Probein

Just been looking around on PistonHeads, and came across:

Kit Cars : 2003 mk indy fireblade

Looked up some vids on Youtube of MK's in action, and dear god they are absolutely unbelievable. I've always wanted a motorbike, but haven't been keen on the risks involved. I know a kit car isn't exactly safe, but it's a little safer than a motorbike. Coupled with the fact that they're cheap to run and insure, I think it might be a good move for me in the future.

Anyway, my main question is: as a complete mechanical NUB, would it be viable to buy something like the one above? If something horrible went wrong, would it be really, really difficult to find somebody to look at it and repair it? I'd do my best to learn the absolute basics, but as I said I'm really not mechanically minded (i just like going fast ).

Any tips?

Cheers!

The Chief

been looking at Indys myself and the general consenus i can get is if you are spending the majority of time on the road maybe a car engine will be better, however the bike engined versions are a bit more raw - but who cares if it is a weekend toy.


Kit Cars : 2003 mk indy fireblade bike engined


Kit Cars : MK INDY 2.0 pinto car engined.


A lot of car for the money

The Chief

With regards to mechanical - i would imagine a competant biek mechanic would be able to work on these as the engines are so acessable

Probein

Thanks for the reply mate.

I'd be using it only for weekend/track use, so I think a bike engined car would be alright.

And yea, I was thinking a decent bike mechanic could probably do work... A good friend of mine is a bike mechanic, so might be able to get him roped in.

Nido

Do you know what year blade engine it is using? They start at 893, then 918, 929, 954 and finally 998 cc, going from carbed to injected at the 929 stage. Each step has it's own charachter!

The Chief

A bike engined Mk looks ideal.

If you've got a mate whos a mechanic i think your pretty much sorted.

go for it

Brendan Hughes

Note that kit cars are (were) often built by highly competent mechanics, who are (were) bloody awful electricians.

Should have been progress since "my day" as I think many kits now offer ready-made looms for sale, but there's a warning for you.

Tidgy

z-cars do bike powered mini's and lotus elise replica's

finchyboy

If you plan to use it on the road look for something with a 2.0 Zetec in it preferably on throttle bodies. The bike engined stuff is better left for full on trackday weapons.

classic Subaru Si

is it true that the reverse gear's are crap on the bike engines - if they even have that option?? Been looking at the mini's with R1 engines in them - would love a play in one!! Anypone got a link for z cars??

classic Subaru Si

ignore that, just found it - they have got some real tasty mini's there, look like they know what they are doing too!! $00bhp turboed busa engine in a mini, or elise - Jesus, moses & doggy style Mary!!!

Tidgy

zcars.org.uk

Bald Speed Racing

Pro-Motive - Home for a fwd drive version ran by my mate Darren

The Chief

Seems quite expensive as the kit is 5k plus an engine and a car.

My buddy in the Smacs can do these with a Busa engine in it and i'm sure he would not charge anything like that - with engine