silly question about MOT

[bsquiggle]

Right, my bike is coming up for it's MOT - first time I've had a bike MOT'ed in UK.
If I take it for the test before the old one expires, and it fails, can I still legally ride it until I get the necessary work done?
I'm not expecting it to fail, and as far as I know it's completely safe, but I just want to check since I really don't want to have the work done in a garage if I can help it - prefer to do it myself, which means having to at the very least ride it home and possibly to get parts, or even to work until the next available weekend.

[instigator]

Yes, you can ride to a pre-booked appointment for an MOT or either to get work done FOR an mot.

I left a week between mine failing and then booking it in (same garage)...He was a little mystified at how I had done about 400 miles if I just took the bike straight home like I said I did.

[bsquiggle]

thanks. I'm wondering if the same still applies if the current MOT is still, well, current?

[instigator]

If it's current then surely, yes. I say surely becasue I#'m not 100% sure but all in all, you do have a valid MOT, and if it hasn't expired I don't see how there can be a problem with that.

https://www.ukmot.com/bike/1-4.asp

Not sure if that link helps, everyone just seems to post it.

[Ichy]

Absolutely no problem, in fact I think that if the MOT has at least a month on it then the new one can run for thirteen months.

Actually, thats assuming that there is nothing illegally dangerous on the bike, in which case they can refuse to allow you to ride it away. (might of just made that up )

[bsquiggle]

thanks - can i print this thread out to carry with me in case of trouble?

[david916]

An MOT is basically a yearly 'safety' check and although it remains valid for a year after the test is carried out it only really lets you know that the bike or car is ok after the test has been carried out on the actual day. Things can change a lot over the following year. The tyres, brakes and loads of other things all wear out. You should still maintain the vehicle in a legal and roadworthy condition during that time. When you take the vehicle in for a new MOT and it fails then it means there is something wrong with it and that MOT test (failure) then supercedes the previous MOT. Normally you would give the garage the old MOT so that the new one runs for a full year from the expiry date of the old one, but if you don't give them the old one and it is still in your possession then the vehicle should not really be driven/ridden as it is now deemed unroadworthy and illegal. If the police found out the vehicle had failed an MOT you could be reported for using a vehicle without a valid MOT (they would need to prove you knew it had since failed) and they would also report you for offences with regard to the defects the vehicle failed on if you were driving/riding on a road! If your vehicle was involved in a serious or fatal accident the vehicle would almost certainly be examined by the police and the faults would then come to light. You might end up being prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving/riding (condition) if it was a contributory factor in the collision. There is an anomoly in the law however, that you can take a vehicle with no MOT, or one that has previously failed an MOT, to a garage for a test provided there is a pre-booked appointment. If you got stopped the police would probably check with the garage you stated you had made an appointment at to make sure you were telling the truth. They would not be pleased if they found out you were 'fibbing' and you would suddenly feel books being thrown at you!
It's not worth it. If it fails then it's dangerous so get it fixed and re-MOT'd asap or scrap it if it's not worth repairing. Don't risk driving/riding without a valid MOT.
Hope this helps.
https://www.ridesafe.org.uk
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Currently own/regularly ride :
Suzuki SV1000S K4

[david916]

Also, you're allowed the journey to/from home (or wherever the vehicle is normally kept within reason) and the MOT testing station. If the faults on the vehicle are found to be serious then the tester will advise you about driving/riding the vehicle home and point out the consequences. If you were subsequently involved in an accident then the tester might be called as a witness against you in court!

https://www.ridesafe.org.uk
____________________
Currently own/regularly ride :
Suzuki SV1000S K4

[bsquiggle]

[Walloper]

https://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/MotArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10016070&chk=vzsMb2
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[stinkwheel]

[Kickstart]

[Ichy]

Just found this on https://www.motester.co.uk/qanda2.html

MOT CERTIFICATE VALID UNTIL FAILURE DATE
A friend of mine maintains that if you have a car MOT Tested before the expiry date she will have 2 weeks in which to repair / drive it before it is illegal. I am under the understanding that once the MOT has expired you are not permitted to drive at all unless going to and from a place of repair (MOT Garage or otherwise). Please can you clairfy the correct and legal thing to do. Many Thanks, Dan Clark

Your MOT is valid until its expiry date even if in the meantime your
car fails the MOT - the original pass is still valid. In fact you can have the Test done up to a calendar month before the expiry date and have the new MOT forward-dated to the expiry date of the existing certificate. So if you have your car Tested during that month and it fails, this gives you time to have the repairs carried out and the car re-tested before the expiry of the original certificate and you are not disadvantaged as a result. - MOTT.

[instigator]

Since this topic is now answered, could I butt in and ask away so to save on more bumff floating about on this forum?

I'll take that as a 'yes', thanks.

On the hornet, I had fitted some flush mounted indicators to get around the silly high level exhaust clashing problem. They are clear lenses, instead of orange ones. (I asked for orange, but I needed them so didn't ask for a refund) What I'll do if they do need to be replaced is beyond me as I don't have any space/any connections to the numberplate bracket to hold normal indicators on.

Do I need orange one's on the bike to pass it's MOT?

Also, how do you go about rigging in one of these LED number palte lights? The hornet AND sv need one becasue they have stupid replacement undertrays. On the wiring loom, you have the usual, back brake connection, indicator connections and I presume another for the back brake light. Where would you connect the LED connections?

Why people bother with such stupid accessories is beyond me if you have to change all this pish about every year.

[Ichy]

Clear indicators are ok as long as they flash orange which is just the bulb colour. Main problem with the MOT is that there is a minimum size for your indicators, can't remember what it is tho'.

All bikes start with number plate lights so the led connects to those, if they don't exist then use the rear light wiring.

[instigator]

Top man, cheers.

I understand the indicators have to be spaced by a minimum of 23cm?

Hmm... Not sure how that affects flush mounted indicators.

[Ichy]

Mine literally sit each side of the number plate, so I guess thats slightly under the limit but the bloke doing the MOT only ever checks they work. Suppose its a risk on how fussy they are. Its one of those that you have to try to see what happens, worry about it later.

[stinkwheel]

Drilling a small hole in the bottom of the tail light lens should be sufficient to give the required "downward white light" onto the number plate. It is good enough for enduro bikes.
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“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.