Yes they only do it as there is no way in hell a 40 year old bike could pass the current mot but a lot of folk don't realize that if the bike is not kept in roadworthy condition it can be impounded.
This is a really stupid economic revision. It will save the government some cash & potentially allow unroadworthy vehicles on the road. I run a 1978 MG (so have an insight) and l think a six month test for vehicles over 40 would be more appropriate. Modern vehicle construction & build quality is really good whereas a 1970's car, built on a friday, with filament bulbs, glass fuses and poorly structured wiring is inherently unreliable. As for my 1977 DT Yamaha..the brakes never gave worked well..lol..😂
Ktrev the problem is really simple they will never pass a rolling road brake test and the majority of testers have no clue how older vehicles work so can say if they meet a roadworthy state. So the problem has been passed on to police and DVSA vehicle inspectors. You can still take any car or bike to have it inspected if your not to good at maintenance. If in doubt contact classic car or motorcycle clubs they will have plenty of advice for the folk with less experience.
Maybe they figure that anyone who can keep a forty or fifty year old bike on the road, knows what they are doing. I find that other motorists act differently towards me. Had some clutch(nightmare problems) in heavy rush hour traffic, but no one hassled me. Also yesterday just a fuse/ no lights or brake lights problem at dusk. Police followed me a few miles, but didn't hassle me.
My bike is 40 next year and I will be glad to get rid of the MOT stress. I also wouldn't take it on a road if it wasn't safe, so it gets looked after pretty well. Maybe I should throw a birthday party!
Iv'e often thought the way the isle of man is governed should be adopted by the British parliment. Last time l was on the island an individual who trespassed on the closed road circuit went straight to jail for four days and on release was banned from the island for life....
All my bikes are now mot free, and although both my 1978 laverda jotas and my laverda 750sf with still out perferm brand new bikes in every way including reliability and still have Italian style in spades.
I'm not sure I like what's being said here, I think all things used on public roads should reach a minimum mot standard. Leaving brakes aside there is no reason why steering and wheel bearings shouldn't comply with the mot standard and lights if fitted should be able to comply. As for brakes they should work efficiently, it's not hard to do a static test to a reasonable standard. I'm sure if your child was killed on the road you would not be happy if the police said it's ok because it's a 50 year old motorcycle and you can't expect the brake's to work well. I'm not having a go at owners of older bikes, I have old cars and bikes with the oldest being a 1925 AJS which I would not use on the road if the brake's did not work
Not such a bad idea ,I have a 22 year old Ninja 900, I had the front capilers overhauled for an MOT .It cost £90 labour only .Shortly after they seized on and I got a broken thumb . The work was done by an MOT tester .Another bike had the the rear disc deemed warped but it was badly put on by same mechaic and ithe wheel wobbled !!! but it passed . It took 120 psi to blow it on straight. I'm dreading sending both bikes through again ; its all n the eye of the tester. Maybe mechanics need to improve their service. Yours disillusioned
I hear what your saying Bill but if your are involved in an accident and they think there is a problem with the bike or car it will be seized and checked over by police vehicle inspectors and if it is unfit for the road you will be done. So if you are in a position to own a bike or car you have to keep it in road worthy condition. All decent mot stations will be happy to inspect your bike or car and give you a report as to its roadworthy condition
I've several bikes that no longer require either mot or tax. Last time I had one of them mot'd I thought I would save myself some effort and asked they check it over before moting it. As soon as the mechanic asked where to plug his laptop in I realised my error. Took it elsewhere for the ticket and never been back since. As I do all my own spannering and resto's I know my work on my old bikes is very much better than modern bike shops will do.
I'm sure all of us can find a mot station that we trust and wouldn't take a bike out that we thought unsafe, but surely most of us have had a vehicle fail it's mot at some time, I know I have and if it hadn't been for the mot I would of been out on the road with it, I've also had friends with bikes that have defects on them who have died on them bikes but unfortunately it's not always them self's they kill and it could be our family so yes I think all vehicles should have a mot
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