Building a bike - dvla/insurance question

[SAMMY650]

Hi, This may be a silly question but if I were to put a bike together using parts from various different makes/models, what would need to be declared/done (if anything) in regards to DVLA/insurance etc? eg, if i were to put a kawasaki engine in a suzuki frame with honda fairings etc.

What would I have to declare the bike as? Would it be based on whichever engine was used?

any info and advice much appreciated

[lily]

DVLA is registered on the chasis number of cars, so would be the chasis number of the bike which is the frame number?! AFAIK

When people sell frames on here they sell them with the V5 as that is part of that bike!

[SAMMY650]

Cheers lily, wasnt sure whether it was engine or frame number they'd need. Thanks for the info.

[yorkie_chris]

Hi, This may be a silly question but if I were to put a bike together using parts from various different makes/models, what would need to be declared/done (if anything) in regards to DVLA/insurance etc? eg, if i were to put a kawasaki engine in a suzuki frame with honda fairings etc.

What would I have to declare the bike as? Would it be based on whichever engine was used?

any info and advice much appreciated

Chassis number from frame, engine number and capacity from your new engine... that's it. The rest of the parts the DVLA don't care about.

Obviously if you have fitted new clocks, you need to declare this if you sell it as to do otherwise would be to mislead buyer about the mileage of the vehicle.


The DVLA can sometimes be a royal pain if you put a SMALLER engine into a bike, they don't seem to care if you want to put an 1100cc into a C90, but you try put a 599cc engine into a bike that's normally 601cc and they'll raise holy hell. They have also been known to be a PITA about putting smaller engines in even when remaining in the same tax band. W*nkers!

[SAMMY650]

So if i give them frame & engine numbers and engine cc, i assume il have to explain that the bike has been build from different makes or will they still ask for the Manufacturer name and model name? If so, what do I declare it as???
And will I have to register it from scratch or ,if i can find one, can i just use the numberplate that goes with the frame/V5 i have brought?

[yorkie_chris]

No don't explain anything. Just put the new details on the V5 and send it off.

Yea, you keep VIN plate, same one, same frame number, same reg etc.

It's the same bike just with a different engine. The DVLA aren't that interested in details of whether you happen to have a GSXR1000 (engine, suspension, bodywork) that happens to be sat in a GS1000 frame... it would still be "A GS1000"

[jambo]

I would imagine the bike is still listed as being whatever the frame's from.

So a CBR engine in a ZX6R frame with R6 bodywork, suspension and wheels, would, to my mind be a ZX6R, with a change of colour & engine number.

Your insurance company may view things differently, however.

Jambo

[embee]

Insurance is a different kettle of fish, they will want to know every detail.

[SAMMY650]

Im prepared for the insurance to be a bit of a pain in the backside. But the DVLA info was the part that concerned me the most.

Many thanks everyone for the replies

[yorkie_chris]

carol nash do good and understanding streetfighter/custom/chop policies as do falcon bikes :)

[SAMMY650]

carol nash do good and understanding streetfighter/custom/chop policies as do falcon bikes :)

Excellent, cheers for that YC :)

[hongman]

So??? What you thinking of doing? Do tell!

[davepreston]

insurance ,just say complete custom and they go thru everthing with you

[allantheboss]

I might just put a 1198r engine in a chopper. This is a life-long dream of mine.

[andrewsmith]

I might just put a 1198r engine in a chopper. This is a life-long dream of mine.

Nah
rsv4 engine in a Pointy frame

[Biker Biggles]

Ive got a 1977 built up special.Its a Rickman frame with a Kawasaki Z1000 engine.On the V5 its logged as Rickman Kawasaki.Its currently off the road on Sorn,but I didnt used to have any issues insuring it,but I had to speak to someone in person to get a quote.

[suzukigt380paul]

if you tell the dvla you have a different engine number evan if it is the same sort of engine, they will not send you a new v5 untill you can prove what cc it is and what type of fuel it takes,and will ask for an enginers report or some other qualifed person,which has to be on headed paper before they will even consider giveing you a v5,a lot of red tape,far easyer to get v5 with engine and stamp frame number or weld that part on some where and not change the v5,if you get v5 with engine and then change frame number you will end up with a q reg

[Biker Biggles]

if you tell the dvla you have a different engine number evan if it is the same sort of engine, they will not send you a new v5 untill you can prove what cc it is and what type of fuel it takes,and will ask for an enginers report or some other qualifed person,which has to be on headed paper before they will even consider giveing you a v5,a lot of red tape,far easyer to get v5 with engine and stamp frame number or weld that part on some where and not change the v5,if you get v5 with engine and then change frame number you will end up with a q reg

That sounds like "ringing" to me and is probably bad advice if you want a legal bike.