Is it illegal?

cbaz · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Karma :

Dropped my bandit the other day (yes I'm a bellend), held it quite well so not much damage. Snapped the ball off the end of the brake lever though, now I wasnt too bothered about this because I was planning to saw down both levers, and file the ends, however I've heard different things about whether this is legal. Anyone know for sure?

Flatbadger · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Karma :

I got my bike with the clutch lever half snapped off when the previous owner had dropped it. Not illegal, my DAS instructor saw it (used to be in the MET) and he recommended I get a replacement. He didn't mention anything about it being illegal.
____________________
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

It's not illegal as such. The way it's done may make it so, ie if there's sufficient reason to believe that it's been done in a way that's unsafe - otherwise the operation of the brake is the important thing. That is to say it can be applied without having to exert unreasonable force, can be done progressively and cleanly and has decent braking effort.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

It would fail an MOT though. I've had bikes fail for this before. Even when I neatly filed the broken end and painted it so it looked like it was meant to be like that.

Looking at the manual, I can't see what exactly they failed for but there you go.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

WillOdling · Nova Slayer Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Karma :

The ball in the end is a safety measure to stop it being sharp, much like the reason they removed front motorcycle number plates and the jaguar hood ornaments from jag bonnets etc. It's supposed to be kinder on impact.

It SHOULD Fail mot without a bulbous end but depends on tester.
____________________
2002 GSX R600

janner_10 · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Sep 2011 Karma :

If you find a good friendly tester, then he may pass it anyway.

Wouldn't harm getting one from a breakers and telling him you have a spare as its just fallen off on the way over!
____________________
Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

cbaz · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Karma :

Ok thanks, I'll probably file it down for now as its not long had its MOT

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

There is this from direct.gov.uk about the MOT

cbaz · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Karma :

The lad I bought it off must have slipped his MOT mech a tenner then, the front mudguard is cut into a point! Looks good but cant see how it passed. Been pulled a few times and the police have never said anything about it though.

Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

I had a similar "modification" after dropping the old GPZ, and snapped the ball off the end of the brake lever.

I filed the edge of the lever and gave it a dab of paint to cover up the broken end as a temporary measure, but I'm fairly sure it was replaced with a pattern part before the next MOT
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

yen_powell · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Karma :

My mate used to make a ball end from a bit of epoxy resin, which would then last the life of the lever (i.e. it totally snapped in half when he had a big crash) on his off road bike.
____________________
Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits