Been thinking about getting a car (dont worry this will get bike related…), but had a little ‘idea’ but need some people to give some advice, cos I am not sure if this will work…
I want to get an MPV, like a 7-seater thing, so that I can drive my mates around (I don’t drink and dont mind being a cabbie ) and then I thought, well if the seats are removeable…could I get a motorbike in the back and then use the MPV as transportation to a trackday…
Now anyone with a 7-seater MPV? Can you get some measurements for me? i.e. volume of the space behind the drivers seat (length, width, height), and the make of the MPV…
Alright Ian - when I sold my CG 125 the bloke that bought it took it away in an old shape Toyota Previa which is a 7 seater and that fitted ok with the mirrors taken off as they added about an extra foot! I cant see that being too different height wise from a bigger bike but you’d have to unbolt the back seats I think to get a longer bike in a 7 seater.
there was someone with the very same idear @ silverstone. they had a chysler grand voyger(spelling:D) and they had a r1 in the back. though they did av to strip the fairing off it.
As luck would have it I have the very thing -but for different reasons…
I have a VW Caravelle 8 seater…it’s basically a VW Transporter with windows & seats, you can take all the seats out and it turns into a VW Transporter van with windows…They also do a version badged as a Transporter, which doesn’t benefit from the creature comforts mine has, but has the advantage of having rubber mats instead of carpets, which would probably be better for bikes…
Ford also do a version of their Transit called a tourneo which is a similar thing. I’ve driven one lots at work but I don’t know whether they have completely removable seats, & I can’t remember what the floor has on it. But it’s not as good to drive as mine, but then again the works ones I’ve driven would be a bit worse than normal having suffered from too many drivers…
When you come down you can have a look at my VW thing and see what you think…subject to you having insurance you can also have a drive…
Cheers guys, that is very helpful, looks like it might be a go-er…Mark: hi there mate, yeah the CG is a fairly small bike, but interesting he could get it to fit…
Frogga: Interesting, was it the whole fairing, or just like the screen or sommit?
Johnse1: Dude, that sounds pretty perfect! Will definitely have a look around when I come over, I wont be able to drive it, but everything sounds pretty peachy…
Yeah think the scenic and those will be a bit small, checking some of the internal dimensions of the interweb for the caravelle:
H: 1380 W: 920 L:2370
and for a GSXR 600
H: 1125 W: 715 L:2040
so the maths ‘kinda’ work, the width might be an issue cause it might have to go on the side stand… but the width quoted was with a column of seats still in…
A Mitsubishi Space Wagon MKII has seven seats, is pretty solid, reliable and drives like a car rather than a van. It’s too small to put a bike in though. My parents had one and I did 1000 miles in it when they went on holiday. My dad was not happy when he came back. I was only supposed to drive it to work and I drove it to the German border.
Hi Ian we used to have a toyata previa, k reg value now about 900 quid unbolted the middle seats and removed them folded the rear seats up got my lc 350 in the back no problem would fit an r1 or gsxr ect with out any hassle, it was a 2.4 petrol auto and was very worn out so petrol was used in vast amounts just get your self a van like me and bolt some seats in the back or throw a couple of large bean bags in there:D
thought about that, but not a big fan of driving with a trailer, especially as I have to do a lot of inner london driving to get to and from the circuits and I have no space to store a trailer…
Also the other factor is I want a vehicle that I can stick my mates in, and a 7 seater means more more of them can fit it…suzukisi - just imagine bean bags under acceleration and braking! interesting about the previa thoJoby - yeah the wagon is one of the smaller ones, i’m gonna have to think bigger than that…
ive tried that, trailers are a real pain compared with a van or people carrier, but johns idea is a cheaper option , providing you have some where to keep the trailer, but guess you aint as both your bikes where lifted a short while ago any news on them?
oh sorry bout that , get ur self a van lock your bike in the back on on side put seats or bean bags on the other side kill two birds with one stone so to speak:)
I got my ZZR1100 in a Chrysler Voyager (old square shape)…took off the screen and the front wheel and it went in OK. Wouldn’t want to do it every weekend though…
Cheap, tough, DIY servicable, and can fill up with people or bike and bits. *
And cr*p to drive any distance! They also hold their prices very well.
I’d like to say that I’ve a 1990 Renault Espace 7 seater, 2 owners from new, tired and bruised, 100K, 2 litre petrol for sale for £100 and it would be perfect. But I can’t.
Like most MPV’s, it looks big but the internal height just won’t do it. Nor will most.
If you want to go this route, buy a van based one. Or a crew cab pick up.
(Toyota Hi Ace Diesel? Not run in at 100K. But make sure it has a service history.)
iv got a o4 opel vivaro import,alarm,air con, cd ,power windows,mirrors,6 speed,glass rear doors will do 110 on good day,still has a restrictor on and will do a gen 35-40 to the gallon.had front side glass fitted cost abit 300 quid but is usefull.got two rear facing seats and 3 forward facing seats out off a old ldv these have seat belts built in .used aftermarket seat belts plates to secure the seats in so it takes 10 mins to take them out. u can get two sport bikes in,r1,636.got a folding alloy ramp to get them in. iv done 40k with no problems,just services and tyres.misses does a few shows with her dogs with and i do the odd track day its great van .my misses is 4 foot 8 and she loves driving it,she reckons she can see more,shame she never see the astra she run into on the m4 last year.