3 wheel motorcycles on 'B' licence?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Here's a question I've pulled out of another thread where maybe it'll get lost - I think it has relevance as a standalone question to benefit others though.

The 3 wheeler scooters / motocycles I see a lot around town these days are apparently able to be driven in the UK on a car licence. Does anyone know if this is the case Switzerland (and where would I find confirmation if so)? I suspect it's not the case but occasionally, something unexpected comes along to benefit us downtrodden motorists

Reminds me of the massive loophole (now closed) where people who were banned from driving (speeding, drinking etc.) were able to rent cars for the months they were banned (mainly Smart's) that were limited to 45Km/h since (in Geneva at least), you didn't need a licence for these. They cost a fortune to rent as compared other cars since demand was very much in their favour what with executives still needed to get to the office Once they started proliferating (and boy, did they!), it was noticed and the practice stopped.

Gary.

2
No, you need a motorcycle license.

Tom

3
Thanks, appreciate the answer

4
You are talking about the Can-Am Spyder?

The Importer Friedli Fahrzeuge AG says:

B license is o.k.

Edit: This forum needs the BBCode image resize option.

5
or do you mean something like this:

6
Well, I have a sidecar and that definitely needs an A license!

Tom

7
Small Trikes (less than 550 kg) needs a Cat. B1 license, Big bikes a Cat A. See Art. 3 VZV

Cat B and Cat A includes the B1 license See Art 4 VZV .

If it is legally considered as a trike or a bike depends on the front (or back) track width accroding to Art. 16 VTS . If the track width is less than 460mm both wheels are considered as one single wheel. Also the wheels need a symmetric configuration Art. 15 VTS , which motorcycles with sidecars do not have.

In the UK there is a similar law. Some of the Piaggio MP3 (see photo in previous post, not by me) have a track width that make them bikes. Some models have a track width that make them trikes, such as the Piaggio MP3 LT 400.

VZV : SR 741.51 Verordnung vom 27. Oktober 1976 über die Zulassung von Personen und Fahrzeugen zum Strassenverkehr (Verkehrszulassungsverordnung, VZV)

VTS: SR 741.41 Verordnung über die technischen Anforderungen an Strassenfahrzeuge (VTS)

8
What about those trikes with (usually) a VW motor in the back, are they trikes or bikes?

My Guzzi sidecar rig is 320kg, but is definitely a bike.

Tom

9
Edited post above to answer your comments and questions.

10
Piaggio did that change to a wider track on purpose to tap into the B license holders market segment.

11
Wow, you go off for a couple of meetings and come back to 10 messages on the subject - v. impressed

So, just to be extremely clear, I could go and buy that specific Piaggio model tomorrow and ride it on my 'B' licence?

Gary.

(Looking for Piaggio dealers )

12
Thanks all for the information, really appreciated!

Took a quick look online (autoscout among others) and saw a bunch of CanAms there (but a little too wide for where I'd be parking and a little expensive for what I had in mind). The Piaggio looks a reasonable option but I haven't seen any for sale up until now. I'll see if there are other "trikes" that fit into this market segment; if I get any kind of a "list", I'll post it back here for others to reference in the future (I can't be the only one considering this as a possibility for driving to / parking in a city).

Best,

Gary.

13
Piaggios on sale

14

Thanks, I think .... wasn't looking for an aircraft just yet (although was interested in getting my licence a couple of years ago - just ran out of time)

15
Whoops - looks like I inverted my Xmas list with yours

16
Hi. This thread is useful, but I am still lacking that one piece of information saying that I can actually drive the Piaggio 400 in Switzerland on driver's license "B".

I have contactet several Piaggio shops and they all say that I am not allowed. Please, some help please?