How to begin riding an enduro sidecar

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David Williams and Aled Jones at the Welsh Two Day Enduro

Cornering in the Colstey Woods So how do I start, and how much will it cost?
To start, if you are able to and there is one scheduled, it is probably worth attending one of the BSEA Fun Days where you can chat to both expert and clubman riders and passengers. You will be able to passenger, and will probably be able to have a go driving as well. Many drivers are willing to let a prospective competitor have a go on their bike, and will help with any initial difficulties. Alternatively, you might like to consider visiting Trail Rides Wales where you can try a sidecar either on farm land or greenlaning.

The cheapest outfit registered for the road will cost you around Ł1000 (unless you are very lucky and pick up a bargain!) but for Ł2,000 or more you should be able to get a good useable outfit. A completely new outfit costs between Ł8,000 and Ł14,000.

Older sidecars will often have Kawasaki KX500 or Honda CR500 engines (both two-stroke) and can be a good buy to begin with. Spares are still readily available. Frames are usually KHR, BSU, EML or VMC, or if more than 15 years old, Wasp. Electric start four-strokes are becoming increasingly popular, but people who have decided to put a four-stroke engine in a frame designed for a two-stroke have often found it far from easy! Big two-strokes such as an MTH (a Zabel/Maico derivitive) are often the choice of the experts.

You may choose to convert a motocross outfit by adding lights. You only need to register it if you want to do some greenlaning and the Powys and the Welsh Two Days which include roadwork. I have never known any of the other events check whether the lights work! The events with roadwork and some of the others in forestry may have several miles on forest roads, so wide spaced gearboxes (found if your engine comes from a trail or enduro bike) are an advantage, although plenty of successful riders have made do with motocross engines which have closer ratio gearboxes, leading to a lack of top speed. Refuelling on a long distance event can also be a problem with a motocross engine, and if a larger tank is hard to find, a simple solution is to fit hooks and bungee a spare can in a suitable place out of the way on the floor. tricky hill

Welsh two day special test To register a bike you need to get it MoT'd and insured (using the frame number) and then make an appointment with your local DVLA office. When you take it there, they will check the frame and engine numbers match your application. You have to pay a fee plus the road tax due, and usually they will issue you with the registration number and tax disc on the same day. It can be an awkward process but enduro bikes are exempt from SVA.

Entry fees for events are about Ł50 for one day and Ł90 for two days. Most of the championship events are in Wales. If you take part in the Powys and the Welsh Two Days you need to MoT, tax and insure your bike. However, if your insurance policy excludes taking part in competitions, at each event with roadwork you can buy supplementary insurance from the ACU's insurers when you sign on at the event. (Scroll down to end of page for the criteria).

I have known a few people who have bought an outfit and entered an event with no practice beforehand. This is not a very good idea! Some have had some nasty crashes! Others have found it too hard and given up for good. This is a pity, as enduros are very rewarding when you get it right!

Take it slowly when you begin and start with some hare and hounds events. With a hare and hounds, you only have to cross the finish line after the alotted time to achieve a finish. If you get tired you can stop and rest! However, in an enduro you have a set time to reach each 'check' and if you become more than one hour later over the course of the day, then you are not credited as a finisher - you have 'houred out'. I was told when I started that it would probably take me three years to finish an enduro without 'houring out', and it proved true. If you feel you are ready to tackle a 'proper' enduro, it is worth talking to current competitors about which one to do. The Welsh Two Days and the Powys are both single lap long distance events with a special test near the beginning and end of the day. There are no other events held like them, and are well worth entering at least once for the experience. Both fill up very quickly, so from January onwards you need to check whether the regs are out, and to enter as soon as they are.

Event insurance requirements: you need to meet the following criteria:

over 21 years of age and have held a full motorcycle licence for 6 months*
have had not more than one fault accident in the last three years
have had no convictions other than a maximum of six speeding points
have no physical or mental disabilities
have no other material facts to disclose. Material facts are those likely to influence the acceptance or assessment of your risk. Failure to disclose material facts may lead to the Insurer declaring the resultant cover to be null and void. If you are in any doubt about facts that may be considered to be material these should be disclosed for your own protection.
If you do not meet this criteria, you may still obtain cover, BUT you will need to fill a form which should be available from the event organiser, or direct from Locktons on 0161242 5163. You do not get a receipt for this insurance so cannot use it to get tax. If you were to need to make a claim, or prove you were insured, you would have to contact the Secretary of the Event who holds the cover note.

Cornering in the Colstey Woods	So how do I start, and how much will it cost? To start, if you are able to and there is one scheduled, it is probably worth attending one of the BSEA Fun Days where you can chat to both expert and clubman riders and passengers. You will be able to passenger, and will probably be able to have a go driving as well. Many drivers are willing to let a prospective competitor have a go on their bike, and will help with any initial difficulties. Alternatively, you might like to consider visiting Trail Rides Wales where you can try a sidecar either on farm land or greenlaning. The cheapest outfit registered for the road will cost you around Ł1000 (unless you are very lucky and pick up a bargain!) but for Ł2,000 or more you should be able to get a good useable outfit. A completely new outfit costs between Ł8,000 and Ł14,000.
Older sidecars will often have Kawasaki KX500 or Honda CR500 engines (both two-stroke) and can be a good buy to begin with. Spares are still readily available. Frames are usually KHR, BSU, EML or VMC, or if more than 15 years old, Wasp. Electric start four-strokes are becoming increasingly popular, but people who have decided to put a four-stroke engine in a frame designed for a two-stroke have often found it far from easy! Big two-strokes such as an MTH (a Zabel/Maico derivitive) are often the choice of the experts.
You may choose to convert a motocross outfit by adding lights. You only need to register it if you want to do some greenlaning and the Powys and the Welsh Two Days which include roadwork. I have never known any of the other events check whether the lights work! The events with roadwork and some of the others in forestry may have several miles on forest roads, so wide spaced gearboxes (found if your engine comes from a trail or enduro bike) are an advantage, although plenty of successful riders have made do with motocross engines which have closer ratio gearboxes, leading to a lack of top speed. Refuelling on a long distance event can also be a problem with a motocross engine, and if a larger tank is hard to find, a simple solution is to fit hooks and bungee a spare can in a suitable place out of the way on the floor.
	To register a bike you need to get it MoT'd and insured (using the frame number) and then make an appointment with your local DVLA office. When you take it there, they will check the frame and engine numbers match your application. You have to pay a fee plus the road tax due, and usually they will issue you with the registration number and tax disc on the same day. It can be an awkward process but enduro bikes are exempt from SVA. Entry fees for events are about Ł50 for one day and Ł90 for two days. Most of the championship events are in Wales. If you take part in the Powys and the Welsh Two Days you need to MoT, tax and insure your bike. However, if your insurance policy excludes taking part in competitions, at each event with roadwork you can buy supplementary insurance from the ACU's insurers when you sign on at the event. (Scroll down to end of page for the criteria).
I have known a few people who have bought an outfit and entered an event with no practice beforehand. This is not a very good idea! Some have had some nasty crashes! Others have found it too hard and given up for good. This is a pity, as enduros are very rewarding when you get it right! Take it slowly when you begin and start with some hare and hounds events. With a hare and hounds, you only have to cross the finish line after the alotted time to achieve a finish. If you get tired you can stop and rest! However, in an enduro you have a set time to reach each 'check' and if you become more than one hour later over the course of the day, then you are not credited as a finisher - you have 'houred out'. I was told when I started that it would probably take me three years to finish an enduro without 'houring out', and it proved true. If you feel you are ready to tackle a 'proper' enduro, it is worth talking to current competitors about which one to do. The Welsh Two Days and the Powys are both single lap long distance events with a special test near the beginning and end of the day. There are no other events held like them, and are well worth entering at least once for the experience. Both fill up very quickly, so from January onwards you need to check whether the regs are out, and to enter as soon as they are. Event insurance requirements: you need to meet the following criteria: over 21 years of age and have held a full motorcycle licence for 6 months* have had not more than one fault accident in the last three years have had no convictions other than a maximum of six speeding points have no physical or mental disabilities have no other material facts to disclose. Material facts are those likely to influence the acceptance or assessment of your risk. Failure to disclose material facts may lead to the Insurer declaring the resultant cover to be null and void. If you are in any doubt about facts that may be considered to be material these should be disclosed for your own protection. If you do not meet this criteria, you may still obtain cover, BUT you will need to fill a form which should be available from the event organiser, or direct from Locktons on 0161242 5163. You do not get a receipt for this insurance so cannot use it to get tax. If you were to need to make a claim, or prove you were insured, you would have to contact the Secretary of the Event who holds the cover note.