Legality of of pushing broken bike?

Legality of of pushing broken bike?

Author
Discussion

Timfy

Original Poster:

318 posts

118 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
I need to move a motorcycle out of what is now my exes garden and to my garage so I can get it sorted for spring.

It currently won't start (something electrical, probably battery but due to being stuck where it is I'm unable to properly look at it) and is SORN with no MOT/TAX.

The distance is 3.7 miles door to door, but does go past a big police/council depot on a main road.


How much trouble would I be likely to get into if I got caught pushing it there? I'm thinking very early morning so there's fewer pedestrians etc about. I don't have a trailer or van and money is a bit tight for renting one, It's basically round the corner but would not want to get into any expensive bother over it.... frown

Edited by Timfy on Thursday 29th December 06:03

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

156 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
Pushing a motorbike for 3.7 miles, are you mad?

Have a word with a local dealer, they will have a equipped van and may move it for you for a few quid.

Timfy

Original Poster:

318 posts

118 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
It's not very far, the route used to be my daily walk to work & I could use the exercise. biglaugh

I might have a mate with a trailer but need a plan B in case it can't be moved in time before it's at risk of getting trashed by ex. frown

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
Why not book it in for its mot?

spikeyhead

17,222 posts

196 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
The Spruce goose said:
Why not book it in for its mot?
Because it won't start!

Mercky

642 posts

134 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
spikeyhead said:
The Spruce goose said:
Why not book it in for its mot?
Because it won't start!
I think you've missed the point here..

peterperkins

3,147 posts

241 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
Technically if you push it on the road/pavement for any reason it needs insurance/tax and mot as you are 'using' it.

If you go the pre booked mot route then it still needs insurance even to push it.

Most sensible officers assuming you pass the attitude test would not get into a lather about it.

Pushing it in the early hours would certainly attract my attention.

I suggest get a mate with a van to move it, or as a last resort push it during the day with a crash helmet on your arm to make it look like it's broken down on the journey (assuming it looks roadworthy).


Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
Try your local town Facebook group for a man with a van. Someone may offer to do it for a lot less than hiring a van.

Timfy

Original Poster:

318 posts

118 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
Cheers it does look roadworthy for a 30 year old bike that lives in a garden (if it started there's no reason it shouldn't be as I've spent £££ and a couple of hundred hours making it so over the past eight months, it's basically finished ready for MOT, then just suddenly started refusing to work on the day I'd planned to call and book one.)

If I can get it to my garage I hope it'll be ridable and safe for MOT after a weekend of fettling but can't do that where it is. frown

It wouldn't be stupidly early as there's plenty of trouble with bike thieves in the area so wouldn't want to stand out by looking like a blatant wrong'un.

I'll see if I can get the trailer sorted this week otherwise I might have to chance it one Sunday morning.


Good shout on the man with a van used a local guy to move a bed recently and was cheap as chips. smile


Edited by Timfy on Thursday 29th December 07:22

dacouch

1,172 posts

128 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
I would make sure you have ownership documnets in order as they may think you have stolen it and want to check ownership

blitzracing

6,387 posts

219 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
At what point is it a motor vehicle if its not self propelled- and just a peace of metal you are moving? Remove the chain just to prove a point that it wont go under its own steam?

sherbertdip

1,097 posts

118 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
I know you say money is tight, but it will be a whole lot worse if you are nabbed for no insurance, tax and MOT, you have to weigh up the risks and work out which scenario is worse for you.

In the same position I would get a few quotes for a quick man van hire or even a 1/2 day van hire, plus ( i know it sounds daft) but pushing a bike that far you could injure yourself and/or drop the bike.

Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
blitzracing said:
At what point is it a motor vehicle if its not self propelled- and just a peace of metal you are moving? Remove the chain just to prove a point that it wont go under its own steam?
By comparison, removing the engine from a car but placing it on the road would not remove the need for insurance. It is a motor vehicle. It's ability to be ridden is not the test in law, as I understand it.

Durzel

12,232 posts

167 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
I suspect pushing and controlling something that heavy will feel a lot different than merely walking that distance.

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
I tried to push a big bike that wouldn't start about half a mile at the most. It is a LOT more difficult than you think!

Where abouts are you based? On the off chance that you are around the Glasgow area i'd happily move it on a trailer for you.

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
You say the exercise is no bad thing.
It'll be over in less than an hour.
In your position the only question I would be asking myself is if I could be bothered to push it.
These threads are just depressing. Everybody should be telling you to get on with, what are you worrying about etc. Yet all this paranoid guff comes up. If it's a non-runner then nobody can suggest you 'could' have been using it, so why worry about it?
Things have got so bad in this country that people worry about inadvertantly committing crimes when doing all manner of harmless activities.

Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
Break it down into smaller bits and carry them or put them into your boot.

SS2.

14,455 posts

237 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
cmaguire said:
If it's a non-runner then nobody can suggest you 'could' have been using it...
The police could.

Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
cmaguire said:
Stuff
No insurance is an absolute offence. These threads are handy to remind people of the risks. How they then choose to proceed is up to them.

Better that than lots of people saying "do it" and then a follow up thread of "being done for no insurance or tax but I was only pushing it - advice please"

Given the choice between £20 and a man in a van vs a large fine and 6 points, I know which I'd take.

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
SS2. said:
The police could.
Ask them to start it then.
Are we really this petty now?
It would be more risky if he tried pushing a fully loaded wheelbarrow with bricks in it. He could get tired and tip it over. A brick might land on someone's foot, or end up on the road and have a cyclist off.
It doesn't bear thinking about.