Motorbike MOT

[Howitzer]

Can anyone run through how they do these?

I know about car MOTs, but wondered how the bike ones differ. My Bike hasn't really got up to temp in the past 6 months so I need to give it a half decent run to the test centre and a fresh tank of fuel, but anything in particular worth checking?

Dave!

[trumpet600]

I got a fail recently because the indicators were showing a white light. The orange paint on the bulb itself had worn off. Sorted it out on the spot, but they were prepared to fail it on this.

[podman]

All common sense, much easier and quicker than a car MOT, apart from checking the usual like lights and brakes, check head and wheel bearings,swing arm pivot for play..some testers will insist on a red reflector showing to the rear, some dont..just depends on how anal they are....that also applies to "race" exhausts/cans as well! My local chap doesnt give a fig about that sort of caper.

No emmisions checks as well( as long as the bike isnt obviously smoking)so thats a brucey bonus

[Steve_T]

The testers are over a bit of a barrel these days, because the VOSA types are checking more often and can and will request to retest all bikes passed that day. Any fails on race cans etc mean goodbye to being an MOT test station for the tester, hence not many folks will take a risk these days.

Steve.

[Howitzer]

Ahh, my bike has a carbon exhaust on, is there any CE marks etc I need to look out for? It's not that loud at idle or when revved at a standstill but is a bit growly when under load.

Dave!

[Howitzer]

I was sure I already replied to this?

I have a carbon exhaust silencer (Sorry, I refuse to say Can haha) so what marking needs to be seen for it to pass an MOT?

Dave!

[Steve_T]

If it's not stamped, then I expect it is down to the tester's discretion and their opinion of the noise level versus a standard system. If it's stamped with the CE mark you should be fine. If it is marked, "not for road use" or "competition use only" or whatever then your bike will probably be failed. My bikes always go in for the MOT with a standard system fitted. Do you have the original you can drop in there?

[D1 MAD]

Here you go.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/mc_contents.htm

[Howitzer]

Sadly I only have the exhaust which is fitted to the bike, i'll have a nose round it tomorrow and see if I can spot anything.

Cheers for the link !!

Dave!

[Wedg1e]

They even have to rolling-road test the brakes these days: bit of an eye-opener for me as the last bike MOT I had done was in 1993/4... they had to think about the ST's linked brakes though because it needs the front wheel to be rotating in order for the slave cylinder to apply the rear brake when you use the front lever.
I just got all complimentary about the owners' bikes (even though some only Pigeon would be seen dead on - let's see if he reads this) and they gave me a pass (just an advisory for rear pads as they didn't know me from Adam so I could be a DOT plant).
One of the bikes is a Chinese copy (or re-used tooling) of a 1940s BMW - down to the open shaft-drive and cabled drums!