Hardtailing and the MOT. Silly question?

Cigaro · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Karma :

Hi all,

I want to sort my bike out for its MOT before the free retest expires, but it needs new shocks which right now I can't afford.

Now this may sound like the world's stupidest question...

But can I just cut two pieces of steel box section to size, drill them and bolt them on in place of the shock, to make it a hardtail?

This is just to get it through the MOT, I'll be putting shocks on as soon as I have the cash as my spine can't afford to ride a hardtail.

Will it actually pass the MOT like that?

Cheers Very Happy

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

I did it many years ago without any problem. MOT guy just laughed. Better if you can bush the solid pieces to ensure a really good fit.

virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Karma :

yeah, that will pass, so long as theres no sharp edges etc etc.

Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

You could do new (used) shocks very cheaply, possibly with a bit of an upgrade, by seeing what is cheap on ebay from another model. There's a fair chance that someone on the forum has some sitting around that will fit.

Tis a twin shock job, no? There aren't a massive number of variations on fitting, most of the ones I've seen have an eyelet at each end that either bolts to the frame and swingarm somehow. For an added bonus, most of the ones I've seen have eyelets that take an M13 bolt. If it's bigger or smaller you could open out the bolt holes on the frame to take a bigger bolt, or find a way of sleeving the shock eyelet. They tend to have a steel sleeve in a rubber bush, so you're not going to destroy the handling by using inner rube or hosepipe to take up the slack as a bodge (which would end up being a permanent bodge, it's an old 250.)

They look like the same ones as on my CB250RS, and I have a serviceable set on my spares bike that I could lend. You're miles away though, so postage would be necessary and I won't be down there til the weekend.