---

Originally posted by snoopy
i have a zx9 indy and a zetec striker either 1 is for sale



forgot to add with removable rollbars now






[Edited on 15/5/07 by snoopy]

---

That car is my old car

I'm 6 foot 4 too, the foot peddle spacing is a little tight for size 12s but a bit of bending the peddles out slightly helps.

Though I need to sort out insurance as Footman Jimbo or whatever wanted £330 for £4500 agreed value and I'm 38 in a quite ordinary area.

quote:

---

Originally posted by snoopy
i have a zx9 indy and a zetec striker either 1 is for sale

[Edited on 15/5/07 by snoopy]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ReMan

quote:

---

Originally posted by snoopy
i have a zx9 indy and a zetec striker either 1 is for sale

[Edited on 15/5/07 by snoopy]

---

Snoop, can I ask wheer you sourced the clamps for the removable bit please?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by larrythelathe
thanks to all been blown away by how helpfull everyone is on here.

One more qeustion how is the lack of reverse? is it a problem?
How much is a reverse? Are they easly fitted?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by woodster
That car is my old car

---

is it possible to fit a reverse though? being 5' 7" and 11 stone I may struggle more than you guys pushing it backwards. I know theres an option of having a special gearbox made which I am not bothered about, but is it possible to add an electric motor or something? ultimately I am sure you are all right but it is nice to know your options.

hi mate plenty of different options

some reckon theyve done there own reverse box most go for the one westfield have etc there a few hundred quid and sought after second hand

believe me when I say you could push it backwards 450kg and 4 wheels easy stuff

or you could do what I did on my first build push it back, start sweating, realise it hasnt budged, much think oh god this is heavy

then notice the brakes are binding

chris